Mongolia12 days
Siberian Railway: Ulaanbaatar to Lake Baikal & Back — 12 Days
Journey by train across Mongolia and Russia, connecting Ulaanbaatar, Irkutsk, and Lake Baikal's Olkhon Island over 12 days
This itinerary traces the Siberian Railway from Ulaanbaatar eastward into Russia, an overland route that moves through two countries and several Siberian timezones in deliberate stages. The journey pairs train travel—including a night crossing to Irkutsk—with stays on Lake Baikal's largest island and in the old Siberian city of Irkutsk itself, before returning to Ulaanbaatar by flight and completing the loop with time in Terelj. The emphasis falls on movement by rail and water rather than air, allowing the scale of the region to register gradually rather than by jumping between airports.
Highlights
- Overnight train journey on the Siberian Railway from Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk
- Olkhon Island, the third-largest lake island in the world and largest in Lake Baikal, with full-day exploration by vehicle
- Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar and Kazankaya Church in Listvyanka
- Irkutsk's historical center, including its central market and wooden architecture
- Lake Baikal by hovercraft and cable car from Listvyanka
- Buryat cultural performance on Olkhon Island
- Chinggis Khan equestrian statue and Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum in Ulaanbaatar
- Terelj National Park: nomadic family visit and landscape exploration
Day by day
1Arrival in Ulaanbaatarairport · hotel
Meet your local guide and driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel. A welcome dinner follows.
2Gandan Monastery & Siberian Railway DepartureGandan Monastery · district railway station
A half-day tour of Ulaanbaatar includes a visit to Gandan Monastery. In the afternoon, depart by train from the district railway station on the Siberian Railway, departing 15:22 (arriving in Irkutsk 14:55 the following day, Moscow time).
3Irkutsk: Old Siberian Town on the Angara RiverCentral Market (Tsentralny Rynok)
Irkutsk, established as a fort in 1661, sits at the junction of Europe–Asia trade routes and 63 kilometers from Lake Baikal. The city is Russia's 25th-largest by population and the fifth-largest in the Siberian Federal District. Its historical center has been placed on UNESCO's preliminary World Heritage list. You arrive in a city that functioned for centuries as a Siberian administrative and commercial hub. Tour the Central Market (Tsentralny Rynok) to see both the commercial life of the present and the colonial-era architecture surrounding it.
4Irkutsk to Olkhon Island – Buryat CultureOlkhon Island · Lake Baikal shores
Travel to Olkhon Island, the world's third-largest lake island and Lake Baikal's most substantial landmass. Spanning 730 square kilometers with a length of 71.5 kilometers, the island occupies the southwestern margin of the Academician Ridge. The name originates from the Buryat language, reflecting the indigenous people who have long inhabited these waters. Upon arrival, witness a Buryat cultural performance that illuminates the island's living heritage and traditions. Settle in for the night on the shores of Lake Baikal.
5South Route Exploration on Olkhon IslandOlkhon Island
A full day devoted to the island's southern reaches by vehicle.
6North Route Exploration on Olkhon IslandOlkhon Island
A full day devoted to the island's northern reaches by vehicle.
7Olkhon Island to ListvyankaOlkhon · local market · Eco Museum · Cherskogo viewpoint
Depart Olkhon and travel to Listvyanka. Visit the local market, the Eco Museum dedicated to Lake Baikal's ecology, and Cherskogo viewpoint by cable car.
8Listvyanka & Irkutsk: Hovercraft Tour and Architectural MuseumLake Baikal · Talsy Museum · Kazankaya Church
A one-hour hovercraft skims Lake Baikal's surface. Visit Talsy Museum's reconstructed Siberian buildings and visit Kazankaya Church.
9Return to Ulaanbaatar & TereljTerelj · Irkutsk · Shver Kirova Cathedral · Lover's Bridge · 130 Kvartal district · Karl Marx Street
Depart Irkutsk by midnight flight to Ulaanbaatar (arriving 01:00 local time). On arrival, visit Shver Kirova Cathedral, Lover's Bridge, the 130 Kvartal district, and Karl Marx Street before heading to Terelj.
10Terelj National Park: Nomadic Life & LandscapeTerelj National Park · Turtle Rock
Rest at the resort this morning. Visit Turtle Rock, try dog sledding, visit a nomadic family.
11Terelj to Ulaanbaatar: Urban LandmarksChinggis Khan equestrian statue · Sukhbaatar Square · Gobi Cashmere store · Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum · Zaisan Memorial Hill
Return to Ulaanbaatar. Tour the Chinggis Khan equestrian statue, Sukhbaatar Square, visit the Gobi Cashmere store, visit the Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum, and climb to Zaisan Memorial Hill.
12Ulaanbaatar to Hong KongUlaanbaatar
Depart for Hong Kong.
Where you go
- 1Gandan Monastery
- 2Terelj
- 3Irkutsk
- 4Terelj National Park
- 5Turtle Rock
- 6Chinggis Khan equestrian statue
- 7Sukhbaatar Square
- 8Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum
- 9Zaisan Memorial Hill
- 10Ulaanbaatar
Included
- Hotel, all meals specified in the itinerary
- Tickets and tours for attractions specified in the itinerary
- All museums and attractions in the itinerary
- 2 bottles of mineral water per person per day
Not included
- Air tickets and airport taxes
- Luggage tips
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Air tickets
- Meals on the train