Trans-Siberian

We embark on a tour of the capital of Russie accompanied by our guide and our driver. Several remarkable sites are to be discovered on the historic avenues of Moscow, including The Bolshoi Theatre, a prestigious stage located near the Kremlin. We also pass through the Red Square, the central square of the city allowing you to admire the Saint Basil's Cathedral and to reach the Kitaï-gorod business district.

Lunch in a Russian specialty restaurant.

Subsequently, the guide leads us to The Kremlin, the emblematic fortress at the heart of Moscow that houses the seat of current power. Within the Kremlin walls, we see the Palace of Armories which evokes the eclectic Russian architecture of the 19th century with delicate decorative details.

Dinner at the restaurant, then departure to the train station to begin the great epic of 9298 km by train, crossing two time zones and two continents. Departure around 11 p.m

This morning, we head towards the capital of the Ural region, namely Yekaterinburg.

We explore this region with Olivier who tells us the tragic history of the last Romanov royal family. We observe through the window the gradual change in the landscape from west to east across the territory.

We arrive in Yekaterinburg around 8:00 PM, the driver picks us up at the station and transfers us to the hotel. Check-in and dinner.

Around 8:30 a.m., we reach Vladivostok where the Trans-Siberian railway line ends.

We are welcomed by our guide for a panoramic overview of this port city at the end of the world. We enjoy many picturesque views and discover Zolotoï Rog Bay, Amoursky Gulf, the maritime gates with its ships… A few remarkable sites are a must-see, including Bortsov Revoloutsi central square, the triumphal arch built in 1902 by Tsar Nicolas II, the white house…

After lunch, we explore the S-56 submarine, used during World War II, with its "officers' room". This room is placed under the patronage of Stalin. It houses the torpedoes.

Subsequently, we reach the top of the hill by funicular for a superb view of the bay. The adventure continues at Vladivostok fortress which dates back to the 19th century. This constitutes an attraction of Sportinvaia port with its old war equipment.

We settle into the hotel, then free time. Dinner and overnight in Vladivostok.

This morning, we join the beautiful and modern Krasnoyarsk railway station which borders the Yenisei River and continue towards Irkutsk, halfway along the Trans-Siberian route.

Throughout the journey, we travel through small towns where we can observe from our windows the daily life of Siberian populations which gradually change in character.

As the kilometers pass, the physical features of street vendors on the platforms become increasingly Asian, typical of the Buryat ethnic groups. We can stock up on seasonal fruits such as blueberries, cranberry juice, eggs, fermented milk or even flowers. We can take the opportunity to try some local specialties such as smoked omul, a fish endemic to Lake Baikal, highly appreciated in Russie.

We arrive in Irkutsk, capital of eastern Siberia. This city, whose creation dates back to the 17th century, is known for its sable fur trade. It interested gold prospectors; notably in the 19th century. Later, the establishment of the railway under the initiative of Alexander III opened new perspectives for this immense region.

We take advantage of our visit to explore its center with its old houses. We discover its Cathedral of the Epiphany and the Decembrists Museum. By visiting this conservatory whose building belonged to the family of the insurgent prince Sergeï Volkonsky, we get an insight into the history of liberal officers in conflict with Tsar Nicholas I in December 1825. These men were defeated, thus executed or exiled to Siberia.

Subsequently, we head to the village of Listvyanka located on the shores of Lake Baikal. It is the world's largest freshwater reserve. After a one-hour journey, we venture into a wild universe with a majestic setting of steppes and verdant hills.

After lunch together, we settle at the inn. The guide takes us to explore Listvyanka, a charming resort village. We make sure to visit its port and fish market where we can find fresh, smoked or dried omul. A detour to Saint Nicholas Church which fascinates us with its wooden structure.

In the evening, we are invited to enjoy the bania at the inn. It is a kind of humid steam sauna, a traditional and popular practice in Russie.

We start this day with a visit to the Baikal fauna and flora museum. Through a virtual dive into the depths of the lake, we can discover nerpa seals in the museum's aquarium, a species of Siberian seal living in freshwater.

The program continues with an excursion of nearly 1 hour 30 minutes on Chersky Hill to explore its lush forest. We find wish trees surrounded by multicolored ribbons placed by Buryats who practice shamanism.

At the summit, we enjoy a superb panorama of the lake with dark but sparkling waters. We also catch sight of the Angara River mouth, which is the only river flowing out of Baikal, as well as the small village of Port Baikal.

We have lunch by the lake, then head to the Taltsy museum. We stroll through this open-air site to admire wooden buildings typical of local architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries, periods when Russians, Buryats, Evenks and Tofalars populated the region.

In the late afternoon, we return to our hotel in Irkutsk.

This morning, we are taken to the station for our 8:00 am train to Ulan Ude. The landscapes unfolding before our eyes are as rich as they are varied. Between the lush steppes stretching as far as the eye can see, the luxuriant forests inhabited by aspens and birches, and herds of wild horses enjoying fresh grass in complete freedom, we are treated to a feast for the eyes!

We also catch glimpses of verdant clearings with charming dachas sometimes forming small villages of complete tranquility. The magnificent landscapes we discover along the way occupy a good part of our morning.

In early afternoon, we reach Ulan. Our guide welcomes us at the station and then we set off to discover the city. This brief tour allows us to get a quick overview of the local culture shaped by a multitude of ethnic groups.

We take advantage of our free time on the train to observe once more the landscapes passing before our eyes. It's also an opportunity to meet our fellow travelers and observe how the local population organizes themselves during their Trans-Siberian journey.

Our guide also gives us some information about local culture.

The provodnitsa, in her blue uniform, takes care of us and our carriage. She gives us kipyatok to make soups or infusions before reaching Khabarovsk, the capital of Khabarovsk Krai.

We arrive in Khabarovsk around 7:00 PM. Located in the Russian Far East, approximately 30 km from the Chinese border, this city represents a major industrial center on the Trans-Siberian Railway line. It is also the subject of intensive tourism.

Backpackers can stroll along the wide Amursky Boulevard to observe the striking shops before discovering the local market. This city does not lack attractions to offer its visitors, including parks, green spaces and monuments dating back to the 20th century.

We are transferred to our hotel, dinner and overnight in Khabarovsk.

Around 8:30 AM, we reach Vladivostok where the Trans-Siberian railway line ends.

We are welcomed by our guide for a panoramic overview of this port city at the end of the world. We enjoy numerous picturesque views and discover Zolotoï Rog Bay, Amoursky Gulf, the maritime gates with its ships… A few remarkable sites are a must-see, including Bortsov Revoloutsi central square, the triumphal arch built in 1902 by Tsar Nicolas II, the white house…

After lunch, we explore the S-56 submarine, used during the Second World War, with its "officers' room". This room is placed under the patronage of Stalin. It houses the torpedoes.

Subsequently, we reach the top of the hill by funicular for a superb view of the bay. The adventure continues at Vladivostok fortress which dates back to the 19th century. This constitutes an attraction of Sportinvaia port with its former war equipment.

We settle into the hotel, then free time.