That represented the perfect start to Connacht's Challenge Cup campaign but things soon began to go awry.
After their chartered plane was grounded, Lam and his players were ferried between hotels and airports before encountering visa issues.
With the squad split into three groups and returning to Galway in instalments, the head coach admits preparations for a home clash with Brive this Saturday have been hit.
However, he has been impressed by the spirit shown by the entire group during a testing period.
"It has shortened our preparation up for Brive but that's just the way it is," Lam told CRTV from Moscow airport yesterday. "There are some things you can't control and you just have to have the right mindset.
"I have changed the schedule three times and now it's going to be a fourth time. There is obviously recovery after the journey and jetlag so we might only get one run out, which has totally changed our week.
"Things happen and you have just got to adjust and fair play to the boys, they are doing that, but it is certainly becoming a long journey."
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