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
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 |
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Land Tour Cost: |
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| 6-16 travelers |
$8,395 |
Plus internal air
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$600
(economy class, subject to change) |
| Partial Single Supplement |
$1,295* |
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| No Hidden Costs! |
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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
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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 3-4: |
aboard the train |
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| Day 5-7: |
Irkustsk,Listvyanka |
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| Days 8-9: |
Listvyanka |
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| Day 10: |
Barguzin Valley |
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| Days 11-13: |
Ulan Ude |
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| Days 11-12: |
Ulan Ude, overnight train to UlaanBaatar |
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| Day 13: |
UlaanBaatar |
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| Days 14-16: |
UlaanBaatar, day trip to Gorkhi-Terelj, Naadam Festival |
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| Day 16: |
fly to Gobi Desert |
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| Days 17-19: |
Gobi Desert, fly to UlaanBaatar |
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| Day 20: |
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 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
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| 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>
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| 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)
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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, 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.
Images on this page courtesy of Ian Falsted and Helge Pedersen
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