Trans-Siberian tour «Summer adventure»

 

Highlights

The Trans-Siberian Railway spans 9,288 kilometers, connects 146 railway stations, and takes 146 hours and 22 minutes to traverse by train. For you, it can become the journey of a lifetime, filled with unforgettable experiences and emotions.

During this journey, you'll be able to:

• Get acquainted with the Trans-Siberian Railway—the most significant of Russia's modern wonders.
• Learn about the cultures and religions of five nationalities living within Russia.
• Explore Moscow through the eyes of local residents.
• Embark on an adventure in Altai, experiencing its stunning pristine nature and breathtaking landscapes.
• Be amazed by the charming Lake Baikal.

 

Itinerary

Day 1. Welcome to Russia!

Upon your arrival in Russia, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where you can rest before beginning your Trans-Siberian adventure!

​

Day 2. Moscow

The Moscow Kremlin is the quintessential symbol of Russia and the perfect starting point to explore the world's largest country. Once the residence of Russian Tsars, it now serves as the President's official home.
Throughout Russian history, magnificent buildings have been constructed around the Kremlin. After exploring some of these architectural marvels, we'll take you to a local restaurant to savor traditional Russian cuisine.
Post-lunch, we'll continue our walk around the city center, where you'll see Red Square, Lenin's Mausoleum, St. Basil's Cathedral (from the outside), the GUM department store, and the State Historical Museum. We'll also guide you through the city's alleys and courtyards teeming with authentic local life.

Day 3. Moscow

The Tretyakov Gallery is Moscow's premier art museum, showcasing the most famous Russian paintings and masterpieces. Our guide will meet you at the hotel to take you on a tour.
Next, we'll explore the stunning Moscow metro stations, whose architectural beauty is renowned worldwide. We'll occasionally emerge from the underground to admire the Stalin-era skyscrapers.
In the evening, you'll enjoy dinner with a local family, featuring traditional meals made from local products and friendly conversation.
After dinner, we'll drive you to the railway station, where you'll board a night train to Kazan.

Day 4. Kazan

One of the great aspects of the Trans-Siberian journey is the opportunity to witness different cultures, religions, and arts coexisting peacefully within one country.
Yesterday, you were in Slavic Moscow with its Orthodox churches. Today, you'll explore Tatar Russia: the architecture of its Muslim mosques and the unique Tatar traditions distinct from those in Moscow.
Our guide will meet you at the station and assist with your check-in. Your Kazan city tour begins here. First, you'll stroll along the pedestrian Baumana Street, paved with multicolored bricks.
Then, you'll visit the Kazan Kremlin area (yes, Kazan has its own Kremlin, and it's fascinating). Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, the Kremlin is surrounded by remarkable buildings like the Suyumbike Tower, Kul-Sharif Mosque, and Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral.
Our guide will share the history and help you understand the unique historical path of Tatarstan.

Day 5. Kazan — Trans-Siberian

Photographer Ruslan Galeev Ivan the Terrible, one of Russia's most famous tsars, built the Sviyazhsk fortress on a small island near the confluence of the Sviyaga and Volga rivers. It took only four weeks to construct and served as a base for the successful conquest of Kazan.
Today, Sviyazhsk is a historical site commemorating the annexation of Tatarstan to Russia. The island features several white stone monasteries and is an essential stop on any Trans-Siberian journey.

Attractions to visit today:

• John the Baptist (Ioanno-Predtechensky) Monastery from 1551, featuring the Temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh and the icon of the Mother of All Sorrows.
• The Uspensky Monastery with the Chapel of St. Nicholas.
• Monument to the Victims of Political Repression (Sviyazhsk was used as a detention center for political prisoners during the Soviet era).
• Lazy Torzhok amusement park, where you can try on tsar attire or prisoner’s clothes, attempt axe throwing, and enjoy local cuisine afterward.

In the evening, we'll take you to the railway station to catch a train to your next Trans-Siberian stop: Yekaterinburg.

Day 6. Yekaterinburg — Trans-Siberian

Today is special—you'll cross the invisible border separating Europe from Asia, located in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city.

Our city tour starts with a visit to the Church on the Blood, built on the site where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed. Our guide will share the poignant history of Russia's last Tsar.

You'll also visit these fascinating places:

• The panoramic view of the Iset River.
• The historic Grand Square of 1905.
• The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
• The Europe-Asia monument.

In the evening, you'll board a Trans-Siberian train to Novosibirsk.

Day 7. Trans-Siberian - Novosibirsk

Photographer Ruslan Galeev Today, you'll journey from Russia's Ural region into Western Siberia, passing through many small towns, including the notable cities of Tyumen and Omsk.
In the evening, you'll arrive in Novosibirsk. We'll meet you, take you to your hotel, and recommend some excellent local restaurants for dinner.

Day 8. Novosibirsk - Gorno-Altaisk

One of the most interesting places along the Trans-Siberian Railway is the Altai Mountains. Early in the morning, we'll drive you to Novosibirsk airport, where you'll take an S7 Airlines flight to Gorno-Altaisk. Here, you'll explore one of Russia's most beautiful wilderness areas.
Our Altai guide will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel in the Chemal area.
After lunch, you'll have an excursion in the Chemal region, visiting the picturesque Island of Patmos and walking along a mountain trail beside the Katun River. We'll then drive you to Chech-Kysh, where you can see prehistoric petroglyphs (cave paintings) and visit a viewpoint overlooking the Katun River valley.

Day 9. Chemal - Inegen

Today, you'll get to know the Chuysky Trakt, or Chuya Highway—one of the most scenic roads in the world. Over the next three days, we'll drive almost to the Mongolian border, experiencing everything from low mountains to glacier-covered peaks.
After an early breakfast, we'll cover 230 kilometers.

• We'll traverse the Seminsky Pass (1,717 meters high) and the Chike-Taman Pass, whose steep hillsides are particularly impressive.
• Visit the Karakol Valley to see the Pazyryk burial mounds and learn about Scythian culture.
• Enjoy the view at the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers, where the differently colored waters create picturesque turquoise swirls.

Tonight, you'll stay in a small hotel on the bank of the Katun River, nestled at the base of a mountain—calm and serene.

Day 10. Inegen

After an early breakfast at the hotel, you'll embark on a radial road trip to see three amazing landmarks:

• The multicolored mountains of Kyzyl-Chin, known as the "Martian mountains."
• The vibrant patterns at the bottom of Geyser Lake.
• A panoramic view of the Kurai Steppe and the glacier-clad peaks of the North-Chuya Range.

Day 11. Inegen - Ust-Sema

The Chuya Highway has many side roads leading to hidden gems known only to locals. Today, we'll explore some of these lesser-known treasures:

• Kalbak-Tash, a rock with 5,000 ancient petroglyphs. These paintings offer insights into the beliefs and lives of the people who inhabited these lands thousands of years ago.
• The Ilgumen River rapids—a thrilling and powerful natural site.

In the evening, you'll stay in a hotel near the village of Ust-Sema.

Day 12. Ust-Sema - Novosibirsk - Trans-Siberian

After breakfast, we'll drive you to Gorno-Altaisk airport for your flight back to Novosibirsk.
Novosibirsk, often called the "Capital of Siberia," is the cultural and scientific hub of the region. The city developed rapidly after the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and has grown to become Russia's third-largest city.

To acquaint you with the city, we'll visit its main attractions:

• The locomotive museum, where you'll learn about the history of the Trans-Siberian Railway and see steam engines and locomotives from different eras, including royal carriages.
• Lenin Square—the main city square of Novosibirsk.
• The Chapel of St. Nicholas—the geographical center of Russia.
• A Monument to the Heroes of the Revolution—a memorial from the Soviet era.
• The Monument of the Bridge, featuring a part of the original Trans-Siberian rail bridge.

In the evening, you'll board a Trans-Siberian train to your next destination.

Day 13. Trans-Siberian Day

Photographer Ruslan Galeev The next stop on your itinerary is Irkutsk, but the train will arrive there tomorrow morning. Today, you'll enjoy a full day riding the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Day 14. Irkutsk - Baikal

Early in the morning, you'll arrive in Irkutsk. Our guide will meet you at the station.
Today, you'll visit the village of Taltsy to explore the open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture. Here, you'll see a unique collection of historical, architectural, and ethnographic Siberian monuments spanning six centuries. Next, we'll drive you to Listvyanka, home to the Baikal Museum, where you'll learn everything about Lake Baikal—its origin, flora and fauna, and even an underwater exhibition. A funicular will take you up to Chersky Stone, offering a breathtaking view of Lake Baikal.

Tonight, you'll stay in Listvyanka.

Day 15. Circum-Baikal Railroad

Early in the morning, we'll drive you to the starting point of the all-day Circum-Baikal Railway Tour. Arrival at the Listvyanka Hotel around 8 am. In the evening, we'll return to Irkutsk, where you'll board a train to Ulan-Ude.

Day 16. Ulan-Ude

We'll meet you early in the morning and drive you to your hotel for some rest. Then, your tour of the Ulan-Ude area will begin.
This region is inhabited by the Buryats—another of Russia's many ethnic groups.
The most intriguing aspects of Buryat culture and religion are found in the countryside.
Today, we'll guide you to the Ivolginsky Datsan and the village of Tarbagatay. The patron of the Datsan is Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov.
In 1927, Lama Itigilov entered deep meditation and achieved nirvana. He sat in the Lotus position and left his body, instructing his disciples to bury him and exhume his body 70 years later. The disciples followed his wishes, and today, Lama Itigilov’s mummified body still sits in the Lotus pose in the main temple of the Ivolginsky Datsan.
Remarkably, his body shows signs of life: soft skin without decay, preserved facial features, and flexible fingers and joints.
In the evening, you'll have some free time.

Day 17 Ulan-Ude - Trans-Siberian

Photographer Ruslan Galeev After breakfast, we'll continue the Ulan-Ude city tour. You'll see the beautiful Opera and Ballet Theatre, powerful monuments of horse riders from Buryat history, and the Mother Buryatia monument.
After lunch, you'll board a train to Vladivostok.

Day 18, 19 Trans-Siberian Days

You'll spend two days on the train traveling through Russia's eastern regions, passing many villages and small towns. The largest among them are Khabarovsk and Chita.

Day 20 Vladivostok

Your train arrives in Vladivostok in the morning—the final stop on your Trans-Siberian journey. Located on the hills by the Sea of Japan, the city offers stunning views and rich history.

During today's tour, you'll see the Central Square and the Monument to the Fighters for Soviet Power in the Far East. You'll visit the S-56 Submarine and Pacific Navy War Memorials, the Arsenev Regional Museum, Yul Brynner’s House, and the Public Garden. The day's highlight will be the Eagle’s Nest Hill—the highest point in the city—offering panoramic views of Vladivostok in all its glory!

Day 21 Departure

Your Trans-Siberian Express journey has come to an end.
We hope our tour has helped you explore the diversity of Russian culture and that the memories and experiences will stay with you for years to come.
We'll drive you to the airport according to your flight departure time.

The cost includes:

• Rail tickets (2nd class compartments, 4 people per compartment)
• 3* or 4* hotel accommodations with breakfast
• Private guide services
• Cultural visits
• Air tickets Novosibirsk - Gorno-Altaisk - Novosibirsk
• Transfers according to the program
• Russian Visa supporting documents, including an official visa invitation letter

The tour price is per person for a group of 4 people.

Request Trans-Siberian tour