Siberia & Mongolia: Spirits & Nomads

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.

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Days 1-5: Vladivostok, Aboard the Trans-Siberian

Our three-week 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 6-9: 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 lakeshore lodge in Listvyanka.

Days 10-11: Baikal, Ust Barguzin

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

Days 12-13: 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.

Days 14-16: UlaanBaatar, Naadam Festival

An overnight train delivers us to UlaanBaatar to attend the annual Naadam Festival. Enjoy the colorful opening ceremony full of pageantry, plus archery, wrestling and horse racing competitions.

Days 17-19: Gobi Desert

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

Days 20-21: Terelj, UlaanBaatar

Fly back to UlaanBaatar and venture beyond the capital to the grasslands of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, mingling with nomads along the way.

Trip Details

Length of Trip: 21 Days Departures in 2009: 1 Dates: June 27 -July 17 Land Tour Cost   6-16 travelers $7,695** Partial Single Supplement $995* **Land tour cost includes internal flight costs which are subject to change; see the Descriptive Daily Itinerary for details.

MIR Signature Features

• Hydrofoil over beautiful Lake Baikal's clear waters
• Hear the powerful centuries-old songs of the Old Believers
• Admire the pagentry of Mongolia's Naadam Festival

Map - Click to Enlarge

Day Activity   Day 1: Vladivostok   Day 2: Vladivostok, depart on the Trans-Siberian Railway   Days 3-5: aboard the train   Day 6: Irkustsk   Days 7-9: Listvyanka   Days 10-11: Lake Baikal, Ust Barguzin   Day 12: Drive to Ulan Ude	Day Activity   Day 13: Ulan Ude, overnight train to UlaanBaatar   Days 14-16: UlaanBaatar, Naadam Festival   Day 17: Fly to the Gobi Desert   Days 18-19: Gobi Desert   Day 20: Fly to UlaanBaatar, day trip to Terelj National Park   Day 21: UlaanBaatar

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