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Watch the ever-changing landscape, from the comfort of the luxurious Golden Eagle train.
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Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines
the people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education
Golden Eagle – Trans Siberian Railway
This iconic train journey connects east and west travelling from Moscow across endless steppes landscapes, over the Urals, hopping across the border into Mongolia before terminating in far eastern Russia in the military port of Vladivostok. Travel 6,500 miles across Russia, through eight time zones and covering a third of the world’s total.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
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2
Wild Landscapes
View beautiful Mongolian scenery dotted with nomadic gers and attend a performance of traditional Mongolian throat singers.
3
Lake Baikal
Circumnavigate Lake Baikal by soviet era steam locomotive before taking a bracing dip and dining on fresh fish.
4
Vladivostok
Visit Vladivostok, home to the Russian Pacific fleet.
Why we like it
This is undoubtedly one of the greatest railway journeys in the world and one of the best ways to absorb the rich culture and sprawling landscapes on offer in Russia’s rarely visited interior. A perfect holiday for those with an adventurous spirit who don’t wish to forgo comfort and don’t wish to be packing and unpacking every few days. Service, guides and accommodation onboard the train are second to none.
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Day 1
Moscow
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Day 2
Moscow
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Day 3
Kazan
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Day 4
Yekaterinburg
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Day 5
Novosibirsk
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Day 6
On board train
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Day 7
Irkutsk
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Day 8
Lake Baikal
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Day 9
Ulan Ude
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Day 10
Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)
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Days 11 - 13
On board train
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Day 14
Vladivostok
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Day 15
Vladivostok
Day 1
Moscow
Day 2
Moscow
Soak up the ornate onion domed spires and Kremlin treasures of Moscow.
Day 3
Kazan
Explore the riverside Kremlin fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 4
Yekaterinburg
Gain a powerful insight into the Russian Revolution in Yekaterinburg.
Day 5
Novosibirsk
Visit Lenin Square and the opera house – one of the largest in the world.
Day 6
On board train
Day 7
Irkutsk
Take in the intricately carved wooden architecture for which this region is famed.
Day 8
Lake Baikal
Circumnavigate Lake Baikal by soviet era steam locomotive before taking a bracing dip and dining on fresh fish.
Day 9
Ulan Ude
Learn about the culture and history of the ‘Old Believers’, a religious people who inhabit Ulan Ude.
Day 10
Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)
View beautiful Mongolian scenery dotted with nomadic gers and attend a performance of traditional Mongolian throat singers.
Days 11 - 13
On board train
Watch the ever-changing landscape, from the comfort of the luxurious Golden Eagle train.
Day 14
Vladivostok
Visit Vladivostok, home to the Russian Pacific fleet.
Day 15
Vladivostok
More details
Moscow and Irkutsk
The journey begins with the iconic sites of Moscow, from the grandeur of the Kremlin to the ornate architecture of St Basil’s Cathedral. After boarding the Golden Eagle train your journey continues to the picturesque and historic town of Kazan with its UNESCO World Heritage Kremlin fortress. From here, travel onto Yekaterinburg, the Capital of the Ural Mountains, which form a mighty natural divide between Europe and Asia and onwards to the modern Soviet city of Novosibirsk and Irkutsk, known as the Paris of Siberia. Irkutsk is renowned for its wonderful wooden architecture.
Lake Baikal and Ulan Ude
Lake Baikal is a major highlight on this journey and five hours will be spent winding alongside the lake through stunning scenery. To add to the wonderful vistas the Golden Eagle train will also be hauled by a Soviet era steam locomotive for this section of the journey and the day will conclude with a barbecue on the shores of the lake. Onto Ulan Ude with its unique culture and people, known for their local traditions, beliefs and folk singing, before crossing into Mongolia.
Ulaanbaatar and Vladivostok
In Ulaanbaatar, explore Gandan Buddhist monastery, home to over 500 monks and experience some of Mongolia’s wild scenery as well as the chance to meet with a traditional nomadic family. After a few days on board the Golden Eagle train, the journey will end in the military port of Vladivostok with the chance to visit a preserved WWII submarine.
Days on board
Days spent travelling on board the Golden Eagle train offer the chance to relax and enjoy the passing scenery, take a Russian language class or listen to a talk on Soviet or Russian history.
Eastbound or Westbound?
The Trans-Siberian also operates in a westbound direction starting in Vladivostok and terminating in Moscow.
Start planning your trip
A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From $18,681 Per person
When to travel
Russia in January
Russia experiences particularly cold winters, with minus temperatures not uncommon for many regions. The continuing cold winters will see many cities including St Petersburg and Moscow transformed into a winter wonderland as the snow settles on these cities.
Russia in February
Due to the predictability of Russia’s extreme winters, public transport systems are well prepared for snowy conditions meaning travelling through winter is not uncommon, particularly as temperatures slowly start to warm up in February.
Russia in March
Spring begins in Russia in March however not as you would typically expect, with snow still on the ground. We recommendation travelling during the winter months or from May, as you will be greeted with melting, dirtier snow in March and the beginning of April.
Russia in April
Throughout April, Russia will experience relatively cold temperatures and cloudy days, however, temperatures can range from -25°C in some regions and reach 25.C in others due to the sheer size of the country.
Russia in May
A perfect time to avoid the crowns prior to Russia’s peak season whilst still experiencing a pleasant climate.
Russia in June
Depending on your exact location, June can be the perfect time to travel to Russia, with temperatures starting to rise throughout the country ad summer begins.
Russia in July
As summer begins in Russia, many locals travel to the countryside and so cities will be much quieter with long, sunny days and very little humidity.
Russia in August
During the peak of summer, cities such as Moscow can experience high temperatures of up to 37°C with other regions generally still warm but with more comfortable conditions.
Russia in September
As summer draws to a close, temperatures will drop and due to this milder climate, sightseeing can become more comfortable yet not be as cold as visiting during winter.
Russia in October
Autumn and spring are typically short in Russia as the country experiences the two extremes – summer and winter. October can be an unpredictable month to travel to the country in terms of climate.
Russia in November
Prior to the beginning of winter, days can be unpredictable with temperatures averaging as low as 2°C, with November experiencing more rainfall depending on your exact destination.
Russia in December
Throughout Russia, December brings harsh winter conditions but can also be the ideal time to see Russia’s spectacular, iconic winter wonderlands.
Holiday Inspiration
Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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