Category: Trans-Siberian Dream Itinerary

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to explore the historic city of Russia- Ekaterinburg. First of all, Ekaterinburg is famous for its unique location – Europe and Asia border, Ganya Pit. On the one side it is a unique architectural monument, which presents 7 wooden churches built without a single nail. On the other side, this place has sorrowful story connected with the last Russian tsar Romanov (Nikolai 2) and his family, whose bodies were burnt and buried here. Story of Ekaterinburg interlaces with mournful story of Romanov’s’. In the Ekaterinburg downtown tourists may observe the place where Romanovs were imprisoned and murdered, which is also the site of the Cathedral on the Blood. Pilgrims from all over the world come here to pray. Next, we will go for a panoramic view of the city including Ekaterinburg Churches, Ekaterinburg museum, mansions and manors together with Ekaterinburg monuments. We will take you to the downtown part, named Historical Square and see the heart of the city – the Dam or Plotinka on the Iset River, a place where Ekaterinburg started its glorious story. We will have an early dinner in a restaurant as we need to transfer to the railway station to board train ETD 20.20 pm for Irkutsk. Stay the night in train.

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Continue travelling towards Irkutsk. Stay overnight in the train itself. Enjoy while meeting the people of different countries in Bistro.

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Continue the scenic journey on the train. Breakfast and Dinner will be arranged in the train. The train is scheduled to stop at ETA 03.30 am [late night] which is officially on day seven.

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“It has been said that, if Lake Baikal is the pearl of Siberia, then
Olkhon Island is the heart of Lake Baikal.

Arrive in Irkutsk early morning, as mentioned, and transfer to a hotel near the station. Have your breakfast followed by a scenic drive to the pier in Sakhyurta, (commonly known as the MRS) to take the ferry for Olchon Island.

Olchon or Olkhon Island is the largest of the Lake Baikal’s 27 Islands. The island has an area of 730 sq. km (282 sq. miles) and is inhabited by around 1,500 Buryats. It is 77 km long and 15-25 km wide. This is the most beautiful and mysterious place on the lake. The climate here is different and special. It is dry in summer and not much snow in winter. The average temperature in summer is 20-23 C, and about -20C in winter. The channel between the island and the lakeshore is one of the few places in Baikal where is temperature good enough for swimming.

There is a good sandy beach in the 10min destination from the place of staying. The western shore of the island is steppe. The island was formed during millions of years of tectonic development. Lake Baikal’s deepest point (1637m) is near the Eastern Shore of the Island. In the interior of the island are half a dozen lakes and the 1300m-high Zhima Peak. The northern end of Olkhon is one of the possible places to see Baikal seals.

Olkhon Island has several archaeological sites, beginning with the remains of Iron Age fortress built by mysterious Kurykans, the ancient Chinese people who lived here between A.D.500 and 1000. The Island is also famous as one of the center of Shamanism, primitive form of religion of the local Buryats. Many of the shamanistic sacred places and rock paintings are still found here. The only one settlement of Olkhon is the fishing village of Khuzhir.

Check in to the hotel in Khuzhir area. Day is free to explore on your own…as Lake Baikal is very close to our accommodation. Have dinner and overnight stay in the Magical Serenity of Olkhon Island.

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After breakfast, we will proceed for a full day excursion to North Coast of the Island. Olkhon Island has spectacular landscapes which are second to none. It is especially true for the northern region of Olkhon Island, where you will see majestic and unforgettable panoramic views of the cape overlooking the sea. Olkhon Island is the ideal spot for nature lovers and landscape Photographers, here you will find many untouched natural wildlife, virgin forests and jaw dropping landscapes.

Return back to hotel and Have your dinner. Stay the night at the beautiful Island – Olkhon.

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Have breakfast at the hotel followed by check out and proceed to Irkutsk. On the way visit Ust-Orda (the centre of buryat national region). Ust Orda is a Buryat small town/village only 90 KM drive north of Irkutsk. It’s used to be a capital of Autonomous Buryat Okrug on the territory of Irkutsk region before it was merged to Irkutsk in 2008. Trip to Ust Orda allows you to discover the culture and lifestyle of Buryats, the local people that lived on the territory of Irkutsk region for many centuries before Russians arrived. The Buryat people are linguistically and culturally closely related to the Mongols.

Irkutsk was founded in 1661 at the junction of the Angara and the Irkut Rivers. The Irkut River gave the name to the city.

Irkutsk city tour will start in the center of the city – Kirov square. You’ll see Bogoyavlensky Cathedral and the oldest stone building of the city – Spasskaya Church. During the tour you’ll come to the historical center of Irkutsk and will see old wooden buildings ingrown into the ground, beautiful merchant houses dated back to the 18th and 19th century. On the embankment of Angara you’ll see the beautiful monument of Alexander III.

Transfer to Irkutsk and enjoy your dinner followed by check in the hotel. Stay the night in Irkutsk.

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After a relaxed breakfast, we will check out from hotel and proceed to Irkutsk Station to board the train to Ulaanbaatar. The journey is one of the world’s longest railway lines and provides some of Russia & Mongolia’s wildest and most magnificent scenery. Have dinner and stay overnight in train.

[BREAKFAST, DINNER ARRANGEMENT IN TRAIN]

The Gobi is the Most Mysterious Place on Earth with its unique natural formation and it is place where you can dig and find at Flaming Cliffs the real dinosaur fossils, flora, and fauna not to be found anywhere else in the world and invites you to reveal its secrets.

Arrive in Ulaan Baatar at ETA 05.40 am (local time). Then we will proceed to the tourist Ger Camp by 4 wheel drive, we will go out to explore the one & only Gobi Desert.

Bayanzag is famous for dinosaur remains, complete dinosaur skeletons and fossilized eggs. American explorer Mr Roy Chapman Andrews discovered this area in the beginning of 20th Century and became famous all over the world. If you see carefully, you could find some piece of bones or dinosaur eggs.

In the afternoon (if time & situation permit) we can try to visit the Gobi tree saxaul forest. Have dinner and overnight stay in the Ger Camp itself….under the twinkling stars.

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After breakfast, we take a long drive to Ongi Temple ruin through the majestic Gobi. It was one of the 7 biggest temples in Mongolia. After people’s revolution in 1921, these two monasteries were destroyed and lamas (monks) were killed by communists. We’ll have lunch later and arrive to check into the Ger camp. We will stay very close to the picturesque Ongi River. Have dinner and stay the night in the Ger camp.

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Once served as the capital of Mongolian Empire and an essential station of the Silk Road, Karakorum city has much more to share than its current physical appearance. Elsen Tasarkhai, marvelous Oasis with Sand Dunes, vegetations, lake and birds is located close to Karakorum. Therefore, during this trip, you have the chance to experience noteworthy historical-religious-natural and adventurous side of Mongolia.

If you get up early, you have a great chance to see some wild animals such as wild sheep, ibex, wolf etc. Have breakfast and proceed towards Khogno Khaan Mountain, which is 285 Kilometer from Ulaan Baatar. This area represents a unique picture of the natural contrast combining the Mongolian desert Gobi, landscapes of Hangaj and Rocky Mountains. In 1220 Karkhorum was built and was the capital of Mongolia for 140 years. In 1338, the city was massively destroyed and Erdenezuu Buddhist Monastery where we have visited was founded in 1586 at the city’s ruin. Stay the night at tourist Ger camp where you will have your dinner.

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