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[email protected]
From
$17,423 NZD
Single
$19,369 NZD
Twin share
$17,423 NZD
30 days
Duration
Asia & The Orient
Destination
Level 3 - Moderate
Activity
Journey Through Mongolia and Russia -Jul
2017 – Guaranteed
08 Jul 2017 - 06 Aug 2017
Journey Through Mongolia and Russia on
the Trans-Siberian
This fully escorted small group program takes the active senior, with
an interest in experiencing something different, into Mongolia and
Russia. It includes a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
This 29 day tour is designed for the senior traveller, whether
traveling alone or with company. You will be able to enjoy the
experience secure in the knowledge that you always have a
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program leader with you to make sure that all runs smoothly.
Itinerary
Join the tour in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, and spend the
first seven days in Mongolia with a side trip to Russia’s Lake Baikal.
The tour then traverses the world’s largest landmass, the Euro-Asian
Continental Plate, taking the traveller from Ulaanbaatar to St
Petersburg via some of the world’s most remote areas. The small
group travels across the Mongolian Steppes to the vast expanse of
the Siberian taiga and tundra; over the Ural Mountains (the divide
between Asia and Europe) to Moscow and the waterways of Russia’s
mediaeval Golden Ring.
Our tour uses two of the great rail journeys of the world. Firstly the
Trans Mongolian and the Trans Siberian trains. The tour concludes
with a cruise on the waterways between Moscow and St Petersburg.
Highlights
During your time in Ulaanbaatar you will have the chance to
experience Mongolia’s famous Naadam Festival. This centuries old
festival, once used for training warriors, involves competitions in
horse riding, archery and Mongolian wrestling. While at Lake Baikal
learn about the world’s deepest lake and experience Siberia’s
traditions and culture while in Irkutsk. Finally, you enjoy an eleven
night cruise between Moscow and St Petersburg. While travelling
along the mighty Volga river, wonder at the splendid architecture of
Russia’s Orthodox onion domed churches.
This fully escorted tour offers the opportunity to travel with a small
group of like- minded adventurers through Mongolia and Russia.
For more details, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If
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you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or,
to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.
Tour Notes
Singles are NOT available during our night in a Mongolian
yurt/ger or onboard any of the rail journeys.
Singles are available in hotels in Ulann Baatar, Irkutsk/Lake
Baikal, Moscow and on the Russian cruise only
Meals are not provided on the Trans- Mongolian Train but chance
is given in Ulaan Baator to purchase suitable provisions.
Single compartments are not available on train journeys and
participants will be required to share Twin berth cabins with other
participants.
Group size is limited to a maximum of 18 participants.
Top 5
1. Travel on The Mongolian Express and The Trans-Siberian Express.
2. Cruise the waterways of the Tsars between Moscow and St
Petersburg to see the quintessential towns and villages of
Russia’s Golden Ring.
3. Experience Mongolia’s Naadam festival in the capital Ulaan
Baatar and its countryside in traditional gers.
4. Learn about Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake and
experience the traditions and culture of Siberia in Irkutsk.
5. Visit Moscow and St Petersburg.
Itinerary
Day 1
Locations: Mongolia, Ulaan Baatar
Overview: Arrive in Ulaan Baatar and make your own way to the
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accommodation. Dinner tonight will be at your accommodation. The
world's coldest capital situated in a basin surrounded by four mountains on the southernmost border of the great Siberian Taiga
and Steppe. When Mongolia achieved independence from China in
1911, the city had become an important trading centre on the route
between China and Russia, populated by Chinese, Russians and
Mongolians. The Mongolians are active followers of the Buddhist
faith; one of the three incarnations of the living "Buddha" or "Dalai
Lama" resided in Ulaan Baatar. In July, Ulaan Baatar is the site of the
Naadam festival involving the traditional Mongolian sports of horse
riding, wrestling and archery which is included during our stay.
Accommodation: Temple ger camp, Gorkho Terelj National Park for
2 nights (no singles).
Day 2
Locations: Ulaan Baatar and surrounds
Overview: Ulaan Baatar is the world's coldest capital situated in a
basin surrounded by 4 mountains on the southernmost border of the
great Siberian Taiga and Steppe. When Mongolia achieved
independence from China in 1911, the city had become an important
trading centre on the route between China and Russia, populated by
Chinese, Russians and Mongolians. The Mongolians are active
followers of the Buddhist faith; one of the 3 incarnations of the living
"Buddah" or "Dalai Lama" resided in Ulaan Baatar. Visit Nomadic
families for demonstrations of ger raising, horse catching, felt
making and mare-milking. Dinner tonight is a traditional Mongolian
barbeque.
Accommodation: Temple ger camp, or similar
Day 3
Locations: Naadam Festival
Overview: An introductory talk by a local guide about the Naadam
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Festival followed by a full day’s field trip to experience the opening
ceremonies of Mongolia’s Naadam Festival in the main square and
at the city’s central stadium to view dressage and traditional
Mongolian wrestling and archery. In the afternoon we enjoy horse
racing at Hui Doloon meadow. Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Ulaanbaatar, or similar.
Day 4
Locations: Winter Palace & Living Buddha
Overview: We return to the stadium this morning to see a few
wrestling matches before lunch at a local restaurant. Later we visit
the Winter Palace, residence of Mongolia’s eighth rein carnation of
the Living Buddha and last king. Dinner at our hotel tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Ulaanbaatar, or similar
Day 5
Locations: Gun Galuut & Khentii Mountains
Overview: Travel to the nature reserve near the Khentii Mountains
where there is a chance of sighting rare big horngali sheep. Learn
about the local herders who manage to keep about 200 argali
sheep, as well as many other rare animals and birds in close
proximity of the large coal mining city of Ulaanbaatar. Dinner at the
camp tonight.
Accommodation: Stay: 1 night Gun Galuut ger camp, or similar
Day 6
Locations: Hustai Nuruu National Park
Overview: This morning we drive to Hustai Nuruu National Park,
home to the last remaining species of wild horse, the Takhi,
commonly known as the Przewalski’s Horse. Learn about the current
conservation efforts and the status of herds found within the park.
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Dinner tonight will be at the camp.
Accommodation: 1 night Hustai ger camp, or similar
Day 7
Locations: Ulaanbaatar
Overview: En route to Ulaanbaatar we stop for lunch at a local
restaurant. There will be time to stroll through the local fairs at
Sukhbaatar and this evening we will enjoy a traditional Mongolian
performance.
Accommodation: 3 nights Hotel Ulaanbaatar, or similar
Day 8-9
Locations: Trans Mongolian to Irkutsk
Overview: A visit to the traditional Buddhist Gandan Monastery, the
seat of Buddhism in Mongolia this morning and later we visit the
Natural History Museum to see an excellent collection of traditional
arts & crafts and tools. See some of the best dinosaur fossil
collections in the world. This evening we board the Trans Mongolian
train for our journey across Mongolia to Irkutsk. The train crosses the
extensive Mongolian countryside. There is limited catering on board
the train and we plan a shopping trip in the morning to ensure that
we have provisions.
Accommodation: 2 nights on board Trans Mongolian Express train in
2 berth compartments. Single compartments are not available on
train journeys and participants will be required to share Twin berth
cabins with other participants of either sex.
Day 10
Locations: Irkutsk
Overview: Irkutsk, is now the regional and administrative capital of
Siberia. It came to prominence in 1651 as a Cossack garrison and in
the 1700's was an important trade centre for furs and ivory, later to
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become the administrative centre and industrial and scientific centre
during the Soviet era. With the coming of the railway in 1898, Irkutsk
was linked with the rest of Russia and became an important strategic
outpost. It is an ideal base to explore the world’s deepest Lake,
Baikal. Arrive in Irkutsk and commence with a tour of the Siberian
city visiting the local museum. Irkutsk is now the regional and
administrative capital of Siberia. It came to prominence in 1651 as a
Cossack garrison and in the 1700's was an important trade centre for
furs and ivory, later to become the administrative centre and
industrial and scientific centre during the Soviet era. With the coming
of the railway in 1898, Irkutsk was linked with the rest of Russia and
became an important strategic outpost. We transfer to our
accommodation with dinner tonight at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Courtyard Hotel City Centre, Irkutsk (or similar).
Day 11
Locations: Lake Baikal
Overview: Travel to Lake Baikal this morning and take a walking tour
of Krestovka and visit the Ethnographic Museum.
Accommodation: 1 night Krestovka Pad, or similar
Day 12
Locations: Lake Baikal Cruise
Overview: We take a boat ride on Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest
lake. During our stay in the region we visit the Lake Museum as well
as the Museum of Traditional Wooden Architecture and enjoy some
Siberian folk music. Learn about the similarities and differences
between its people and its Mongolian neighbours. We return to
Irkutsk and dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Accommodation: 2 nights Courtyard Marriott City Centre Hotel, or
similar
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Day 13
Locations: Irkutsk
Overview: Full day in Irkutsk to explore the city in your own time.
Dinner this evening is at your hotel.
Accommodation: Courtyard Marriott City Centre Hotel, or similar
Day 14-15-16-17-18
Locations: Trans-Siberian Train
Overview: A free morning before we board the Trans-Siberian train
for our epic rail journey through the Siberian forests and across the
rural mountains to Moscow. Meals, including local style breakfast,
lunches and dinners are provided in the train’s restaurant car.
Accommodation: Single compartments are not available on train
journeys and participants will be required to share twin berth cabins
with other participants of either sex.
Day 18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28
Locations: Moscow - St Petersburg: Russian Golden Ring Cruise
Overview: We arrive early in the morning and transfer to a hotel for
some rest and to freshen up before our half day tour of Moscow. In
the afternoon we transfer to the port to board our cruise. Moscow
regarded as Europe's most "eastern" capital boasting Saint Basil's
Cathedral, Red Square and the mysterious Kremlin. It contains some
of Russia’s outstanding architectural monuments from the fifteenth
to seventeenth centuries, as well as great constructions from the
Stalinist period including one of Europe’s most outstanding metro
systems. First 3 nights the boat will be moored in port in Moscow
and then sail to Uglish, Yaroslavi, Goritzy, Khizi Island, MandrogiLadoga and finish with 3 nights moored in St Petersburg. We will visit
the heritage mediaeval cities of the Golden Ring including Uglich,
Kizhi, Yaroslavl and Goritsy. The history, heritage and culture of
Russia are epitomised in the glorious, quintessential Russian cities
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and countryside visited during our Golden Ring cruise. In St
Petersburg, one of the grandest cities in the world, where we
experience Palace Square, the Nevski Prospect, St Isaak's Cathedral,
the imposing Peter and Paul Fortress.
Accommodation: 11 nights on board of MS Chicherin or similar
(single or twin share cabins available)
Day 29
Locations: St Petersburg
Overview: Today we have a tour to Peterhof lower park after which
your time is free. There is an opportunity to take an optional
excursion on the canals of St Petersburg. We then transfer to our
hotel in St Petersburg for our last night on tour and farewell dinner.
Accommodation: 1 night St Petersburg Hotel or similar
Day 30
Locations: St Petersburg
Overview: Tour concludes in St Petersburg hotel after breakfast.
Accommodation:
Inclusions / Exclusions
What's included in our Tour
9 nights hotel ensuite accommodation.
4 nights in traditional Mongolian yurts or gers (felt tents).
2 nights aboard the Trans Mongolian from Ulaan Bator to Irkutsk
in 2 berth compartments.
11 nights accommodation onboard cruise vessel in en-suited
share twin rooms.
3 nights travel aboard the Trans Siberian in 2 berth compartments.
24 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 24 dinners.
Transport, lectures and field trips as indicated.
Applicable entry fees and services of local guides.
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Gratuities and necessary tips.
Services of a study / group leader.
Detailed Tour Information Booklet.
What's not included in our Tour
International airfares and departure taxes
Cost for Mongolian & Russian Visas. Odyssey will assist in
obtaining the invitation letters for both visas.
Items of a personal nature, such as telephone calls and laundry.
Meals not specified in the itinerary.
Comprehensive Travel Insurance.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any requests for further
information about this tour or any others offered by Odyssey Travel.
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