TRANS-SIBERIA RAIL JOURNEY ITINERARY:
Days 1 and 2 — Los Angeles/Vladivostok, Russia
Depart Los Angeles on an overnight flight to Vladivostok,
the starting point of your Trans-Siberian Railway journey to
Moscow. Hotel Hyundai
Day 3 — Vladivostok
Today, explore Vladivostok, headquarters to the Russian
Pacific Fleet. Later, visit the Eagle's Nest Observation Point
for a bird's-eye view of Golden Horn Bay. (B, L, D)
Day 4 — Vladivostok
Enjoy a talk by our National Geographic expert, followed by
a tour of the city's principal military sites, including the
Naval Museum and the Krasniy Vimpel — a steam yacht built in
1910. This afternoon, embark the Trans-Siberian Express and
gather for a welcome reception and dinner to celebrate the
beginning of our journey.
Trans-Siberian Express (B, L, D)
Day 5 — Khabarovsk
Arrive in Khabarovsk and visit the Natural History Museum by
the Amur River. Learn about the flora and fauna of the region,
and see artifacts from the indigenous tribes of the Goldi and
the Gilyak. (B, L, D)
Days 6 and 7 — On the Train
The train passes through Siberian villages of log houses set
among rolling hills and waterways. Read, attend an informal talk
by our expert, or simply watch the wild and remote countryside
passing by. (B, L, D)
Day 8 — Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Arrive this morning at the capital of Mongolia and visit the
National Museum. Enjoy a special lunch prepared in a traditional
ger tent, followed by an excursion to Gorkhi-Terelj National
Park. Return to the train in time for dinner onboard. (B, L, D)
Day 9 — Ulan Ude
Arrive in Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat Republic. Explore
the colorful Buddhist temple at nearby Ivolginsk. Visit a
village of Old Believers of Russian Orthodoxy, and enjoy a folk
performance and dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 10 — Lake Baikal/Listvyanka, Russia
Pass through mountain tunnels and travel along the shoreline
of Lake Baikal, a vast, pristine lake holding nearly one-sixth
of all the fresh water on Earth. After a picnic lunch, cruise
across the lake to visit Listvyanka and its Museum of Wooden
Architecture. Stop in the Limnological Institute, where exhibits
depict the area's unique ecosystem. (B, L, D)
Day 11 — Irkutsk
Today, arrive in Irkutsk, the “capital” of Siberia, where we
see elaborately decorated 19th-century izbas (cottages) with
ornately carved eaves, known in Russia as wooden lace. Later,
visit the Znamensky Monastery and the Volkonsky House Museum.
Enjoy a concert in the former reception room of the house. (B,
L, D)
Day 12 — On the Train
Travel past frontier towns, vast stretches of birch forests,
bubbling streams, and fields of wildflowers. Pending final train
schedules, stop in Krasnoyarsk and take a boat trip along the
Yenisey River to Divnogorsk to see the hydroelectric dam, an
engineering marvel. (B, L, D)
Day 13 — Novosibirsk
Stop in Novosibirsk, Siberia's third largest city, founded
in honor of Tsar Nicholas II in 1893. Visit the Opera House,
Lenin Square, and the lively central market. (B, L, D)
Day 14 — Yekaterinburg
Founded in 1723, Yekaterinburg is considered the historic
and economic center of the Urals. View the 1918 execution site
of Tsar Nicholas II and the imperial family. Also visit the
Military History Museum to see the remaining pieces salvaged
from Gary Powers's U-2 spy plane. (B, L, D)
Day 15 — Kazan
Spend the day in Kazan, the beautiful capital of Tatarstan
settled along the banks of the Volga River. Once part of the
Golden Horde during the 15th and 16th centuries, the city today
bustles with lively pedestrian streets and a vibrant and
colorful central market. Reboard the train and head toward our
final destination, Moscow. (B, L, D)
Day 16 — Moscow
After disembarking in Russia's cosmopolitan capital, tour
the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, and Red Square. Following
lunch, visit the Armory and view court regalia from the Romanov
dynasty. Tonight, toast your Trans-Siberian Railway journey at a
farewell dinner. Moscow Marriott Royal Aurora (B, L, D)
Day 17 — Moscow/New York
Depart Moscow this morning for the flight to New York. (B)
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