26 nights from UK £ 5,290 / US $ 7,410 per person*
*Price based on 2 people travelling in a shared 4 berth second class cabin. Upgrade to your own cabin from UK £ 1,070 / US$ 1,500 per person. These prices are based on 2021 rates and are here to give guidance. Final quotes vary by date, exchange rates and are subject to availability.
PRIVATE TOUR - NOT A GROUP TOUR - CAN BE TAILORED
SEASON - YEAR ROUND WITH daily DEPARTURES
TOUR CODE : TS-V-BT-04-SP
MAP & DESTINATIONS
THE STOPS VISITED ON THIS TOUR
?? VLADIVOSTOK - 1 night
Russia’s Eastern Port city is a heavily influenced by nearby China & Japan.
?? KHABAROVSK - 1 night
Vibrant and prosperous city on the mighty Amur River bordering China.
?? ULAN UDE - 3 nights
East meets West in the Mongolian influenced capital of Buryatia.
?? IRKUTSK & BAIKAL - 3 nights
Forward looking Siberian city and gateway to Lake Baikal.
?? KRASNOYARSK - 2 nights
Busy Siberian city located on the banks of the mighty Yenisey River.
?? NOVOSIBIRSK - 1 night
Siberia’s largest and most modern city yet often overlooked by tourists.
?? EKATERINBURG - 3 nights
City in the beautiful Ural Mountains where the Romanovs met their fate.
?? PERM - 2 nights
Fascinating city famous for Ice Caves and the sobering Perm 36 Gulag.
?? MOSCOW - 2 nights
Russia’s vast and iconic capital and the start of this railway adventure.
?? ST PETERSBURG - 3 nights
This beautiful and cultural city is a completely different experience to Moscow.
ON THE TRAINS - total 6 nights
We use the most comfortable and reliable trains possible for each leg.
OUR EXCLUSIVE TRIP GUIDEBOOK
This trip includes our exclusive 200+ page guidebook personalised to your trip with sections about the trains, destinations, timetables and emergency contacts and allowing you to be fully prepared for your trip of a lifetime - an invaluable resource!
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAILY DESCRIPTIONS OF ACTIVITIES, MEALS & OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION
DAY 1 - VLADIVOSTOK
ARRIVAL IN RUSSIA’S FAR EAST PORT CITY OF VLADIVOSTOK
Arrival in Vladivostok, the legendary end (or beginning) of the true Trans-Siberian line. A driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. For years this city was closed to foreigners being the home base of the Russian Pacific Fleet. It has a fantastic location on the Amursky Gulf. Free time for the rest of the day to relax or start to explore the city with the help of your personalised Trip Guidebook we send you before the trip.
FULL DAY CITY TOUR INCLUDING RUSSKY ISLAND & VOROSHILOVSKAYA BATTERY WITH AN EVENING DEPARTURE
A full day tour of Vladivostok today covering the main attractions and more including Vladivostok Railway Station - always worth a pre-look - and the C-56 submarine as well as passing many historic, cultural and architectural landmarks and view points. After lunch (own arrangement) we delve into Vladivostok's military history visiting its Fortress including two of the old batteries which now serve as museums. We also visit the Voroshilovskaya Battery located inside a real military base on Russky Island. This 80 year old building is a fantastic example of military architecture with its rational organisation and efficient functioning. We also see the Pacific Navy warships stationed in the heart of the city which demonstrate the continuing importance of this port to Russia.
Finish the tour at Vladivostok’s beautiful station where you board the train westwards.
MORNING CITY TOUR OF KHABAROVSK & A FREE AFTERNOON
Early morning arrival in Khabarovsk with a transfer to your hotel. Note check-in time is 2 pm but if a room is available you may be able to check in early).
Despite the remoteness of this city it is a large, booming town due to its proximity to China just 25 km away over the Amur River. Rarely visited by Trans-Siberian travellers, there is some good architecture and the city is a pleasant place to be, particularly in the summer months.
This morning a 4 hour city tour including Lenin square, the WWII memorial complex, the Square devoted to the Civil War in the Far East as well as information and anecdotes on the history, culture and industry of Khabarovsk and the surrounding region.
After the tour check-in to your hotel with free time in the afternoon to further explore the city of visit the vibrant food market.
ENJOY THE SCENERY OF RUSSIA’S WILD & REMOTE FAR EAST
A free morning in Khabarovsk before an afternoon transfer to the station for the train on to Ulan Ude first crossing its 2.6 km bridge over the Amur river. There is some good scenery today following the Ingoda and Shilka rivers into a wild land of taiga forest and hills. The train is still stopping quite frequently so make good use of these stops to stretch the legs, take some photos and stock up on food and drink from the small kiosks and independent sellers.
Today is the remotest section of the trip through a sparsely populated land with few stations to stop at. A day to get into the rhythm of this train journey.
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
ENTER THE SIBERIAN REGION OF BURYATIA REACHING THE CAPITAL OF ULAN UDE
Today notice a change in the people with many more Asian faces as you reach Buryatia which has strong cultural ties to Mongolia. Early evening you reach the capital of this region, Ulan Ude.
Ulan-Ude is capital of the republic of Buryatia and due to it’s proximity to Mongolia has a traditional importance as a trading settlement between Russia, Mongolia and China. Famed for having the largest Lenin head in the world the other attractions are found outside of the city. Transfer to your hotel with the rest of the evening free.
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
For today’s tour we first drive to Atsagatski Datsan which dates back to 1825. This was a teaching monastery as well as a centre for Tibetan Medicine. Continue on to the nearby village founded in the 19th century and which still keeps the traditions and customs of the Buryats, who make up most of the population, alive. Lunch in a local house and free time to explore the village before returning to the city to overnight.
VISIT THE OLD BELIEVERS VILLAGE & STUNNING IVOLGINSKI DATSAN
Today we leave the city again, this time to the impressive Ivolginski Datsan which has long been a center of Buddhism in Russia and has a unique Buddhist library. Continue on to the Old Believer village.
The people here separated from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1666 in protest of reforms and so practice a form of the religion that stopped across much of Russia at that time. Visit their church and a small museum before lunch is in a local home and free time before returning to Ulan-Ude to overnight.
DEPART ULAN UDE TRAVELLING THE SHORE OF LAKE BAIKAL BEFORE ARRIVING IN IRKUTSK
After breakfast a transfer to the station for the train to Irkutsk (train 305 / 69 / 69 / 1). Later this morning you reach Lake Baikal travelling along its southern shore and one of the most scenic sections of the whole Trans-Siberian.
Late afternoon arrival in Irkutsk, regarded as the modern day cultural capital of Siberia, famed for its traditional wooden architecture, complimented by a vibrant cafe and restaurant culture. Transfer from the station to your hotel in Irkutsk with free time for the rest for the day and evening.
TRANSFER TO BOLSHOE GOLOUSTNOE ON THE SHORES OF BAIKAL
After breakfast transfer the 2 hour drive through dense forest to the remote village of Bolshoe Goloustnoe located inside Pribaikalsky National Park. The setting is quintessential Siberia with almost all the village's houses made of wood running up to the lakeshore of beautiful Baikal, among the deepest in the world at 1,642 meters. Many of the 700 residents have lived their entire lives in the village which dates back to 1673.
Your accommodation here is in a Siberian house in the heart of the village. Once settled in take a walk with your guide through the village including a visit to the church. We walk along the lakeshore and can also climb into the forests and hills for views of Lake Baikal (good shoes or walking boots advisable). Return to the house for a pre-dinner Banya - the traditional Russian Sauna. Your guide will explain the procedure and after a hearty Siberian homestyle meal should set you up for a great nights sleep!
IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THIS LAKE BAIKAL STOPOVER Bolshoe Goloustnoe is a small village on the shores of Baikal and provides a genuine Siberian experience in beautiful surroundings. The village is far enough from the Irkutsk to keep day trippers to a minimum and has retained it charm. However, this does mean accommodation is in the traditional Siberian style of log cabins, separate, outside buildings for drop (not flush) toilets and a Russian banya (sauna) for washing. For many this is all part of the experience and feedback is overwhelmingly positive. If you would prefer more comfort we can arrange a higher level guesthouse in Bolshoe Goloustnoe or a different stopover in the more built up village of Listvyanka. Ask us for more information.
MEALS: Hotel Breakfast - Lunch & Dinner at the Guest House.
A DAY EXPLORING THE LAKE SHORE VILLAGE OF BOLSHOE GOLOUSTNOE & SURROUNDS
There is no rush to wake this morning. Enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading off for a walk up a nearby mountain ascending 400 meters for panoramic views of Baikal (if this is too strenuous or the weather is bad your guide will make other suggestions). A leisurely return to the house for lunch. Free time in the afternoon to relax back at the house or further explore the village and surrounding forest and hills or enjoy another invigorating Banya.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at the Guest House.
RETURN TO IRKUTSK WITH A CITY TOUR AND FREE TIME BEFORE YOUR THE NEXT TRAIN
After breakfast drive the 2 hours back to Irkutsk for a 2 hour walking tour of the city centre including the park and War Memorial, some of the beautiful churches along the Angara river, the main city centre streets and the statue of Alexander III - the Tzar responsible for the Trans-Siberian railway. Late afternoon transfer to the station for your onward train.
ARRIVAL IN & CITY TOUR OF KRASNOYARSK’S HIGHLIGHTS
Morning arrival in Krasnoyarsk where you will be met at the station to start an half day city tour. This prosperous city located on the Yenisey River is highly regarded for it’s cultural life as well as the beautiful scenery of the Stolby Nature Reserve a short distance from the city.
As a hotel room is unlikely to be ready this early we start with a city tour which begins with the monument to Andrey Dubensky, the founder of the city, which also offers superb views and Karaulnaya Hill where Paraskeva Pjatnitsa Chapel built in 1855 is located. Move on to the Annunciation temple, Intercession Cathedral and Catholic church as well as Mira Avenue, the Drama Theatre, Opera and Ballet House and Yenisey quay.
After the tour continue to your hotel to check-in with free time for the rest of the day.
MEALS: None today - however the train does have a dining car.
DAY TRIP TO STOLBY NATURE RESERVE & KRASNOYARSK’S DAM
Today we head out of the city firstly visiting the Hydro Power Station and Dam, Russia’s second largest. Here you can see the mighty Yenisey river which, at 4,092 km is the longest in Russia. The dam is an extraordinary feat of engineering as it had to be designed to cope with the intense cold and ice pressure of winter. Enjoy a picnic lunch before visiting the Stolby Nature Reserve and make a short walk of about 2-3 km round trip to the centre of the reserve where there are beautiful views and unusual rock formations. Time to enjoy the scenery and nature before returning to the city and a free evening.
Free time until a transfer to the station for your onward train to Novosibirsk (train 61 08:19-19:39). The scenery has many rivers and ponds as you continue westwards.
Evening arrival in Novosibirsk with a transfer to your hotel to overnight.
This morning we have a walking tour of the city’s highlights including Novosibirsk Railway Station - the Trans-Siberian Railways largest - the Ascension Cathedral, Krasny Prospect street, Lenin Square and its beautiful Opera House. You pass the traditional Siberian wooden houses on Gorkogo Street in the oldest part of the city as well as stop at St Nicolas Chapel - the geographic center of Russia.
Continue along the river Ob’s embankment and the colourful Siberian farmers market may be open. You will also have time to visit the Trans-Siberian Railway Museum.
After lunch (own arrangement) we drive out of the centre to the scientific city Akademgorodok 30km from Novosibirsk and known as the only scientific city in the world where all the branches of sciences are represented and which has been nicknamed by some as the “Scientific Vatican”. here we visit of 2 museums of your choice from the Geology Museum at the Geology Research Institute, the Archeological Museum at the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography, the Open-Air Train Museum (a superb collection of old Trans-Siberian trains!) You will also see the river Ob reservoir – an artificial Ob sea!
Return to the city with some free time before a transfer to the station for your onward train.
LAST DAY IN SIBERIA BEFORE ARRIVAL IN EKATERINBURG & CITY TOUR
The scenery today is flat, often swampy or forested and with few major settlements except for Omsk. In the afternoon you enter the rolling hills of the Ural's before arriving at Ekaterinburg, historic capital of this mineral rich region with a rich and fascinating history and surrounded by beautiful, rolling countryside dotted with traditional Siberian villages.
Transfer by private car to your hotel before a 3 hour walking tour of the city’s highlights. Stop at the central square and see statues of Ekaterinburg’s founders and leaders and learn local stories, legends (and a few jokes!) related to them.
Continue to the 1905 Revolution square before the most compelling story will be told at the beautiful Church of Spilled Blood located at the Romanovs’ Death Site and Chapel of St Elizabeth. We also see views of the city from the Hill of Ascension and visit the powerful Afghanistan memorial at the Square of the Red Army.
Return to your hotel with the rest of the day free.
FULL DAY COUNTRYSIDE & SIBERIAN VILLAGE EXPERIENCE
Today we drive out of the city to one of the photogenic country villages* that are scattered across the rolling scenery of the Ural mountains. Here we see a traditional Siberian “izba” house - a style suited to the often extreme environment - that can be seen right across Siberia. We also visit the local museum to learn about everyday life in this part of Russia and listen to a concert of local folk music. There will be time to explore the village with your guide and you will also enjoy a traditional Siberian homestyle lunch often using locally produced and seasonal ingredients. Return to Ekaterinburg late afternoon with a free evening.
*Depending on the day of your visit this trip will be to either Koptelovo, Nizhnyaya Sinyachikha or Mironovo village all approximately 150 km from Ekaterinburg.
VISIT THE ROMANOVS SECRET GRAVE, STAND ASTRIDE THE EUROPE-ASIA BORDER & DEPART TO PERM
This morning drive 15 km north-west to a monastery dedicated to the Romanov’s family located on the spot where the Bolsheviks tried to hide the corpses of the Tsar and his family in a secret grave. Continue on to the continental border of Europe and Asia 20 km west of the city. On the way we make a short stop at the Memorial of Victims of the GULAGs. The Main Obelisk “Between Europe & Asia” allows you to straddle the continental divide and you also get a Certificate with a glass of sparkling wine!
Return to the city to catch your 5 hour train ride on to Perm (train 29 / 37 ).
Evening arrival in Perm with a transfer to your hotel. Known for Dr Zhivago, modern day Perm has fast reinvented itself as a cultural centre with some interesting museums and galleries amongst the soviet architecture. The real and contrasting highlights are found outside of the city. Perm 36 was a grim Gulag that has been preserved as a memorial museum dedicated to the victims of political oppression. The Kungur Ice Cave has permanent ice formations and frozen waterfalls amongst the 1.5 km network of caves. A taste of winter even at the height of summer!
An early start today driving 2 hours out of the city to Perm 36 Gulag Camp Museum. The museum occupies the former site of one of the most notorious Soviet gulag camps in the European part of Russia and is now privately operated by descendants and friends of the former inmates. The camp remained open until the Gorbachev era, and housed many prisoners from former USSR republics who had lobbied for independence from the Soviet Union. In common with most Gulags the location is very remote and the roads which lead to it are poor.
After the sobering experience of Perm 36 we drive a further two hours to the Kungur Ice Cave with it’s spectacular formations and dramatic lighting. You will need decent shoes and warm clothing as evening in summer is cold in the cave. Drive on an hour to Belogorsky Monastery located on top of a hill with spectacular views of the rolling landscape of the Urals. The monastery was dedicated to the miraculous escape of young Crown Prince Nicholas (the future Tsar Nicholas II) from an assassin, during a visit to Turkey. Late evening return to Perm to overnight.
MEALS: Hotel Breakfast (in a box) & Restaurant Lunch.
WALKING TOUR REVEALING THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF PERM & TRAIN TO MOSCOW
After a late breakfast begin a walking tour of the city visiting the Central Square and Opera & Ballet Theatre before walking along Sibirskaya Street, passing the hotel where Grand Prince Mikhail was arrested as well as the monument to his assassins. We will see the old riverboat station from where the Post Road to Siberia began and the Old Railway Station from where the original Trans-Siberian Railway line started. Along the way we pass places associated with the story of Dr Zhivago including the Public Reading Room and Lara's House.
After the tour a transfer to the station for the train on to Moscow.
Wake to Moscow’s sprawling suburbs arriving at the city’s handsome Kazanskaya station. Transfer by private car to your hotel. Please note that hotel check-in time is 2pm although if a room is available you can go to it straight away. Guaranteed early check-in is not included. If you would like to add this please ask us.
Later this morning you will have the perfect introductory walking tour of central Moscow designed to orientate and open up its hidden treasures. Your guide will take you along the main streets and less visited back roads to see the diversity of architectural styles from the austere and restrained Russian style to richly decorated Moscow Baroque, elegant Empire, fascinating Art Nouveau and even Pseudo-Chinese and Moorish. Hear stories and legends not found in the guidebooks as well as passing the most important sites in the city including the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya street, GUM Department store, Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedral.
FREE DAY TO EXPLORE RUSSIA’S CAPITAL & ITS MANY WORLD CLASS SIGHTS
A free day to explore Moscow. The city has much to offer whatever the weather from the famous museums such as Pushkin Fine Arts and Tretyakov Art Gallery to more outdoor areas including the Park of the Fallen Idols and Novodevitchy Convent. Of course, if the weather is not so good Moscow is one of the few cities where a day spent on the metro is a tourist attraction with many beautiful stations to visit and all for the price of a single ticket! For relaxing we recommend the bars, galleries and cafes of the Red October district or the fabulous Gorky Park.
HIGH SPEED “SAPSAN” TRAIN TO ST PETERSBURG IN JUST 4 HOURS
Free time before a late morning transfer by an English speaking driver to the “Sapsan” train to St Petersburg. The journey takes just 4 hours with an early evening arrival Russia’s cultural centre and arguably one of the world’s most beautiful cities - an architectural wonder often referred to as the “Venice of the North.”
Transfer from the station by private car and English speaking driver to your hotel. Free time for the rest of the day.
AN IDEAL 3 HOUR INTRODUCTORY WALKING TOUR OF THE CITY BEFORE A FREE AFTERNOON
Begin your time in St Petersburg with this superb introduction to this beautiful city with your private guide, learning about the history and architecture as well as life in today’s St Petersburg. The tour focuses on Nevsky Prospect including the Palace Square, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Winter Palace and the Admiralty amongst many other points of interest. The tour will usually finish on arrival at the Peter and Paul Fortress where you can visit the burial place of all the Russian Tzars from Peter the Great to Nicholas II.
Free time for the rest of the day, perhaps to explore the Peter & Paul Fortress or some of the many other sights. Alternatively, St Petersburg is an excellent place to walk and admire the architecture stopping at the occasional cafe!
A free day to explore St Petersburg. This city has so much to offer so it is a good idea to plan a little in advance if there are specific places you want to visit. However, this is also a fantastic city to aimlessly wander, exploring side streets, canals and the beautiful parks that feature across the city. Don’t forget there are also excellent sights outside the city including the opulent palaces of Peterhof and Pushkin.
DEPART ST PETERSBURG & RUSSIA AFTER YOUR EPIC TRANS-SIBERIAN ADVENTURE
Today is a free until a transfer to your onward travel from Russia. We sincerely hope that you will have enjoyed your epic journey as much as we have many times already and we look forward to welcoming you back on another one of our trips!
MEALS: Hotel Breakfast.
Thank you so very much. We had the best time!
AMY WEGERHOFF
"Your company really did an amazing job on this trip."
ENGELA POTGIETER
"Nothing short of outstanding & the fulfilment of a lifetimes dream."
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