Expedition Details
On an epic train journey across eight time zones and one-third of the world, travel more than 6,000 miles from Vladivostok to Moscow on the Trans-Siberian Railway. From the wilds of Khabarovsk and the monuments of Mongolia's capital city to Lake Baikal's remote shores and the snowcapped Ural Mountains, enjoy a level of comfort few travelers have known on this route.
Trip Highlights
- Experience the longest rail journey in the world, also one of the most famous.
- Discover the legendary sites of Moscow, including the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, and Red Square.
- Cruise Lake Baikal and enjoy a picnic lunch along its picturesque shores.
- Meet a group of Old Believers of Russian Orthodoxy, and attend a folk performance in a Siberian village.
Itinerary - 17 Days
Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Vladivostok, Russia
Depart on an overnight flight to Vladivostok, the starting point of your Trans-Siberian Railway journey to Moscow.
Hotel Hyundai
Day 3 — Vladivostok
Today, explore Vladivostok, headquarters to the Russian Pacific Fleet. Visit the Eagle's Nest Observation Point for a bird's-eye view of Golden Horn Bay.
Hotel Hyundai (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Vladivostok
Enjoy a talk by our National Geographic expert, followed by a tour of the city's principal military sites, including the Naval Museum and the Krasniy Vimpel — a steam yacht built in 1910. This afternoon, embark the Trans-Siberian Express and gather for a welcome reception and dinner to celebrate the beginning of our journey.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Khabarovsk
Arrive in Khabarovsk, and visit the Natural History Museum by the Amur River. Learn about the flora and fauna of the region, and see artifacts from the indigenous tribes of the Goldi and the Gilyak.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Days 6 & 7 — On the Train
The train passes through Siberian villages of log houses set among rolling hills and waterways. Read, attend an informal talk by our expert, or simply watch the remote countryside passing by.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Arrive this morning in the capital of Mongolia and visit the National Museum. Enjoy a special lunch prepared in a traditional ger tent, followed by an excursion to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Return to the train in time for dinner onboard.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 9 — Ulan Ude
Arrive late this afternoon in Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat Republic. Visit a village of Old Believers of Russian Orthodoxy, and enjoy a folk performance and dinner.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 10 — Lake Baikal/Listvyanka, Russia
Pass through mountain tunnels and travel along the shoreline of Lake Baikal, a vast, pristine lake holding nearly one-sixth of all the fresh water on Earth. After a picnic lunch, cruise across the lake to visit Listvyanka and its Museum of Wooden Architecture. Stop at the Limnological Institute, where exhibits depict the area's unique ecosystem.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 11 — Irkutsk
Today, arrive in Irkutsk, the "capital" of Siberia, where we see elaborately decorated 19th-century izbas (cottages) with ornately carved eaves, known in Russia as wooden lace. Later, visit the Znamensky Monastery and the Volkonsky House Museum. Enjoy a concert in the former reception room of the house.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 12 — On the Train
Travel past frontier towns, vast stretches of birch forests, bubbling streams, and fields of wildflowers. Pending final train schedules, stop in Krasnoyarsk, a city that once harbored Gulags and political exiles. Enjoy a visit to the Krasnoyarsk Regional Museum of Local Lore.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 13 — Novosibirsk
Stop in Novosibirsk, Siberia's third largest city, founded in honor of Tsar Nicholas II in 1893. Visit the Opera House, Lenin Square, and the lively central market.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 14 — Yekaterinburg
Founded in 1723, Yekaterinburg is considered the historic and economic center of the Urals. Visit the Church on the Blood, a memorial to Tsar Nicholas II's family, with a view overlooking the city.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 15 — Kazan
Spend the day in Kazan, the beautiful capital of Tatarstan settled along the banks of the Volga River. Once part of the Golden Horde during the 15th and 16th centuries, the city today bustles with lively pedestrian streets and a vibrant and colorful central market. Reboard the train and head toward our final destination, Moscow.
Trans-Siberian Express (B,L,D)
Day 16 — Moscow
After disembarking in Russia's cosmopolitan capital, tour the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, and Red Square. Following lunch, visit the Armory and view court regalia from the Romanov dynasty. Tonight, toast your Trans-Siberian Railway journey at a farewell dinner.
Moscow Marriott Royal Aurora (B,L,D)
Day 17 — Moscow/U.S.
Depart Moscow this morning for your return flight home.
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Optional Extension
- St. Petersburg - Post-Trip Extension, 4 Days
View LargerNational Geographic Expert
George Munro
George Munro, a professor of history at Virginia Commonwealth University, has lived and studied in the former Soviet Union and travels to Russia regularly to pursue his research. A Fulbright fellow, George has written more than 200 articles about the region, lectured widely, and has been featured on radio and television programs. George was a visiting associate professor of history at the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond, and has received numerous fellowships and distinguished service awards.
George will join the following departure:
Sep 02 - 18, 2009Expedition Dates 
Expedition Costs
Airfare is not included in the expedition cost. Economy airfare from Los Angeles to Vladivostok and return from Moscow to New York is $2,675 (subject to change).
