DESCRIPTION:

Make the epic journey overland from Mongolia’s breathtaking Gobi Desert to Siberia’s “Blue Pearl,” Lake Baikal, as few travelers have. In the Gobi Desert witness the site of some of the most important paleontological discoveries, including the Flaming Cliffs. Explore stunning landscape, where Bactrian camels roam, and visit with local nomads in their traditional gers, or yurts. At the foothills of the Atlai Mountains, it may still be possible to see lingering snow while summer-hiking through the valley spotting yaks.

Then drive to Irkutsk, Siberia, a place of exile since the days of Genghis Khan. The culture here is a fascinating mix of Asian and European, traditional and modern. Wander through local markets, neighborhoods with traditional wooden homes, and dine in Siberian peasant-style restaurants. Tour local historic homes, museums, and churches. Take an (optional) helicopter ride for a night in a barge hotel on Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal – a lake as large as Belgium! Cruise to the village of Port Baikal to board a scenic train to Ulan Ude, the center for Buddhism in Russia, to meet with a welcoming and traditional group of Old Believers, a religious sect who fled Czarist Russia. Fly to Moscow, where you can opt to stay on to see the sights.

CONSIDER:

You can experience two vastly different cultures on this singular trip.

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Moscow and/or St. Petersburg Russia.