Journey Itinerary
Grand Trans Siberian Railway (departing Vladivostok)
Days Westbound Countries Distance Activity level 23 Vladivostok to St. Petersburg Mongolia + Russia 10,538 km
Ride the grand Trans Siberian Railway from Vladivostok to the old Tartar capital of Kazan, en route to Moscow. Graceful imperial St. Petersburg is the perfect climax to this historic journey.
Sundowners Overland - Grand Trans Siberian Railway (departing Vladivostok) Page 1 of 8 Itinerary
Day 1: Vladivostok
Once a top-secret naval base of the Soviet Union sealed off from the outside world, Vladivostok now opens its doors for business and the city is booming as Russia’s gateway to the Far East and our starting point for our epic journey aboard the Trans Siberian Railway.
At 5pm you'll meet your fellow group members and your Tour Leader in the hotel lobby for your Welcome Meeting.
Day 2: Vladivostok to Ulan Ude
We spend the morning discovering the fascinating history of the city and port with a visit to the Local History Museum and the Vladivostok Fortress Museum, before entering the historic railway terminus to board the Trans Siberian Railway as travellers have done for over a century.
Sightseeing - Half Day Sightseeing Tour including Local History Museum & Vladivostok Fortress Museum, City Exploring and free time.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 3: Trans Siberian Railway
There is a feeling of excitement as our Trans Siberian journey begins. During our time on board you will get to know your fellow passengers as we relax in the comfortable four-berth compartment that is our home for this leg of the journey across eastern Siberia to the Buryat city of Ulan Ude.
Day 4: Trans Siberian Railway
Life on board is a destination in itself! Mingle, learn some new phrases, or practice those you have learned on the locals over the mandatory vodka. When your train pulls into the many stations along the way hop off, stretch your limbs and restock on supplies from the platform kiosks for the next leg of your journey.
Day 5: Ulan Ude
Located in the middle of the vast Siberian steppe, Ulan Ude is a centre of Buddhism in Russia, evoking a relaxed and peaceful city vibe. Here you will see the world’s largest statue of Lenin’s head, and have the opportunity to meander around the 18th -19th century merchant houses that line the main street, locals refer to as ‘Arbat Street’. Later we make our way to the outskirts of the city to one of Russia’s spiritual highlights, the picturesque Ivolginsky Datsan.
Sightseeing - City Tour including Ivolginsk Datsan
Meals - No meals
Day 6: To Mongolia
Leaving the Trans Siberian Railway for the Trans Mongolian Railway we now head south, across the border and into Mongolia, bound for Ulaanbaatar.
Meals - Breakfast
Sundowners Overland - Grand Trans Siberian Railway (departing Vladivostok) Page 2 of 8 Itinerary (cont.)
Day 7: Ulaanbaatar
Arriving into the capital in the early hours of the morning we have the day to explore the city’s monuments and museums, reflecting on the different cultures and people that make up this quirky city.
Sightseeing - City Tour including National History Museum and Sukhbaatar Square. Optional Activity - Cultural evening performance.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 8: To Terelj National Park
After breakfast we visit the Zaisan Memorial from which the entire city is visible, as well as the country’s largest remaining monastery, Gaandan Khiid, where you can mingle with Buddhist monks.
Later in the day we travel out across the grasslands, through the countryside that was once the home to Genghis Khan and his Golden Horde, to the pristine Terelj National Park. Here we spend a couple of nights in a traditional Mongolian nomad ger (felt tent), amongst spectacular rock formations and wild rolling hills. Living among nomadic families and their grazing livestock we can explore nearby valleys or just relax and enjoy the area.
Sightseeing - Gaandan Khiid Monastery and Zaisan Memorial, Excursion to Turtle Rock and Monastery, Visit a nomad family.
Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
Day 9: Return to Ulaanbaatar and to Irkutsk
Leaving the verdant steppe, we return to the city stopping en route at the mammoth statue of Mongolia’s National hero – Genghis Khan. Standing at forty metres high and made from two hundred and fifty tonnes of shiny stainless steel you certainly won’t miss it!
Mid-afternoon we return to the railway station to re-join the Trans Mongolian Railway and roll along the iron tracks into Siberia. Leaving Mongolia at Sukhbaatar and travelling beyond the Russian border town we continue west along the southern shore of the world’s deepest freshwater lake – Baikal.
Sightseeing - Genghis Khan Statue, City Exploring and free time.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 10: Irkutsk and Lake Baikal
After our afternoon arrival into Irkutsk, we transfer to the shores of Lake Baikal for a two-night stay in the lakeside village of Listvyanka. This is a popular summer resort for locals and the perfect spot to pause and relax. We enjoy exploring the landscapes as well as Listvyanka with its traditional houses, and beautiful wooden church.
Sightseeing - City Exploring and free time
Meals - Dinner
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Day 11: Lake Baikal
Quite possibly Russia’s most breathtaking natural landmark, it holds four world records as the largest, deepest, clearest and oldest lake on Earth. It’s no surprise this transformative triumph of nature is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hovercraft over its icy surface in winter or take a refreshing dip in summer – you may just discover it’s also the coldest lake in the world.
Today we also gain an insight into the lake and its inhabitants with a visit to the Limnological Museum.
Sightseeing - Limnological Museum, City Exploring and free time.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 12: Irkutsk and the Trans Siberian Railway
Today we return to Irkutsk. Almost in the center of Asia, Irkutsk is home to beautiful 18th century churches, brightly painted shutters, log houses decorated with intricate wooden lacework, as well as a captivating story of high society exile. Modern administrative blocks and soaring bridges reach out across the Angara River in this beautiful town known as the ‘Paris of Siberia’. Today, on our walking tour you will discover the city’s wonderful historic sights and visit the Local History Museum before we board our late night train to Kazan just after midnight.
Tonight we join the Trans Siberian Railway and travel via Novosibirsk, Omsk and Yekaterinburg booming over the steel bridges spanning Siberia’s nerve system of five thousand rivers to Kazan.
Sightseeing - Museum of Wooden Architecture, Walking Tour including Local History Museum, City Exploring and free time.
Meals - Day 13 – Breakfast & dinner
Day 13: Trans Siberian Railway
Make up your bed with the sheets provided by your provodista and settle in for the night, drifting off to sleep with the rocking and rolling of the train gliding over the tracks.
Day 14: Trans Siberian Railway
Our journey across Siberia is nearly complete. Tomorrow we will roll through to Tatarstan to our next destination.
Day 15: Arrive Kazan
Welcome to the picturesque and historic city of Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan Republic and the Muslim Capital of Russia.
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Day 16: Kazan
Built on the intersection of two rivers, Kazan has endured a tumultuous history. Today, Tatars, the descendants of the Golden Horde and the occupants of the city before the Russians, make up about 43% of the population, maintain their own language as well as culture and are extremely proud of their history. The fusion of Islamic and Russian architecture conveys an exotic feel. We visit Kazan’s magnificent Kremlin Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sightseeing - City Tour including Kazan Kremlin, City Exploring and free time.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 17: Kazan and to Moscow
This morning we make our way to the serene settlement of Sviyazhsk, an island on the Volga. However, this tranquil setting has a violent past, inflicted by Ivan the Terrible and enabling the conquering of Kazan. We visit the Assumption Cathedral and Monastery that contains some of the rarest examples of Eastern Orthodox frescoes, and learn of the villages significant history, before climbing aboard our evening train bound for Moscow.
Sightseeing - Excursion to Sviyazhsk Monastery
Meals - Breakfast
Day 18: Moscow
Early morning brings us into the capital. With its palatial underground rail system draped with chandeliers and palaces and public buildings restored to their former glory – this city will amaze you!
Sightseeing - City Tour including Red Square and St. Basils Cathedral
Day 19: Moscow
We will have ample time to explore 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.
Sightseeing - Kremlin including Armoury Chamber, City Exploring and free time, Optional activity: Cultural evening performance
Meals - Breakfast
Day 20: St. Petersburg
A day train takes us to St Petersburg where you’ll enjoy the 18th century architecture which abounds throughout the city.
Sightseeing - City Exploring and free time
Meals - Breakfast
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Day 21: St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is the perfect end to this astonishing journey and offers a treasure trove of wonders for you to take in during our final days, including the world-renowned Hermitage Museum, housed in the Winter Palace as well as the beautiful Peter and Paul Cathedral, the final resting place of the Russian Tsar’s.
Sightseeing - Hermitage Museum & Palace Square, City Exploring and free time. Optional Activity: Cultural Performance
Meals - Breakfast
Day 22: St. Petersburg
Further explore this luxurious city with richly filled palaces and museums, wide boulevards and Venice-like canals, and the greatest art collection of all, at the Hermitage.
Sightseeing - Half Day City Tour, Peter and Paul Cathedral, City Exploring and free time.
Meals - Breakfast
Day 23: St. Petersburg
Our adventure has drawn to a close. Say farewell to your travelling companions and tour leader before departing your hotel this morning.
Meals - Breakfast
Journey Summary
Day 1 Vladivostok - journey begins
Day 2 Vladivostok and depart to Ulan Ude Evening departure
Day 3 Onboard train
Day 4 Onboard train
Day 5 Arrive Ulan Ude Morning arrival
Day 6 Ulan Ude and depart to Ulaanbaatar Afternoon departure
Day 7 Arrive Ulaanbaatar Early morning arrival
Day 8 To Terelj National Park
Day 9 Return to Ulaanbaatar and depart to Irkutsk Afternoon departure
Day 10 Arrive Irktusk and to Lake Baikal Afternoon arrival
Day 11 Lake Baikal
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Day 12 Return to Irkutsk and depart to Kazan Late evening departure
Day 13 Onboard train
Day 14 Onboard train
Day 15 Arrive Kazan Afternoon arrival
Day 16 Kazan
Day 17 Kazan and depart to Moscow Evening departure
Day 18 Arrive Moscow Morning arrival
Day 19 Moscow
Day 20 Day train to St Petersburg
Day 21 St Petersburg
Day 22 St Petersburg
Day 23 St Petersburg - journey concludes
Sundowners Overland - Grand Trans Siberian Railway (departing Vladivostok) Page 7 of 8 What's included
Group size Meals Transfers
15 maximum 14 breakfasts All arrival transfers excluding airport 4 dinners
Accommodation Sightseeing Expertise
11 hotel (twin share) Comprehensive schedule of sightseeing An experienced Tour Leader 2 Siberian guesthouse (twin share) with certified Local Guides. You’ll have a accompanies the whole journey to keep 1 Mongolian ger (shared) generous sprinkling of free time to relax your adventure on track. Local Guides 9 train (shared 4-berth) or explore on your own. are native to each destination and as certified professionals will share their immense knowledge with you. 24/7 support is available in the office and on the ground.
Contact Us
Client enquiries and reservations Travel agent enquiries and Client enquiries and reservations
Australia: 1300 559 860 reservations Level 1, 51 Queen Street, New Zealand: 0800 770 156 Australia: 1300 559 860 Melbourne, VIC, 3000 UK: 0208 877 7657 New Zealand: 0800 770 156 Australia Europe: +44 208 877 7657 UK: 0208 877 7657 T: +61 3 9672 5300 Worldwide: +61 3 9672 5386 Europe: +44 208 877 7657 www.sundownersoverland.com [email protected] Worldwide: +61 3 9672 5386 [email protected]
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