Tour Description and Timetable

Day 1 (SAT / 09.06.2012): Arrival in Moscow
Individual flights to Moscow. Pick-up "Vodka Hash Train" Shuttle Service to our Hotel. Meeting at Hotel lobby/bar. Free time in Moscow.
Dinner followed by evening entertainment ;-) / Moscow at night!
Accommodation in hotel. – (B)

Day 2 (SUN / 10.06.2012): Moscow
Sightseeing Moscow (on your own)
approx. 3:00 p.m. Moscow Hash & Circle followed by ON After.
Accommodation in Hotel. – (B)

Day 3 (MON / 11.06.2012): Moscow
Sightseeing Moscow, including Cremlin
afternoon approx. 5:00 p.m. – Transfer to the train station. Leaving direction Kazan.
Accommodation on train. – (B)

Day 4 (TUE / 12.06.2012): Kazan
Arrival in Kazan (approx. 8:00 a.m.), Sightseeing in Kazan: Mosque, Palace and downtown Kazan.
Dinner and transfer to trainstation – leaving direction Jekaterinburg.
Accommodation on train. – (B/D)

Day 5 (WED / 13.06.2012): Jekaterinburg
In the afternoon arrival in Jekaterinburg. Transfer to Hotel. Free time and walk to downtown. Dinner.
Accommodation in hotel. – (D)

Day 6 (THU / 14.06.2012): Jekaterinburg – Novosibirsk
Sightseeing Jekaterinburg: Obelisc of trans-continental border in the Ural forrest, Promenade and „Blood Church“.
Hash in Jekaterinburg & Circle, Transfer or walk to trainstation. Hop on the Vodka Train again.
Accommodation on train. – (B/L)

Day 7 (FRI / 15.06.2012): Novosibirsk
Arrival in Novosibirsk. Transfer to Hotel.
Excursion to Akademgorodok. Visit the famous Mineral Museum as well as on the way stop at the large and famous Railway Museum about the Transsiberian Railway. Rest of the day free time and time to visit the market in Novosibirsk, time to get your souvenirs and to some more shopping - or just have a couple of beer in a nice Russian Bar. Late afternoon transfer to trainstation.
Accommodation on train. (D)

Day 8 (SAT / 16.06.2012): Krasnojarsk
Arrival in Krasnojarsk - City Excursion, Sightseeing. Late afternoon transfer to trainstation.
Accommodation on train – If it works we will take an early morning train and stay this night still in Krasnojarsk. (D)

Day 9 (SUN / 17.06.2012): Vodka Hash Train
Sunday is a day of rest – we stay on the train and can sleep, talk or just taking photos of Siberia.
Accommodation on train.

Day 10 (MON / 18.06.2012): Irkutsk – Lake Baikal – optional Listwjanka
6:00 a.m. arrival in Irkutsk. Breakfast. Sightseeing bus tour in Irkutsk. Local train train direction Staton Tyemnaya Pad (Dark Valley). Hike in the Siberian forrest to Starya Angasolka (Distance approx. 3-4km). We reach the historic/old part of the Transsiberian Railway, all along Lake Baikal. Swim break - skinny dipping. Exploring the historic tunnels and old bridges. Continue on the train "Matanya“ to Port Baikal (arrival approx. 7:00 p.m.). Strol into the small harbour city. Optional we can take the Lake Baikal ferry boat to Listwjanka.
Excusion - sightseein in Listwjanka. Visiting the cathederal and market. Traditional Omul dinner.
Accommodation in small hotels and / or Chalets. – (B/L/D)

Day 11 (TUE / 19.06.2012): Irkutsk – Lake Baikal – Olchon Island
Excursion to Olchon Island. Adventure on Olchon Island followed by a Hash – hurray!
Accommodation in B&B and farmers houses. – (B/D)

Day 12 (WED / 20.06.2012): Olchon Island – Irkutsk
Sleep in - departure direction Irkutsk at about lunch time. Shopping time - free time for a walk along the promenade in Irkutsk. Transfer to train station and we continue on the VODKA TRAIN via Ulan Ude to Ulaanbaatar/Mongolia.
Accommodation on train. – (B/L)

Day 13 (THU / 21.06.2012): On the train – Ulan Ude – Naushki – Sukhbaatar
Ride along the historic Transsib and Trans-Mongolian Railway to Naushki (Russian border station), Passport control, visa and immigration business etc. customs, city walk downtown Naushki. Back on train and crossing the Russian border to Mongolia.
Accommodation on train.

Day 14 (FRI / 22.06.2012): Ulaanbaatar – Terelj National Park
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, Breakfast, Sightseeing Ulaanbaatar Part 1, Excursion to Terelj National Park, Lunch, visiting "Turtle Rock".
And I guess it will be time for doing another Hash!!! Visiting the Cloister.
Accommodation in Ger Camp. – (B/L/D)

Day 15 (SAT / 23.06.2012): Terelj National Park – Ulaanbaatar
In the morning transfer back to Ulaanbaatar. Sightseeing and we even may have time for another Hash with the local hash chapter. Free time to do your shopping in Ulaanbaatar and check out the local bars. Folklore Show and Dinner, night life in Ulaanbaatar – going wild like Chingghis Khan.
Accommodation in hotel. – (B)

Day 16 (SUN / 24.06.2012): Ulaanbaatar – Zamyn Uud – Erlianhot
In the morning or may be about lunch time (still flexible - depends on your hang over!) transfer to train station. We continue on the Vodka Train along the Trans-Mongolian- / Trans-Siberian-Railway to Zamyn Uud (Mongolian border town) and Erlianhot (Chinese border town). We continue through the wide nature of Mongolia and the Gobi Desert.
Accommodation on train. – (B/L)

Day 17 (MON / 25.06.2012): Erlian – Datong
Train ride continue via Gobi Desert to Datong. In the morning we arrive in Datong. Sightseeing of Yunan Grottos and the famous Hanging Monastery. We have a walk downtown in Datong and time for some more shopping or a beer. – (B/D)

Day 18 (TUE / 26.06.2012): Datong – Beijing
Arrival in the morning in Beijing. Having Breakfast and than followed by sightseeing.
In case we got stucked somewhere or couldn't get the night train to Beijing we are doing a "short cut" by bus to Beijing – including visiting the Great Wall. (B/D)
Transfer to the airport or continue your stay in Beijing.
OFFICIAL END OF THE VODKA TRAIN

Day 19 / Day 20 / Day 21 (not included in price!)
Extra days and sightseeing in Beijing. In case you want to stay longer in Beijing (Beijing Hash runs on Sundays) we can organise your sightseeing or your can easily do it also on your own. Go for Chinese Silk for example or instead you can also visit the Summer Palace or Forbidden City.

UNESCO – WORLD HERITAGE
along the Trans-Sib

Cremlin & Red Square / Moscow

The Novodevishy Monastery (New Maiden Convent) / Moscow

Cremlin of Kazan

Lake Baikal

Hanging Monastary / Datong, China

Wooden Pagoda / Datong, China

Yuenan Grotto / Datong, China

Great Wall / China

Summer Palace / Beijing, China

Tempel of Heaven / Beijing, China

What is included:
-    Tour and program/see above
-    Accommodation in 2-bed rooms/ger camp / chalets
-    Meals marked like this: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner - Lunch and Dinner can be exchanged - depending on our timetable!
-    Accommodation OFF the train in "normal" and good quality standard hotels / in Ger Camp (Mongolia) / Chalet (Lake Baikal)
-    All Hash Runs, Circle and Circel Beer & Softies
-    All listed sightseeing tours and excursions, including all entrance fees - like mentioned above
-    All Airport-/Hotel- and Train-Transfer and Shuttle-Services
-    Locale taxes
-    English / Russian speaking guides and translators
-    Some limited additional extra drinks (Beer & Softies) – depends on our budget

NOT included:
-    extra meals and additional drinks etc.
-    1-bed compartment on train (included in double 1st class)
-    other than standard accomodation
-    single room in Hotels (included in double 1st class train ticket)
-    Souvenirs
-    Film- and Photo fee, might be charged at some locations :-) Welcome to the real world of capitalists!
-    All Insurances (Health, Luggage and Travel etc.)
-    All Visa
-    All Flights (group bookings from Frankfurt to Moscow available!)

Important:
Since we travel on train - which means going on and off busses, trains and in-/out of Hotels etc. etc. etc.
 you should pack LIGHT and also you should be able to carry your own luggage!!!
 Means everybody is responsible for their own luggage - since transfers and changing trains/busses can happen in a hurry - we have sometimes simply not enough time to go several times for 100 pieces of extra luggage!

Other than this you should contact your doctor and ask him for recommended vaccinations!

For this trip you need 3 visa - Russia / Mongolia / China. Russia request also an international health insurance with your visa application.
The best and easiest way to get your visa is via your local Visa Agency - very easy!

FLIGHTS
In case your flight goes via Frankfurt, we can organise also your ticket from Frankfurt to Moscow with our group ticket!