Tours

From Capital to Capital

From Capital to Capital (Tour # 65893)

From: 2266 $ / 1724 € / 68500 RUB

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Trip Length: 11 days Group: 2-10 Departure: Open Period: Year round Tour type: Discovery tour Destinations: Lake Baikal, Mongolia Transport: Private car / bus, Train, Ferry, 4х4 Accommodation: Homestay, Hotel, Train, Yurt Activities: Cultural exploration, Animal observation, Horseback riding Visited areas: Irkutsk Region, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Listvyanka, Slyudyanka, Buryatia Republic, Ulan-Ude, Ulan Bator Province, Ulan Bator, Töv Province, Khustain nuruu Nature Reserve, Övörkhangai Province, Kharkhorin

Presentation
Itinerary
Departures & Prices
Map of this Tour

Strong Points Of The Tour:

Historical and cultural exploration of Eastern Siberia and Mongolia through their capitals

Excellent English-speaking guide during all your journey

Acquaintance with Russian, Buryat and Mongolian cultures

Discovery of three different religions: Shamanism, Buddhism, Orthodoxy

Accessible to everyone

On the route of the Transmongolian

Tour Overview:

Siberia, Buryatia, Mongolia, these three words sound like a mysterious refrain hummed by the regular cadenza of the mythical Transmongolian. From taiga to steppe, from industrialized cities to wide wild areas, from Genghis Khan's to Stalin's heritage, you will experienced heart of Russian, Buryat and Mongolian cultures and traditions.

Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Ulan Bator, Kharkhorin: four current or former capitals with their own history directly linked with the destiny of conquerors, explorers, builders, settlers and exiles who used to live in these areas.

We will begin our trip with a visit of Irkutsk, city which was known as «Paris of Siberia» in the middle of the 19th century. Then, we will set off to Listvyanka, small typical Siberian village, nested on the banks of Lake Baikal. There we would taste the regional speciality: smoked omul. On the way, we will stop in Talsty to visit the museum of wooden architecture and to discover the locals' traditional life.

Early in the morning we will leave Irkutsk for Port Baikal where we will board the Circum-Baikal train. This unique railway with its genious architectural constructions is a unique monument of the beginning of the 20th century. From the train, we will have magnificient sceneries on the South of Lake Baikal.

By night, we will enter the terrritory of the Republic of Buryatia and we will overstop in its capital, Ulan-Ude. The main square of the city is dominated by the world's largest Lenin's head. As Buryats are known to be a Mongol people, our stay overthere will introduced us to mongolian way of life.

After a 17-hour journey by the Transmongolian train, our route will lead us to Ulan Bator, city of the red hero.

Last step of our trip, will take us to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Genghis Khan, the famous Mongolian conqueror. There, we will discover the ruins of the imperial city and the splendid monastery of Erdene Zuu.

Tour Programme:

Day 1

Meeting at the airport and transfer to homestay. Rest. Lunch. City tour of Irkutsk. Discovery of old wooden houses, churches, the Decembrists museum, central marketplace and mall.

Day 2

Morning leave for Listvyanka village on the shores of Lake Baikal. Visit to Taltsy - museum of traditional Siberian architecture in the open air. Stop at the Baikal museum in Listvyanka. Visit to the market with its typical saleswomen of omul, salmon-like fish indigenous to Lake Baikal. Opportunity to taste smoked omul. In the afternoon there is possibility to explore the surroundings, hike up to Chersky Rock, rest on the shores of the lake. Inn overnight.

Day 3

Crossing of the lake towards Port Baikal by ferry or hovercraft depending on season.
Journey by comfortable train of the Circum-Baikal Express up to Slyudyanka. The Circum-Baikal Railway between Port Baikal and the village of Kultuk is 84 km (52 mi) long and includes 424 diverse engineering constructions with 39 amazing tunnels among them. During this all-day excursion we will enjoy the unique, second to none in the whole world look of the Circum-Baikal Railway that combines complex architectural constructions with extremely picturesque shore landscape of the lake.
In the evening we will visit the Museum of minerals in Slyudyanka, have a dinner and board on the night train to Ulan-Ude.

Day 4

Early morning arrival in Ulan-Ude, transfer to homestay, breakfast, rest. Walking city tour and visit of the museum of History of Buryatia. Lunch animated by a folk group at the restaurant with traditional Buryat cuisine, you will be served in real yurts! Visit to Ivolginsky Datsan, Buddhist temples complex outside the city located in a picturesque steppe. Discovery of Buddhist culture. This Datsan serving the most important place of worship in Buryatia is the centre of Buddhism in Russia.

Day 5

Leave for the village of Old Believers. We will visit traditional houses, enjoy a folk concert, participate in games and customs. Lunch in the village. Return to Ulan-Ude.

Day 6

6.55am Transfer to railway station. Departure for Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, through Siberian taiga and upper-Asian steppe.

Day 7

Early morning arrival at Ulan Bator railway station, transfer to hotel, breakfast and rest. City tour, visit of Gandantengchilin, the main Buddhist centre in Mongolia, visit of the factory of cashmere. Lunch at restaurant. Visit of museum of the National History. Traditional Mongolian Show with dancing and singing is waiting for us in late afternoon.

Day 8

Drive to the Khustay National Park and see the Przewalski Horse, the Asian prehistoric wild horse. Enjoy horse riding and photographing the charming landscape and wildlife. Visit of prehistoric steles.

* 2 h of horse ride

Day 9

Transfer to Kharkhorin to visit the symbolic ruins of Karakorum, which was the capital city of the Great Mongol Empire founded in the 13th century by Genghis Khan. We will also visit the oldest Monastery Erdene-Zuu built in 1586, with 108 stupas. Overnight in tourist camp.

Day 10

After breakfast, drive back to Ulan Bator (5.30 maximum by 4x4) and free time (shopping, walk downtown...) Dinner not included.

Day 11

Transfer to railway station or airport.

This tour is offered with the open departure date. To book the tour please contact us.

Trip Availability:	Prices:
From 01.01.2012 to 31.12.2012 Depart only: Tu, Fr	85,600 RUB / 2,831 $ / 2,155 € / person for the group of 2 participants 82,000 RUB / 2,712 $ / 2,064 € / person for the group of 3-4 participants 68,500 RUB / 2,266 $ / 1,724 € / person for the group of 5-8 participants

Please select number of adults

Price includes:	Price does not include:
English-speaking guide Accommodation as per itinerary Transport as per itinerary Meals Excursions and visits as per itinerary Reserves and national parks entrance permissions Transfer from airport / railway station on first day Transfer to airport / railway station on last day Letter of invitation Horse and equipment rental	Administrative registration Personal expenses and tips Visa fees and travel insurance Ropeway to Chersky Rock

Price Comment

- Meals on Day 1 (lunch), 6 (lunch and dinner), 7 (breakfast and dinner), 10 (dinner) are not included in the price.
- Departure on Tuesday and Friday.

Booking Options

Booking is made by paying a 30% deposit of the total cost.
The balance of 70% is to be paid 21 days before departure.
If late booking (made less than 21 days prior to departure), full payment is required at the time of booking.

Cancellation Options

Please read carefully our Terms & Conditions

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Detailed description of the tour