Trans Siberian Eclipse 2008 - 7 Day Tour Itinerary

Travel Itinerary: MOSCOW /IRKUTSK / NOVOSIBIRSK

DAY 1 : SUNDAY 27 JULY:
Arrival in Moscow airport
Meet & Greet with English speaking escort guide.
Transfer to hotel
Dinner and overnight at hotel Cosmos

DAY 2: MONDAY 28 JULY:
Breakfast and panoramic city tour. Today we head to legendary Red Square for a guided walk of the Kitay-Gorod and Lubyanka area and city tour. Adjacent to the square is the golden domed Kremlin - seat of Russia’s governmental might, where tomorrow we enjoy a guided tour. In Red Square, feast your eyes on the intensely coloured onion domed St Basil’s Cathedral - the subject of countless postcards. Along one side runs the elegant façade of the illustrious GUM department store, once the only choice for shopping in the Communist era. Lunch en route Visit of Kremlin with the Armoury
Dinner & transfer to airport for the flight to Irkutsk

DAY 3: TUESDAY 29 JULY:
Arrival in Irkutsk, meeting with guide and transfert to the hotel. Irkutsk, famous for its history and traditions, featuring stone private houses and wooden lace of windows' shutters of old houses. This old world Siberian City is 300 years old and it has an old and interesting history.

Next, we visit the Mineralogical Museum. Lunch at the city restaurant. City tour of Irkutsk includes a visit to the museum of Decembrists. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 4 : WEDNESDAY 30 JULY:

After breakfast we transfer to the stunning town of Listvyanka. With panoramic views of Lake Baikal – Siberia’s inland sea – this is our base for the exploring the true heart of Siberia. After an included guided visit to the Baikal museum we will soon understand the importance of the lake to the local and global ecosystems and economy of the area.

This morning, we enjoy a visit to the Baikal Astrophysical Observatory.

Then, visit Baikal Museum visit with an interactive "dive to Baikal floor" exhibit. The Baikal is one of the biggest and most ancient lakes on our planet, and a miracle of Siberian nature. It is not a place for hustle and bustle. Here you feel like thinking about eternity and the world's harmony. Today, as in the past, Baikal remains a crossroads of cultures, where native Sayats still herd reindeers and Buryat people keep many of their old traditions. Baikal is beautiful especially during the summer: clear limpid waters, plenty of marvelous bays, picturesque landscape, boundless expanse of forest and mountains. It is the world's deepest lake with the unbelievably clear water. In fact, some visitors feel uncomfortable when they peer over the side of the boat and are able to see 50 meters down.

Lunch, then a walking tour at the village Krestovka with visit to the St Nicolas church before we transfer back to Irkutsk. Late this afternoon, embark overnight train to Novosibirsk. Departure to Novosibirsk by Transsiberian train #9.

DAY 5 : THURSDAY 31 JULY:
On the train Cross-country scenery with occasional stops at small Siberian towns along the way.
Route: Irkutsk - Taishet - Krasnoyarsk -Novosibirsk.

The Trans-Siberian trains stop several times a day, for periods ranging from just a few moments to almost half an hour. Even the longest stops, however, allow for little more than a quick expedition from the station to make some necessary purchases. It is possible, however, to arrange a stopover in many of the major destinations along the route, and what follows is a brief listing of some of the most popular sites.

Arrival in Novosibirsk at 21:13 local time and transfer to the Morozovo Resort Spa located directly on the beautiful, secluded shores of the Ob Resevoir. Late dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 : FRIDAY 1ST AUGUST :
Breakfast then transfer to eclipse observation site or observe from the hotel on the shores of Lake Ob, with 2:18 duration of totality on-site.
Lunch - observation of the eclipse, dinner and overnight at hotel Morozovo

DAY 7: SATURDAY 2 AUGUST
Breakfast
Transfer to airport for departure or to continue on add-on options to Moscow, St. Petersburg or the 'Golden Ring'.