Grand Trans Siberian Railway

Tokyo, a city of awe-inspiring skyscrapers, an impressive modern metro system and limitless technology -€“ this is where we start our Grand Trans Siberian Railway Journey. Join your Tour Leader and fellow travellers at 5:00pm this evening for your Welcome Meeting as detailed on your Joining Instructions.

This morning we embark on a city tour of this dynamic city. We visit the Meijii Shrine and Asakuna Kannon Temple before a Shinkansen -€˜Bullet Train-€™ takes us on a swift smooth ride to Nagoya and from there an express train to the tranquility of Takayama, or -€˜Little Kyoto-€™. We stay overnight in a ryokan -€“ a traditional Japanese Inn.

Take the time to relax in this town of wooden houses, wander the streets where the lattice-bay windows entice us to sample some sake or view the traditional handicrafts of the region before boarding the train to Kanazawa. Kanazawa is one of the jewels of Japan, where the Samurai, merchants, geisha and lords have left an everlasting mark. Here we will visit the city-€™s best-known attraction, the beautiful Kenrokuen, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.

After breakfast we continue our journey south where we will visit Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan, and Todaiji Temple, reputedly the largest wooden building in the world, housing the Great Buddha.  Next stop Kyoto, one of Japan-€™s oldest capitals.

Quiet temples, sublime gardens, colourful shrines and scurrying geishas - traditional Japan still lingers in this fascinating city. Today Kyoto unlocks for us her treasures of the Golden Temple, the Geisha district or Gion and Kiyomizudera Temple set on a hillside overlooking the city.

Our final destination in Japan is Sakai Minato where we board our two-night ferry to Vladivostok in Russia-€™s Far East. 

Our time at sea prepares us to explore the former top-secret naval base of the Soviet Union; Vladivostok. 

Once forbidden to foreigners, Vladivostok and its 19th century buildings are now revitalised. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. Hop on ferries to remote beaches on former navy-only islands or head to higher ground for spectacular views of Golden Horn Bay.

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.

There is a feeling of excitement as our Trans Siberian journey begins. During our time on board you will get to know 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.

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.

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.

Leaving the Trans Siberian Railway for the Trans Mongolian Railway we now head south, across the border and into Mongolia, bound for 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.

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 the night in a 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. 

Our journey across Siberia is nearly complete. Tomorrow we will roll through to Tatarstan to our next destination. 

Welcome to the picturesque and historic city of Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan Republic and the Muslim Capital of Russia.

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.

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.

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! 

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.

A day train takes us to St Petersburg where you-€™ll enjoy the 18th century architecture which abounds throughout the city.

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.

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.

Our adventure has drawn to a close. Say farewell to your travelling companions and tour leader before departing your hotel this morning.