From the Imperial Capital to Siberia tour / 17D

17 Days 5 Nights on the train Eastbound UNESCO All year

Tours  Trans-Siberian Railway tours From the Imperial Capital to Siberia

St Petersburg → Moscow → Yekaterinburg → Tobolsk → Omsk → Irkutsk → Listvyanka


  Make a trip along the Trans-Siberian Railway from the Northern capital of Russia, St Petersburg, to Eastern Siberia and Lake Baikal. 

  For the 17 days of the tour you will travel to many places connected with the final months of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his family. You will visit the Winter Palace, where the revolution began, which is now the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in Europe. You will also visit a real miracle of craftwork in the form of the Amber Room in Catherine Palace. 

In Moscow, you will see masterpieces of world famous architecture: the Moscow Kremlin, St Basil's Cathedral, and the most beautiful metro system in the world. It is in Moscow that the Trans-Siberian Railway begins.

The railroad crosses the Ural Mountains and the geographical border between Europe and Asia - you will visit Yekaterinburg, which is considered the capital of the region. You will see the places related to the murder of Nicholas II and his family - Ganina Yama, Porosenkov Log and the Cathedral on the Spilled Blood.

Then you'll pass through the oldest of Siberian cities: Tobolsk, where the only stone Kremlin in Siberia has been preserved, and Omsk once home to an ancient fortress. Omsk also served as the place of exile for many famous people, including the writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, and was the capital of the White Russians during the Civil War.

The final point of the trip will be the main natural sight on the Trans-Siberian Railway - Lake Baikal. You'll travel by train along an old section of the railway - the Circum-Baikal Railway - an engineering feat and the most expensive section of the railway.

1 DAY / ARRIVAL IN ST PETERSBURG

  Arrival in St Petersburg. Transfer to your hotel. Free time in the city: although if you arrive in the morning and have energy we can organise an excursion for this day.

 Night in St Petersburg.


2 DAY / ST PETERSBURG CITY TOUR - HERMITAGE

Hermitage

 Breakfast at the hotel.

  City tour of St Petersburg with an excursion to the Peter and Paul Fortress - the highlights of this tour include:

  • Admiralty (exterior) – one of the most beautiful and recognisable buildings in the city. It was the first building to be built on the left-bank of the Neva.
  • Bronze Horseman – the first monument to Peter the Great to be erected in Russia. It was unveiled as a gift from Catherine the Great to recognise the achievements of Peter the Great and it took over 12 years to finish the project.
  • Strelka of Vasilievsky Island – St Petersburg is built on 42 islands and the largest of them is Vasilievsky Island. It was Peter the Great’s idea to have this island serve as the cultural and trade centre. With this aim a trading port was built on the tip of the island, which became known as the Strelka.
  • Palace Square – the main square in St Petersburg, which gets its name as the Winter Palace stands here. In the centre of the square is an obelisk dedicated to Emperor Alexander I and his victory over Napoleon.
  • St Isaac’s Cathedral (exterior) – one of the most famous and beautiful domed cathedrals in the world. Its scale is impressive: in height and capacity it is only beaten in Russia by Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral. It stands at 101.5 metres tall and has a capacity of 14,000 people.
  • Saviour on the Blood Cathedral (exterior) – this cathedral was built on the site where members of the People’s Will terrorist organisation fatally wounded Emperor Alexander II. The cathedral was elaborately decorated in the ancient Rus style, reminiscent of Moscow’s St Basil’s Cathedral, and not the classical style typical for St Petersburg. According to the wishes of Emperor Alexander III, an ornate canopy was erected over the very site where his father fell.
  • Field of Mars – in this memorial park victims of the February Revolution of 1917 were buried and an eternal flame was lit.

 Guided tour of the Peter and Paul fortress – this fortress marks the very starting point of St Petersburg and the rest of the city grew from this point. At first the fortress had a military role in defending the new city from the Swedes and was the first bastion to be built in Russia. Later on the fortress became a prison for political prisoners. In addition, the fortress’s Ss Peter and Paul's Cathedral serves as the burial place for practically all Russian ruling emperors and empresses, excluding Peter II and Ivan VI.

 Guided tour of the State Hermitage – an art gallery located in the Winter Palace which was once the official residence of the Russian emperors. The current version of the palace is in fact the fifth incarnation to be built on the banks of the Neva and undoubtedly the most proportional and exquisite of them all. It was built in the baroque style according to a project by architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Today the building holds one of the most famous art galleries in the world, but even these masterpieces have difficulty in outshining the interiors of the palace itself.

 Duration: 8 hours |  Transportation: by a private car and by metro

 Night in St Petersburg.


3 DAY / CATHERINE PALACE IN PUSHKIN

 Breakfast at the hotel.

 Guided tour of the Catherine Palace in Pushkin - this is of one the largest palaces in the suburbs of St Petersburg. The architectural style of the palace, reminiscent of the Winter Palace with its decorative contrasts of colours, is typical of the baroque style so popular in St Petersburg. The interiors of the palace are decorated in various artistic styles, but are predominantly baroque or classical. Several of the premises that were renovated in the mid-19th century were given a make-over in the style of historicism. Also found here is a full reconstruction of the Amber Room, which, as its name suggests, is a room completely decorated with amber. The original room was looted by the Nazis during the Second World War and to this day its whereabouts are unknown.

 Duration: 6h |  Transportation: by a private car

 Night in St Petersburg.


4 DAY / FREE DAY IN ST PETERSBURG / 0km - 650km

Sapsan

 Breakfast at the hotel.

 Free day in the city. You can spend this day either exploring St Petersburg by yourself or by ordering an additional excursion, including an excursion outside of St Petersburg.

 Transfer to Moskovsky Railway Station of St Petersburg.

 Sapsan high-speed train to Moscow.

 Duration: 3h50

 Upon arrival in Moscow a transfer to the hotel.

 Night in Moscow.


5 DAY / MOSCOW - THE KREMLIN - MOSCOW METRO

 Breakfast at the hotel.

  City tour of Moscow by a car - during this tour you will see the Russian capital’s main sights, including:

 Walking tour of the historic centre of Moscow - you will see:

  • Red Square - Russia's main square, where you will find Lobnoe Place, St Basil’s Cathedral, the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, Lenin’s Mausoleum and the GUM department store.
  • Christ the Saviour Cathedral - an eparchial cathedral and the main cathedral of Russia. Services here are led by the patriarch of Moscow and All Rus, the Russian Orthodox equivalent of the pope in Rome. An earlier version of the cathedral was blown up by the Bolsheviks to make way for the grand plans to build a Palace of the Soviets, however this project was never realised and an open-air swimming pool was created instead. The cathedral was rebuilt after the fall of the Soviet Union.
  • Lenin’s Mausoleum – since 1924 the embalmed body of the founder of the Soviet Union has been lying here.
  • Ulitsa Varvarka – this is one of the oldest streets in Moscow and many of its historical buildings have been preserved.
  • GUM department store – one of the oldest surviving shops in Russia and a real architectural masterpiece from the 19th century, with an added Soviet vibe.
  • Aleksandrovsky Gardens – the gardens were opened after the fire of 1812 where the river Neglinnaya used to flow before being diverted in underground tunnels. In 1856 the gardens, then known as the Kremlin Gardens, were renamed in honour of Emperor Alexander I. In area they occupy 10 hectares and you can find several interesting monuments here. In addition the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with a guard of honour and an eternal flame is located here.
  • Lyubyanskaya Ploschad – standing on this square is the former headquarters of the KGB, now home to the FSB. During its KGB days, prisoners were executed in its cellars.

 Duration: 6-7h |  Transportation: by a car and a walking tour

 Night in Moscow.


6 DAY / MOSCOW KREMLIN AND METRO

 Breakfast at the hotel.

 Guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin - the Moscow Kremlin is the main sight in the city and situated in the very heart of the capital. Its impressive walls and towers, golden-domed churches, ancient chambers and grand palaces rise up on Borovitsky Hill over the River Moscow and create a uniquely beautiful architectural ensemble.

 Guided tour of the Moscow Metro – this underground system of palaces is like no other metro system in the world. The main central stations are decorated with statues, reliefs, monuments, paintings, mosaics and stained glass created by some of the country’s leading artists.

 Duration: 4h |  Transportation: walking excursion

 Night in Moscow.


7 DAY / EUROPEAN RUSSIA 

 Breakfast at the hotel.

 Transfer to the railway station.

 Overnight train to Yekaterinburg.


8 DAY / THE URALS / YEKATERINBURG

 Day on the train.

 Evening arrival in Yekaterinburg. Transfer to the hotel.

 Night in Yekaterinburg.


9 DAY / THE URALS / YEKATERINBURG

Yekaterinburg

 Breakfast in the hotel

 Сity tour of Yekaterinburg - the highlights of the tour include:

  • Church on the Spilled Blood – one of three churches in Russia which are said to have been built "on blood". At this location the Ipatiev House previously stood, which was the site of the execution of Emperor Nicholas II and his family. Today they have been canonised as saints.
  • Ural Stone Museum – minerals and stones are the pride of the Urals and one of its brands. The museum has a collection of unique crystals, minerals and semi-precious stones.
  • Ganina Yama – a wooden monastery founded on the site where the remains of the last imperial family were found. The remains themselves are now buried in Ss Peter and Paul's Cathedral in St Petersburg.
  • Europe-Asia Border – one of several monuments marking the border where Europe ends and Asia begins. This spot was fixed by German scientists in 1829.

 Duration: 5h |  Transportation: by a private car

 Evening transfer to the train station.

 Overnight train to Tobolsk.


10 DAY / SIBERIA / TOBOLSK

Tobolsk

Morning arrival in Tobolsk. Transfer to the hotel.

 City Tour of Tobolsk - the Western Siberian city of Tobolsk has preserved some amazing architectural and historical monuments, the main one being the Tobolsk Kremlin. This is the only stone Kremlin in Siberia and was built in the early 18th century.  The tour includes:

 Night in Tobolsk.


11 DAY / WESTERN SIBERIA / ABALAK

Abalak

 Breakfast in the hotel

 

 Excursion to Abalak and the Znamensky Monastery - the village of Abalak was founded long before Russians came to Siberia and was home to Tatars. It bears the name of Tatar prince Abalak.

The oldest building in Abalak is the Our Lady of the Sign Cathedral, which dates from almost the same time as Tobolsk’s St Sophia Dormition Cathedral. The cathedral was consecrated in 1691. It is a unique monument of the Russian Baroque style, and often regarded as one of the most original works of Siberian architecture. 

You will also visit the Abalak complex, which is filled with characters and the architectural structures from Russian fairy tales. You can also enjoy magnificent views of the River Irtysh River and the vast Siberian forests from here.

 Duration: 3-4h |  Transportation: by a private car

 Transfer to the train station. 

 Overnight train to Omsk.


12 DAY / WESTERN SIBERIA / OMSK

Omsk

Arrival in Omsk. Transfer to the hotel.

 Tour of Omsk. The main attraction included in the tour are:

  • Dostoevsky Literary Museum - the museum is located in the former commandant's house of the Omsk Prison, built in 1799. Dostoevsky lived in this building during his exile.
  • Dormition Cathedral - construction of the cathedral was started in 1891. The first stone in the foundation of the cathedral was laid by Tsarevich Nikolay Aleksandrovich, future Russian emperor Nicholas II when he travelling across the country. In 1935 the cathedral was blown up and only rebuilt in 2007.
  • Tobolsk Gates - the historical core of Omsk was a fortress which served as part of a defensive line to protect Russia’s southern borders in the 18th century. Today the fortress no longer exists and the Tobolsk Gates, dating from 1794, are the only part preserved in the original form.
  • Batyushkin Mansion (House of Kolchak)  - this is one of the most beautiful buildings of the city and was once owned by an important merchant family from Omsk. During the Russian Civil War in 1918-1919 it served as the residence of the leader of the Whites, Admiral Aleksandr Kolchak.

 Duration: 3h |  Transportation: by a private car

 Night in Omsk.


13 DAY / TRAIN TO IRKUTSK

Omsk

 Breakfast in the hotel.

 Transfer to the train station.

 Overnight train to Irkutsk.


14 DAY / SIBERIA / ON THE TRAIN

Day and Night on the train.

While travelling through Eastern Siberian your train will make a stop at:

  • Krasnoyarsk – a major city located on the banks of the great Siberian river of the Yenisey. It is the centre of the one of the largest federal subjects in Russia, whose northern border is washed by the Arctic Ocean.
  • In the evening the train will stop at the small station of Taishet, where the Baikal-Amur Railway, another great railway line of Russia, starts.

15 DAY / SIBERIA / IRKUTSK

Arrival in Irkutsk. 

  Breakfast in the cafe.

 City tour of Irkutsk - the highlights of this tour include:

  • 130th quarter - a historical part of Irkutsk with a concentration of old wooden buildings and houses dating from the 18th century. It is a unique place where you can walk around and take in the cultural heritage: estates, mansions and other houses over 100 years old.
  • Angara Embankment – the embankment runs for several kilometres. It is a favourite place for locals and visitors to stroll and has a viewing platform from where you can enjoy great views of the river and surrounding area.
  • Lace House - one of the most beautiful 19th century wooden houses, which is decorated with delicate carved wooden window frames and tiles.
  • Sukachev Estate – a lovely 19th century wooden estate once owned by Vladimir Sukachev, a local patron of the arts and the founder of the Irkutsk Art Gallery. On the territory of the estate you will also find a stable, a coach house, a house for guests and servants, a pavilion and an art gallery.
  • Exaltation of the Cross Church – this church dates from 1760 and is one of the brightest and picturesque churches in the city. Its pear-shaped domes are an example of Ukrainian baroque but its décor is more reminiscent of Buddhist temples. One theory says the Buddhist motives are due to the Chinese merchants who funded the construction. Another theory is that it was a deliberate attempt to convert Buryats to Orthodoxy.
  • Emperor Alexander III Monument – this monument was unveiled here in 1903 to mark the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railway - a project of the emperor. Its site was selected as the midpoint of the Siberian section of the railway. In 1920 the monument was removed and in 2003 it was returned as part of the centenary of the Trans-Siberian. Guided tour of Taltsy Transfer to Listvyanka.
  • Our Lady of Kazan Church - one of the most beautiful churches in the city. It was built in 1892 out of red brick in the Byzantine Revival architectural style.
  • Triumphal Arch of the Moskovskie Gates - this arch was built on the site of the original arch which was erected to mark the 10th anniversary of Alexander I becoming emperor.

 Duration: 3h |  Transportation: by a private car

 Transfer to Listvyanka village. 

 Distance: 77km

 Night in Listvyanka.


16 DAY / SIBERIA / CIRCUM-BAIKAL RAILWAY

 Breakfast in the hotel.

Tour of Circum-Baikal railway.

After the tour a transfer to the hotel in Irkutsk.

Night in Irkutsk.


17 DAY / SIBERIA / DEPARTURE

 Breakfast at the hotel.

 Transfer to the airport or Irkutsk Railway Station or airport.

 

  • The tour is available the whole year round, but please take into account that the museum’s working hours and days-off vary so we reserve the right to change the itinerary while trying to save the excursion programme.
  • Transportation in Moscow, where travel by metro is designated, can be changed to a car upon request, but please note that the transport situation in Moscow is not very good, so you could get stuck in a traffic jam.
  • Tickets to museums cannot be sold without an excursion with a guide.
  • During state holidays and celebrations, Red Square may be closed (either partially blocked off or completely closed).
  • All excursions/guided tours included in the itinerary are private which means private guides and private transport along the programme - unless otherwise stated.
  • Best time to travel on this route: from the end of April to October.

• CANCELLATION POLICY 

DATE OF CANCELLATION

CANCELLATION CHARGES

FROM 60 TO 45 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE 10%
FROM 44 TO 15 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE 30%
FROM 14 TO 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE 50%
LESS THAN 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE 100%

Date of the tour

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Adults:
Children (6-16):

Accommodation:

Cost of the tour in
Included
  • Private transport service according to the programme
  • Private guide service according to the programme
  • Entrance tickets to museums.
  • Accommodation in a hotel of a category of your choice, central location, standard DBL rooms with breakfast.
  • Train tickets of a category of your choice
  • 24h emergency support during the tour
  • Visa support documents
Not included
  • Plane tickets to/from Russia
  • Tips for a guide or driver
  • Meals (except for breakfast where stated)
  • Evening performances such as the ballet at the Bolshoi.
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