Why book with Logo
Our Expertise
Travel Specialist since 1932
Our Service
UK offices and support while on holiday
First Class Guides
Learn from local experts with real passion
Peace of Mind
Full ATOL, IATA, ABTA protection
Baikal-Amur Mainline Trans-Siberian Journey(BAM17BD)
17 days/16 nights
Bucket list rail journey from Moscow to Vladivostok
The Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) is one of Russia‘s two great railways. The other, the Trans-Siberian Railway, is much more famous and well-travelled. The BAM, however, running parallel but about 500km to the north, takes you through much more spectacular scenery, much less spoilt parts of Lake Baikal (the world’s oldest and deepest lake) and through some towns that feel as though the Soviet Union never ended and very rarely receive any foreign visitors. The nature and climate in BAM Zone seems to be more severe than along the Trans-Siberian railway, longer and colder winter, short summer, there are a lot of dwarf plants, trees and white moss covering vast territory. On the other hand, the Russian wisdom says "The colder climate is, the warmer people are". People who live in the North are famous for their hospitality even inside Russia.
We are now offering a BRAND NEW Tailor made rail adventure tour! Not only you can get to know an even more exciting part of Russia; we now offer the 3rd class tickets for those adventure seekers who wish to get to know the fellow travellers along the way!
- Railway Journey Introduction
- Your Journey Itinerary
- Accommodation
- Departures and Prices
- What's included
- Book
Moscow
A truly iconic, global city, Moscow is the 860 year-old capital of Russia. There are dozens of reasons to come. Being one of the most breathtaking capitals in the world, Moscow has a wide range of cultural landmarks. We suggest exploring them all.
Lake Baikal
Few natural sights can surpass the beauty and grandeur of the Pearl of Siberia. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and holds 20% of the world’s freshwater. It stretches for 636 km longwise and 80 km widthwise. The Baikal’s maximum depth is 1,637 m. It is known as a "laboratory of biodiversity" as it is home to nearly 3,000 species of animals and plants, many of which are found nowhere else, such as a unique breed of freshwater seal.
Krasnoyarsk
Is this most beautiful city in Siberia? The writer Anton Chekhov thought so. Krasnoyarsk’s certainly wears winter well, with snow dusting its streets and blue-gold hues coloring the cityscape. See all the sights on a short tour and take in the stunning vista across the Yenisei River. Back on board, your Trans-Siberian tour continues on to Irkutsk.
Khabarovsk
Located 15 miles (25 kilometres) from the border with China, Khabarovsk stretches along the banks of the Amur River. Khabarovsk was founded as a military post in 1858, but the region had been populated by several indigenous peoples of the Far East for many centuries. It is now a busy city with tree-lined streets.
Tynda
With a population of around 40,000, it is the largest town for over 300 miles in any direction. It was built to be the administrative centre for the construction of the BAM route during the 1970s and our visit to a local museum gives us a fascinating insight into the building of this line.
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Komsomolsk reflects the majestic and expansive urban architecture of the Soviet era, including the stupendous Pervostroitelei Avenue, 80 metres wide and lined with 1970s and 1980s blocks with Soviet store fronts and signage intact, with parks and playgrounds hidden behind it. The city was also the gulag capital of the Russian Far East, with over 900,000 prisoners estimated to have passed through its camps.
Vladivostok
Vladivostok, a military port located on the western shores of the Sea of Japan, is home to the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet. Due to its military importance, the city was closed to foreigners between 1930 and 1992. Vladivostok (literally translated as ‘Ruler of the East’) offers visitors an interesting opportunity to explore its principal military attractions including a visit to a preserved World War Two submarine.
Severobaikalsk
Severobaikalsk is a prosperous and resourceful town, ringed by roadless 2000+m mountains and facing the north end of Lake Baikal, the world's deepest, purest and ecologically most diverse freshwater lake. The town is the capital of the northen end of Lake Baikal on the BAM railway. It is an unrivalled base for outdoor adventure. You can explore bays, islands, mountains, hot springs, nature preserves, indigenous villages and GULAGs; swim, sail, canoe and cruise in the summer; ski, skate and ride the ice in winter; hike, trek and mountaineer; photograph the unic birds and seals; and catch and taste the native fish. It is probably the most popular destination on the BAM, yet fewer than 200 Western tourists a year visit. Severobaikalsk has a population of 27 500 and grew out of the virgin taiga with the arrival of the BAM constructors in 1974.
Day 1, Saturday - MOSCOW
Welcome to Moscow, the mesmerizing capital of Russia! You will be met by your driver at the airport or train station and transferred to the hotel Izmailovo Gamma (or similar); you can relax in your room or start an independent exploration. Situated just steps from Partizanskaya metro station, Izmailovo Gamma is the unique hotel complex: surrounded by Izmailovo Park and Izmailovo Kremlin, its location puts the travellers in an ideal setting and it takes just 10 minutes by metro to get to the very heart of Moscow – to the Red Square and the Kremlin. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 2, Sunday - MOSCOW
After breakfast, a full day of discovering Moscow awaits you. You can choose to book optional excursions or explore independently. Take a walk on the famous Red Square, pop in to the Tretyakov Art Gallery or, for history buffs, visit the fascinating anti-nuclear facility Bunker 42 Cold War Museum: the only one declassified military object in Russia, which is located at a depth of 65 meters under the ground in the centre of Moscow! Overnight in the hotel. TIP: Why not visit Moscow for free? Open museum day is held on 3rd Sunday of each month. But on these special days the number of visitors is three times greater than on other days of the year. So be prepared for long queues! Open museum day is carried out only by the museums that are under control of City Department of Culture while the museums of the federal level (like Tretyakov Gallery for example) don’t participate in this initiative.
Day 3, Monday - DEPART MOSCOW
Enjoy your breakfast before checking out of the hotel. You will be transferred to the train station to catch the train #70 departing at 1350 Moscow time. You are travelling to Krasnoyarsk! Overnight on the train.
Day 4-5, Tuesday&Wednesday - ON TRAIN
The two days will be spent on the train – you will have the chance to admire the passing landscapes of Russia, spend a few hours studying your guidebook and to meet your fellow travelers. The train is a perfect place to meet many like minded people of different nationalities! Make sure to have your camera charged!
Day 6, Thursday - KRASNOYARSK
You arrive in Krasnoyarsk at 1356. You will be met by your driver and transferred to the hotel Krasnoyarsk (or similar). Krasnoyarsk is a very comfortable, friendly city, the mecca for rock-climbers and just a nice place to visit. There is something for everyone here: great museums and restaurants, and the beautiful National Park Stolby, located just 20 minutes by car from the city center. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 7, Friday - DEPART KRASNOYARSK
After an early breakfast in the hotel, you will be transferred to the train station to board the train #92 to Severobaikalsk, departing at 0936. Relax and enjoy the passing view or try practicing your Russian language skills! Overnight on the train.
Day 8, Saturday - SEVEROBAIKALSK
You arrive in Severobaikalsk at 1406. You will be met by the driver and transferred to the hotel Zolotaya Rybka (or similar). Severobaikalsk is a small town in located on the shores of Lake Baikal; the world's deepest, purest and ecologically most diverse freshwater lake, surrounded by mountains. The town has a population of 27 500 and grew out of the virgin taiga with the arrival of the Baikal – Amur Mainline constructors in 1974. It is probably the most popular destination on the BAM, yet fewer than 200 Western tourists a year visit: make sure to be one of them! Overnight in hotel. TIP Severobaikalsk is an unrivalled base for outdoor adventure. You can explore bays, islands, mountains, hot springs, nature preserves, indigenous villages and GULAGs; swim, sail, canoe and cruise in the summer; ski, skate and ride the ice in winter; hike, trek and mountaineer; photograph the unique birds and seals; and catch and taste the native fish. If you are looking to add a few more days in Severobaikalsk, we will tailor make the itinerary for you!
Day 9, Sunday - DEPART SEVEROBAIKALSK
Enjoy your breakfast in the hotel and make sure to have a walk before catching your next train! You will be transferred to the train station in time for train #76 to Tynda, departing at 1250. Overnight on the train.
Day 10, Monday - TYNDA
Today you arrive in Tynda at 1625 and are transferred to your hotel. In the 1970s and 1980s, Tynda was referred to as the capital of the Baikal-Amur Mainline and gained great fame. It was a starting point for construction brigades that left to laying railways all the way to Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Today, the city has lost its grandeur, as its population has declined from 60000 to 30000, but still it has its own charm. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 11, Tuesday - DEPART TYNDA
After breakfast in your hotel, you can check out and leave your luggage, as you have a few hours free before the next train. Why not visiting the Museum of BAM history? In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the train station for the train #364 to Komsomolsk on Amur, departing at 1645.
Day 12, Wednesday - ON TRAIN
Today is spent on the train.
Day 13, Thursday - KOMSOMOLSK-ON-AMUR
Your train arrives early at 0617. Komsomolsk-on-Amur is the second largest city of Khabarovsk Krai and the 3rd largest city of the Russian Far East after Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, standing on the left bank of the Amur River, 404 km north-east of Khabarovsk (by road). The distance to Moscow is about 8,800 km. The city works surprisingly well as a short stopover - especially if you have an interest in photography; there are a number of buildings in Stalin's Neo-renaissance style in the city center, and many of the housing blocks are adorned with both sculptured and painted murals with soviet themes. This evening you will go back to the train station to board the train #667 towards Khabarovsk. Your train departs at 2200. Overnight on the train.
Day 14, Friday - KHABAROVSK
You arrive at 0719 in Khabarovsk. Make sure to use your time well as your next train to Vladivostok departs in the evening. Khabarovsk is a city on the Amur River in the Russian Far East, near the Chinese border. Often overlooked due to its proximity to Vladivostok, Khabarovsk could easily be a highlight in the long line of smaller towns and cities along the Trans-Siberian route. Khabarovsk offers attractive parks, beaches, outdoor beer tents with live music, and classic architecture. The city also houses some of the best museums east of Moscow. Be on time at the train station as the train #352 to Vladivostok departs at 1824!
Day 15, Saturday - VLADIVOSTOK
You arrive in Vladivostok at 0754 – your final stop on the BAM route. Your driver will meet you at the train station and you will be transferred to the Amurskiy Zaliv Hotel (or similar). Have a walk or simply relax in café while your room is prepared (check in from 1400). Overnight in the hotel.
Day 16, Sunday - VLADIVOSTOK
After breakfast in the hotel, enjoy the full free day in the city! Vladivostok, located more than 9,000 kilometers from Moscow, has a lot to offer. Visit the local fish market: you can try Kamchatka crabs, king prawns or small crayfish, and enjoy it right there, on the benches overlooking the waterfront. Have a ride on Vladivostok’s funicular that will take you right next to the main viewing platform, at the top of Eagle’s Nest Hill. The Hill offers the best panorama views of the city! Do not forget your camera as the views of Vladivostok are truly breathtaking. Eagle’s Nest is in fact an extinct volcano, being a part of the Sikhote Alin Mountain range! Why not visit the S-56 Submarine Museum or Zarya Center for Contemporary Art, and many more interesting sights. The city finds itself between western and eastern influences; the food can be Russian, Italian, Czech, Georgian, Chinese, Japanese and even North Korean. If you get a chance, try sea urchins – you can even fish for them yourself! Overnight in the hotel.
Day 17, Monday - DEPART VLADIVOSTOK
Enjoy your last breakfast in Russia! Today you are transferred to the airport or bus station to continue your journey. TIP For the adventure seekers we recommend to board a bus from Vladivostok to Hunchun in China. Bus journey takes about 5-6 h to the Russian-Chinese boarder; you need to allow some time for the border control and travel to Hunchun.Usually the bus leaves Vladivostok at 0500 Vladivostok time and arrives at 10:00 Chinese time in Hunchun (time difference 2h). There are no buses to Hunchun on Sandays and on national holidays.
Public Trains
Accommodation
The First class, is the most comfortable and expensive option. This is a compartment for only two people and contains two lower couches that convert into beds and a table next to the window. If you would like to travel by yourself there is a possibility to buy two tickets for the couches at the same compartment. The two lavatories are available to use in both sides of the carriage.
The Second class compartment, contains of two lower and two upper berths, table next to the window, storage space under lower berths and above the top berths. Just like a First Class, the compartment has a door which locks from the inside. The two lavatories are available to use in both sides of the carriage.
The Third class is ‘Platskart’ is the cheapest one on the train. The total amount of bunks is 54 with 4 beds on one side and 2 on the other and an aisle between them. The two lavatories are available to use in both sides of the carriage.
Leisure
The Restaurant car where you can purchase meals and drinks during your journey.
Hotel "Izmailovo Gamma-Delta" 
4 crown
Address
4 G-D, 71, Izmailovskoe Shosse, Moscow, 105613, Russia
Location
Located in the most picturesque part of Moscow near the Izmailovo Park some 10 km from the city center. The nearest attractions - Russkoye Podvorye CraftsCenter, Izmailovo Art Fair. Sheremetyevo International Airport – 38 km. The nearest metro station – Izmailovsky Park.
Accommodation
1942 guest rooms including 1075 Standard Rooms, 689 Business Class Rooms, 131 First Class Rooms, 47 VIP Rooms
In-room
Satellite TV, phone, refrigerator, WiFi Internet, airconditioning, safe in VIP Rooms.
Leisure
The first floor of the Gamma building accommodates a Paroclinica health-improving Russian baths complex. Here Russian and Turkish baths, saunas in art nouveau, Japan and Egyptian styles are at our guests' disposal. Swimming pool with counterflow, geyser and underwater massage. Recreation rooms, massage parlor, bar.
There is a big nine-lane bowling hall at your disposal on the 2nd floor of the central hall. The hall is equipped with displays where you can follow the course of the game. There is a bar nearby where you can order drinks, and 2 billiard tables.
Other services
.
Baikal-Amur Trans-Siberian Trip on a Budget
| Departure Dates 2020 | 2nd Class train, price from | 3rd Class train, price from | ||
Every Saturday All year  | 2 people traveling (price per person) | Single traveler | 2 people traveling (price per person) | Single traveler |
From 1796.83 £ | From 2244.43 £ | From 1237.34 £ | From 1684.93 £ | |
Flight details:
Please speak with us to get the best prices on flights added to your tour
Please note:
The deposit is paid on this tour - please enquire at the booking stage
The tour operates in case there are minimum 2 passangers booked per departure
We use live currency update, price may slightly fluctuate daily
IntoRussia Ltd reserves the right to change hotels to similar ones of the same standard and change the order of excursions
Extras:
If you are a group and want to add extra days or excursions, or you are looking for more independence, contact our Destination Experts for a tailor-made package
Included in price:
• Twin/Single hotel accommodation
• Transfer by car as per itinerary
• 2nd / 3rd class train tickets
• Full Russian visa support
Not Included:
• Flights (please speak with us to get the best prices on flights added to your tour)
• Excursions
• Bus ticket Vladivostok - Hunchun
• Russian visa fees paid directly to the Consulate
• Travel insurance
• Regional add-ons
+44(0)207 603 50 45