Trans Siberian Railway Adventure

Imagine trying to cover ground across Russia far west to far east – a crazy thought, huh? The solution: Get on the Trans-Siberian with us and watch this epic land glide by through the window of a comfortable train.

After visiting the historic sights of Moscow, take the train through the Ural Mountains (and cross into Asia!) to Yekaterinburg, before heading to the heart of Siberia in Irkutsk and Lake Baikal. Learn about Buryat culture in Ulan Ude before heading to the coast in Vladivostok. The whole trip covers 9,300km (5,778 mi) and crosses seven time zones. Whether you go in the summer or winter, this trip is the definition of epic.

 

Itinerary

Day 1 Moscow
Arrive at any time.

Day 2 Moscow
Enjoy a guided tour of the Kremlin and Armoury. Spend a free afternoon visiting St Basil's Cathedral, Red Square or exploring the fascinating Moscow metro.

Day 3 Suzdal
Travel to Suzdal, one of the bucolic villages in the Golden Ring. Known for its beautiful churches and quaint wooden houses, Suzdal has retained its rural charm.

Day 4 Suzdal/Trans-Ural Railway
Enjoy more time in Suzdal before a drive to nearby Vladimir to board a roughly 26-hour train to Yekaterinburg.

Days 5-6 Trans-Ural/Yekterinburg
Enjoy a full day on the train crossing the Ural Mountains and the border between Europe and Asia. Arrive to Yekaterinburg in the evening. On Day 6, explore the sights around Yekaterinburg, including the Church of All Saints and the Romanov Burial Site. Enjoy free time in this Soviet-style city before boarding the Trans-Siberian for Irkutsk.

Days 7-8 Trans-Siberian Railway
Wake up to the rhythm of the Trans-Siberian Railway on Day 7. The ride is roughly 48 hours from Yekaterinburg to the Siberian town of Irkutsk.

Day 9 Irkutsk/Listvyanka
Arrive in the morning to Irkutsk and drive to a small town on Lake Baikal, Listvyanka. Enjoy a homestay on the lake with the options to go for a boat ride (in summer), take a short hike or enjoy a true Russian experience, a banya.

Days 10-11 Irkutsk
Drive back to Irkutsk for a walking tour of the city including a visit to the fascinating Decemberists Museum where you'll learn about the revolution the city was built on. Enjoy free time exploring streets lined with wooden houses or haggling at the central market.

Days 12-13 Ulan Ude
Enjoy a roughly seven hour train ride around the coast of Lake Baikal and through the taiga forests to Ulan Ude, a city with the largest Buddhist population in the Russia. Here, learn about the indigenious people, the Buryats, and how they survive in such a harsh environment. Enjoy a local Buryat lunch.

Days 14-16 Trans-Siberian Railway/Vladivostok
Board the last train of the trip very early and settle in for the 55 hour ride. Watch the scenery go by, practice your newly acquired Russian skills and relax to the rhythm of the train. Arrive in the evening on Day 16. Opt for a final dinner with the group to recount this truly epic journey.

Day 17 Vladivostok
Depart at any time.

 

What's Included

• Local meal suggestions and language support throughout
• All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
• 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner. (Allow USD400-500 for meals not included.)
• Train, private van, metro, taxis, walking
• Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
• Small group experience; Max 16, avg 12
• Hotels (10 nts), homestays (1 nt), sleeper trains (5 nts).

 

Trip Specifics

• Price: From £2349 (available to book in other currencies)
• Duration: 17 days
• From: Moscow to Vladivostok
• Code: ARVR