Travel Opportunities in Siberia

  Russia

Dates: year-round

Description: The International Language School 'Cosmopolitan' encourages you to join our 'Peace Through Tourism' program by ordering one of the offered excursion packages that can include trips to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, the Altai Mountains, TransSiberian Railroad. The 1.5-million Novosibirsk is the third largest city of Russia (after Moscow and St.Petersburg) and the chief city of Siberia. Being the cultural, scientific and educational center of Siberia, surrounded by picturesque wooded and field areas, Novosibirsk is the best place for learning the Russian culture. Tourist opportunities in Novosibirsk can include tours of the city, visits to one of the best in Russia Opera and Ballet theater, Conservatory, the Art Galley, museums (regional studies museum, mineralogical museum, etc.), Academgorodok (the first ever built in Russia town of science). Novosibirsk provides incredible opportunities for experiencing the hospitality and cordiality Siberians are famed for.

Travel opportunities in the Altai Mountains that we can offer are very diverse depending on the itinerary, timeframe and the duration of the tour, type of travel and complexity of the route, which makes traveling possible for people of all ages and any level of physical condition. One can choose between accommodation in one of the tourist centers, located on one of the many beautiful mountain rivers or lakes, and active tours which include walking routes, horseback trails, river rafting and other water sports, exploring caves, traveling by car, motorbike or bicycle, etc. Various combinations of activities are possible. It is hardly possible to find another place anywhere in the world where you can enjoy such a variety and contrast of landscapes on such a limited area. One can also visit local museums including a natural museum of ancient culture and places of excavation, and explore traditions of local tribes.

We offer tours to Lake Baikal, one of the biggest and most ancient lakes of the world, located close to the center of Asia in a huge stone bowl set 445 m above sea level. Baikal, being the deepest lake in the world, which contains 23 % of the world's reserves of fresh water, is often called The Sacred Sea or The Pearl of Siberia. Different types of accommodation are available: hotels/homestays in one of the villages situated on Lake Baikal shore or on Olkhon Island, one of the most beautiful places in Baikal area. Tour packages can include city tours and excursions in Irkutsk, one of the oldest Siberian cities, which has preserved its unique wooden houses, built without a nail, decorated with skillful carving. One can have various options in Baikal area: sailing on the lake and tourist cruise routes, fishing and taking an exiting trip on the famous Old Round Baikal Railroad going along the south-western shore of the lake, visits to the national park and interesting museums including Museum of Lake Baikal and an open air Museum of Wooden Architecture, which will expand your knowledge of the local history and culture. Everyone who has been to its shores is impressed and charmed by the grandeur, size, and unusual might of this Siberian miracle of nature. There is another option of joining the Welcome to Siberia program that includes visits to major Siberian cities: Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, and at your choice may include the Altai Mountains and Lake Baikal.

You can also choose to take a tour on The Trans-Siberian railroad which is the longest railway in the world and stretches for 10,000 kilometers from Moscow to Vladivostok. The road passes through 8 time zones and goes via such well-known cities as Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk (and Lake Baikal), Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. Being on the tour one can make stop-overs and take excursions in the cities of interest.

At your choice travel packages can include tours in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Tourist opportunities in Moscow that we offer can include at your choice city tours, visits to main historical and cultural sites (Red Square and the Kremlin with its glamorous cathedrals, Diamond Fund and the Armory; Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum with its masterpieces of art, Arbat Street), theaters, Mission Control Center, and excursions to Sergiev Posad, the site of the famous Trinity and Sergiy Lavra, the Museum-Estate Kuskovo, and the National park museum Kolomenskoye, the summer residence of grand dukes and tsars. Hotel accommodation and homestays are available.

Sightseeing programs in St. Petersburg can include tours of the city visiting The Palace Square, The Winter Palace, The Decembrists Square, The Admiralty, The Petropavlovskaya Fortress and many other sites. One can visit Petrodvorets, the summer residence of the Russian tsars, the real pearl of Russian Art, a city of parks, palaces and fountains. The Hermitage displaying 3 million different exhibits from ancient times to present, is considered to be one of the best not only in Russia but in the whole world. Another option is a fascinating excursion to the Pushkin City - the Tsar Village museum reserve - a former residence of Russian emperors.

Highlights: Excellent opportunities to explore Siberia, get a first-hand experience of Russian culture and hospitality.

Cost in US$: Inquire for more info.

All the details and tour descriptions are available at one's request. Prices depend on the timeframe and the duration of the tour, group size, number of services included in the package. If you let us know your preferences well come up with best options.