Khuzhir, Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Travel, Backpacking, Russia, Trans Mongolian Railway, Irkutsk, Epiphany Cathedral, Church, Beach, Shaman Rock,

THAT ONE TIME WE WERE CANADIANS

Should we go to Russia or not? It was a dream of ours to ride on the Trans-Siberian and it was something we had always planned to do on our trip. However, we were hesitant when the time came to apply for our...
Piter Stay Hostel , Saint Petersburg, Where to Stay in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Visiting Russia, Hostel, Travel,
4.0

PITERSTAY HOSTEL IN ST. PETERSBURG

Piterstay Hostel is the place to be for a budget stay in the tourist-crowded city of Saint Petersburg. Just around the block from main sights such as the Hermitage and the Church of Savior on Spilled Blood,...
Bananas Hostel, Russia, Where to stay in Moscow, Hostel Review, Hostel, Moscow,
3.5

BANANAS HOSTEL IN MOSCOW

We arrived at the Bananas Hostel tired and weary after canceling our other disappointing accommodation in Moscow. Right on our arrival we were happy to be there and glad to have made the switch. This place...
Hostel in Moscow, Where to Stay in Moscow, Russian Dream Hostel, Hostel Review, Moscow,
2.2

RUSSIAN DREAM HOTEL IN MOSCOW

Well it sure sounded nice, but our stay at the Russian Dream Hotel in Moscow turned into a nightmare that we're still trying to sort out. Certain necessities, (like air conditioning when it's crazy hot...
Pilgrim Hostel - Vladimir, Russia
4.0

PILGRIM HOSTEL IN VLADIMIR

On the way to Moscow along the Trans-Mongolian we made a short stop to Vladimir, which at one time was the ancient capital of Russia. The small city didn't seem to have many hostel options, so we booked with...
During our short stay in Saint Petersburg, Russia, we visited the Hermitage, (Winter Palace), Peter and Paul Fortress, Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, the flea market at Udelnaya and took a lovely, evening boat ride.

FAVORITE CHURCHES OF RUSSIA

While passing through Russia it's hard to not notice the many spires of Russian Orthodox Cathedrals scattered throughout the country. Each one is unique with richly decorated interior walls and iconic onion...
During our short stay in Saint Petersburg, Russia, we visited the Hermitage, (Winter Palace), Peter and Paul Fortress, Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, the flea market at Udelnaya and took a lovely, evening boat ride.

SAINT PETERSBURG PHOTO GALLERY

During our short stay in Saint Petersburg, Russia, we visited the Hermitage, (Winter Palace), Peter and Paul Fortress, Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, the flea market at Udelnaya and took a lovely,...
When visiting Moscow, we loved Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin so much that we visited them repeatedly.

RED SQUARE

Being an 80s baby that grew up in the west, my perception of Red Square was always a rather gloomy one: a dark, cloudy sky over dingy brick buildings with maybe a military parade filling the cobblestone...
Trans Mongolian Railway

LESSONS LEARNED ON THE TRANS-MONGOLIAN

Stepping off the train in Moscow, we officially ended our journey on the Trans-Mongolian Railway. What started in daydreams — staring at maps and imagining what lay in the vast expanse between Beijing and...
Yekaterinburg - Like Hostel
3.1

LIKE HOSTEL IN YEKATERINBURG

We arrived in Yekaterinburg after a 56 hour long ride from Irkutsk along the Trans-Mongolian. As you could imagine, we needed a nice break from the train. We should have booked a private room for that very...
Solnechnaya, Sunny Hostel, Olkhon Island
3.3

SOLNECHNAYA (SUNNY HOSTEL) IN OLKHON ISLAND

On Olkhon Island, there are few choices of where to stay in the small town of Khuzhir. We chose Solnechnaya, also known as Sunny Hostel, for its location near the beaches and Shaman Rock at Lake Baikal. We...
Khuzhir, Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Travel, Backpacking, Russia, Trans Mongolian Railway, Irkutsk, Epiphany Cathedral, Church, Beach, Shaman Rock,

IRKUTSK & LAKE BAIKAL PHOTO GALLERY

Images from our first stop along the Trans-Mongolian Railway in eastern Russia-- Irkutsk and Lake Baikal. After one night in the city, we spent three nights on Olkhon Island; if it looks like we sat around in...
Trans-Sib Hostel, Irkutsk Russia.
3.2

TRANS-SIB HOSTEL IN IRKUTSK

The Trans-Sib Hostel in Irkutsk was our first hostel stop in Russia. We only stayed for a single night as the very next day we set out for Lake Baikal, but it was a comfortable stay. Close to the train...