Immersion in Trans-Siberian

14d/13n - $1,710

May-September

Trans-Siberian Railway

Your guide is also a Russian teacher

Moscow - Kazan - Ekaterinburg - Baikal Lake - Vladivostok

Learn the melodic and mysterious Russian language while traveling through the immense Russian territory on the Trans-Siberian railway. Enjoy an unforgettable journey crossing the wild and beautiful Russian landscapes.

Your train will periodically stop to let you discover the fascinating sites on the wa: Kazan, Ekaterinburg, Baikal Lake, till your last stop on the Pacific: Vladivostok.

Program

Day 1

Departure from Moscow

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

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

Day 2

Kazan & Sviyazhsk

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”.

Return to Kazan and enjoy a typical Tatar dinner.

Overnight stay with a Tatar family or hotel

Day 3

Kazan & Train

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.

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.

Ekaterinburg

Day 4

Arrive in Ekaterinburg (morning)

Meet with the local guide at the train station.

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

Classes On the Train

Day 5 - 6

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

Russian Classes

Free Time

Russian Culture (optional)

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

Day 7

Irkutsk & Lake Baikal

Arrive in Irkutsk (early morning)

Meet with the local guide at the train station.

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.

Spend the night in Khuzhir (Olkhon Island)

Olkhon Island

Day 8

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).

Day 9

Irkutsk

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

Depart to Vladivostok spending the night on the train.

Day 10-12

Classes 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

Free Time

Russian Culture (optional)

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

Day 13

Vladivostok

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.

Day 14

From Vladivostok with Love

Eat breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Availability

25.05.2020 - 07.06.2020

Begin End

Availability: 9 spaces left

Status

$1,710

Standard price per person

Book

22.06.2020 - 05.07.2020

Begin End

Availability: 8 spaces left

Status

$1,710

Standard price per person

Book

20.07.2020 - 03.08.2020

Begin End

Availability: 10 spaces left

Status

$1,710

Standard price per person

Book

17.08.2020 - 30.08.2020

Begin End

Availability: 8 spaces left

Status

$1,710

Standard price per person

Book

Conditions

Standard Conditions

The price includes

25 hours of Russian language lessons
Significant time spent with a Russian teacher throughout the journey (in addition to lessons)
5 hours of Russian culture (Optional)
4 train tickets (2nd class)
Excursions with an English-speaking local guide
Accommodation in hotels (standard double room) and with host families
Meals mentioned in the programme
Vouchers & visa support

The price does not include

Meals which are not mentioned in the program
Tips and personal expenses
Flights
Personal insurance

Premium Offer

The premium offer includes at least one of these services.

All flights (domestic and international)

Full visa support (online questionnaire and deposit at the visa center)

All transfers from/to airports, hotels, railway station, etc.

Additional days, activities, hotels, destinations

Single room option

Personnalisation of the tour / Individual tour

Additional guide speaking your language during the tour

Booking

You have two options to book a tour with us

Book directly below by choosing your date to secure your spot, then fill in your information. It is completely free, no credit card required.
Or send us a message for more information and more dates.

Booking & Cancellation

1. Regular services

A deposit of 30% (thirty percent) will be required to confirm your order of any Service. Another part of the payment (70% (seventy percent)) shall be paid 1 (one) month before the start of provision of any of the Services.

Terms of Cancellation

If cancellation of the ordered Services or any of the ordered Services occurs:

1) more than 30 (thirty) days before the start of provision of the Services, then the cancellation fee is €100 (one hundred euros) per person. If any of the applicable fees and/or charges (including, but not limited to banking, payment systems’, etc.) are higher than €100 (one hundred euros) per person, then the necessary amount is paid by a customer,

2) between 30 (thirty) days and 7 (seven) days before the start of provision of the Services – 30% (thirty percent) of the total price of the Services,

3) in less than 7 (seven) days before the start of provision of the Services, the cancellation fee is 100% (one hundred percent) of the total price for the Services.

2. Premium Services

A deposit of 50% (fifty percent) will be required to confirm your order of any Service. Another part of the payment (50% (fifty percent) shall be paid 1 (one) month before the start of provision of any of the Services.

Terms of Cancellation

If cancellation of the ordered Services or any of the ordered Services occurs:

2) between 30 (thirty) days and 7 (seven) days before the start of provision of the Services – 50% (fifty percent) of the total price of the Services,

3) in less than 7 (seven) days before the start of provision of the Services, the cancellation fee is 100% (one hundred percent) of the total price for the Services.

Immersion in Trans-Siberian

14d/13n - $1,710

May-September

Trans-Siberian Railway

Your guide is also a Russian teacher

Moscow - Kazan - Ekaterinburg - Baikal Lake - Vladivostok

Program

Departure from Moscow

Kazan & Sviyazhsk

Kazan & Train

Ekaterinburg

Classes On the Train

Irkutsk & Lake Baikal

Olkhon Island

Irkutsk

Classes On the train

Vladivostok

From Vladivostok with Love

Availability

25.05.2020 - 07.06.2020

Begin End

Availability: 9 spaces left

Status

$1,710

Standard price per person

22.06.2020 - 05.07.2020

Begin End

Availability: 8 spaces left

Status

$1,710

Standard price per person

20.07.2020 - 03.08.2020

Begin End

Availability: 10 spaces left

Status

$1,710

Standard price per person

17.08.2020 - 30.08.2020

Begin End

Availability: 8 spaces left

Status

$1,710

Standard price per person

Conditions

Standard Conditions

Premium Offer

Booking

You might be interested by

Frozen Baikal

Crossing

Transsiberian