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
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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
Explore 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 an enchanting Siberian lakeside 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 near the Ushkanye Islands.
Days 10-12: Ulan Ude
Drive to Ulan Ude, an important outpost on the tea route from China. Ulan Ude hosts the largest Buddhist monastery in Russia. Visit a village of Old Believers, descendants of 17th century Orthodox Christians exiled by Catherine the Great.
Day 13: UlaanBaatar, Terelj
An overnight train delivers you to UlaanBaatar, and beyond the capital to the grasslands of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, mingling with nomads along the way.
Days 14-16: Naadam Festival
Enjoy the pageantry of the opening ceremony plus the traditional Naadam archery, wrestling and horse racing competitions.
Days 17-19: Gobi, 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 28 -July 16, 2010 |
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Land Tour Cost: |
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| 6-16 travelers |
$7,695** |
| Partial Single Supplement |
$995* |
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| No Hidden Costs! |
| **Land tour cost includes internal flight costs which are subject to change; see the Descriptive Daily Itinerary for details. |
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MIR Signature Features

- Hydrofoil over beautiful Lake Baikal's clear waters
- Enjoy dinner and an evening folk concert with a
family of Old Believers
- Witness the pageantry of Mongolia's Naadaam Festival
Map - Click to Enlarge

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| Day 1: |
Vladivostok |
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| Day 2: |
Vladivostok, depart on the
Trans-Siberian Railway |
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| Days 3-5: |
aboard the train |
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| Day 6: |
Irkustsk |
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| Days 7-8: |
Listvyanka |
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| Day 9: |
Lake Baikal, Ust Barguzin |
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| Day 10: |
Drive to Ulan Ude |
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| Days 11-12: |
Ulan Ude, overnight train to UlaanBaatar |
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| Day 13: |
UlaanBaatar, Terelj National Park |
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| Days 14-15: |
Naadam Festival |
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| Day 16: |
fly to Gobi Desert |
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| Days 17-18: |
Gobi Desert, fly to UlaanBaatar |
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| Day 19: |
depart UlaanBaatar |
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| 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 Trans-Siberian Railway |
| Irkutsk |
Znamensky Convent, Decembrist museum, Church of Our Savior |
| Listvyanka Village |
Museum of Wooden Architecture, authentic banya at the lodge, Baikal Limnological Museum
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| Lake Baikal |
UNESCO World Heritage listed lake for its unique flora and fauna |
| Circumbaikal Railway |
Spend a day on the most scenic stretch of the original Trans-Siberian Railway |
| 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)
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| 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 |
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.
Images on this page courtesy of Ian Falsted and Helge Pedersen

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