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Siberia & Mongolia: Spirits & Nomads

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"The tour was well-organized with excellent guides. It was an experience more than 'seeing' things."

L. Friesen

Fresno, CA

Let the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway carry you through the taiga's unbroken forest to Siberia's deep UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal, teeming with unusual wildlife, and south to the immense sky of the vast Mongolian desert and grasslands, where nomads celebrate the annual Naadam Festival.

Days 1-4: Vladivostok, Aboard the Trans-Siberian

This epic two-country sojourn begins with a tour of the Russian port city of Vladivostok. Board the celebrated train on its most remote and scenic leg towards Irkutsk.

Days 5-7: Irkutsk, Listvyanka

Admire the traditional wooden houses of Irkutsk, home to early political exiles. Spend a day aboard the spectacular old Circumbaikal Railway that hugs the shore of Lake Baikal. Relax in a delightful Siberian lakeshore lodge in Listvyanka.

Days 8-9: Lake Baikal, Ust Barguzin

Hydrofoil across the lake to homestays in rural Ust Barguzin, and search for elusive freshwater seals in the Ushkaniye Islands.

Days 10-13: Barguzin Valley, Ulan Ude

Wind your way through the remote Barguzin Valley with its unexpected rock formations. Stop in Ulan Ude to tour its important Buddhist monastery. Visit a village of Old Believers, descendants of 17th century Orthodox Christians exiled by Catherine the Great. Later, hop a short flight to UlaanBaatar.

Days14-16: UlaanBaatar, Gorkhi-Terelj, Naadam Festival

Explore the museums and monasteries of UlaanBaatar, then take a day trip to the grasslands of Gorkhi- Terelj National Park, mingling with nomads along the way. Enjoy the pageantry of the Naadam opening ceremony plus the traditional archery, wrestling and horse racing competitions

Days 17-20: Gobi Desert, UlaanBaatar

Fly to the fabled Gobi Desert. Experience traditional ger living and walk in the footsteps of legendary explorer, Roy Chapman Andrews. Toast the journey back in UlaanBaatar.

 

Trip Details

Length of Trip: 19 Days
Departures: 1
Dates: June 25 -July 13, 2012
Land Tour Cost:  
6-16 travelers $8,395
Plus internal air

$600
(economy class, subject to change)
Partial Single Supplement $1,295*
 
No Hidden Costs!

MIR Signature Experiences

  • Hydrofoil over beautiful Lake Baikal's clear waters to a homestay with a rural family
  • Enjoy dinner and an evening folk concert with a family of Old Believers
  • Join the cheering crowds lauding the winning Naadam wrestler, whose title means "Lion"

Map - Click to Enlarge

Day Activity  
Day 1: Vladivostok  
Day 2: Vladivostok, depart on the
Trans-Siberian Railway
 
Days 3-4: aboard the train  
Day 5-7: Irkustsk,Listvyanka  
Days 8-9: Listvyanka  
Day 10: Barguzin Valley  
Days 11-13: Ulan Ude  
Day Activity  
Days 11-12: Ulan Ude, overnight train to UlaanBaatar  
Day 13: UlaanBaatar  
Days 14-16: UlaanBaatar, day trip to Gorkhi-Terelj, Naadam Festival  
Day 16: fly to Gobi Desert  
Days 17-19: Gobi Desert, fly to UlaanBaatar  
Day 20: depart UlaanBaatar  
List of Highlights
Vladivostok Visit C-56 submarine from World War II, Naval Cemetery, Fortress museum, "Socialist" Realist art or railway station
Trans-Siberian Railway Ride the legendary rails through the Russian taiga
Irkutsk Znamensky Convent, Decembrist museum, Church of Our Savior
Listvyanka Village Museum of Wooden Architecture, authentic banya at the lodge, Baikal Limnological Museum
Lake Baikal “Holy Sea” with unique flora and fauna (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Circumbaikal Railway The most scenic stretch of the original Trans-Siberian Railway /td>
Ust Barguzin Chivirkuy Bay, hotsprings at Zmeinaya Bay
Ushkanye Islands Home to unique fresh-water seals, nerpa
Ulan Ude Ivolginsk Datsan (Buddhist monastery), UNESCO-listed Trans-Baikal Semeiskie (Russian Old Believers) UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity)
Kharlun A Buryat village on the Great Tea Way
UlaanBaatar Naadam Festival, Natural History Museum, Bogd Khaan Winter Palace Museum, Gandan Monastery Mandshir Monastery
Terelj National Park Beautiful alpine landscapes
Gobi Desert Flaming Cliffs, Togrogiin Shiree (Fighting Dinosaurs), Moltsog Els, Yol Am Canyon, accommodations at the award winning Three Camel Lodge

Suggested Extensions

Come early and visit the Amur Tiger reserve outside Vladivostok; or extend your travels in Mongolia to visit Kara Korum. Contact us for details.

Call or email for more details.

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Images on this page courtesy of Ian Falsted and Helge Pedersen

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