Grand Trans Siberian Railway

29 days - from $11165

Itinerary:

Days 1-6. Japan Adventure  
 Tokyo, a modern city of awe inspiring skyscrapers, an impressive modern metro system and limitless technology. We visit our first shrine then board our shinkansen to Nagoya and from there an express train to the tranquillity of Takayama, or ‘Little Kyoto’. Take the time to relax in this town of wooden houses and have the opportunity to stay in a traditional ryokan where samurai would have stayed. We wander the streets and the lattice bayed windows entice us in to sample some sake or view the wooden and Japanese handicrafts traditional of the region. We visit the Hida Heritage Folk Village full of hand thatched farmhouses and take a step back in time before boarding our train to Kanazawa.& Here we will visit Kenrokuen, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, once the outer garden of the city’s castle.& We also journey to Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan to Todaiji Temple, reputedly the largest wooden building in the world housing the Great Buddha. Our final destination in Japan is Kyoto& -& one of Japan’s oldest capitals unlocks her treasures of the Golden Temple, the Geisha district of Gion and Kiyomizudera temple set on a hillside overlooking the city.
Days 6-7. Across the Sea of Japan  
 We mingle amongst the guests on board this ferry to Russia, often businessmen travelling between the neighbouring countries, and we start to adjust to the change in culture and language. Once a top-secret naval base of the Soviet Union, Vladivostok was sealed off from the outside world. Now its doors are open for business and the city is booming as Russia's gateway to the Far East. For 100 years this has been the legendary eastern terminus of the Trans Siberian Railway, its historic railway station recently restored to its former grandeur. Discover the city and port before climbing aboard the train for this incredible journey.
Days 8-11. By rail to Ulan Ude  
 We settle into life on board, getting to know our travelling companions. Relax in the comfortable four-berth compartment that is home for the three days and nights it takes to cross eastern Siberia to the Buryat city of Ulan Ude. Reminiscent of old Siberia, Ulan Ude is located in the middle of the vast Siberian steppes, on the 5640th kilometre of the Trans Siberian railway. The local open air ethnographic museum tells an interesting story about the life and traditions of the native Siberians (Buryats and Evenks) and the colonisers (Cossacks and Old-believers).
Day 12. Trans Mongolian Railway  
 Onwards we travel, enjoying the company of our fellow passengers and a picnic in our cabin. The train arrives at Naushki, the Russian border town where formalities are completed, and then continue across no-man's land to Sukhbaatar where Mongolian officials board the train before we journey on to Ulaanbaatar.
Days 13-17. The Mongolian Steppe  
 After breakfast we visit the Zaisan Memorial from which the entire city is visible. Also to the country’s largest remaining monastery, Gandan Hiid where you can mingle with Buddhist monks. In the afternoon we travel out across the grasslands through the countryside where we spend a night in a traditional Mongolian nomad tent or ger set amongst spectacular rock formations and wild rolling hills. We return to Ulaanbaatar and visit the National Museum before joining the train north to Siberia. Continuing towards Russia, leaving Mongolia at Sukhbaatar and travelling beyond the Russian border town and then west along the southern shore of the world's deepest freshwater lake - Baikal.
Days 18-24. Irkutsk and Lake Baikal  
 Almost in the centre of Asia, Irkutsk - 18th century churches, bright painted shutters and log houses decorated with wooden lacework. On our walking tour you will discover the city’s wonderful historic sights. We also enjoy a full day at Lake Baikal and stay in the village of Listvyanka with its traditional houses and beautiful wooden church and nearby Limnological Museum. We rejoin the Trans Siberian Railway and travel via Novosibirsk, Omsk and Ekaterinburg to St.Petersburg.
Days 25-26.& St.Petersburg&  
 It is the city on the water, the "Venice of the North", standing resplendent on the delta of the Neva River. St Isaac's Cathedral, the tsars palace at Petrodvorets, the gilded halls of the Hermitage Museum hung with the works of da Vinci, Rembrandt and other great masters.
Days 27-29. Moscow&  
 Moscow will amaze you, its palaces and public buildings restored to their former glory. The echoing vastness of Red Square, the splendid twirled cupolas of St.Basil's across the cobblestones, and the Kremlin itself - that fabled palace-fort of gilded domes where we marvel at the exquisite collection of royal treasures in the stunning Armoury Chamber. We ride the palatial underground rail system, adorned with chandeliers, mosaics and baroque bas-relief and perhaps a river cruise or a magical evening at one of Moscow's great theatres or State Circus.The adventure is complete, the legendary rail journey that started many days ago has taken you across Asia, through lands and cultures literally worlds apart.
 

Details:

• Group Size 15 maximum, plus Tour Leader
• Accommodation Hotels - 10 nights (twin share) Mongolian Ger - 2 night (shared) Siberian Guesthouse - 2 nights (twin share) Trains - 11 nights (4 berth) Ferry - 2 nights (4 berth) Ryokan - 1 night (traditional Japanese Inn dating from the Edo period (1603-1868))
• Meals 28 in total
• Breakfast (18), lunch (4), dinner (6)
• Travel by Train: Comfortable 4 berth sleepers
• There are 5 rail sectors on this journey - Vladivostok to Ulan Ude (3 nights) - Ulan Ude to Ulaanbaatar (1 night) - Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk (2 nights) - Irkutsk to St.Petersburg (4 nights) - St.Petersburg to Moscow (1 night) Other: For ‘Scheduled Sightseeing’ we generally use a small minibus, and for ‘City Exploring’ we use local taxis, public transport, underground metro and go on foot. 2 Berth Rail (Optional) Available for a supplementary price only when two people book and travel together
• Available on all rail sectors between Vladivostok and Moscow
• Sightseeing Scheduled Sightseeing is part of the itinerary and includes all transport, entrance fees and English speaking local guide
• This journey enjoys a greater number of included sights than others
• Tokyo: City tour.  Takayama: Hida Folk Village.Kanazawa: Kenrokuen Garden. Nara: Todaiji. Kyoto: Kinkakuji, Sanjusangendo, Kiyomizudera, walk of Gion. Vladivostok: City tour and museums
• Ulan Ude: Ethnographical Museum, Ivolginsk Datsun
• Ulaanbaatar: Zaisan Memorial, National History Museum, Gandan Hiid Monastery, Terelj National Park
• Irkutsk (Siberia): Walking tour of city, Museum of Wooden Architecture, Limnological Museum, Lake Baikal. St.Petersburg: City tour, Palace Square, Hermitage Museum. Moscow: City tour, St.Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Kremlin, Armoury Chamber.City Exploring is further sightseeing outside the itinerary guideline but with the Group Leader
• Visas Required for Japan (depends on nationality), Mongolia & Russia
• Adventure Center will provide all required invitation letters and full visa support including detailed visa guidelines.