 Tours
2010
TRANS–SIBERIAN GRAND TOUR
Moscow – Irkutsk – Ulan–Bator
13 days / 12 nights
Day 1. Arrival in Moscow. Greet and meet assistance. Porterage. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Welcome drink at hotel.
Day 2. City sightseeing tour including a visit to St. Basil’s Cathedral. During the tour you will get to know the history of the city and see the main places of interest – the Red Square, the Moscow State University, the Bolshoi Theatre. You will drive along the main Moscow streets: Tverskaya, Novy Arbat Avenue, Kutuzovsky Avenue, Sadovoye and Bulvarnoye Rings. Lunch at restaurant Petrov–Vodkin with folklore (optional) In the evening we invite to enjoy ballet performance in the Bolshoi Theatre (optional).
Day3.In the morning you will have an opportunity to visit the metro of Moscow, which is famous all over the world. The length of the underground lines exceeds 250 kilometers to more than 160 stations. The palace–halls of the metro stations are considered to be the most beautiful and decorated in the world. Visit to Kremlin, historical centre of the city, the heart of Moscow. Kremlin is located on a hill washed from one side by the Moscow–river and from the other by its inflow – river Neglinnaya. On the Kremlin grounds you will see the Tsar Bell and the Tsar Cannon and visit several cathedrals – the wonderful monuments of Russian church architecture with unique richly decorated interiors. On the grounds of Kremlin you can see the oldest Moscow state museum – the Armory Chamber. You can see the Russian, Eastern, Western art works of the XIV – XX centuries, the tsar’s thrones, the tsar’s garb (clothes) and armor, the unique silver and golden dishes. Return to hotel. Time for rest. Dinner at city restaurant (optional). Transfer to hotel.
Day 4. Trip to Sergiev Posad including a visit to the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius (the Troitse–Sergiyeva Lavra). This monastery was founded in 1337 and now it is one of the most important centers of pilgrimage in Russia. Lunch at local restaurant “Russian Yard”.
Return to the city. Visiting GUM (and supermarket for buying some things and food for a train). Farewell dinner at restaurant “Samovar” – (optional). Transfer to “Yaroslavsky” railway station for a train to Irkutsk. Departure to Irkutsk by train № 10. Guide assistance. Porterage.
Day 5–7. Full day on board the train enjoying picturesque outside views of unique Siberian nature and distinctive Russian towns.
The Trans–Siberian railway is the largest in the world. Actual length is about 10.000 km. from Moscow to Vladivostok. Transsib constructed in IXX – XX centuries connects principal cities and regions of Siberia and Far East with the central part of Russia. To this day the railway’s importance remains undiminished as the only year–round land link between East and West. The Trans–Siberian railway crosses 8 time zones.
Day 8. Arrival in Irkutsk. Meet and greet assistance. Porterage. Transfer to the settlement Listvyanka. Accommodation at hotel. Lunch at localrestaurant “The past century” (included). Listvyanka sightseeing tour with a visit to LimnologicalMuseum** (the Museum of Lake Baikal). Baikal boat trip (1 hour). In the village, a variety of hot– or cold–smoked and salted omul and grayling fish is on sale. A great snack on the shore is omul, a delicacy of Lake Baikal, which has been just smoked for you. Several private cafes and restaurants offer traditional Siberian or European meals for you. You can taste pelmeny (stuffed dumplings), pirozhki (with cabbage, or meat, or berries), and sandwiches with caviar to feel the spirit of Siberia. Overnight at hotel
Day 9. Leaving Listvyanka by coach. On the way to Irkutsk excursion to the Museum of Wooden Architecture “Taltsy” (47 km from Irkutsk and 23 km from Listvyanka). This museum in the open air has a large collection of original wooden houses equipped with the old–style furniture and domestic utensils. They were brought from several local villages. The museum shows the style of life in the 16th to 19th century Russian villages and Buryat and Evenk tent. You can observe the interiors of a Russian fort and the 15th century watchtower, a Siberian izba (house) and a chapel, a Shaman yurt and other interesting things. Lunch at local restaurant. Arrival in Irkutsk accommodation at hotel. City sightseeing tour of Irkutsk including excursion the house–museum of Decembrist Volkonsky with a concert of Russian romance and champagne. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10. Early morning transfer to the railway station for a train to Ulan–Bator. Guide assistance. Porterage service. Departure to Ulan–Bator by train
Day 11. Arrival in Ulan–Bator. Transfer to hotel. Check–in. City sightseeing tour (visiting Sukhbaatar square, Gandan Monastery, 25.6 m high gilded bronze statue of Megjidjanraisig God), visit to the Natural History Museum. Lunch at Chingis restaurant, In the afternoon visiting Zaisan memorial, Bogd Khaan palace museum, evening folk performance including national songs, dancing, etc.
Day 12. Breakfast at hotel. Trip to Manzshir monastery located in Bogd Khaan National Park, 50 km from UB. Visit nomads ger (yurta). Picnic lunch. Afternoon return to UB, visiting Gobi cashmere factory outlet shop, Choijin Lama museum. Time at leisure.
Breakfast at hotel.
Day 13. Departure transfer to the airport for a flight to Beijing. Porterage. Guide assistance. |
