Compare The Tsar’s Gold Westbound from Mongolia:Trans-Siberian Railway by Nomadic Expeditions vs The Golden Ring - Classic Group, 2023 Classic Group by Insight Vacations
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 15 days | 5 days |
| Price From | $ 10,795 | $ 1,895 |
| Price Per Day | $ 720 | $ 379 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included |
14 Breakfast,13 Lunch, 14 Dinner |
N/A |
| Description |
An in-depth Trans-Siberian Railway experience between Siberia and Mongolia filled with unique historical and cultural perspective, this fifteen-day expedition begins in Ulaanbaatar and the Gobi Desert and continues on to the Trans-Siberian Railway aboard the famed Tsar’s Gold. Find yourself in Novosibirsk, the heart of Siberia, along the shore of the oldest lake in the world, Lake Baikal, and the magnificent diversity of the Gobi Desert’s incredible ecosystems. |
Visit the historic sites of Yaroslavl and Suzdal—that stood witness to some of the most significant, nation shaping events in Russian history. Seek out the multicolored churches of Sergiyev Posad, journey to the ivory covered Kremlin of Rostov-the-Great and tour the towering golden domes of Trinity Cathedral in Kostroma—on this 5-day Russian adventure. Delight your eyes in Vladimir at the Museum of Crystal and Varnished Miniatures and bring home your own version of a famous Russian souvenir, after a hands-on Matryoshka doll workshop. Explore Suzdal with the Insight Choice of visiting the Monastery of the Saviour St. Ethimius or learn about the ancient art of icon painting from an Orthodox priest. Don’t leave without trying Shchi’ cabbage soup—a local favourite and a Russian staple. |
Day 1:Ulaanbaatar
Meals: Dinner
In the morning you arrive in Ulaanbaatar and visit the Zaisan Memorial, built by the former Soviet Union to commemorate fallen soldiers of World War II. Climb the 300 steps and reward yourself with a beautifully panoramic view of the capital of Mongolia and the Tuul River.
Day 2-3:Gobi | Yol Valley | Tugrugiin Shiree | Bulgan Sum
Meals: 2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner
Accommodation: Three Camel lodge
Fly south to the Gobi and discover the diverse ecosystems it has to offer including the verdant Yol Valley, carved from an ancient river. Over the next day, explore Tugrugiin Shiree, site of the famed ‘Fighting Dinosaurs’ fossil, and Bulgan – home to one of the Gobi’s only farms.
Day 4-5: Moltsog Els | Flaming Cliffs | Family Visit | Ulaanbaatar
Meals: 2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner
Drive to Moltsog Els, one of the only areas of the Gobi covered in sand dunes, before visiting a family and continuing on to the Flaming Cliffs. Discovered by Dr. Roy Chapman Andrews in 1923 during the Central Asiatic Expeditions, the Flaming Cliffs glow a legendary and brilliant orange hue in the fading sun. Enjoy a stay at the Three Camel Lodge, our luxury eco-lodge in the heart of the Gobi, before returning to Ulaanbaatar to visit the Bogd Khan Winter Palace museum.
Day 6: Ulaanbaatar | Board the Tsar’s Gold, Trans-Siberian Railway
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wake in Ulaanbaatar and visit Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhist activity in the region, along with the newly-remodeled National History Museum’s Stone and Bronze Age artifacts. Afterward, 976 Art Gallery provides you with a glimpse into the modern day world of the nomad: this contemporary art gallery is a regular attraction for a hip crowd of intellectuals who support and promote growing Mongolian artists. After dinner board the Tsar’s Gold train and depart for Ulan Ude.
Day 7-9:Ulan Ude | Lake Baikal | Irkutsk
Meals: 3 Breakfast, 3 Lunch ,3 Dinner
Pass through the valley of Selenga, the largest river in Mongolia, and join the main route of the Trans-Siberian Railroad in Ulan Ude. The next day enjoy a full day of activity in and around Lake Baikal, exploring the wonderful atmosphere of the lake and its picturesque town. Enjoy a short boat ride on the lake, and then move on to Irkutsk the following day. A tour of the city includes the lively market hall, drama theatre, and a newly-erected statue of the Tsar as well as an open-air museum displaying Siberian life in the old days.
Day 10-11: Onboard the Tsar’s Gold, Trans-Siberian Railway | Novosibirsk
Meals: 2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner
After breakfast travel through the landscapes of Eastern Siberia’s mountains, crystal-clear rivers and verdant slopes. Enjoy lectures, a social get-together with caviar and vodka, and lively conversation with your fellow passengers. The following day pull into the Novosibirsk station, Siberia’s largest city, and take a tour of the city on the mighty Ob River.
Day 12-13: Yekaterinburg | Kazan
Meals: 2 Breakfast, 2 Lunch, 2 Dinner
The capital of the Ural Mountains and the border between Asia and Europe, Yekaterinburg, is the site of a varied and somewhat tragic history. The city tour includes the center, restored in 2009, and the newly-erected Cathedral-on-the-blood built in memorial of the last Tsar of Russia Nicholas II and his family. The next day arrive in Kazan, the old Tatar capital on the banks of the Volga, and take a guided tour of the Kremlin to learn about the bloody relations of the Tatars, Cossacks, and Russians.
Day 14: Tour of Moscow
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Before noon arrive in Moscow, one of the richest and most dynamic cities in the world, and end your journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway. After your arrival and check-in to a first-class hotel, take a guided tour of one of the oldest Kremlin in the world and its glorious cathedrals. After dinner, take a special tour of the city’s lights and sights, including the Red Square. The following day take a guided tour of the reconstructed Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Lomonossov University and St. Basil’s Cathedral before departing for home.
Day 15: Departure
Day 1: To Sergiev Posad, Rostov-the-Great and to Yaroslavl
At 07:45 meet your Travel Director at the Radisson Collection Hotel, Moscow and depart for Sergiev Posad. Visit some of the colourful churches of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. Journey to Rostov-the-Great and explore its ivory towered Kremlin and the Museum of Enamel. Continue to Yaroslavl where a delicious dinner is served at a riverside restaurant.
Day 2: Kostroma and Suzdal Experience
During your sightseeing of Yaroslavl, see the domed Church of Elijah the Prophet and the Holy Transfiguration Monastery. Travel to Kostroma to see the fabulous Trinity Cathedral. Continue to charming Suzdal.
Day 3: Exploring Suzdal
Explore Suzdal with Insight Choice. Choose to meet an Orthodox priest and learn about the ancient art of icon painting. Alternatively, visit the Monastery of the Saviour St. Ethimius. Dine like a local as you enjoy an authentic Home-hosted lunch with a meal typical of the region.
Day 4: On to Vladimir and return to Moscow
Journey to Vladimir to see the carved stone walls of the Cathedral of St. Demetrius, and visit the Museum of Crystal and Varnished Miniatures. Visit a Matryoska doll-making workshop and try your hand to decorate your own. Return to Moscow where you are at leisure for the rest of the day.
Day 5: Farewell Moscow
Departure transfers will arrive at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport at 05:00, 08:00 and 11:00 and at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport at 05:00, 10:00 and 13:00.
