Tour Duration: 9 - 12 days
Group Size: 2 - 5 people
Specialty Categories: Sightseeing, Railway Trips, Cultural Tour
Season: May - October
Price Per Person : USD 2,890 and above
For many years Irkutsk has been a major transit point on the way from Europe to China. Nowadays, it is one of Russia’s cities that possesses the unique historical heritage. The city is located only 65 km (40 mi) from Lake Baikal which is world-renowned for being the deepest and the largest in volume fresh-water lake in the world. After our fully-guided tour to Irkutsk and Lake Baikal you can experience an epic Trans-Siberian railway journey exploring Russia’s vast territory. Then, our tour proceeds to Saint Petersburg often described as the most Western city of Russia. Unlike golden onion-bulb-shaped domes found elsewhere in Russian cities St. Petersburg’s palaces and mansions were built in baroque and neoclassical styles by the best Italian architects. When finally arriving Moscow you will discover the fascinating city, one of the global capitals, considered to be a must for everybody who is visiting Russia for the first time.
Tour Itinerary:
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Welcome to Irkutsk! Your guide will meet you at the railway station. Transfer to a hotel (Early check-in is possible after 9 am upon room availability). Check in to your room or leave your baggage at the desk and depart for excursions. This morning, you will take 3-hour city tour around all of Irkutsk historical sights including Znamensky Orthodox Cathedral, old-style wooden houses with distinctive hand-carved trims, the Monument to Russian Emperor Alexander III. City tour is followed by a guided trip to the Decembrist museum in Prince Volkonsky Mansion. Prince Volkonsky was one of the nobles exiled to Siberia for taking part in December 1825 rebellion against Russian Tsar. Lunch. Transfer back to your hotel. Free time to rest. Includes: (L).
Departure to Listvyanka settlement at Lake Baikal waterside. Stop for a two-hour excursion in Taltsy open-air museum of wooden architecture where one can discover the culture and the lifestyle of native Siberians and Russians who lived in this area. Museum funds include over 40 original log buildings. The most valuable of them are the "Tower of our Savior" built in 1667 and the Kazanskaya Chapel built in 1669. Check in Listvyanka hotel. Lunch in a local fish restaurant. Take a walk around the village, see the old St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and then wonder around local fish and souvenir markets. Attend a show of Baikal nerpa in Listvyanka nerpinarium next to the main pier. Return to your hotel. Includes: (B), (L).
Entirely free morning at Listvyanka. Possibility to enjoy a boat ride around Listvyanka bay (not included). Check out of your hotel. Your guide will meet you afternoon for a visit to Baikal Museum featuring the diverse collection of Baikal flora and fauna. You will see here aquaria with some of Baikal endemic species including Baikal nerpa, the only fresh water seal in the world. Then, take a chairlift to the top of Chersky peak from where one can enjoy breathtaking views on Lake Baikal, the Angara River with famed Shaman-rock in the middle and snow-topped peaks of the Khamar-Daban mountain range on lake opposite side. Car transfer back to Irkutsk. Dinner in a restaurant en-route. Depart to Saint Petersburg by train 009 "Baikal" at 8:10 pm local time. Includes: (B), (D).
You will spend 3 days and 19 hours on board of No. 009 “Baikal” express train along the famous Trans-Siberian Railway connecting European part of Russia with Siberia. There is a la carte restaurant car on each train or you may choose to order tickets with meals already included into the fare.
Arrive to St. Petersburg at 10:00 am. Transfer to your hotel for check in and rest. (Early check-in is possible after 9 am upon room availability.) Excursion program starts with a panoramic sightseeing tour around the city that was Russia's political and cultural center for 200 years. Pass wonderful broad squares, wide avenues including Nevsky Prospekt lined with magnificent historic palaces, mansions and churches. See St. Nicolas Church, the Winter Palace, Smolny Cathedral, St. Isaak’s Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan and the famous Bronze Horseman. Lunch. Return to your hotel. Evening at leisure. Includes: (L).
Visit the magnificent Hermitage Museum to view unbelievable collection of Italian masters, French Impressionists and other world famous painters. The collection occupies a large complex of six beautiful historic buildings along the Palace Embankment, including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russian emperors. Today’s tour also takes you to Peter and Paul Fortress located in the very heart of St. Petersburg where Peter the Great laid the foundation of the first fortress. Tour ends with a boat cruise on city’s rivers and numerous canals. Once you see the city from the water you understand why it is called the Northern Venice. Lunch. Return to your hotel. Includes: (B), (L).
Check out your hotel. Depart for a full day tour to Petodvoretz. Also known as Peterhof meaning "Peter's Court" in German it was the summer residence of Russia's tsars and emperors. Magnificent park in front of the palace features gorgeous cascading fountains (140 pieces) while vibrant, ornate buildings make the whole complex Russia's equivalent of French Versailles. Lunch in a restaurant. Transfer to the railway station for the night departure. Overnight train to Moscow. Includes: (B), (L).
Early arrival to Moscow. We will meet you at the railway station for a transfer to your hotel (Early check-in is possible after 9 am upon room availability). Leave your baggage at hotel cloakroom and depart for excursions. Today, you will take a panoramic sightseeing tour to see all major historical sights of Moscow. The tour starts with a hiking excursion to the heart of the city, the Kremlin Grounds. In the Kremlin you will visit one of the Cathedrals for an introduction to the Tsars who ruled from Moscow. Then, continue with 3-hour orientation trip around Moscow by private car or tour bus. After observing St. Basil's Cathedral, the State Historical Museum and other sights of the area we move along the Moskva River embankment passing the Cathedral of the Christ the Savior and then going further to Moscow State University. Near the university stop at the Sparrow Hills observation spot with an outstanding view on the central part of Moscow. After that take a ride through the new and old streets and squares of the largest city in continental Europe. Lunch in Russian cuisine restaurant. Return to your hotel. Includes: (B), (L).
Meet your guide and depart for excursion to the Novodevichy Convent founded in 1524 and considered now to be one of the most beautiful sights in Moscow. Then, take Moscow State Metro excursion with your local guide. It is the world’s second busiest metro in the world. Moscow metro is well-known for the ornate design of its stations built in 1930s that represent outstanding examples of socialist realism. After a metro ride enjoy a slow pace walk along the Old Arbat pedestrian street. Bargain a good deal with local artists painting right there or explore numerous souvenir kiosks where you can see famous hand-painted matryoshka dolls, baboushka scarves and ushanka fur hats. Lunch in Russian cuisine restaurant. Return to your hotel. Includes: (B), (L).
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Have a good flight back home! Includes: (B).
Prices (per person)
Tour program:
- Deluxe accommodation (4-5* hotels)
* 2 pax: $3,240 p/p
* 3 pax: $2,840 p/p
* 4-6 pax: $2,700 p/p
* Single supplement: $1,265
- Standard accommodation (3* hotels)
* 2 pax: $2,170 p/p
* 3 pax: $1,870 p/p
* 4-6 pax: $1,700 p/p
* Single supplement: $420
- Train ticket Irkutsk – St.Petersburg cost in USD per person:
* 1-st class (2-berth): No meals – $1,210, Meals included – $1,310
* 2-nd class (4-berth): No meals – $560, Meals included – $670
- Train ticket St. Petersburg – Moscow cost in USD per person:
* 1-st class (2-berth): No meals – $285, Meals included – $315
* 2-nd class (4-berth): No meals – $160, Meals included – $180.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation as stated in the itinerary on DBL/TWIN sharing basis
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- All individual transfers by car or tourist coach
- English-speaking guide during excursions in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Irkutsk
- English-speaking guide during transfers in Irkutsk
- Entry tickets and admission fees to all sites and museums listed
- Russian visa support
Price Excludes:
- Air tickets or train tickets to Irkutsk/ from Moscow
- Guide services while on board of the trains
- Russian domestic train tickets (fare depends on a train and class of service)
- Health insurance.
Notes:
- Train tickets are quoted for bottom bunks (in 2nd class) during the peak tourist season. Discounts may apply if reserving upper bunks in some trains or traveling on shoulder or off-season period of time.
- Train ride can be substituted for airflight Irkutsk-St.Petersburg (6 hours, on Wed, Fri, Sun). Airfare starts from USD 400.