The True Russia - Trans-Siberian Journey
The True Russia - Trans-Siberian Journey
18 Days Starting in St Petersburg, Russia and ending in Vladivostok
Visiting: Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Olkhon Island, Vladivostok
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TRANSSIB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
16-79
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
From:
$2123
$2027 (USD)
Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$96
NB: Prices correct on 16-May-2024 but subject to change.
Tour Overview
This train journey is long, it’s unique and iconic! The Trans-Siberian Railway will take you from the glorious Russian capital of Moscow to Vladivostok – the major port on the Russian Pacific Ocean coast. And more than this: Our journey through The True Russia is an experience starting in Saint Petersburg – the Imperial capital, the Venice of the North boasting an abundance of cultural experiences. The Trans-Siberian Railway is not a train – it is not continuing to Mongolia or China – it is the world’s longest railway within one country – Russia – from one end to another. The other railway branches are known as The Trans Mongolian Railway and the Trans Manchurian Railway. Common for the 3 lines is that different kind of trains are operating and the train carriages present different services to the voyagers. Travelling along this classical Trans-Siberian route you will have the chance to see a more complete image of this vast and multi-faced country. You will meet people who every day enjoy this railway system preferring slow-paced travelling through the enormous country covering 2 continents. To get in touch with the heart of Russia and its people, culture and habits we have planned stopovers where you visit not only the emblematic cities of Russia - St. Petersburg and Moscow, but also explore the towns of Ekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Vladivostok. Of course, the biggest gem of endless taiga is the “Pearl of Siberia” – lake Baikal. On this journey the experiences will be in harmony with your body and soul! Highlights: ? St. Petersburg and Moscow - the largest cities in Russia ? Olkhon Island - extremely scenic place at Baikal and a center of shamanism ? Yekaterinburg - situated on the border between Europe and Asia ? Vladivostok - the door of Russia to the Pacific Ocean Our best advice: If you plan to read Tolstoy during the 7 days of train ride, bring an e-reader. You will not be the first one returning without finalizing one of the classics – experiences and impressions will fill the time better than you think, believe us – we have been there for more than 30 years!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In St. Petersburg (Russia)
Location: Saint Petersburg
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrival to St. Petersburg. Transport to the hotel (at set time) and accommodation.
Day 2 : St. Petersburg
Location: Saint Petersburg
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning tour to the beautiful palace of Peterhof and its gardens (closed on Mondays). Afternoon - free time to explore the city on your own. Transport to the station. Night train to Moscow, overnight in the train.
Day 3 : Moscow
Location: Moscow
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Arrival to Moscow in the morning, transport to the hotel. You can leave your luggage at the hotel while you go exploring the Russian capital.
Day 4 : Moscow - Departure By Train
Location: Moscow
Accommodation: train
Meals Included: Breakfast
Free time in the morning. About noon transfer to the station and departure by train to Yekaterinburg.
Day 5 : Yekaterinburg
Location: Yekaterinburg
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrival to Yekaterinburg in the afternoon. Accommodation at a hotel.
Day 6 : Yekaterinburg
Location: Yekaterinburg
Accommodation: train
Meals Included: Breakfast
Excursion to Romanov Monastery, built on the place, where the last Russian tsar and his family were murdered, and to Eurasia obelisk, marking the border between Europe and Asia. Back to Yekaterinburg, where you have free time to explore the city before your departure by train to Irkutsk in the evening.
Day 7 : On The Train
Location: Novosibirsk
Accommodation: train
Meals Included: No Meals
We pass by some large Siberian cities such as Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk. The landscape in this part of the railway switches between coniferous and birch forests and small villages, where development is still far behind the big cities.
Day 8 : On The Train
Location: Krasnoyarsk
Accommodation: train
Meals Included: No Meals
We pass by some large Siberian cities such as Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk. The landscape in this part of the railway switches between coniferous and birch forests and small villages, where development is still far behind the big cities.
Day 9 : Irkutsk
Location: Irkutsk
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrival to Irkutsk in the morning, transport to the hotel. Standard check in at 14:00. The rest of the day is free. You can explore Irkutsk on your own or book a city tour.
Day 10 : Irkutsk - Olkhon
Location: Olkhon Island
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning start of your journey by bus and ferry to the island of Olkhon - the largest in the Baikal lake. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 11 : Olkhon
Location: Olkhon Island
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: No Meals
Explore this beautiful Island on your own or you can take some excursions on spot. You can visit Khoboy cape, the Shaman Rock, go on a hiking tour outside Khuzhir, explore the near cave etc. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 12 : Olkhon
Location: Olkhon Island
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: No Meals
Explore this beautiful Island on your own or you can take some excursions on spot. You can visit Khoboy cape, the Shaman Rock, go on a hiking tour outside Khuzhir, explore the near cave etc. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 13 : Olkhon - Irkutsk
Location: Irkutsk
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
You head back to Irkutsk. Accommodation at the hotel and overnight.
Day 14 : Irkutsk, Departure
Location: Vladivostok
Accommodation: train
Meals Included: Breakfast
Early in the morning departure by train to Vladivostok.
Day 15 : On The Train
Location: Vladivostok
Accommodation: train
Meals Included: No Meals
On the train to Vladivostok
Day 16 : On The Train
Location: Vladivostok
Accommodation: train
Meals Included: No Meals
On the train to Vladivostok
Day 17 : Vladivostok
Location: Vladivostok
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrival to Vladivostok in the afternoon. You have travelled 9909 kms from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation.
Day 18 : Vladivostok
Location: Vladivostok
Accommodation: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, our services end. You can explore Vladivostok on your own or book some of our optional tours such as Vladivostok city tour (3 hours), Vladivostok fortress and Submarine S-56 (4 hrs), etc. Or you can continue your journey by ferry to Dong-Hae or Sokcho in South Korea.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Accommodation in shared double/twin room with breakfast in 3* hotels in the cities
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Fully Guided
Tour leader from Penguin Travel (at min 10 people)
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Transport
Train tickets 2nd class (4-berth): St. Petersburg-Moscow-Yekaterinburg-Irkutsk-Vladivostok
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Transfers airport-hotels-stations as per itinerary
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Excursions
Excursion to Peterhof with transport, entrance and local guide; Excursion in Yekaterinburg with transport, entrance and local guide
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Tours
Tour to Olkhon incl. public transport and 3 nights at local guesthouse - dbl. room with shared facilities and breakfast
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Russian visa invitation
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Prices are based on rates of exchange 01FEB24 - min. 2 persons travelling together
What's Not Included
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Additional Services
Single supplement in hotels only: 280 EUR 2-berth compartment (1 cl.
or 4-berth compartment for 2 persons): 775 EUR per person Transfer Skt.
Petersburg individual arrival: Request Transfer hotel in Vladivostok - airport: 50 EUR (1-2 persons) Extra night in Skt.
Petersburg: double/twin room with breakfast 95 EUR - single 80 EUR Extra night in Vladivostok: double/twin room with breakfast 110 EUR - single 100 EUR Ferry from Vladivostok to DongHae or Sokcho in South Korea 2nd class cabin (4 pax/ tatami or 8 pax /bed) – 600 EUR per person (one way) Individual travellers: Contact us for details -
Insurance
Travel insurance - mandatory
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International Travel
Flight tickets to Skt .
Petersburg and from Vladivostok -
Meal and Drinks
Meals and drinks not mentioned
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Visa Fees
Visa to Russia
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Local registration fees to be paid on spot
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Drinking and tipping
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Optional excursions
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Additional transfers
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Extra days before/after the tour
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Porterservice
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Personal expenses
Mode of Transport
Train tickets 2nd class (4-berth): St. Petersburg-Moscow-Yekaterinburg-Irkutsk-Vladivostok
Accommodation
Accommodation in shared double/twin room with breakfast in 3* hotels in the cities
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Transfers airport-hotels-stations as per itinerary
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, they are
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Visa to Russia
Russian consulates are issuing visas for travel to Russia for tourism, visiting relatives etc., as usual. Since 15th of June 2013 it has also become possible to apply for an electronic visa to certain cities and since 1st of August 2023 it is possible to apply for visa to stays all over Russia. Electronic visa (E-Visa). A total of 55 nationalities can apply for an electronic visa to Russia, for stays of up to 16 days. The electronic visa is giving you the big advantage that it is not necessary to go to the consulate or to the Russian visa centers as long as you and your travel plans live up to the conditions you must fulfill: Regular or paper visa. You still have the option to apply for a paper or traditional visa allowing longer stays than the electronic visa, if your plans do not meet the conditions required for an electronic visa. Visa fee depending on the embassy/consulate/visa center of the country where you obtain the visa - normally issued within 10 working days (some countries have a faster option against an additional fee). Invitations are still required for regular visas. Here we can help you, just like we used to before the world went off the rails. Travel to Russia without a visa (Visa-Free). There are countries that do not require a visa to travel to Russia, such as Cuba, Colombia, Peru or Venezuela, among others, although under certain conditions. In this case you do not have to apply for a visa, but you must have travel insurance for any eventuality that may arise.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes, they are
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Insurance covering Russia
A travel insurance is not only a good idea, but it is a must to enter Russia regardless of you visa. If your insurance company cannot cover your travel to Russia some Russian insurance companies like GoingRus and Attollo Assistence provide the service having the option to pay with card from a country outside Russia. The medical insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the Russian Federation (corresponding with the information in the visa) and throughout the stay period. Here you find the requirements: • Buy the insurance in advance! It is not possible to buy it when arriving in Russia. • The insurance policy has to be in Russian or English (no other language). Be sure that you get the policy in PDF format to print it in advance and show it along with your visa. • In the policy must be stated: Policy number and date, period the insurance covers, full names of the insured (identic to visa and passport), list of medical coverage (min. 30.000 EUR or equal in other currency), the area covered by the insurance (World/Russian Federation/ Europe, Russia included) – the territory of Russia includes Europe and Asia, signature of the insurance company.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes
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Money - rubles - payments
Forget all about your credit card (if issued outside Russia) for the time being and use this simple recommendation: Take cash with you and exchange to rubles in a bank in Russia. Bring EUR or USD (max. 10.000 EUR/USD without declaration). Remember to bring banknotes without any defects. Find a bank offering a good rate of exchange (see here). The official rate of the bank you can find on many websites, check the location of the bank and the working hours. If you arrive outside the opening hours we recommend you to exchange only a minimum in the airport. If you insist to pay by card you have to get yourself a card valid in Russia like UnionPay bank card (Chinese) or to purchase a bank card in Russia.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
There will be Penguin tour leader at min. 10 people
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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Dates & Availability
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Tuesday - Friday
Aug 13, 2024 - Aug 30, 2024Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Penguin Travel requires a minimum deposit of 30% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 46 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of penguin travel charges.
Up to 46 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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