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Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Day 1: London to Ulaanbaatar
Flight: Depart London Heathrow at 09:00; arrive in Ulaanbaatar at 07:00 (next day, local time).
Travel Time: Approx. 11 hours (including layover).
Days 2-4: Ulaanbaatar (3 Days)
Day 2:
07:00-08:30: Arrival and check-in at a yurt in a traditional Mongolian ger camp.
08:30-10:00: Breakfast and freshen up.
10:00-14:00: Explore the National Museum of Mongolia to understand Mongolian history and culture.
14:00-15:30: Lunch featuring Mongolian cuisine (try khuushuur and buuz).
16:00-18:00: Attend a throat-singing performance and learn about its significance.
19:00: Dinner and rest in your yurt.
Day 3:
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Participate in traditional archery and wrestling activities with local guides.
12:30-14:00: Lunch at a local nomadic settlement.
14:30-18:00: Experience a Mongolian horse-racing event and ride horses across the steppe.
19:00: Dinner and overnight in the yurt.
Day 4:
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Visit the Gandan Monastery and witness a morning prayer session.
13:00-14:30: Lunch featuring traditional dishes.
15:00-17:00: Explore the Bogd Khan Palace Museum.
19:00: Dinner and prepare for departure.
Ulaanbaatar – Day 1
Starter: Buuz (steamed meat dumplings)
Main Course: Khorkhog (lamb cooked with hot stones in a sealed container)
Dessert: Boortsog (fried dough, Mongolia’s version of cookies)
Alcoholic Drink: Arkhi (distilled milk spirit)
Hot Drink: Suutei Tsai (salted milk tea)
Cold Drink: Tarag (fermented milk drink)
Ulaanbaatar – Day 2
Starter: Khuushuur (fried meat pies)
Main Course: Boodog (goat or marmot cooked inside its skin using hot stones)
Dessert: Airag Ice Cream (made from fermented mare’s milk)
Alcoholic Drink: Shimiin Arkhi (fermented distilled milk spirit)
Hot Drink: Barley Tea
Cold Drink: Boortsog Milk Dip
Ulaanbaatar – Day 3
Starter: Guriltai Shul (noodle soup with meat)
Main Course: Khuushuur (again, but perhaps with a different filling like beef or mutton)
Dessert: Aaruul (dried curds – tangy and nutritious)
Alcoholic Drink: Mongolian Beer
Hot Drink: Aruul Tea
Cold Drink: Tsagaan Airag (fermented mare’s milk)
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Novosibirsk, Russia
Day 4
21:00: Depart Ulaanbaatar via flight to Novosibirsk (overnight).
Days 5-6: Novosibirsk (2 Days)
Day 5:
07:00: Arrive in Novosibirsk and check in to your hotel.
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Visit the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre.
13:00-14:30: Lunch.
15:00-17:00: Explore the Trans-Siberian Railway Museum.
19:00: Dinner and rest.
Day 6:
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Visit the Akademgorodok Science City for a unique look at Soviet-era scientific achievements.
13:00-14:30: Lunch.
15:00-17:00: Walk along the Ob River embankment and enjoy the scenery.
19:00: Dinner and prepare for departure.
21:00: Overnight train to Nizhny Novgorod (36 hours).
Novosibirsk (2 Days)
Day 18
Starter: Potato Pancakes
Main Course: Kasha Varennaya
Dessert: Syrniki with Jam
Alcoholic Drink: Boyarsky Shot
Hot Drink: Viburnum Tea
Cold Drink: Kompot
Day 19
Starter: Zharkoe
Main Course: Roast Duck with Apples
Dessert: Sweet Pirozhki with Berries
Alcoholic Drink: Beluga Vodka
Hot Drink: Tea with Milk
Cold Drink: Mors
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Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Days 7-8: Nizhny Novgorod (2 Days)
Day 7:
Morning: Arrive in Nizhny Novgorod and check in to your hotel.
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Visit the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin and enjoy panoramic views of the Volga and Oka Rivers.
13:00-14:30: Lunch at a local restaurant.
15:00-17:00: Explore the Chkalov Staircase and Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum.
19:00: Dinner and rest.
Day 8:
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Visit the Museum of Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life.
13:00-14:30: Lunch.
15:00-17:00: Take a Volga River boat tour.
19:00: Dinner and prepare for departure.
21:00: Overnight train to Samara (9 hours).
Nizhniy Novgorod (2 Days)
Day 16
Starter: Pancake Rolls with Meat
Main Course: Siberian Meat Pie
Dessert: Sharlotka
Alcoholic Drink: Baltika Beer
Hot Drink: Tea with Jam
Cold Drink: Rhubarb Drink
Day 17
Starter: Kolbasa Smazhenaya (fried sausage)
Main Course: Chicken Tabaka
Dessert: Chak Chak
Alcoholic Drink: Sparkling Wine
Hot Drink: Tea with Honey
Cold Drink: Mors
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Samara, Russia
Days 9-10: Samara (2 Days)
Day 9:
06:00: Arrive in Samara and check in to your hotel.
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Visit Stalin’s Bunker.
13:00-14:30: Lunch featuring local Russian cuisine.
15:00-17:00: Stroll along the Volga River embankment and explore local markets.
19:00: Dinner and rest.
Day 10:
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Explore the Samara State Aerospace University Museum.
13:00-14:30: Lunch.
15:00-17:00: Visit a local art gallery or cultural center.
19:00: Dinner and prepare for departure.
21:00: Overnight train to Yekaterinburg (9 hours).
Samara (2 Days)
Day 12
Starter: Solyanka
Main Course: Baked Pork with Garlic
Dessert: Praga Cake
Alcoholic Drink: Pertsovka
Hot Drink: Sea Buckthorn Tea
Cold Drink: Blackcurrant Juice
Day 13
Starter: Kartoshka v Mundire (jacket potatoes)
Main Course: Homemade Noodles with Chicken
Dessert: Charlotte Russe
Alcoholic Drink: Sibirskaya Korona Beer
Hot Drink: Chai
Cold Drink: Limonad
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Yekaterinburg, Russia
Days 11-12: Yekaterinburg (2 Days)
Day 11:
08:00: Arrive in Yekaterinburg and check in to your hotel.
08:30-09:30: Breakfast.
10:00-12:30: Visit the Romanov Family’s Execution Site and Church on the Blood.
13:00-14:30: Lunch.
15:00-17:00: Tour the Keyboard Monument and the Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts.
19:00: Dinner and rest.
Day 12:
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Visit the Museum of Military History and the Soviet Military Museum.
13:00-14:30: Lunch.
15:00-17:00: Explore the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center.
19:00: Dinner and prepare for departure.
21:00: Overnight train to Vladivostok (3 days).
Yekaterinburg (2 Days)
Day 14
Starter: Vareniki with Cheese
Main Course: Venison Stew
Dessert: Paskha
Alcoholic Drink: Ryabinovka
Hot Drink: Rowanberry Tea
Cold Drink: Fermented Oat Drink
Day 15
Starter: Pork Aspic Croquettes
Main Course: Blini with Meat
Dessert: Glazed Curd Bars
Alcoholic Drink: Nastoika
Hot Drink: Fruit and Berry Compote
Cold Drink: Chokeberry Drink
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Vladivostok, Russia
Days 13-14: Vladivostok (2 Days)
Day 13:
07:00: Arrive in Vladivostok and check in to your hotel.
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Visit the Submarine Museum.
13:00-14:30: Lunch.
15:00-17:00: Explore the Vladivostok Fortress.
19:00: Dinner and rest.
Day 14:
08:00-09:00: Breakfast.
09:30-12:30: Take a boat tour around Golden Horn Bay.
13:00-14:30: Lunch.
15:00-17:00: Visit Eagle’s Nest Hill for panoramic views.
19:00: Dinner and prepare for departure.
23:00: Flight to London via layover in Moscow.
Day 15: Return to London
13:00: Arrive at London Heathrow.
Vladivostok (2 Days)
Day 10
Starter: Baked Eggs with Salmon and Dill
Main Course: Borscht with Beef
Dessert: Chocolate Salami
Alcoholic Drink: Horilka
Hot Drink: Taiga Tea
Cold Drink: Lingonberry Moors
Day 11
Starter: Kasha
Main Course: Sausage and Potato Stew
Dessert: Rogaliki
Alcoholic Drink: Braga
Hot Drink: Tea with Milk
Cold Drink: Pear Kompot