Epic Trans-Siberian: St. Petersburg - Moscow - Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk - Baikal - Vladivostok (TS-16)

Hotel Nevsky Grand 3*,
St. PetersburgHotel Nevsky Hotel Grand is ideally located in the centre of St. Petersburg, and within easy walking distance of the famous landmarks of St. Petersburg - such as Hermitage; Kazan, St. Isaac's and Savior on Spilled Blood Cathedrals; Russian museum. The hotel features elegant interior and cozy homelike atmosphere. The hotel’s 135 guest rooms and 5 suites are designed in the modern style with a touch of antique, complimented by the technological amenities, including telephone, free WiFi, interactive satellite television, safe, air-conditioning system. There is a hall on every floor with soft drinks, coffee and tea, open 24 hours a day.

M-Hotel 3*,
ST. PETERSBRUGLocated in the Golden Triangle District, the 3 star M-Hotel is convenient for many of St Petersburg’s attractions including being just a twenty minute walk from the Hermitage Museum. In addition, it is well connected to public transport; the nearest Metro station, Nevsky Prospect, is only a two minute walk away. The hotel’s rooms and suites are bright and airy, furnished in a comfortable fashion. WiFi is available throughout the hotel at no additional cost.

Half Day Guided Tour to Tsarskoe Selo (Catherine Palace & Amber Room)Guided visit to one of the major architectural treasures of the Royal St. Petersburg - settlement of Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin) located 25km south of the city. This small town has two gigantic palaces, set amidst huge and beautiful parkland: the glorious Catherine Palace, a Baroque masterpiece by the Italian architecture Bartolomeo Rastrelli, and the Alexander Palace, where the last tsar family dwelt. We will visit the Catherine’s Palace with the Amber Room. It features splendid interiors, designed by eminent architects Rastrelli, Cameron, Stasov and Monighetti.

5 hours | £110 per person

Folk Show at Nikolaevsky PalaceThe folk show "Feel Yourself Russian" is comprised of the bright performances of St. Petersburg professional folk companies. During two hours of this dynamic colourful and picturesque show you will hear tuneful folk songs - romantic, and full of life, watch sparkling dances of different provinces of Russia, and learn that some items - such as saws, wooden spoons, and other traditional household appliances - can also be used as musical instruments! The national colour of the performance is enriched with the bright dresses made in accordance with Russian traditions.

2 hours | £55 per person

Russian Museum Guided TourRussian museum features the largest collection of Russian art no other museum in the world can boast of. Over 400,000 exhibits reflect history of Russian fine art from the ancient icons to the 20th century avant-garde, presenting all the stages, schools and genres. The permanent exhibition of the State Russian Museum presents the works of Russian and Soviet artists and covers the period from the 11th century till nowadays. Along with paintings, the museum boasts unique collections of works of folk art, decorative and applied art, and numismatics.

4 hours | £60 per person

St. Petersburg Boat Trip with an Audio-guideA new perspective on St. Petersburg can be gained from water-level and the boat trips visit some areas of the city that might not be reached on ground. The looming silhouettes of the bridges, the grandeur of the waterways, the granite embankments with their various piers and slipways, the 18th and 19th century palaces and parks on the banks of the Neva and the canals, architectural landmarks in the form of the domes and spires of churches and cathedrals, visible from a long way off - all this contributes to the unique appearance of the "Venice of the North". The boat trip is with a recorded audio-guide.

1 hour | £25 per person

Day 1 — Thursday

Transfer from the airport to the hotel

On arrival in St. Petersburg, you’ll be met in the airport arrival sector with a Go Russia sign board for your transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 — Friday

St. Petersburg City Tour by Car

Without question one of Russia’s most elegant cities, calm St Petersburg is often referred to as the “Venice of the North”. We’ll explore this museum city at a leisurely pace, taking in the Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church of Christ's Resurrection (The Saviour of the Blood). We’ll also take you to see the famous cruiser Aurora; the legendary ship whose cannon gave the signal, on the order of Lenin, for the beginning of the Great Social Revolution more than 90 years ago.

Day 3 — Saturday

Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace) Guided Tour

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

The Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace) is the number one tourist attraction in the city and with good reason. This stunning palace, an architectural masterpiece in itself, features over three million pieces of art, spanning a period from the Stone Age to the 20th Century. You’ll be able to admire iconic works by the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian, Raphael and the French impressionists. We’ll drag ourselves away to collect our bags and head to the train station to catch the Grand Express.

Train: St. Petersburg - Moscow

Day 3 — Saturday

Grand Express: St. Petersburg - Moscow

For demanding travellers who prefer to travel in particular comfort, Russian railways now offer a luxury travel option to discover a style fit for a Tzar! The introduction of a new train, the “Grand Express”, on the Moscow-St. Petersburg line is changing current assumptions about comfortable rail travel which is comparable in standard to that of a good hotel. Indeed, the “Grand Express” is a real hotel on wheels that features spacious sleeping compartments with toilets, showers, air-conditioning, wide sofas, LCD TV, DVD-players and WI-FI. “Grand Express” train also has standard 9 compartments carriages of 1st and 2nd class.

Moscow

Hotel Ibis Centre Bakhrushina 3*,
MoscowPart of the Ibis collection, the Moscow Centre Bakhrushina Hotel is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a value hotel with facilities you can trust. Situated within the meander of the Moskva River, it’s centrally located a half hour stroll from Red Square or the Kremlin and within easy reach of the Paveletskaya metro station.

Moscow by Night City Tour by CarMoscow combines the best of old and modern architecture. It is a city of long avenues and majestic squares, leafy boulevards, parks and gardens, new luxury housing, bridges, the granite embankments of Moscow River, and the unique cultural and historical sites. Discover Moscow by night with a guided city tour by car.

3 hours | £75 per person

Tretiakov Gallery Guided TourA guided tour of the Tretiakov Gallery, the biggest collection of Russian fine art in the world. The core of the museum's collection was assembled in the middle of the nineteenth century by Pavel Tretiakov, a wealthy Moscow merchant whose passion for collecting included violins, birds, and milk cows as well as Russian art. The museum represents the whole history of Russian art from the ancient period until now. There are more than 130 000 unique examples of painting, sculpture and graphics, created throughout the centuries by talented Russian artists.

4 hours | £80 per person

Museum of the Cold War - Former Top Secret Command CentreWe invite you to visit the former top secret command centre of the Russian Armed Forces recently converted into museum of the Cold War period. It is the newest museum opened in Moscow. After entering a regular building in a quite central street of the city and a ride on a rapid elevator 65 meters under the ground you will see a real top secret military facility of the USSR. During a short guided tour you will pass through the secret tunnels, see samples of communication equipment and fire arms.

3 hours | £95 per person

Diamond Fund Guided TourThe Diamond Fund is located in the Kremlin Armoury containing the most valuable gems of Russia - a collection of masterpieces of jewellery of the 18th-20th centuries, rare precious stones, gold and platinum nuggets of great artistic, historic and scientific importance. It is one of the few treasuries in the world that house unique crown jewels. The exhibition features such treasures as diamond encrusted Coronation Crown of Catherine the Great, the world-famous 190-carat Orlov Diamond among other stunning examples.

2 hours | £100 per person

Half Day Guided Tour to Sergiev Posad Monastery - the Heart of Russian Orthodox ReligionThe town located in the suburbs of Moscow grew up in the 15th century around one of the greatest Russian monasteries - the Holy Trinity – St. Sergius Lavra (Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra) established by St. Sergius of Radonezh. The town also claims to be the birthplace of the Russian nesting doll, or matryoshka. On our way to Sergiev Posad we will enjoy the charming Russian countryside as the highway runs through huge birch forests, hills, as well as past beautifully decorated country homes.

7 hours | £125 per person

Day 4 — Sunday

Transfer from the railway station to the hotel

Moscow City Tour by Car

Red Square, St. Basil`s & Lenin Mausoleum Guided Tour

On reaching the Russian capital, our driver will collect you from your train and take you to the hotel. We’ll take a walking tour through the streets of Moscow, passing through Lubyanka Square where the KGB was headquartered in Soviet times, Teatralnaya Square where you’ll find the Bolshoi Theatre and along Tverskaya Street, the busiest street in Moscow. We’ll end our walk in Red Square to explore St Basil’s and Kazan Cathedrals, the imposing Kremlin towers, Lenin’s Mausoleum and the expansive facade of GUM department store.

Day 5 — Monday

Kremlin Grounds & the Armoury Guided Tour

Moscow Underground Guided Tour

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Today we dip into the past with our guided tour of the Kremlin’s grounds and cathedrals. The fascinating Armoury Museum is housed in a building that’s stored weaponry for over five centuries and has been a museum since 1813. It contains such exhibits as the chalice of Yuri Dolgorukiy, Boris Godunov’s armour, Faberge’s fabulous eggs, and a plethora of golden and silver works of art. From there we’ll transfer to a modern metro that could just as easily be a work of art itself, adorned with marble, mosaics, stained glass panels and bronze sculptures.Our train tonight will carry us to Yekaterinburg, so we return to the hotel and then transfer to the station in the company of our reliable driver.

Hotel Novotel Center 4*,
YekaterinburgThe Novotel Yekaterinburg Centre is one of the best hotels in the city. It is conveniently located right in the heart of the capital of the Urals, within walking distance of the city's main attractions and the business and shopping centres of Yekaterinburg. All rooms feature climate control and free WIFI, combining modern decor, ergonomics and high-tech equipment. The hotel is fully equipped with new-generation Novotel rooms meaning MediaHub panel allowing to charge Mac, iPhone and plug laptop to TV, watch movies and make video-calls. Standard rooms have air conditioning, rain shower, satellite TV, tea/coffee amenities, laptop safe, minibar.

Train: Moscow - Yekaterinburg

Day 5 — Monday

Night train: Moscow - Yekaterinburg

You will travel on a comfortable fast train to Yekaterinburg. Both 1st (2 berth) and 2nd (4 berth) compartments are available. Clean linen, including sheets, towels, blankets and pillows are provided for each berth. The train also has a dining car that serves good meals. Arrival in Yekaterinburg late in the evening next day.

Yekaterinburg

Itinerary Accommodation

Day 6 — Tuesday

Transfer from the railway station to the hotel

Arrival in Yekaterinburg will be late in the evening next day, but our driver will collect us at the carriage and take us safely to the hotel.

Yekaterinburg

Day 7 — Wednesday

Ganina Yama & Cathedral on the Blood Guided Tour

Guided Visit to the Europe - Asia Border

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Today, we’re off to the majestic Memorial Cathedral on the Blood in the name of all Saints, which was built on the place of execution of the last Russian tsar Nikolay II together with his family. We visit Ganina Pit, a unique orthodox monastery built on the site of the initial burial place of those imperial remains. Later, we offer an included excursion to the obelisk marking the border between Europe and Asia. On the way to the border, we stop for a visit to the Memorial honouring the victims of the Stalin’s repressions of the 1930-1950s. At the end of the day, it’s back to the railway station to connect with our train to Irkutsk.

Train: Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk

Day 7 — Wednesday

Night train: Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk

We board our train late in the evening. The train to Irkutsk takes three days, but it’s a good opportunity to experience the Trans-Siberian as it should be enjoyed. Rest in your comfortable compartment as you travel sedately through the Russian steppe. Converse with your companions and others taking this popular long distance service.

Irkutsk - Listvyanka

Mayak Hotel 4*,
ListvyankaThe Hotel Mayak in Listvyanka occupies an enviable waterfront position giving its guests panoramic views over Lake Baikal. Many of the rooms have large windows from which you can watch boats come and go at the boat dock. The hotel itself is well equipped with the facilities you would expect from a property of its class, with a pool, sauna and Russian banya for guests. There’s free WiFi throughout the hotel, room service and assistance with document registration.

Circum-Baikal Railway Walking TourEnjoy a walking tour along the Circum-Baikal railway – a truly historic line - starting from Port Baikal to the first or second tunnel. You’re bound to be impressed by the stunning views of Lake Baikal, its magnificent beauty and the surrounding hills. This is a circular route, which starts and ends in Listvyanka village.

6 hours | £65 per person

Listvyanka Tour & Visit to the Balkal MuseumEnjoy a guided walk in the village including a visit to the Baikal museum. Your guide will also show you the famous Shaman Rock and tell you the legend about the naughty Angara River. Take a cable lift to get to a nearby view point from where you’ll get a chance to take panoramic pictures of Baikal. Enjoy your visit to a local 19th century wooden St. Nicolas church and a local fish market where you’ll see a great variety of fish and different ways of cooking it. Price includes services of an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets to the Baikal museum, transport from the village centre to the Baikal museum and back, cable car (one way).

4 hours | £125 per person

Horse Riding in TaigaEnjoy horse-riding along the largest lake on our planet or deep in Taiga forest. Before the horse riding session you will receive a short briefing and your instructor will show you how to get on a horse and how to control it. Please note, there will be no English – speaking guide with you, only an instructor who speaks basic English.

3 hours | £95 per person

Circum-Baikal Railway Guided Tour by TrainThe Circum-Baikal is not just a railway, but a unique museum of history and nature, combining architecture with zoology, mineralogy and geology. Go Russia invites you to join us on the breathtaking journey around Lake Baikal, on the Circum-Baikal Railway, which runs along the North shore of the Southern part of the lake, from the village of Slyudyanka to the Port Baikal settlement. This is a full-day guided tour, which may start from either Irkutsk or the village of Listvyanka.

11 hours | £225 per person

Trekking at Baikal with PicnicNote: you need to be fit to participate in this trek. This is a circular route hike which starts and ends in Listvyanka. First half of the walk goes through the Taiga forest, then the trail leads down to the shore of Lake Baikal. On the lake shore the guide will cook for you a delicious lunch on camp-fire. After sunbathing and swimming in the lake, we continue our walk on the hillside enjoying the panorama of Lake Baikal along the way. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

6 hours | £65 per person

Ride a Quad in ListvyankaRide a quad in Listvyanka village, enjoy stunning views of Lake Baikal and experience taiga forest. You will be riding a quad with another person (in total 2 persons per quad) accompanied by an English speaking guide. A picnic lunch will be served on the lake shore.

2 hours | £125 per person

Day 10 — Saturday

Transfer by car / minibus: Irkutsk - Listvyanka

At leisure at Baikal

Our train will take three days to cross Siberia as far as Irkutsk. A guide will meet you with a sign board upon your arrival and take you to Listvyanka (approx. 70 km away). There, you’ll enjoy free time in this charming village where you can choose to visit the St. Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church or the Baikal Lake Museum, where you will learn Siberian traditions, history, flora and fauna of the deepest freshwater lake in the world. Instead, perhaps take a boat trip out on the lake.

Listvyanka- Irkutsk

Day 11 — Sunday

Transfer by car / minibus: Listvyanka - Irkutsk

Open-air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy

Irkutsk City Tour

Transfer from the hotel to the railway station

Our guide will meet you at your Listvyanka accommodation and return to Irkutsk where we shall take a city tour. Irkutsk is often referred to as the Paris of Siberia on account of its elegant boulevards, but Paris can’t compete with its quirky wooden log cottages with their fretwork designs which you’ll also see in the city. Before we arrive, we make a stop to visit the open air Wooden Architecture Museum in Taltsy, situated in a picturesque forest on the bank of the river Angara. This museum has a large collection of original wooden houses equipped with old-style furniture and domestic utensils, and “wooden tents” belonging to the various ethnic groups which inhabited this region.

Later in the evening our driver will meet you at your accommodation with a sign board with your names and take you to the railway station to pick up your comfortable train to Vladivostok. It’s a four day trip, so settle back and enjoy the ride.

Train: Irkutsk - Vladivostok

Day 11 — Sunday

Night train: Irkutsk - Vladivostok

Comfortable train to Vladivostok. Departure from Irkutsk late in the evening, arrival in Vladivostok four days later.

Vladivostok

Hotel Azimut 4*,
VladivostokAzimut Hotel Vladivostok complex consists of two separate blocks: Vladivostok and Amur Bay and is conveniently located close to the city centre with all its attractions within easy reach. The hotel is an ideal place for business and leisure travelers. There are 624 comfortable rooms at the hotel. All rooms are equipped with modern furniture, satellite TV and phone, free internet access. The hotel restaurant for up to 200 persons offers fabulous panoramic views of the city. There are also Azimut Café - a neat cozy café at the fourth floor of the Vladivostok building, and Azimut Bar offering soft and alcoholic drinks, light snacks, both open 24 hours.

Ferry Eastern Dream: Russia - Korea - JapanM.V. Eastern Dream offers regular sea connection between Russia, South Korea and Japan. This is an optimal choice for you if you would like to continue your Trans-Siberian tour further east or alternatively you can arrive from Japan and join our trip from Vladivostok to Moscow.

£295 per person

Day 15 — Thursday

Transfer from the railway station to your accommodation

Vladivostok City Tour & Visit to the Submarine Museum

Our driver will meet you at the carriage with a sign board with your names and transfer you to your accommodation. Later, when we’ve freshened up, we’ll take a city tour of this interesting city, encompassing the City Fortress, the Intercession Church and the Catholic church. In the KorabelnayaNaberezhnaya (the Warship Embankment) visitors can get acquainted with the history of the Russian Fleet, including the period of the Second World War and visit a Soviet C-56 submarine.

Day 16 — Friday

Transfer from your accommodation to the airport

Our driver will meet you at your accommodation with a sign board with your names. You’ll transfer to the airport for your flight home.