The True Russia - Trans-Siberian Journey - Train Journeys - Activities

1350 €, 18 Days

This train journey take you from the Venice of the North - St. Petersburg via the glorious Russian capital Moscow to Vladivostok - the major port on the Russian Pacific Ocean coast.

Travelling along this classical Trans-Siberian route you will have the chance to see a more complete image of this vast and multi-faced country. To get in touch with the heart of Russia and it's people you visit not only the emblematic cities of Russia - St. Peterburg and Moscow, but also explore the towns of Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Vladivostok. Of course, the biggest gem of this slow-paced journey is the “Pearl of Siberia” – lake Baikal.

Highlights:

♦ St. Petersburg and Moscow - the largest cities in Russia
♦ Olkhon Island - extremely scenic place at Baikal and a center of shamanism
♦ Yekaterinburg - situated on the border between Europe and Asia
♦ Vladivostok - the door of Russia to the Pacific Ocean

THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE FOR A TRANSSIB PROGRAM. WE CAN ARRANGE AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM ACCORDING TO YOUR WISHES WITH/WITHOUT EXCURSIONS AND WITH ACCOMMODATION AT LOWER OR HIGHER STANDARD

Itinerary:

Day 1. St. Petersburg
Arrival to St. Petersburg. Transport to the hotel and accommodation.

Day 2. St. Petersburg
In the morning tour to the beautiful palace of Peterhof and its gardens (closed on Mondays). Afternnon - free time to explore the city on your own. Night train to Moscow, overnight in the train.

Day 3. Moscow
Arrival to Moscow in the morning, transport to the hotel. You can leave your luggage at the hotel while you go exploring the Russian capital.

Day 4. Moscow – departure by train
Free time in the morning. At about noon departure by train to Yekaterinburg

Day 5. Yekaterinburg
Arrival to Yekaterinburg in the afternoon. Accommodation at a hotel.

Day 6. Yekaterinburg
Excursion to Romanov Monastery, built on the place, where the last Russian tsar and his family were murdered, and to Eurasia obelisk, marking the border between Europe and Asia. Back to Yekaterinburg, where you have free time to explore the city before your departure by train to Irkutsk in the evening.

Day 7 & 8. On the train
We pass by some large Siberian cities such as Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk. The landscape in this part of the railway switches between coniferous and birch forests and small villages, where development is still far behind the big cities.

Day 9. Irkutsk
Arrival to Irkutsk in the morning, transport to the hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Day 10. Irkutsk - Olkhon
In the morning start of your journey by bus and ferry to the island of Olkhon - the largest in the Baikal lake. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 11 & 12. Olkhon
2 days to explore this beautiful island. You can visit Khoboy cape, the Shaman Rock, go on a hiking tour outside Khuzhir, explore the near cave etc. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 13. Olkhon - Irkutsk
You head back to Irkutsk. Accommodation at the hotel and overnight.

Day 14. Irkutsk, departure
Early in the morning departure by train to Vladivostok.

Day 15 & 16. On the train.

Day 17. Vladivostok
Arrival to Vladivostok either in the morning or early afternoon depending on the train. You have travelled 9909 kms from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation.

Day 18. Vladivostok
After breakfast, our services end. You can explore Vladivostok on your own or book some of our optional tours such as Vladivostok city tour (3 hours), Vladivostok fortress and Submarine S-56 (4 hrs), etc. Or you can continue your journey by ferry to Dong Hae in South Korea and Sakaiminato in Japan.

Practical information: ►From Vladivostok you can continue your trip by ferry to Dong Hae in South Korea and Sakaiminato in Japan. The ferry sails year round on Wednesdays. ►Please, note that on certain dates and tours you might travel in a group with other tourists, if they have booked a trip on the same dates. We cannot say if this is the case in advance. ►Prices for hotel accommodation are subject to change in periods of exhibitions or other special events. We reserve the right to change the hotels if no availability with hotels of similar standard. Prices are valid with minimum of 2 people travelling together.

Price Includes:
Accommodation in a dbl room as follows: hotel People Loft Tverskaya 2** in Moscow - 1 night (or similar); hotel Marins Park 3* (or similar) in Yekaterinburg - 1 night with breakfast; hotel Angara 3* (or similar) in Irkutsk - 2 nights with breakfast; hotel Zhemchuzhina 3* (or similar) in Vladivostok - 1 night with breakfast; hotel Rinaldi 3* (or similar) in St. Petersburg - 1 night
train tickets at 2nd class St. Petersburg-Moscow-Yekaterinburg-Irkutsk-Vladivostok
transfer St. Petersburg airport - hotel in St. Petersburg
excursion to Peterhof with transport; entrance fees and English speaking local guide
transfer train station in Moscow - hotel in Moscow
excursion to Romanov and Eurasia with transport and English speaking local guide
tour to Olkhon incl. public transport and 3-night accommodation at local guesthouse - dbl. room with shared facilities and halfboard (breakfast+dinner)
transfer Irkutsk train station - hotel in Irkutsk
transfer Vladivostok train station - hotel in Vladivostok
Russian visa invitation

Not Included:
Flight tickets
visa to Russia
drinks and meals not mentioned
tips
insurance
optional excursions
additional transfers
extra days before/after the tour
personal expenses

Additional Services:
Supplement for the Olkhon tour in the period December - April: 50 EUR per person for Hivus Hovercraft
transfer hotel-train station in Moscow: 50 EUR (1-3 persons)
transfer hotel in Irkutsk - train station: 25 EUR (1-2 persons)
transfer hotel in Vladivostok - airport: 48 EUR (1-2 persons)

Vacation Extensions:
Transsiberian Railway - Stopovers in Russia
Transsiberian Railway - Group Departures