This 21-day Trans-Siberian Rail Tour from Irkutsk to Helsinki is designed for senior travellers ( or travelling with company) who are interested in history and culture. Group size is typically between four to 12 travellers, fully escorted by an Odyssey Program Leader and local guides. This tour, traversing Russia from east to west, promises varied landscapes and experiences, and a chance to deepen your knowledge and appreciation of Russian history.
Join Odyssey Traveller as we embark on the greatest train journey in the world, the Trans-Siberian Railway, travelling from Irkutsk, the jewel of Eastern Siberia, to beautiful St. Petersburg and Moscow, and onward out of Russia to the vibrant city of Helsinki, Finland's capital.
This tour spends multiple nights in the following destinations:
Irkutsk, situated in the rolling hills and the subarctic forests of eastern Siberia, is the administrative centre of the Irkutsk oblast (region) in Eastern Siberia. It is a popular stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway due to its proximity to UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal, the largest, deepest, and oldest freshwater lake in the world. Irkutsk was one of the towns built by Russian traders and Cossack explorers, founded as a zimovye (wintering camp or winter quarters) in 1652, later gaining town rights in 1686. A road connection between Moscow and the new Siberian city led to Irkutsk becoming the main centre of the Russian trade route to China and Mongolia. It grew more prosperous with the coming of the railway in 1898, as European Russians can travel through the Siberian wilderness by train. This Siberian city was given the nickname, “Paris of Siberia”.
Krasnoyarsk is one of the oldest Siberian towns, sitting on both banks of the Yenisey River it has a long history as an important hub of Trans-Siberian activity. The city was originally founded as a fort on the left bank of the Yenisey by Cossack leader Andrey Dubenskoy who called it “Krasny Yar”—or “red steep riverbank” in the Khakas dialect—in 1628. In March 1891, tsar Alexander III officially announced the building of a Trans-Siberian Railway. His son and heir apparent Nicholas laid the first stone at Vladivostok (“lord of the East”). The railway connected Krasnoyarsk in Siberia with Moscow and St Petersburg in European Russia. With the train bringing goods and manpower, Krasnoyarsk continued developing and expanding, eventually moving across the river to occupy the right bank of the Yenisey.
Yekaterinburg sits on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains, about 1,667 kilometres east of Moscow. This city in the heart of the Ural region is located just east of the border of Europe and Asia, a window to the resources of Siberia, and a hub for tourism and industry. Dubbed the “third capital of Russia” (after Moscow and St Petersburg) due to its size and economic power, Yekaterinburg figures in Russia’s intricate history, from the rise of its revolutionary movements to the execution of its last Tsar, Nicholas II.
Moscow is Russia’s political center and its most populous metropolis. Viewed from the air, Moscow’s city layout resembles concentric rings circling the Kremlin, the seat of the Russian government. Moscow's history dates back to 12th century, as does the history of one of its most famous landmarks, the Kremlin, the site housing one of the areas earliest fortifications. Moscow grew in importance as a regional trade hub along the Moskva River, becoming the capital of the Grand Principality of Muscovy, which grew in power annexing the princes of Novgorod and Khanates in Tartary to become the Russian heartland we know today. Following the construction of St Petersburg in 1712 the capital periodically shifted between the two cities.
St. Petersburg was Russia’s capital from 1712 to 1918, its reign as imperial capital ending with the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution (October Revolution) that toppled the tsarist regime. The succeeding Soviet government then moved the seat of power back to the old capital, Moscow, which remained as the capital city in post-Soviet Russia. St Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great along the banks of the River Neva, designed to be Russia's new 'Western' capital it reflects the westward looking vision of Russia at the time, with a focus on western European inspired art and architecture visible till today.
Helsinki is the capital city of Finland, is a treasure trove for lovers of history and all eras of architecture and design. Dubbed the “white city of the north” due to its buildings constructed from locally available light-coloured granite, it was built in a Neoclassical style, modelled off of the then Russian capital, St Petersburg. Helsinki was shaped by Finland’s powerful western and eastern neighbours—Russia and Sweden, passing between both powers for much of its history before finally gaining independence in 1917. Helsinki was declared the World Design Capital in 2012, and remains a centre for innovative architecture today. Most notable is the Amos Rex gallery, opened in 2018.
For more details, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right-hand side of this page.
Odyssey Traveller regularly offers tours designed for the active senior traveller to enjoy in a small group holiday and learning environment. We also publish articles to provide more information to our loyal and prospective participants.
If you want to learn more about the Trans-Siberian Railway and the train journey, click through to read the following articles prepared by Odyssey Traveller:
You may also want to check out our tour also travelling on the Trans-Siberian Railway, from Mongolia to Russia, and from Krasnoyarsk to Vladivostok.
For a different pace and cultural experience, you may want to explore our other small group tours by Rail:
You can read our country profiles on Finland and Russia.
These external links provide you with additional information on travelling through Russia that will improve your journey.
Other articles of possible interest is this two-part post filled with travelling tips for seniors, an article on the many nifty gizmos and gadgets you can bring on your trips, and an important article about practising responsible travel.
History of the Trans-Siberian Railway The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway, a network of railways connecting Moscow to the Russian Far East, covers important events of the 20th century, tracing the rise and fall of…
Trans-Siberian Landscapes and Wildlife Even in a fast-paced world where travelling long distances means hopping on a plane and journeying through the air for a few hours, the Trans-Siberian Railway continues to have a magnetic…
The Trans Siberian rail journey, often a must do for many travellers. Join a small group package tour travelling on the Trans Siberian for mature and senior travellers, couples and solo travellers. Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, St Petersburg, Irkutsk all feature on this unique rail journey.
Overview: On arrival in Irkutsk, we make our way individually to the hotel. In the evening, we meet for a welcome dinner and orientation.
Accommodation: Hotel Yevropa or similar
Overview: Irkutsk is often called the “de facto capital” of Eastern Siberia. Irkutsk became a place of exile for intellectuals, artists, and nobles who revolted against Tsar Nicholas I in the early 19th century–at one point there were two exiles per local residing in the city, turning Irkutsk into a scholarly and artistic hub. Their influence is still very palpable in the city’s architecture and aesthetics.
Today we will go on a city tour and learn more about Irkutsk’s history through its architecture and museums. We will hear about the Novemberists, the October Revolution, the Red and White Armies of Russia, and the Bolsheviks who came to power after the fall of the tsarist regime.
We will visit the Taltsy Architectural and Ethnographic Museum, which used to be the site of a real village called “Taltsy”. When the Ust-Ilimskaya hydroelectric power station was constructed, a part of Taltsy came in danger of being flooded. The Russian government decided to evacuate the people out of town and preserve the village–complete with water mills, houses, and a school–as a museum.
Accommodation: Hotel Yevropa or similar
Overview: Today we will go on a trip to Lake Baikal, the largest, deepest, and oldest freshwater lake in the world. It contains nearly a quarter of the world’s fresh surface water, more water than all of the Great Lakes of North America combined. It has a depth of 1.6 kilometres (around a mile) and is considered the world’s oldest lake at 25 to 30 million years old. Lake Baikal is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, 80% of them endemic to the area, which means these species are found nowhere else. The Circumbaikal Railway train chugs along around the perimeter, offering a scenic and leisurely ride around the lake. If time permits, we will take a boat trip on the lake itself.
Accommodation: Hotel Yevropa or similar
Overview: Today we will hop aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway and travel by train for 20 hours westward to Krasnoyarsk. The Trans-Siberian trains moves at a speed of at most 90 km/h, giving passengers a time to relax. Upon arrival in Krasnoyarsk, we will have the rest of the day free to ourselves.
“Taiga” is a forest of the cold, subarctic region. The word means “land of the little sticks” in Russian. The world’s largest taiga is in Russia, covering 5,800 kilometres (3,600 miles), which means this is the landscape you will most likely see from the windows of the Trans-Siberian trains. The Russian taiga has primarily pine and fir trees, which we will watch pass by as we chat with fellow travellers and sip hot tea courtesy of the samovar.
Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn Krasnoyarsk or similar
Overview: Krasnoyarsk, located more than 4,000 kilometres from Moscow, is one of the oldest Siberian towns. It was founded by Russian traders and Cossack explorers in 1628, nearly a quarter of a century after a Cossack expedition led by Yermak Timofeyevich captured Isker, capital of the khanate of Sibir (from which Siberia derives its name), beginning Russia’s expansion into the region.
We head out as a group for a short city tour. Here we take in the important sites in the city, including Mira Square (Peace Square), the oldest square in historic Krasnoyarsk. The city’s historical gateway, the Arch of Triumph, stands here in the place of a tower of Krasnoyarsk Prison, which burned down in 1773. Mira Square offers a view of the Yenisey River. We ascend to Karaulnaya Hill, a good vantage point to see the whole of the city. We will also visit a monument to its founder, Andrey Dubensky, and the Praskovya Pyatnitskaya Chapel. The rest of the day can be spent at our leisure.
Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn Krasnoyarsk or similar
Overview: After seeing the sites of the city, today we head to the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station dam, the first power station built on the Yenisey River. The dam is located 30 kilometres upstream and we will drive through beautiful scenery. Midway through to the dam we will stop on a lookout place that offers a gorgeous view of the river and the Siberian forests.
We will then visit the Stolby Nature Sanctuary. Founded in 1925 by locals, Stolby (“pillars”) derives its name from the unusual shapes of its rock formations mostly of sedimentary and volcanic origin, dating back to the Cambrian Period, making the rocks more than 600 million years old. A small portion of the huge nature reserve (“Central Stolby”, around 4% of the reserve’s total land area) is open to the public, while the rest (“Wild Stolby”) is not recommended to tourists. The nature reserve is surrounded by taiga, so the flora is predominantly made of coniferous trees such as pine and silver fir.
Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn Krasnoyarsk or similar
Overview: We will once again board a train and travel closer to European Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway towards Yekaterinburg. We will take the evening train and spend 2 nights on board. This will be our longest journey on the train for this tour, as we will be travelling for 33 hours.
Accommodation: Novotel Yekaterinburg, Hotel Tsentrainy, or similar
Overview: Yekaterinburg (also spelled Ekaterinburg) sits on the eastern slope of the Ural Mountains, which forms a boundary between Europe and Asia. The city was given its name in 1723, named after Russian emperor Peter the Great’s wife, Yekaterina, who succeeded him as Empress Catherine I after his death in 1725.
Yekaterinburg became the centre for all the iron works of the Urals region, and in 1878 the Trans-Siberian Railroad arrived and linked it with Siberia. Yekaterinburg also became infamous when, in 1918, the fallen tsar Nicholas II and his family were killed here by firing squad.
Our local guide will outline for us Russia’s history, covering pre-history, the industrialisation initiated by Peter the Great, the October Revolution, the Soviet era, and the modern era, through visits to museums and historic sites. We will also take a drive in the afternoon to see examples of local farming techniques.
Accommodation: Novotel Yekaterinburg, Hotel Tsentrainy, or similar
Overview: Today is reserved for our 30-hour journey by train to Moscow, Russia’s capital. The train passes at kilometre post 1777, a white obelisk marking the boundary between Europe and Asia. We will settle in our accommodation upon arrival.
Accommodation: To be advised.
Overview: Today we will have a much-deserved rest after our train journey. We can use this time to catch up with laundry, shop, or simply restore our energies for the trip ahead.
Accommodation: To be advised.
Overview: Moscow is Russia’s political centre and its most populous metropolis. Viewed from the air, Moscow’s city layout resembles concentric rings circling the Kremlin, the seat of the current Russian government and its predecessor, the USSR. We will view the heavily guarded Kremlin during a boat cruise on the river, before we venture into the city with a local guide. We will explore Moscow’s towers, garden, enormous Tsar Bell, and the cathedral square at its heart. The Red Square, St Basil’s and Kazan Cathedrals and the State History Museum are among our stops.
Later, we sample Georgian cuisine at Tifils restaurant. Pending local programming, we enjoy a second performance — perhaps the opera, ballet, theatre, or even the circus. Moscow is brimming with cultural events.
Accommodation: To be advised
Overview: Today we travel by train during the day to St. Petersburg.
Accommodation: To be advised
Overview: St Petersburg was Russia’s capital from 1712 to 1918, following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution (October Revolution) that toppled the tsarist regime. The city is often compared to the current capital, Moscow. It is often said that Moscow is “traditionally” Russian, with buildings designed by Russian architects, while St Petersburg has absorbed influences from Western Europe. (Interesting fact: the city was renamed “Petrograd” in 1914 at the start of the First World War to make it sound less German.)
Today is the first of two full days to explore the cultural heritage of this vibrant city. We enjoy a tour with a local guide, and visit the Botanical Gardens, or, to use its full name, the Botanical Garden of the V.L. Komarov Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This is Russia’s oldest botanical garden, founded in 1714 by order of Peter the Great. Today, it mostly follow an English landscape style, with many diverse species available for our appreciation. The giant water lilies, which bloom during the summer, are a highlight.
While we are in St Petersburg, we will experience a performance of either the ballet or opera — depending on local programming.
Accommodation: To be advised
Overview: Today we visit some of St Petersburg’s most historically significant sites, including the Hermitage — Russia’s most famous palace and equally famous art collection, containing pieces from Matisse, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Picasso. The Winter Palace is now part of the Museum complex, but was the official residence of the monarchs until 1917.
St Isaac’s Cathedral is the world’s largest orthodox basilica (and fourth largest cathedral). It houses a museum where we can learn about the building’s historic and cultural significance. Later, we board the Vladimirskay metro, bound for the vibrant Kuznechny market.
In the evening, we dine at the popular Austeria restaurant, located within the Peter and Paul Fortress. Now a museum, St Petersburg’s original citadel provides views across the city’s popular, sandy beaches. We enjoy traditional Russian fare and live music.
Accommodation: To be advised
Overview: Today we will be leaving Russia and crossing the border into Finland to journey into Helsinki. This relaxing journey will take up the full day.
Accommodation: To be advised.
Overview: Helsinki was once under the rule of the Russian Empire as part of the Grand Duchy of Finland, serving as the duchy’s capital starting in 1812.
Today we will step back in time and experience a tour of Helsinki by vintage tram, a relaxing way to take in the sights and sounds of the “white city of the north”.
Accommodation: To be advised
Overview: The end of breakfast also marks the end of the tour and our services.
What’s included in our Tour
What’s not included in our Tour
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