Meet with your teacher and guide at Moscow Kazansky railway station.

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Settle into the sleeper wagon, enjoy a Russian toast to celebrate the beginning of the adventure, and depart to Kazan!

Arrive in Kazan in the early morning, and meet with the local guide at the train station.

 

The Temple of all Religions

This unique religious complex incorporates architectural influences from 16 separate religions, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the ancient Egyptian religion.

 

Sviahsk Fortress

Transfer to Sviazhsk. Excursion to the fortress on Sviazhsk island including a visit to the male monastery: Assumption Cathedral with its 16-18th century architecture (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), the female monastery: St. John the Baptist, and the Cathedral of Our Lady “Joy of All Who Sorrow”.

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Return to Kazan and enjoy a typical Tatar dinner.

 

Overnight stay with a Tatar family or hotel 

Sightseeing Tour of Kazan

Sightseeing tour of Kazan includes:

• Old Tatar mosques

• Kazan Kremlin

• Kul Sharif Mosque

• Cathedral of Annunciation

• Soyembika Tower

• Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral

• Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

 

Depart to Ekaterinburg in the afternoon.

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Russian Classes

Your Russian teacher will be giving Russian language lessons throughout the trip. You will be placed into 1 of 2 groups according to your level of Russian. During the train journey, the lessons are given daily and last 2 hours. From the beginning to the end of the trip, you will receive 25 hours of Russian language lessons.

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Free Time

Take a rest, read, play typical Russian “train games” (e.g., mafia, durak, chess), have a drink or snack in the restaurant car, or just gaze outside your window and enjoy the beautiful Russian landscape

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Russian Culture (optional)

Watch Russian and old Soviet cartoons and films in the evening, and discuss Russian cultural traditions / history.

Arrive in Ekaterinburg (morning)

Meet with the local guide at the train station.

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Sightseeing Tour of Ekaterinburg

Visit the Church on Blood at the Romanov Death Site, the Chapel of St. Elizabeth, the Square of the Soviet Army and enjoy the view of the Ural mountains from the 52nd Floor of the Vysotsky Tower. 

 

Asia–Europe Border

Reach the obelisk at the border of Europe and Asia, and then enjoy a break / snack in Europe or Asia, you decide! 

 

Depart from Ekaterinburg in the evening

You will spend the day on the Trans-Siberian train, learning Russian and enjoying the landscapes of the Ural mountains.

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Russian Classes

Your Russian teacher will be giving Russian language lessons throughout the trip. You will be placed into 1 of 2 groups according to your level of Russian. During the train journey, the lessons are given daily and last 2 hours. From the beginning to the end of the trip, you will receive 25 hours of Russian language lessons.

​

Free Time

Take a rest, read, play typical Russian “train games” (e.g., mafia, durak, chess), have a drink or snack in the restaurant car, or just gaze outside your window and enjoy the beautiful Russian landscape

 

Russian Culture (optional)

Watch Russian and old Soviet cartoons and films in the evening, and discuss Russian cultural traditions / history.

Arrive in Irkutsk (early morning)

Meet with the local guide at the train station.

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Sightseeing tour of Irkutsk

Short walking tour of the historical city-center with your guide.

 

Transfer to Olkhon Island (6 hours)

Olkhon is an island in the middle of the mystical Lake Baikal. Depart on a bus from Irkutsk and arrive at the port of Olkhon. From there, cross the "Little Sea" by ferry (the strait that separates the island from the mainland). Arrive in Skahurta.

 

Khuzhir & the "Shaman Rock"

Transfer to Khuzhir, the main village of Olkhon. Enjoy the beautiful nature in and around the village, discovering the famous Bourkhan Rock: the high place of Shamanic culture in Siberia.

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Spend the night in Khuzhir (Olkhon Island) 

Excursion on Olkhon Island

Four-wheel drive Russian military van (UAZ) picks you up and takes you to the northern part of Olkhon Island. You will experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Lake Baikal. A visit to some beautiful beaches will offer you an opportunity to swim!

 

Have a picnic (barbecue: Russian shashlik).

 

Cape Khoboy

Take a short hike to Cape Khoboy where you will see a magnificient 360° panorama of 1 km-high cliffs.

 

Love Peak

In this holy place, once-upon-a-time, the Buryats left their infertile wives. Buryats are the local people from the region, sharing ancestors with mongols. They are following buddhism and shamanism traditions. 

 

Return to Khuzhir to enjoy a Traditional Russian Banya.

 

Spend the night in Khuzhir (Olkhon island).

Return to Irkutsk in the early morning (5-6 hours by minibus and boat).

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Depart to Vladivostok spending the night on the train.

You will spend the day on the Trans-Siberian train, learning Russian language with your teacher while enjoying Russia's Far-East landscapes.

 

Russian Classes

Your Russian teacher will be giving Russian language lessons throughout the trip. You will be placed into 1 of 2 groups according to your level of Russian. During the train journey, the lessons are given daily and last 2 hours. From the beginning to the end of the trip, you will receive 25 hours of Russian language lessons.

​

Free Time

Take a rest, read, play typical Russian “train games” (e.g., mafia, durak, chess), have a drink or snack in the restaurant car, or just gaze outside your window and enjoy the beautiful Russian landscape

​

Russian Culture (optional)

Watch Russian and old Soviet cartoons and films in the evening, and discuss Russian cultural traditions / history.

Arrive in Vladivostock in the early morning.

 

City Tour in Vladivostok

The tour includes a walk on Arbat-Vladivostok, the visit of the Memorial Submarine S-56 Museum, and a walk on Tsezarevich waterfront. You will also hike up to the best viewpoint of the city, and then return down using the famous Vladivostok funicular.

 

Farewell Toast

IIR offers you a farewell Russian toast in Zuma restaurant, several times elected Russia's best restaurant. We highly recommend that you try the seafood plates, and in particular, the "Red King Crab" (the famous Kamchakta crab).

 

Spend the night in the hotel.

Eat breakfast at the hotel.

 

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.