Along the way Experience Classic Original Trans-Siberian Vladivostok via Irkutsk

Leaving from Moscow to Vladivostok via Irkutsk

This version of our Classic Original Trans-Siberian includes a stop at , the world’s largest freshwater lake. Like its sister trip, it appeals not only to train buffs but to historians and those who want to travel the “original” route - and who are maybe planning to journey on to Japan. At the lake, you choose from a range of options included in your trip from the active to the sedentary and even the underwater! And if you want to stop at other Siberian destinations such as Ekaterinburg and Ulan-Uday just let us know and we’ll be happy to discuss the options for adding these to your experience.

What’s included FULL ON NO FRILLS Train Train > 4-berth rail for complete journey (pre-assigned berths) > 4-berth rail for complete journey > option to upgrade to 2-berth > option to upgrade to 2-berth

Moscow Moscow > transfer on arrival to your hotel > transfer on arrival to your hotel > 2 nights 3★ hotel, breakfast > 2 nights 1★ hotel, breakfast > 3 hour personalised walking tour with local expert transfer to the station on departure Irkutsk (city based stay) > transfer on arrival Irkutsk > 3 nights hostel Siberian Village > transfer to the station on departure > all transportation included > 2 nights 3★ hotel, Listvyanka Village, breakfast > 1 night 3★ hotel, Irkutsk City, breakfast > excursion option In the know…

As well as the famous Moscow Metro, there’s a second “Secret Metro” in parallel with the official system. It was built to enable Party leaders to move-around the city or go to the airport in secret. Its existence is still officially a secret, and the public are unable to see or visit it. Only some eccentric pedestrian subways and illogical station-locations on the main system hint where the secret one is located.

Vladivostok is the terminus of the Trans- Siberian railway and also Russia’s major Pacific sea port

The Trans-Siberian route to Vladivostok was built between 1891 and 1916.

No ordinary trip At The Russia Experience we like to ditch the We continually look at ways of enhancing the We have no group departures, our advertised clichés, discard the puff and concentrate on Trans Siberian experience, incorporating dates always operate (barring anything what we do best – bringing to life the world’s seasonal considerations (such as the Harbin completely out of our control) and, above all, longest train route: the places visited, the Ice Festival), providing the historical context we will tell you it like it is – allowing you to encounters made and the realisation of a (pay a visit to the only remaining Soviet Gulag) make the right choice from a portfolio of journey that is both engaging and rewarding. or inviting you to savour the diverse cultural journeys rich in variety and full of memorable influences of indigenous people (sit down experiences. Sorry! We couldn’t resist at least with a shaman, or enjoy the Siberian art of one cliché! throat singing!).

Visa Requirements Hints and Tips Travellers Checklist

Most visitors to Russia require a visa. This TOP TIP! – How are you departing from Day pack, back pack, money belt, first aid must be obtained prior to departure. Visa Vladivostok? There are very few options. kit, heat proof mug, instant coffee, tea processing times can be up to: bags, sun hat, lightweight jacket, flip flops, Photocopy your passport including the sun cream, warm jacket (Sep-Apr Russia 20 Working Days visas issued pages, airline tickets and departures), ski clothing. (for those insurance policies. participating), warm waterproof walking However fast track processing is possible. boots, universal sink plug, bottle opener. Your passport must be valid for at least six Due to the support documents required by months past the end of your travel dates. the Embassy of Russia (which we obtain), you will need to book your trip before starting to obtain visas.

For full information regarding visas, please refer to our web site. Climate and time – Minimum/maximum Temperatures ºC Jan/Feb Mar/Apr May/Jun Jul/Aug Sep/Oct Nov/Dec Moscow -20/-10 - 5/+12 +15/+22 +15/+30 +8/+24 -6/+10 Irkutsk -40/-20 -10/+5 + 8/+22 +26/+38 +10/+24 -15/+8 Vladivostok -15/-02 +03/+12 +18/+23 +24/+30 +12/+22 -15/+4 Experience Classic Original Trans-Siberian via Irkutsk

Leaving from Moscow to full on itinerary – 13 days Vladivostok via Irkutsk

DAY 01 DAY 02 DAY 03 “S Priezdom! Welcome to Moscow!” Our After breakfast one of our local expert staff Your day is free until this evenings transfer driver will be there to meet you from will meet you at the hotel to take you on a take you to the station. Although there’s a whichever flight, train or boat you arrive. three hour walking tour round the restaurant car service on board your train You’ll then be transferred to the Panorama highlights you’ll use public transport you may want to supplement this with 3★ Hotel. (We can obtain rates for superior around the centre to avoid the traffic jams some snacks, treats, and fresh fruit that hotels ask a member of the reservations and get the hang of the system for when you could buy today.Your transfer from the team for details.) The facilities available at you come to use it independently. Our hotel to Yaroslavsky station is scheduled this hotel include a Restaurant, Lobby Bar, staffers are full of ideas for this walk but for 22:30, so please be at the hotel Lobby Wi-Fi access, Luggage Room, Safety are flexible about other ideas if you have reception where your driver will meet you deposit boxes and an ATM machine. At your own. Your walk ends in the city centre and will assist your boarding of the check-in, (after 2pm) the hotel reception around lunchtime. If you haven’t pre- Vladivostok bound train. will advise you they will need your booked any of our range of city excursions Breakfast passport for visa registration. Your the rest of the day is your own to explore complimentary InfoPack is full of ideas for further. Some of our top suggestions DAY 04–06 getting the most out of your free time. (please check opening times/days before On board The Trans-Sib.. travelling No meals setting off) would include visiting the towards Irkutsk. The dining car is the heart Moscow Kremlin, the Tretyakov Gallery, of social life on the train. It functions as the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, or a boat bar, lounge, and take-out snack store, as trip along the Mosvka River ... perhaps well as a café serving reasonably priced locate some tickets for ballet, opera, circus meals. It is a great place to meet fellow or a concert this evening? As well as travellers and locals alike, sharing your famous classical music traditions Moscow experiences of your journey so far with a features on the touring schedules of world few drinks, which no doubt will include names in jazz, rock, pop and world music. some Vodka – and maybe smoked salmon Breakfast and caviar too! Along the way you’ll see astonishing Siberian scenery as the deciduous forests of the slowly give way to Siberian pine forests. The major landmarks are the great rivers you cross, including the River Ob at Novosibirsk (one of the most famous bridges on the route), and the gigantic Enisei River (at ). No meals

These dossiers are designed to provide you with a guide to our trips, the places visited, accommodation used and to give you a flavour of your daily itinerary. You will be travelling in parts of the world where the unanticipated and the unusual are all part of the experience and, as a result, the unexpected can happen and we may on occasions need to vary your plans. These dossiers do not form part of any contract. Experience Classic Original Trans-Sib via Irkutsk

Leaving from Moscow to full on itinerary – 13 days Vladivostok via Irkutsk

DAY 07 DAY 08 DAY 09 Morning arrival in Irkutsk. Our driver will Choose one activity from the list, it’s all After breakfast transfer back to Irkutsk city. meet you at the end of the platform, included in the trip price! You’ll need to Check-into The 3★ Hotel. holding a meeting-board displaying “Russia inform us of your choice before The Angara Hotel is located on the Kirov Experience”. Transfer to U Ozera 3★ Hotel commencing your journey, so that we can Square, in the heart of Irkutsk city. The situated in Listvyanka Village (70km) have the right staff on hand for when you close proximity to main tourist attractions travelling by road through the forest. The arrive (please note the Siberian weather means a great base for your brief stay in Hotel is set just 50 metres from the shores puts seasonal limits on some activities – the city. The railway station is just 5 of Lake Baikal. Hotel facilities include; sun details below). minutes’ drive away. Facilities at this hotel A. SIBERIAN TREK terrace, sauna (local charge) Laundry and through the Taiga Forest include; free Wi-Fi access, 6 restaurants, 3 Ironing service, restaurant and bar. All with a local guide who will explain the bars, ATM, 24 souvenir boutique, chemist’s rooms have private bathrooms, tea and wildlife, with a local guide who will explian shop and a supermarket. Our local staff coffee facilities and a minibar. Wi-Fi is free the eco system and lore of the Taiga. The will provide a map and some of charge in public areas. The nearest ATM- trek is 4-5 hours long, includes a picnic style recommendations of interesting places to machine in the Baikal Hotel (Listvyanka lunch and a good level of fitness is required. visit. Some of our top suggestions (please (May-Oct) remains a village, and doesn't have the B. CIRCUM BAIKAL PICNIC check opening times/days before setting range of banking services you could expect Take the Ferry off) Decembrist Museum, Volkonsky House from Listvyanka to Port Baikal which takes in a city). At check-in, the hotel reception and The Epiphany Cathedral. around 15 minutes. Walk around Port Baikal, will advise you they will need your passport Breakfast where you will see the train station of the for visa registration formalities. This old Circumbaikal rail line. Then you will walk afternoon set off on your walking tour DAY 10 along the rail line to the nearest tunnel (2-3 around Listvyanka Village. This will include km). Stopping for a picnic lunch on the Transfer to the station where you will board a visit to the Limnological Museum (this is shore of Lake Baikal. Return to Port Baikal, the Vladivostok bound train. an exhibition about the Lake, its formation, ferry back to Listvyanka. The excursion is Breakfast wildlife etc. - it includes multimedia around 5 hours duration. (Jun-Sep) presentations, information about the C.TALTSY WOODEN MUSEUM A two hour DAY 11 - 12 creatures which live in the darkest depths, trip which includes a return transfer by car, On board the Trans-Sib ... travelling via and also an aquarium with living aquatic and entrance fees to the Taltsy open air Ulan-Uday and Khabarovsk heading species, including the unique freshwater wooden museum which is situated on the towards Vladivostok. Baikal seals) and also a small wooden shore of the Angara river. On arrival you are No meals village Russian Orthodox Church dating free to explore independently and there is a back to the C18th. You return to your hotel tea house here where afterwards you can DAY 13 at the end of the walk, with time to relax have a cup of tea and traditional Russian Morning arrival in Vladivostok. and enjoy your lakeside surroundings, snack (pancakes, pirodzki, etc) This For additional services in Vladivostok and maybe experience real Siberian "banya" picturesque area shows how life was and beyond please see our website. (sauna – local charge). has been sympathetically restored as a No meals Breakfast tourist attraction where you can buy authentic souvenirs. (Year round) D. PORT BAIKAL A day trip to Port Baikal with a local guide taking a ferry from Listvyanka. On arrival visit the Circumbaikal Railway Museum located at the train station then an uphill hike to the White stone viewpoint and to see the old lighthouse. Followed by a visit to a Russian Orthodox Church, lunch and free time walking back to the village. Return by ferry. Duration 5 hours. (May–August) E. SNOW MOBILE TRIP with a local guide through the forest, or even out over the deep frozen lake! The excursion is around 2 hours 30 minutes duration. (Dec–Apr) F. DOG SLEDDING trip for a distance of 10km 1 dog sled for each client. The excursion is around 1 hour 30 minutes duration. (Dec-Mar) Breakfast

These dossiers are designed to provide you with a guide to our trips, the places visited, accommodation used and to give you a flavour of your daily itinerary. You will be travelling in parts of the world where the unanticipated and the unusual are all part of the experience and, as a result, the unexpected can happen and we may on occasions need to vary your plans. These dossiers do not form part of any contract.