Description
TRANSSIB: FROM JAPAN SEA TO BAIKAL LAKE
TRANSSIBERIAN voyage is more than just a railway journey which strikes with its mightiness and endless discovery. But it is also the way to reveal Russia as a multi-ethnic country, each city of which differ much from each other and imprints in your memory forever.
Day 1 Vladivostok
We start the “must-see” journey from the city at the very east of Russia’s continental part located right on the Japan sea shore – Vladivostok. City tour around sea-port Vladivostok hosting daily thousands of tourists showing its best sights includes: legendary submarine C-56, lore museum named after Arseniev, Korabelnaya embankment, the Tsar Arch. And we can hardly stand against sea cruise in the city waters.
After lunch at local restaurant we continue with crossing the far-famed bridge depicted on 2000 banknote to the Russkiy island. The island became the part of the city after APEC Forum and International Economic Forums taking place here with Russian president certain participation annually. You will be charmed with the beauty of the island and world level of the premises located here: Far-Eastern Federal University, Miriinskiy Theater, Oceanarium.
Fore dinner you are sure to taste king crab and sea food which is the visit card of the city.
After dinner we are getting on board and spend the night in a comfort and coziness of the train taking us further to the another biggest far-eastern city Khabarovsk.
Day 2 Khabarovsk
Breakfast on board.
In the morning we arrive to the quietest and peaceful city which till 2018 was the capital of the Far Eastern region – Khabarovsk. From the days of its foundation Khabarovsk was the biggest economic, transportation, administrative and energetic hub of whole Far East. The city is located on the right bank of the mighty Amur river which you will have a chance to cruise today. From the riverside the city even more beautiful and during the cruise you will see Khabarovsk main sights depicted on 5000 banknote: the statue of Muraviev-Amurskiy and the Amur Bridge. During the city sightseeing you will know why those 2 objects were given the honor to be commemorated on Russian banknotes.
From time immemorial the aboriginal tribes of 8 nationalities inhabited the lands along Amur river. The biggest group from them are Nanai people. You are to have an excursion to one of the native Nanai village Sikachi-Alyan. Locals are proud here not only with their unique cultural heritage, but far-famed stone carving – petroglyphs – dating back to 2000 B.C.
After seeing petroglyphs and lovely cultural exchange the hostess shows master-class of fresh caught fish development. Nanai people are masters in fishing and fish products processing.
Lunch is offered with Nanai national dishes made of fish mainly: ukha soup, fish cutlet, fish salad, baked fish, tea with far-eastern herbs. After lunch you will have fun and try yourself in national Nanai games: arching, throwing, jumping and enjoy a folklore concert.
In the evening we are visiting local restaurant to try authentic far-eastern dishes as pike cutlet and fern salad.
The whole night on board the train directed to the Russian-Chinese border city Blagoveshchensk.
Day 3 Blagoveshchensk
Blagoveshchensk is a unique city and administrative center of Amur region which is located right on the state border. Chinese city Heihe is only 100 meters across the Amur river and clearly seen from Blagoveshchensk embankment, gladden everyone with bright neon light all-round in the evening.
Confectionary factory “Zeya” will make your visit to Blagoveshchensk unforgettable. We are invited into 3 departments of the factory to see full technological process and be able to try just-made sweets, cookies and marshmallow right from the production line. The most liked products are sold for you after excursion in the factory shop.
Russian-Chinese border goes right along river channel where we have the cruise. From the ship board you will see more clear both borderline cities: Russian Blagoveshchensk and Chinese Heihe.
After lunch we continue city sightseeing with visit to one of the biggest and oldest settlement of the region where we know much interesting about the history of populating this region, visit the village church. Not far from this place there is aero-cosmic museum where all exhibits are allowed to take in hands.
Dinner is no doubt with Chinese dishes. The city is full of Chinese café and restaurants one of which are happy to serve our group. After dinner we are going on train board again.
Day 4 On board the train
Breakfast, lunch, dibber in the wagon-restaurant.
This day is fully devoted to enjoying wide landscapes from the train window, lectures on Russian culture, Russian language lessons.
Day 5 Chita
After arrival to Chita we are going for city sightseeing where you get to know who are Decembrists wives and how they survived in the far lands. The story of how unusual was inhabiting of those lands will capture you for sure. We will also see the city from the high viewing point.
After lunch we are going to hippodrome for excursion and horse-riding. Horse breeding is widely spread here, because it is very hard to survive in the steppe without a horse.
After dinner we spend next night on train board.
Day 6 Ulan-Ude
Today we arrive to the capital of Buryatia republic – Ulan-Ude city, which is also is the capital of Buddhism in Russia. Main Buddhism temple – Ivolginskiy Datsan is located not far from Ulan-Ude and we are going there right after arrival. We get acquainted with the history of Buddhism in Russia, traditions, rites, beliefs, folklore and inside the temple lifestyle.
Lunch is prepared for guests with most popular Buryatian dishes: buuzy and khushury.
After lunch we are having around-the-city excursion with visit to widely-known Lenin’s Head statue (the biggest in the world), see far-famed Opera and Ballet Theater and Odigitria Cathedral.
Dinner at local restaurant and departure to the railway to get on night board. Tomorrow we arrive to the final point of our trip – Baikal lake and Irkutsk city.
Day 7 Irkutsk
We have only one day in the pearl of Siberia – Baikal lake – deepest lake in the world. So, we have breakfast on board the train and go directly to Baikal lake after landing.
On the way to Listvyanka (village on the bank of Baikal) we are to visit ethnographic complex – Taltsy and Shaman stone. In Listvyanka our program includes visit to the local fish market overfull of species of Baikal fish cooked in different types and souvenirs made of local kinds of semi-precious stones.
2 hours Baikal cruise becomes a climax of the tour. You will breath the cleanest air, see the most transparent water, enjoy the landscapes and make the best photo session in your life.
After cruise we have lunch and continue Irkutsk city sightseeing.
We finish the day with dinner accompanied with shaman ritual.
After dinner you will have time for shopping before departure to your homeland (or spend one more night in Irkutsk).
This tour is a modal plan that can be changed or prolonged in the cities of visit depending on your requirements and flight schedules.
