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Itinerary

Day 1 - Starting: Moscow & Finishing: Moscow

There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.

Day 2 - Starting: Moscow & Finishing: Moscow

The area around the Red Square is perfect for sightseeing and people watching. Visit one of the many shops, wander the Alexander Gardens, or visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Head down into the metro to explore the beautiful stations or visit another part of the city.

Day 3 - Starting: Moscow & Finishing: Suzdal

Known for its beautiful churches and quaint wooden houses, Suzdal has retained its rural charm. With free time, explore the streets lined with quaint wooden houses and enjoy relaxing by the river. The city square is as charming as they come. Wander past the small church and chat with "babushkas" selling pickled cucumbers and mead.

Day 4 - Starting: Suzdal & Finishing: Yekaterinburg

Enjoy more time in Suzdal before a drive to nearby Vladimir to board a train for the roughly 26hr ride to Yekaterinburg.

Day 5 - Starting: Yekaterinburg & Finishing: Yekaterinburg

Enjoy a full day on the train crossing the Ural Mountains and the border between Europe and Asia. Arrive to Yekaterinburg in the evening.

Day 6 - Starting: Yekaterinburg & Finishing: Irkutsk

Explore the sights around Yekaterinburg, including the Church of All Saints and the Romanov Burial Site. Enjoy free time in this Soviet-style city before boarding the Trans-Siberian for Irkutsk.

Day 7 - Starting: Yekaterinburg & Finishing: Irkutsk

Wake up to the rhythm of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Spend two full days travelling through the SIberian taiga forests. Make some new friends or catch up on your reading list.

Day 8 - Starting: Yekaterinburg & Finishing: Irkutsk

Wake up to the rhythm of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Spend two full days travelling through the SIberian taiga forests. Make some new friends or catch up on your reading list.

Day 9 - Starting: Irkutsk & Finishing: Listvyanka

Arrive in the morning to Irkutsk and drive to a small town on Lake Baikal, Listvyanka. Enjoy a homestay on the lake with the options to go for a boat ride (in summer), take a short hike, or enjoy a true Russian experience, a banya.

Day 10 - Starting: Listvyanka & Finishing: Irkutsk

Drive back to Irkutsk for a walking tour of the city including a visit to the fascinating Decembrists Museum where you'll learn about the revolution the city was built on.

Day 11 - Starting: Irkutsk & Finishing: Ulan-Ude

Enjoy free time exploring streets lined with wooden houses or haggling at the central market. Hop an overnight train to Ulan Ude in the evening.

Day 12 - Starting: Ulan-Ude & Finishing: Ulan-Ude

Arrive to Ulan Ude, the city with the largest Buddhist population in Russia. Here, learn about the indigenious people, the Buryats, and how they survive in such a harsh environment. Enjoy a local Buryat lunch.

Day 13 - Starting: Ulan-Ude & Finishing: Ulan-Ude

Enjoy free time to explore Ulan Ude.

Day 14 - Starting: Ulan-Ude & Finishing: Vladivostok

Board the last train of the trip very early and settle in for the 55 hr ride.

Day 15 - Starting: Ulan-Ude & Finishing: Vladivostok

Watch the scenery go by, practice your newly acquired Russian skills, and relax to the rhythm of the train.

Day 16 - Starting: Vladivostok & Finishing: Vladivostok

Arrive in the evening in time for an optional final dinner with the group to recount this truly epic journey.

Day 17 - Starting: Vladivostok & Finishing: Vladivostok

Depart at any time.

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More Information

What’s Included

Kremlin and Armoury guided tour (Moscow). Suzdal tour. Trans-Ural Railway. Yekaterinburg city tour. Trans-Siberian Railway. Lake Baikal stay. Homestay experience (Listvyanka). Irkutsk walking tour. Decembrists Museum guided visit. Local Buryat lunch (Ulan Ude). Vladivostok sightseeing tour. Local meal suggestions and language support throughout. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Highlights

Marvel at Moscow’s Kremlin, immerse yourself in bucolic Suzdal, watch the countryside glide by from your Trans-Siberian train compartment, meet the locals at Lake Baikal, discover Buryat cuisine and history in Ulan Ude, travel west to east across this massive country

Itinerary Disclaimer

Important Notes

1. OFFICIAL LETTER OF INVITATION
You will require a Letter of Invitation for Russia in order to get your Russian visa. You must complete the visa information form which will be automatically sent to you or your travel agent via email upon time of booking.

2. IMMIGRATION CARD
On arrival in Russia you will receive a double immigration card, you must fill out both parts and one is taken away upon entry, the other must remain with your passport at all times and you must have it when you are leaving Russia to hand to the relevant authorities.

3. BOOK THEATRE TICKETS IN ADVANCE
To avoid disappointment we recommend that you book any theatre performances that you wish to attend in Moscow in advance. Please consider carefully which performances you are going to want attend and make sure that the dates correspond to your trip. Here are some useful internet sites to check for what will be on (ballet, opera, exhibitions, etc) in Moscow when you are there. In particular we recommend you see what’s playing at the Bolshoi, as it may be difficult to get tickets when you are there. The most useful sites to check in English are www.bolshoi.ru and www.ticketsofrussia.com.

4. MONEY
Due to the bank restrictions on changing money in Russia only notes/bills printed after 1996 and in good condition will be accepted for exchange. Usually 50 and 100 USD/EUR notes get better exchange rates.

Group Leader Description

All our G Adventures group trip is accompanied by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO) in Russia. The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it’s the best of both worlds.

Group Size Notes

Max 16, avg 12

Meals

Allow USD400-500 for meals not included.

Transport

Train, private van, metro, taxis, walking

About our Transportation

All trains are 2nd Class Kupe Soft sleepers: 4 berth compartments that have lockable doors. There an overhead locker and storage space under the bottom bunk that is sufficient space for your luggage. Bed linen is provided on all trains. Each carriage has two toilets and one hot water boiler. There are two train attendants in each carriage to take care of passengers and maintain the facilities. Most of the trains (but not all) will have dining car. This being said, it is always a good idea to bring your own snacks aboard for more variety of food options while travelling.

Solo Travellers

Accommodation

Hotels (10 nts), homestays (1 nt), sleeper trains (5 nts).

About Accommodation

A variety of styles of hotels/guest houses are used on this trip. In some local guest houses the rooms can be small and simple with shared toilet facilities and showers. A sleep sheet and travel pillow are recommended for the overnight train journeys, although simple bedding is provided. The trains have sleeper carriages with 4 beds per cabin.

Joining Hotel

Best Western Izmailovo Vega Hotel
3B 71, 3 B Izmailovskoye sh, Moscow, 105613 Russia
Tel: + 7 459 956 05 06

Joining Instructions

Hotel – Best Western Izmailovo Vega (ИЗМАЙЛОВО ВЕГА) – is situated near metro station Partizanskaya (Партизанская) on the dark blue line. Hotel is just five minutes walk from the metro station. It is in 5 metro stops from the Red Square and the Kremlin. Please, note that the station has changed its name in 2006 and can appear on some maps as Izmailovsky Park (Измайловский Парк). Izmailovo hotel was constructed to accommodate tourists during Moscow Olympics 1980, it consists of 4 big buildings. Make sure you going to the wing Best Western Vega.

There are two international airports in Moscow: Sheremetievo terminals 1, 2 and C (Шереметьево) and Domodedovo (Домодедово). Airport Vnukovo (Внуково) services mostly domestic flights.

TRANSFER: If you pre-booked arrival transfer, meet your driver in the airport arrivals area (exit luggage claim area). The driver will be holding a sign with your name.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: From Sheremetievo airport there are public buses and express buses, going to several metro stations. To metro Rechnoi Vokzal (Речной вокзал) you can get by bus #851 and Sheremetievo Express Bus (Экспресс). To metro Planernaya (Планерная) you can take bus #817. Please, remember that Moscow’s traffic is very busy, and buses can be overcrowded at times. In general it takes about 30 – 50 minutes from the airport to the metro. Another option is to use Minibus service (миниавтобусы) – shared taxis. They connect airport with both metro stations – Rechnoi Vokzal and Planernaya. You should look for the station name on the list of stops that each minibus has. All buses and minbuses have standard fee: 20 – 40 RUB (2-3 USD) depending on the route.
From Domodoedovo Airport you can get to metro station Domodedovskaya (Домодедовская) by taking public bus #405 or Domodedovo Express Bus (fare is about 25 – 50 RUB). There are also minivans (миниавтобусы) going to Domodedovskaya (keep in mind that they usually don’t have enough space for luggage). Domodedovo airport is also connected to Paveletskaya metro station (Павелецкая) on dark green line. Journey lasts for about 40 min and cost approximately 120 RUB (4 USD). You can buy ticket from the booth at the airport exit.

TAXIS: Taxis in Russia don’t use meter. Price is agreed by bargaining, and drivers usually don’t speak English. We strongly recommend to avoid taxis both – in town (metro system is thousands times cheaper and stress-less) and on the way from the airport. Don’t follow any strangers who tell you that their car is outside – you’ll get the ride, but the price might come up to about 150 USD. Best option is to go to one of the official taxi desks located on the airport ground floor. Average cost of the taxi would be about 60 – 75 USD (1800 – 2100 RUB)

Arrival Complications

Emergency Contact

Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Operator (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

AIRPORT TRANSFER 
If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that:

Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel. 

If your call is specifically concerning Airport Transfer complications please call our local G Adventures Transfer provider directly at:
Svetlana: +7 921 936 98 58

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS

G Adventures Office Bangkok, Thailand:

Mr Laziz Otayarov (Operations Manager – Central Asia)
Mobile 1: +998 90 134 7888 (24h)
Mobile 2: +998 93 528 7678 (24h)

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.

Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0844 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 01805 70 90 30 00
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

What to Take

You will be on the move a good deal, so pack as lightly as possible (try to stay under 10kg / 22lb). It is in your own interest as you are expected to carry your own luggage. Please, note that we use public transport on this trip – the walking distance is never too far, but there will be up and down stairs in train stations, getting on and off metros, cobblestoned streets, etc and having a backpack makes travelling easier. We don’t recommend bringing suitcases.

It is important that your bag can be locked. We recommend an overnight pack for the long train journeys, sparing you from going in and out of your luggage in the small compartments. This should be big enough to carry a spare set of clothes, towel, book, cards and basic toiletries (approx. 30 litre/8 gallons capacity).

Checklist

Travel documents and copies of each: passport, visa, travel insurance, air tickets, voucher.
Required visas or vaccination certificates
Money: cash/credit card
Money pouch
First aid kit
Day pack to carry belongings on day trips
Alarm clock
Torch or flashlight
Lightweight travel towel
Mosquito repellent
Refillable water bottle
Cutlery and plastic mug for the train journeys
Ear plugs and eye mask can be useful if you are a light sleeper
Phrase books/guidebooks
Sleeping bag liner/sleep sheet
Comfortable clothes for the train
Raincoat or umbrella
Comfortable walking shoes
Lock for your bag
Sunblock/Sun hat
Sunglasses
Warm clothing
Jacket
Fleece top/sweater
Warm layers
Hat
Gloves
Some warmer clothes for cool weather or air-conditioned trains
Lightweight clothes for all seasons – indoors are very well heated in autumn/winter

Laundry

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Visas

Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself with the embassy of each country. Your travel agent can assist. Please, keep in mind that all countries require passports valid for at least 6 months from the moment of departure from the country.

*All nationalities require a visa to visit Russia. All nationalities also need an official Letter Of Invitation (LOI) before they can apply for their Russia visa.*

You can obtain the LOI through our visa support agent in Russia. The visa support link you need to complete will be sent to you or your travel agent by email when you confirm your booking. You must read the instructions carefully and fill out all the details. Your Russian visa LOI will be emailed to you or your travel agent directly within 5 working days upon submission of your online application. If you haven’t received an email with your Russian LOI within 5 working days after the submission – check your SPAM folder. Emails sent from .ru server are sometimes automatically directed into SPAM.

The visa support letter often lists hotels that may not be the exact hotels that you will be staying at during your trip. It is critical however, that when you complete your Russian visa application that you copy the hotels that are on your LOI rather than those that are on your G Adventures voucher or dossier.

Helpful hints for completing the LOI request form:
1. We recommend you contact the nearest Russian embassy or consulate before filling out the form, as document requirements might vary from country to country.
2. Please be aware that many Russian embassies throughout the world issue visas only to citizens or official residents of the country where the embassy is located.
3. Read the instructions carefully and fill out all the details.
4. First Name: should include your First and Middle (and Third, if applicable) names – as per your passport. Russian embassies have a right to a deny visa if the information in passport is different from information you provided for the LOI.
5. Arrival date: We recommend adding at least one extra day at the start and one extra day at the end to ensure you are covered for the entire duration of your time in Russia. If you are arriving early or departing a day or two after the trip ends, put the appropriate dates in the application and amend the number of days in country accordingly.

Once you receive your LOI (approx. 5 working days after submission. Keep in mind they won’t be processed on Russian holidays) you can apply for your Russian visa by going to the closest Russian embassy or by using a visa service recommended by your travel agent. We advise to wait to apply for your visa until 6 weeks prior to your trip departing to ensure everything is finalized with your trip before moving forward with a visa.

Take the LOI to the embassy along with your passport, three passport photos, the filled-in visa application form, a copy of your trip voucher and proof of onward travel from Russia and they will issue the visa. Please contact the embassy you are applying at and check what documents they require. It can take up to 15 working days for the embassy to issue your visa.

Helpful hints for completing your visa application:
*Please wait until you receive your LOI before completing your application as information must match in order for you to receive your visa from the embassy.
*Please ensure the entry and exit dates on the LOI match the dates that you will be in Russia as these will be the dates that your visa is issued for.
*Please note that Letter Of Invitation may state hotels or cities that are different from your tour. These hotels may not be the exact hotels that you will be staying at during your trip. It is critical however, that when you complete your Russian visa application that you copy the hotels that are on your visa support letter rather than those that are on your G Adventures voucher or dossier.

*Answers to questions on the visa application:
1. The type/purpose of visa: Tourism
2. Company or organization in Russia to be visited: Karelia Plus
3. Name of Russian Travel Agency: Karelia Plus
4. Reference number of Russian tour agency: This is in the top right corner of your LOI
5. Route of Journey: Copy the dates and cities that appear below your name on the left side of your LOI (Moscow)
6. Confirmation voucher/Invitation number: This usually starts with SPC

Fees vary with each nationality but the cost for a 30-day single entry tourist visa can range from $45-$170USD depending on nationality and processing time. Most countries have a Russian embassy or consulate. For more information, please consult the following websites for a few of the most commonly requested embassies:

www.russialink.org.uk/embassy/
www.russianembassy.org/
www.sydneyrussianconsulate.com

Spending Money

Money Exchange

Russia: USD1 = approx 30 Roubles.
You will find that USD and EUR are the easiest to exchange in Russia (AUD and CAD can be exchanged also, mostly in big cities).

IMPORTANT: Due to bank restrictions, you will not be able to exchange banknotes printed earlier than 1996; and also notes with stamps or marks on them.

The most consistent way to get local currency is to exchange USD or EUR cash into Roubles but please understand the security risk of carrying large sums of money. A mix of cash, credit and debit cards are recommended but it is always good to have some cash on hand for situations where there are no other options available. A money belt is highly recommended to carry cash and importatn documents through Russia.

There are ATMs in every big city on the way: in all of them you can withdraw local currency. Major credit cards are accepted in the shops and restaurants almost everywhere in Russia.

Some banks in Moscow will allow cash advances against a credit card but these are subject to steep service charges and interest rates and should only be used in an emergency.

Emergency Fund

Departure Tax

Departure Tax is included in all International and Domestic tickets in Russia.

Tipping

In Russia some restaurants include 10% service charge into the bill – check the menu before leaving a gratuity.

Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from $1-$2 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.

At the end of your trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $20-25 USD per person per week can be used.

Optional Activities

Moscow
▪ River Cruise – USD12
▪ Pushkin Fine Arts Museum – USD8
▪ Tretyakov Gallery – USD8
▪ St Basils Cathedral – USD5
▪ Bolshoi Theatre – various USD50 – USD250

Ekaterinburg
▪ Military History Museum – USD5
▪ Ekaterinburg Opera theatre – USD7 – USD150

Irkutsk
▪ Regional Museum ) – USD4

Listvyanka
▪ Russian Banya – USD5

Lake Baikal
▪ Boat Trip – USD40 p/boat p/hr

Health

Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.

We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities for some time during this trip, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc.

Safety and Security

Trip Specific Safety

We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won’t need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.

Medical Form

A Couple of Rules

Travel Insurance

Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation

Local Dress

When packing, be aware of local dress standards. Russia will definitely display the full spectrum from high fashion to extremely conservative. As a visitor, it’s always best to dress conservatively, especially travelling into the more remote regions, as some areas are more religious/modest than others. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and practical. As a general guideline shoulders and knees should be covered when visiting religious sites – shorts, singlets and tank tops are not suitable. For the train journeys, comfortable “lounging” clothes is recommended with slip-on sandals and light layers to pile on and take off as temperature on the train fluctuates.

Feedback

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Max Pax

15

Group Leader

Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.

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