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On this epic train journey across eight time zones and one-third of the world, travel 6,135 miles from Vladivostok Moscow on the Trans-Siberian Railway. From the wilds of Khabarovsk to the heart of Mongolia and on to the remote waters of Lake Baikal and the snowcapped peaks of the Ural Mountains, enjoy a level of comfort few travelers have experienced on this route.
Day 1 and 2 Los Angeles/Vladivostok, Russia
Depart Los Angeles on an overnight flight to Vladivostok, the starting point of your Trans-Siberian Railway journey to Moscow.
Hotel Hyundai
Day 3 Vladivostok
Today, explore Vladivostok, headquarters to the Russian Pacific Fleet. After lunch, head for the Eagle’s Nest Observation Point for a bird’s-eye view of the Golden Horn Bay and hillside.
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Day 4 Vladivostok
Enjoy a talk by National Geographic expert Fen Montaigne followed by a tour of the city’s principal military sites, including the Naval Museum and the Krasniy Vimpel, a steam yacht built in 1910. This afternoon, embark the Trans-Siberian Express and gather for a welcome reception and dinner to celebrate the beginning of our journey.
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Day 5 Khabarovsk
Arrive in Khabarovsk and visit the Natural History Museum by the Amur River. Learn about the flora and fauna of the region and see artifacts from the indigenous tribes of the Goldi and the Gilyak.
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Day 6 On the Train
The train passes through Siberian villages of log houses set among rolling hills and waterways. Read, attend an informal talk by our expert, or simply watch the wild and remote countryside passing by.
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Day 7 Ulan Ude
Arrive in Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat Republic. Explore the colorful Buddhist temple at nearby Ivolginsk. Visit a village of Old Believers of Russian Orthodoxy and enjoy a folk performance and dinner.
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Day 8 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Arrive this morning at the capital of Mongolia and visit the National Museum. Enjoy a special lunch prepared in a yurt, followed by an excursion to the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Return to the train in time for dinner on board.
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Day 9 Lake Baikal/Listvyanka, Russia
Pass through mountain tunnels and travel along the shoreline of Lake Baikal, a vast, pristine lake holding nearly one-sixth of all the freshwater on Earth. After a picnic lunch, take a cruise on the lake. Visit Listvyanka and its Museum of Wooden Architecture. At the Limnological Institute, exhibits depict the area’s unique ecosystem.
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Day 10 Irkutsk
This morning, arrive in Irkutsk, the "capital" of Siberia, where we see elaborately decorated 19th-century izbas (cottages) with their ornately carved eaves, known in Russia as wooden lace. Later, visit the Znamensky Monastery and the Volkonsky House Museum. Enjoy a concert in the former reception room of the house.
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Day 11 On the Train
Today, pass through undeveloped frontier towns and vast stretches of birch forests, bubbling streams, and fields of wildflowers. Pending final train schedules, stop in Krasnoyarsk and take a boat trip along the Yenisey River to Divnogorsk to see the hydroelectric dam, an engineering marvel.
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Day 12 Novosibirsk
Stop in Novosibirsk, one of Russia’s most dramatic cities, founded in honor of Tsar Nicholas II in 1893. Visit the Opera House, Lenin Square, and the colorful central market.
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Day 13 Yekaterinburg
Founded in 1723, Yekaterinburg is considered the historic and economic center of the Urals. View the 1918 execution site of Tsar Nicolas II and the imperial family. Also visit the Military History Museum and see remaining pieces salvaged from Gary Powers’s U-2 spy plane.
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Day 14 On the Train
Spend your last day on the train traveling through the industrial center of Russia and the Ural Mountains. Here, pass the Europe-Asia Obelisk marking the continental divide.
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Day 15 Moscow
After disembarking in Russia’s cosmopolitan capital, tour the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Red Square. Following lunch, visit the Armory with its court regalia from the Romanov dynasty. Tonight, celebrate your Trans-Siberia rail experience at a farewell dinner.
Metropole Hotel
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Day 16 Moscow/New York
Depart Moscow this morning for the flight to New York.
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St. Petersburg
August 3-6; September 28-October 1, 2006
Travel to St. Petersburg on an afternoon train, and spend three nights at the Angleterre Hotel, conveniently located near St. Isaac's Cathedral. Visit the famous Hermitage Museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and Tsarskoye Selo, with its magnificent Catherine Palace and Amber Room. Call for a detailed itinerary.
Our comfortable, private first-class train includes all lower, two-berth sleeping compartments. Bathrooms are located at the end of each car, and there is a separate shower car. Deluxe-class sleeping compartments with private bath and shower are also available. The restaurant car serves a variety of international cuisine, and the lounge car provides a place for informal talks and relaxation.
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