Classic Trans-Siberian Tour

MOSCOW-KAZAN-YEKATERINBURG-NOVOSIBIRSK-IRKUTSK-ULAAN UDE-KHABAROVSK-VLADIVOSTOK.

Day 1. Upon arrival in Moscow car transfer to hotel TOURIST*** . In the afternoon city tour of Moscow.

Usually guide take the clients on a personally tour of the city center. This is a walking tour, which also uses public transport. The guide will show them the magnificent underground stations (10-15 minutes) as well as the classics such as Red Square and the Kremlin.

Red Square: the main Square of Moscow lies immediately outside the Kremlin’s north –east wall. Red Square (Krasnaya Ploshchad) is the nub of the city and of all Russia. Though the Kremlin walls and some buildings around it are indeed red, the proper translation of its name is ‘beautiful’. And so it is.

The buildings on the square include St Basil’s Cathedral, the History Museum, GUM department store and the red – granite mausoleum, completed in 1930, which holds Lenin’s embalmed body. It was also designed to serve as a tribune from which Soviet leaders could view the great parades marking May Day and the anniversary of the Revolution.

Manezhnaya square: Wide Manezhnaya square (Formerly square of 50 years of Great October Socialist revolution) at the north end of Red Square. Busy Tverskaya Street runs up to the northwest’ Okhotny Ryad prospect leads north east to Teatralnaya square & Bolshoy theatre’ Mokhovaya street leads couth-west corner of the Kremlin. Manezhnaya square is turned into a pedestrian zone with an underground shopping mall.
The long, low building on the south – west side of the square is the Central Exhibition Hall, home to some of Moscow’s most popular art exhibitions.

Day 2, Kremlin walking tour including territory, cathedrals and armory.

Kremlin: Moscow begins from the Kremlin – the central and ancient part of the capital situated on Borovitsky Hill. Today’s Kremlin the product of building, decryption and re building, provides a panorama of Russian architectural history from the 15th century to the present day.

The main Kremlin churches group together on Cathedral Square. First among them is the Cathedral of the Assumption (Uspensky Sobor), the coronation church of all the tsars, built in the 1470s by the Italian architect.
Ancient cathedrals and the Armoury Chamber,Russia’s oldest museums with it’s unique collection.

Day 2, At night transfer to Kazansky railway station for the train # 2 Moscow- Kazan

Day 3 Upon Arrival in Kazan walking city tour, including Kremlin and Bauman street.

In the Kazan Kremlin you will visit the biggest in Europe mosque Kul-Sharif-mosque and the Annunciation cathedral (the oldest stone construction of Kazan, one of the oldest active churches in the Volga region). You will also see our Leaning Tower - the Suyumbike Tower and even the place, where the Kazan khans were buried.

During the excursion along the Bauman street tourists will the following places of interest: Bogoyavlensky (Epiphany) Cathedral, where Shalyapin was baptized, National Bank, where the gold reserve of Russia was kept, and the antique hotel “Kazan”. They will also have an opportunity to make photo of numerous original founrains, the monument to the Cat of Kazan, and to sit in the carriage of Catherine the Great.

Day 4 In the afternoon transfer to the railway station for the train # 16 Kazan-Yekaterinburg

Upon arrival in Yekterinburg at night, transfer to Parus hotel***

Day 5, Tour by car to Tzar Nicolay the 2nd secret grave and the Europe-Asia border.

Excursion out of the city (15 km.) to The Monastery dedicated to the Romanov’s Tsar family, on the place where bolsheviks tried to hide Romanov’s corpses in a secret grave.
Now it is well-known Russian Orthodox pilgrimage site. (Holy grave place & seven nice churches made of wood according to Russian Orthodox tradition).

On the way to the border-line you will see
“The Memorial of Victims of GULAG” and make a short stop there.
Few minutes drive and you reach The Main Obelisk “Between Europe & Asia”. You cross the borderline… and get a Special Certificate with glass of sparkling wine!!!

Day 5,20:30,Ekaterinburg,transfer to the railway station for the train # 26 Ekaterinburg-Novosibirsk

Day 6 Novosibirsk, transfer to Sibir hotel***
Day 7 Novosibirsk,city tour by car with the visit to local museum.

City tour of Novosibirsk, covering all the main attractions of the city:
Novosibirsk Railway Station – the biggest station of the Trans-Siberian
Railroad, Ascension Cathedral, Krasny Prospect street, Lenin Square - city
center with the biggest world’s Opera House, old wooden houses on Gorkogo
Str. - the oldest part of the city, St.Nicolas Chapel – the geographic
center of Russia, river Ob’ embankment and colorful Siberian farm-market.
Visit of the Local Lore (History Museum), featuring the fascinating and mystical history of Siberia OR boat-trip on OB river

Day 7,20:30,Novosibirsk,transfer to the railway station for the train #2 Novosibirsk-Irkutsk

Day 9,6:16 arr.Irkutsk,transfer to Irkutsk hotel***
Day 9,10:00-13:00 Irkutsk,walking city tour with the visit to local museum

Irkutsk was founded in 1661 when the Russian military cossack troops established a fortress on the right bank of the Angara River. From late 17th century, it was a political, economical and cultural center of Siberia. The city's Russian classical architecture dates back to the period of the 1880s when the city boomed after gold was discovered in the area. Most of the brick mansions and grand public buildings varying in architectural styles were constructed in the late 19th - early 20th century. The beautiful Russian Orthodox churches and a Polish Cathedral (the only Siberian Gothic-style building) are located in downtown. You will see many small one- and two-story wooden houses or cabins that are decorated with "wooden laces" (hand-made carvings) as well as modern constructions of the 20th century. Tourists visit either the Irkutsk Museum of Regional Studies or the Decembrists' House. During the city tour of Irkutsk, our guide tells you about the development of the Siberian city evolution, and shows the most interesting sights and peculiar features of one of the most beautiful cities in Russia.

Day 10,5:45,Irkutsk,transfer to railway station (train # 8 Irkutsk-Ulaan Ude)
Day 10 Ulaan Ude,transfer to Baikal Plaza hotel**** After check in to the hotel, Ivolginsky datsan tour by car
Ivolginsky Datsan, located in East Siberia near Lake Baikal, is the most important Buddhist monastery in Russia. It is also home to a phenomenon that continues to intrigue scientists and attract believers by the thousands — the preserved body of the Khambo Lama, who died in 1927 and is still sitting upright in the lotus position . Interestingly, Itigilov's testament also requested that monks exhume his body after a period of some years. This was done once in 1955 and again in 1973, after some difficulty in locating the body. Both times they found the body perfectly preserved and still sitting upright (which a dead body cannot normally do for more than two weeks). The monks did not publicize the astonishing phenemon due to the anti-religion policies of the Communist government.

The exhumed body of Itigilov, still in the lotus
position in which he died. Source unknown.
The body of Dasha-Dorzho Itigilov was transferred to Ivolginksy Datsan and publicly unveiled for the first time in September 2002, 75 years after his death in 1927. His body has decayed slightly since its exhumation but still remains in a state of preservation that baffles scientists and draws believers by the thousands.

Day 11,13:00,Ulaan Ude,transfer to railway station.(train # 2 Ulaan Ude-Khabarovsk )
Day 13,Arrival in Khabarovsk,transfer to Intourist hotel***

Day 14, Khabarovsk, walking city tour with the visit to local museum.
City tour will allow you to see the central part of the city, it's main attractions, different city squares, Cathedral of Transfiguration of the Savior, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin, walk along the quay and Muravyov-Amursky street, the most popular place for leisurely, Glory and Station squares? Central market. Visit Museum of History named after Gradekov with department of nature and local minorities.


Day 14,17:00,transfer to railway station (train # 8 Khabarovsk-Vladivostok)

Day 15 Vladivostok,transfer to Vladivostok hotel***

Day 15,10:00-13:00,Vladivostok,walking city tour with submarine museum

During this walking tour you will enjoy the old streets of the town that boast original ensembles of different architectural styles — gothic and classics, empire and baroque, Russian and oriental. The guide will tell you about history of the Vladivostok fortress and the town’s main sights. The tour includes an excursion to the submarine C—56.
Day 15-16,Vladivostok,hotel Vladivostok,twin room with breakfast.
Day 16 Vladivostok, transfer to the airport.

10 Must see places Along the Trans Siberian

1. Ivolginsky Datsan, located in East Siberia near Lake Baikal, is the most important Buddhist monastery in Russia. It is also home to a phenomenon that continues to intrigue scientists and attract believers by the thousands — the preserved body of the Khambo Lama, who died in 1927 and is still sitting upright in the lotus position
2. Old Believers Village ( Tarbagataisky region of the republic of Buryatia ) In the 18th century about 20,000 Russian families of the Old Believers were exiled to Siberia. These people founded their settlements in Buryatia, where they managed to preserve their religion, traditional ceremonies and a distinctive dialect. Guests in such villages are welcomed with traditional hospitality and can enjoy local food specialties and different aspects of folk culture.
3. Tamchinski dazan is one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Russia and it is famous for its religious festivals. Annual religious and theater performance take place here, which attracts a lot of visitors and believers.
4. Ganina Yama, Russian Royal Family burial place Ganina Yama in the environs of Yekaterinburg, where the martyred Russian Royal family was secretly buried in 1918. There is a monastery on the site now, consecrated to the canonized Royalty. The monastery won gold at the Architecture 2006 international festival in Moscow.
5. Verkhoturye -"The Gates to Siberia", made it the only outpost of civilization in the wilderness of boundless Siberia and the biggest religious center with more then 40 churches and cathedrals. Breathe in the calmness and conciliation of holy monastery and nunnery, marvel at the Kremlin and the St. Trinity cathedral that was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.
6. Lake Baikal- In the heart of Siberia, where nature reigns supreme, discover the most famous of all nature preserves of Russia - Lake Baikal. It is not only the deepest and oldest (25 million years) lake of the world, but also an excellent travel destination for those who want to spend their holiday in stunning surroundings of the Siberian wilderness.
7. The Kul Sharif Mosque in Kazan -Magnificent mosque Kul Sharif in city of Kazan. One of the most beautiful and most northern mosques of the world. It is constructed by thousand-year anniversary of city of Kazan.
8. Kazan Kremlin -magnificent architectural ensemble bearting traces of many centuries of building activity, is enclosed by high, white stone walls with characteristic loop-holes and thirteen hipped roofed towers. The most remarkable building of the Kremlin (kermen=fortress in Tatar)) is the Suyumbika Tower, seven storeys and 58 meters high.
9. Olhon Island, Baikal - An adventure like no other awaits you on Olhon Island with its steppes and impenetrable heart of taiga, lonely mountain ridges and sandy dunes. This is your escape from civilization to paradise. There are many legends associated with Olhon Island. On of such tales says that it is here where Genghis Khan, emperor of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history, was buried here.
10. Maloe Sea(Baikal) - Discover natural wonders of Maloe Sea: picturesque Cape Uyuga, salt water lakes of Tajeranskiy steppes, Sarma river canyon and cape Ulan-Nur with it’s rare minerals. Mechta (“Dream”) cave is one of the largest caves of Eastern Siberia with a total area of 8250м ² (27066 sq ft) and 52 meters (172 ft) deep. Experienced instructors will help you to escape to the “winter wonderland” of Mechta cave that stays icy cold even during hot summer days. Nearby you can see archeological monuments from rock carvings to ancient shrines of Kurikan tribe.

Trans-Siberian tours are becoming increasingly popular. Book your 2011 Trans-Siberian tour now! Trans-Siberian tours 2011 Schedule available now. For more information about Grand Trans-Siberian tours visit http://discoverrus.com/itineraries-transsiberian.htm

The Trans Siberian Railroad

Legendary Trans Siberian is the longest continuous rail line on Earth, that runs an epic journey of almost six thousand miles between Moscow and Pacific port of Vladivostok (from where one can take a boat to Japan) and just under 5000 miles between Moscow and Beijing, passing through Yaroslavl on the Volga, Yekaterinburg in the Urals, Irkutsk near scenic Lake Baikal's southern extremity, then passes over the edge of the Gobi Desert and runs beside the Shilka River to reach Beijing.Ever since the rail service was established here at the turn of the century, foreign travelers and adventurists have been drawn to experience Trans-Siberian journey. Most of the early travelers crossed Siberia in the comfort of the carriages of the Belgian Wagon Lits company, which were as luxurious as those of Orient Express of today. Things changed sometimes after the Russian Revolution in 1917 and it became increasingly complicated for foreigners to obtain permits for Siberia. In the early 1980s, travel restrictions for foreigners visiting China eased and since then many foreigners have found the Trans-Siberian an interesting and cheap way to get to and from both the Middle Kingdom and Mongolia.
For those who travel for the pleasure of the journey, those who believe that getting there is as much fun as being there, Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway has long been an almost mythic experience. The main attraction of the tour is the gradually changing scenery along the Trans Siberian and the great advantage of going by rail is that it allows the passengers to absorb something of the ethos of the country through which they are traveling: on a journey by Trans-Siberian railway you are guaranteed to meet local people; you may find yourself draining a bottle of vodka with a Russian soldier, discussing politics with Chinese academic or drinking Russian Champaign with Mongolian trader.
While the ending of the Cold War may have removed some of the mystique of travelling in the former USSR, the fact that Russia is much more accessible means that there are new travel opportunities right across country. With foreigners no longer obliged to stay in overpriced Intourist hotels, visiting country now is cheaper than ever before.
A journey on the Trans-Siberian railway demands a considerable amount of planning and preparation. Our goal is to help you cut through red tape when arranging the trip, to give background information about Russia and Siberia and to provide mile-by-mile guide to the greatest rail adventure- the Trans-Siberian.