TransSibFun Backpack. Russia → Mongolia → China. 18 days, August 2021.

Day 1

(04 August, Wednesday)

▌Welcome dinner. We meet all together for the first time, introduce each other and enjoy traditional Russian cuisine.

▌Transfer to the train station.

▌Here the trip begins! We take the train and start to follow the great Trans-Siberian railway!

Day 2

(05 August, Thursday)

▌Arrival to Kazan. Our first stop on the long way!

▌Transfer to hostel, some free time to get ready for a great day ahead!

▌City tour with a guide. We will explore the city, we will see the most beautiful places and viewpoints.

▌This is a Tatar region, we will go for dinner to traditional Tatatr restaurant.

Day 3

(06 August, Friday)

▌Breakfast.

▌Tour to Sviyazhsk – it’s a small city of 16th century on the island. We take a ferry.

▌Lunch on the island.

▌Dinner in a traditional restaurant.

▌Transfer to the train station.

▌We take a train further! To Yekaterinburg.

 

Day 4

(07 August, Saturday)

▌Arrival to Yekaterinburg. Our first stop on the long way!

▌Transfer to hostel, some free time to get ready for a great day ahead!

▌We will explore the city, we will see the most beautiful places and viewpoints.

▌Lunch. We will eat the most traditional dish “pelmeni” (dumplings) in a special place.

▌This city is the motherland of the first Russian president – Boris Yeltsin. Recently the big center devoted to him was opened. This is an awesome place where we will dive into 1990th reality www.yeltsin.ru.

▌Dinner, free time.

Day 5

(08 August, Sunday)

▌Breakfast at hostel, check out, transfer to train station.

▌Here we continue the trip! We take the train and heading to Novosibirsk!

▌We are becoming experienced travelers! You might have some questions about Russian culture, language etc. Maybe you took some interesting pictures of any signs and you don’t understand what’s written there – feel free to ask!

▌For the most curious travelers we will continue Russian language course and will watch another movie about Russian history.

▌We will learn how to play a traditional card game called “Fool” (“Дурак” [durak]).

▌Mafia game. Get prepared to play your role!

Day 6

(09 August, Monday)

▌Hello Siberia! Our first stop in Siberian city – Novosibirsk.

▌Transfer to hostel, free time.

▌Excursion around the city. We will see the most beautiful places and viewpoints in the city.

▌Dinner in the restaurant with Russian food.

▌Ballet night in the Opera and Ballet Theater. Did you know that the third most beautiful opera and ballet theater in Russia (after Bolshoi Theater in Moscow and Mariinski Theater in St. Petersburg) is in Novosibirsk!

▌We will go all together to explore the nightlife of Novosibirsk.

Day 7

(10 August, Tuesday)

▌Breakfast at the hotel.

▌We are having a Trans-Siberian train trip and it would be a sin not to see the old trains that were riding the same route but many year ago! So, we go to visit a museum of trains.

▌Lunch in the restaurant.

▌We continue moving! We take a train to the next stop - Irkutsk!

Day 8

(11 August, Wednesday)

We spend the whole day on the train! Have a look out of the window – the landscape is changing!

During the day:

▌The train stops at some stations for 30-40 min, we will be able to go out from the train and see a train station and a bit of the city.

▌Russian language course! We will learn alphabet, reading, some very basic phrases and expressions. Russia is so huge, but the official language is only one.

▌Movie about Russia. It will give us a general understanding where we are travelling, we will learn a bit about geography, state system, culture.

▌Global Village! This is a big celebration of cultures from around the world. We want to know about each other more! Everyone is supposed to prepare for this event (bring something very traditional from home – food, drinks, snacks…). Besides, we showcase our nations through singing, dancing, food, costumes, music and traditions! Be creative! It will be fun!

Day 9

(12 August, Thursday)

▌We are close to the lake Baikal - we arrive to Irkutsk!

▌Transfer to hostel, free time.

▌Tour around the city. We will see the most beautiful places and viewpoints in the city.

▌We go to banya (Russian sauna)! Dinner will be served there.

Day 10

(13 August, Friday)

▌Early morning, the city wakes up :) We go to see the deepest lake in the world! Lake Baikal. We go to the island Olkhon. We will move around the island and see the most beautiful places!

▌Lunch on the island.

▌We will stay overnight on the island

Day 11

(14 August, Saturday)

▌Breakfast, free time.

▌We come back to Irkutsk, free time.

▌We take a train further! Next city – Ulan-Ude!

Day 12

(15 August, Sunday)

▌We arrive to the unknown Russia, nobody expects that it is so diverse! Ulan-Ude city!

▌Transfer to hostel.

▌Not many people know that there is a Buddhist region in Russia, we are going to visit a heart of it – Datsan.

▌Lunch in Datsan.

▌We come back to the city, free time.

▌Ulan-Ude a capital of Republic of Buryatia, in this area people speak different language, they have a different culture and different cuisine. We go for dinner to a traditional buryat restaurant.

Day 13

(16 August, Monday)

▌Breakfast, free time.

▌Tour around the city. We will see the most beautiful places and viewpoints in the city.

▌Lunch, transfer to train station.

▌Here we go! We move to Mongolia!

▌We already know how to play a card game “Durak”, it’s time to participate in a championship!

Day 14

(17 August, Tuesday)

▌Arrival to Ulan-Bator.

▌Manzushir Monastery ruins in Bogd Khan Mt. National Park visit.

▌Check-in to Ger camp in Terelj National Park. Organized lunch.

▌We will explore Terelj National Part and will drive to Turtle Rock.

▌Terelj National Park and local nomadic family visit.

▌Organized dinner. We will stay in Ger camp.

Day 15

(18 August, Wednesday)

▌Breakfast in the Ger camp. Check-out.

▌Genghis Khan Statue Complex visit.

▌Arrival to Ulanbaatar city, check-in to hostel.

▌Visit to Zaisan Memorial Hill.

▌Lunch.

▌Visit to Gandan Monastery.

▌In the evening we will visit “Wonders of Mongolia” folklore show.

▌Dinner.

Day 16

(19 August, Thursday)

▌Breakfast at the hotel, free time.

▌Transfer to the train station. We take the train to Beijing.

▌We spend the whole day on the train! Have a look out of the window – so many km away from Europe!

Day 17

(20 August, Friday)

▌Huraaaaaa! We did it! Arrival to Beijing. Transfer to hostel.

▌Lunch in Chinese restaurant.

▌Tour around the city center.

▌. Farewell dinner. Kiss and goodbye! Time to hug everyone and say thanks for the great time and experience we shared together!

Day 18

(21 August, Saturday)

▌Breakfast, check-out.

▌Optional tour to the Great Chinese wall.

The organizers keep the right to change this program due to weather conditions or other unforeseen situations.

Accommodation during trip

Hostels (common rooms)

Hotels 2-3* (twin rooms)

Train during trip

We will travel most of the way in 3rd class (open space).

Some part of the way we will be in the 2nd class (4 ppl compartments)

Costs:

▌Super Early Birds - if booking before 01 June 2020

2,850 EUR

▌If booking 02 June - 07 November 2020

2,950 EUR

▌If booking 08 November - 31 December 2020

3,250 EUR

▌If booking 01 January - 01 June 2021

3,350 EUR

▌Standard price

3,550 EUR

Included:

▌Train tickets;

▌Accommodation during the whole trip ;

▌All excursions/ city tours, guides, opera/ ballet;

▌Welcome dinner, Farewell dinner;

▌All organized breakfasts/ lunches/ dinners, mentioned in the program;

▌Visa support (invitation for visa application);

▌Great friends from all over the world, unforgettable experience and emotions :)

Not included:

▌Travel costs to Moscow and from Vladivostok;

▌Transfers during the stops;

▌Entrance to museums;

▌Meals;

▌Visa to Russia, Mongolia, China;

▌Insurance (we can supply it additionally if needed or you can do it by yourself: www.rgs.ru).

▌Personal expenses, optional tour to Great Chinese Wall.

Contacts:

▌https://nadyasmokotina.wixsite.com/transsibfun

▌www.facebook.com/TransSibFun

▌www.instagram.com/TransSibFun

▌WhatsApp/ Telegram/ WeChat: +7-985-271-55-15

▌TransSiberianFun@gmail.com

Booking procedure:

▌We accept PayPall and bank cards issued by Russian banks (Visa, MasterCasrd, МИР)

▌1,000 EUR – prepayment when booking.

▌50% of total cost to be paid 1 month before departure.

▌The rest to be paid 1 day before departure.