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Vladivostok - Moscow by "Golden Eagle" Train

15 days
14 nights

Rates

Dates

Rates:

USD
EUR

PER PERSON:

May - Jun 2022
$18,095.00 (Silver Class - Twin )
$26,995.00 (Silver Class - Single)
$22,695.00 (Gold Class - Twin)
$37,395.00 (Gold Class - Single)
$38,195.00 (Imperial Suite - Twin)
$76,195.00 (Imperial Suite - Single)
Aug - Sep 2022
$19,395.00 (Silver Class - Twin )
$28,995.00 (Silver Class - Single)
$23,795.00 (Gold Class - Twin)
$39,495.00 (Gold Class - Single)
$42,195.00 (Imperial Suite - Twin)
$84,295.00 (Imperial Suite - Single)
May - Jun 2023
$18,095.00 (Silver Class - Twin )
$26,995.00 (Silver Class - Single)
$22,695.00 (Gold Class - Twin )
$37,395.00 (Gold Class - Single)
$38,195.00 (Imperial Suite - Twin )
$76,195.00 (Imperial Suite - Twin )
Aug - Sep 2023
$19,395.00 (Silver Class - Twin )
$28,995.00 (Silver Class - single)
$23,795.00 (Gold Class - Twin )
$39,495.00 (Gold Class - Single )
$42,195.00 (Imperial Suite - Twin)
$84,295.00 (Imperial Suite - Single)

Deposit requirements (2022):
Silver Class: $2000 per person
Gold Class: $3000 per person
Imperial Suite: $6000 per person

Deposit requirements (2023):
Silver Class: $2500 per person
Gold Class: $3500 per person
Imperial Suite: $7000 per person

* All prices shown are per person. Please note that prices do not include international flights.

Dates:

May 14, 2022 - May 28, 2022  Book Now
Jun 12, 2022 - Jun 26, 2022  Book Now
Aug 06, 2022 - Aug 20, 2022  Book Now
Sep 03, 2022 - Sep 17, 2022  Book Now
May 13, 2023 - May 27, 2023  Book Now
Jun 11, 2023 - Jun 25, 2023  Book Now
Aug 05, 2023 - Aug 19, 2023  Book Now
Sep 02, 2023 - Sep 16, 2023  Book Now

Cabin Description:

Hotels:

1 night in Moscow
12 nights onboard the Golden Eagle
1 night in Vladivostok

Included:

  • Experienced Tour Managers
  • Arrival and Departure Transfers
  • Hotel and On Board Accommodation
  • Welcome and Farewell Dinners
  • Route Guide, Itinerary and Information Pack
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily
  • Drinks with Meals and from the Bar Lounge Car
  • On Board Service
  • Guided Off-Train Excursions
  • Freedom of Choice Touring
  • Personal Headsets
  • On Board Doctor and Medical Facilities
  • 24 Hour Service Attendant
  • Porterage
  • All Gratuities

Please note that prices do not include international flights.

Itinerary:

Undoubtedly the world's greatest railway journey, the Trans-Siberian Railway runs like a steel ribbon across mysterious Russia connecting east and west from Moscow over the Urals, across the magnificent and endless steppe and alongside the shore of the world's largest freshwater lake.

Day 1  : Vladivostok

Arrive at Vladivostok Airport, where you will be met and transferred to the centrally located four-star Hotel Hyundai. We will enjoy a welcome reception dinner at our hotel, whilst you meet your fellow travellers and anticipate the epic 15 day voyage that lies ahead.

Day 2  : Vladivostok

Vladivostok is a military port, located on the western shores of the Sea of Japan and 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. Our city tour will also take us to the iconic suspension bridge over Golden Horn Bay, one of the largest of its kind worldwide, which opened in 2012 for the APEC conference.

Following a champagne reception at Vladivostok Railway Station, and with a military band playing on the platform, we will board the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express. After settling into our modern, stylish cabins we enjoy dinner in the restaurant car as our rail adventure westwards begins.

Day 3  : 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.

We’ll visit the memorial to Yerofey Pavlovich Khabarov, the Far East explorer the city is named after, and the impressive World War Two memorial to the fallen soldiers. We will also have time at the Regional Museum where the local history has been well-preserved with a rich collection of artefacts describing the cultural and natural history of the region.

Day 4  : On board

Our journey today follows the Shilka and Amur rivers, close to the Chinese border. Enjoy Russia at its most beautiful and remote, as the landscape unfolds outside your window. Or you may like to attend one of the absorbing lectures or Russian language lessons.

Day 5  : On board

Today offers the perfect opportunity to practice your improving Russian or watch a DVD as you watch the world pass by. For those who like to socialise, the Bar Lounge Car is the perfect place to enjoy a chat with your fellow passengers as you listen to our resident musician.

Day 6  : Ulaan Baatar

Our Trans-Siberian adventure takes us into Mongolia and a visit to its capital, Ulaan Baatar. Mongolia, once the very centre of an enormous empire led by Genghis Khan, is a country of beautiful landscapes, nomadic people and rich in culture and history. Mongolia is famous for its endless green Steppes, grazing livestock and white, nomadic Gers (Yurts) dotted all across the countryside.

We start the tour at Gandan Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most important Buddhist Monasteries housing a community of over 500 monks. The full name, Gandantegchinlen, translates as ‘the great place of complete joy’. At Sukhbaatar Square we can see the central monument to Genghis Khan, undoubtedly the most feared and revered Mongol. We then drive out of the city to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park and enjoy the beautiful scenery of wild Mongolia, having the opportunity to visit a traditional Ger and meet a nomadic family or try our hand at horse-riding, an intrinsic part of Mongolian life.

Alternatively there is an option to stay in the city as part of our Freedom of Choicetouring. After Gandan Monastery and Sukhbaatar Square we visit the National Museum where we learn about the country’s intriguing history. We’ll also see Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum, the winter residences of Bogd Khan, the last Mongolian emperor, built between 1893 and 1903. We can also explore the city and have some free time for shopping for Mongolian souvenirs, and their speciality cashmere.

We will also enjoy a performance of traditional Mongolian throat singing and contortionists.

Day 7  : Ulan-Ude

The ethnic and cultural diversity of Ulan Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic, offers a unique insight into its heritage. As we tour the area you will notice the different faces of these welcoming Buryat people. During our exploration of the Old Believers’ Village we have the opportunity to learn about the culture and history of these religious people as we are treated to a concert featuring local traditions and folk singing.

Day 8  : Baikal

Few natural sights can surpass the beauty and grandeur of Lake Baikal and is a major highlight on our Trans-Siberian journey. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and holds 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater. Also known as the ‘Pearl of Siberia’ it is home to a unique breed of freshwater seal and over 50 species of fish including omul. For five hours we wind our way through tunnels along cliff hugging tracks above the lake with a vista of snow capped peaks along the far shore forming a picture-perfect backdrop.

To add to the grandeur of the day our Golden Eagle train will be hauled by a Soviet era steam locomotive on this beautiful section of the line. There will be plenty of opportunities for photographs as the train winds its way along the lake. This will be an unforgettable part of our journey.

Weather permitting, we stop in an extremely picturesque location by the lake for photographic opportunities and for the brave hearted there is time for a refreshing swim in the crystal clear and ice-cold waters of Baikal. Travelling onwards to the end of the Baikal branch line, we leave the train and travel by boat on the lake to Listvyanka, a small Baikal settlement nestling at the base of the surrounding hills and visit the Lake Baikal Museum and Aquarium where you can learn about the flora and fauna of the lake.

We will enjoy a delicious barbecue, including freshly smoked omul fish, prepared by our own chefs on the shore of Lake Baikal to complete a memorable day. As part of our Freedom of Choice excursion programme you can choose a hiking opportunity that offers some spectacular and panoramic hillside views of the lake below.

mountain river

LAKE BAIKAL

 

The world’s largest freshwater lake, containing approximately 20% of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water, it is the deepest and the clearest of all lakes. Lake Baikal is the 7th largest lake in the world and is considered to be the world’s oldest lake dating back 25 million years.

The lake is completely surrounded by mountains, contains 27 islands and hosts over 1,700 species of plants and animals. The most amazing fact is that two thirds of all Lake Baikal's species are unique only to this lake and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

 

 

Day 9  : Irkutsk

Our visit to Irkutsk, the ‘Paris of Siberia’, takes in the most significant sites and museums in this fascinating city, including an exploration of the classic wooden architecture with its intricately carved lace- like decorations that has given many of this region’s buildings such a distinctive and unique appearance. We also visit the Volkonsky House Museum, which is dedicated to the memory of the aristocrats who were exiled to this remote outpost after the failed Decembrists uprising of 1825, and we recreate the atmosphere of that time with a champagne reception and private concert.

You could learn to cook some traditional Russian dishes with a local chef and prepare your own lunch with our Freedom of Choice option. Or you might also wish to visit a traditional Russian Dacha (summer house) or an urban apartment to get an insight into the everyday life of an average Russian family.

Irkutsk palace 

IRKUTSK

Founded in 1661 as a fortress on the distant Russian border, Irkutsk soon became a large merchant city; a gold mining and trading post with China. Before the revolution, Irkutsk was often referred to as the Saint-Petersburg of Siberia. During the tour you will get acquainted with many of the well preserved historical monuments: the railway stationChurch of Our SaviorEpiphany CathedralChurch of the Transfiguration, the reconstructed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, wooden cottages and the so called "lace house," also known as the "House of Europe," the Decembrists house, beautiful streets of the city and the lively market hall. 

 

Day 10  : On board

A day to unwind and reflect on the many sights and sounds we have experienced on the journey so far. Chat to your fellow passengers, perhaps learn a few more words of Russian or simply enjoy the ever changing landscape outside your window.

Day 11  : Novosibirsk

A modern ‘Soviet’ city, we experience the life and character of Novosibirsk’s rich culture where the arts and science predominate. The city is located in the heart of Russia and is situated on both banks of the River Ob. Our city tour takes us to Lenin Square where the imposing Opera House is located. An architectural marvel, it houses two permanent ballet and opera companies and is one of the largest opera houses in the world. In front of the Opera House, we visit an impressive statue of Lenin – a marvellous opportunity to have your photograph taken with this iconic political leader.

Time permitting, south of the city we will visit Novosibirsk’s excellent Railway Museum. The museum displays locomotives and rolling stock from the late 1800s, including carriages of the Tsars, through to the Soviet era. Alternatively, as part of our Freedom of Choice programme choose to visit the Mineralogical Centre with its fine display of Siberian minerals.

Novosibirsk Church

NOVOSIBIRSK

Located in the southwesten part of Siberia on the banks of the Ob river, Novosibirsk was founded in 1893 at the future site of the Trans-Siberian Railway crossing of the Siberian River Ob. At that time it was named Novonikolayevsk in honor of Saint Nicholas and after the reigning Tsar Nicholas II. In 1907, with a population exceeding 47,000, it was granted town status with full rights for self-government. Throughout its history, Novosibirsk experienced steady economic growth thus becoming a modern city with a population of 1.5 million, the third largest city in Russia, mostly known for its advanced scientific research and technological center, Akademgorodok.

 

Day 12  : Yekaterinburg

Founded in 1723 by Peter the Great, Yekaterinburg, is the capital of the Urals. Known as the Great Divide, the Ural Mountains create the natural border between Europe and Asia so that the cultural and architectural influences of European and Asian civilisations come together in this fascinating and cosmopolitan landscape. Our city tour takes us to the poignant site where the Romanov, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, was executed with his family by the Bolsheviks in 1918 following 78 days of imprisonment. Now a church dedicated to their memory, this site provides us with a powerful insight into the turmoil of the Russian Revolution.

Time permitting, our Freedom of Choice programme features either a visit to the recently opened Museum of Military Machinery. The museum houses an amazing collection of different types of military hardware including tanks, aircraft, boats and even armoured trains. The museum is a real treat for anyone with an interest in the Soviet past, unparalleled by anything else along the route.  Alternatively, we will make a short stop at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Centre, recently opened in Yekaterinburg, which is dedicated to the contemporary political history of Russia and its first president.

palace Yekaterinburg

YEKATERINBURG

Founded in 1723 and named after Peter the Great's wife, Empress Ekaterina, Yekaterinburg was one of Russia’s first industrial cities. Today it is the fourth-largest city in Russia. It is located at the border of Europe and Asia and is mostly known for the tragic events that took place soon after the October Revolution, on July 17, 1918, when Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their children, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatyana, Maria, Anastasia, and Tsarevich Alexey were murdered by the Bolsheviks at the Ipatiev House in this city.  

Day 13  : Kazan

Situated on the River Volga, the picturesque and historic city of Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan. Here we have the opportunity to see for ourselves its rich tapestry of history and culture. One of the highlights of this city tour is our exploration of the Kremlin Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the walls of this ancient citadel we will explore its stunning mosque and picture-perfect onion-domed cathedral.

As Kazan is the birthplace of one of Russia’s most famous opera singers, Feodor Chaliapin (1873-1938), we honour his memory with a private concert of his music.

You will also have time to wander through the main pedestrian area of Kazan and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city.

 

Kazan palace

KAZAN

The capital and the largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan is located on the picturesque banks of the Volga River. The Kazan Kremlin is the main historic site of the city and is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Built at the behest of Ivan the Terrible, it is the home of many old buildings including The Annunciation Cathedral, dating back to the 16th century, the leaning Soyembika Tower, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Spasskaya Tower, and the recently built Qol Sharif mosque.

 


 

Day 14  : Moscow

Our touring programme of Moscow principally takes us to the grandeur of the Kremlin – the spiritual, historical and political heart of Moscow – and to see the treasures of the Tsars in the Armoury Chamber. We also visit Red Square, an iconic symbol of Russia’s former military and political might with its eclectic mix of fascinating architecture, such as the ornate St Basil’s Cathedral’s magnificent onion-domed spires, the beautiful fac?ade of the world famous GUM department store, constructed in Tsarist times, and the sombre and evocative site of Lenin’s tomb.

Lunch is served in Café Pushkin, a legendary Moscow restaurant serving traditional Russian cuisine with a décor that revives the atmosphere of an early 19th century mansion. An essential part of any visit to Moscow is a tour of the opulent and unique stations of the Moscow metro - showpieces of Socialist art furnished with statues, frescoes and mosaics, unsurpassed anywhere in the world.

If you have been to Moscow before we offerincluded Freedom of Choice touring where we show you other sights of Moscow such as the famous State Tretyakov Gallery (National Museum of Fine Art) or the Space Museum.

Included in our time spent in Moscow is one night at the five-star Marriott Royal Aurora, or similar. Located in Moscow city centre, and within walking distance of Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre, this luxury hotel offers spacious accommodation with butler service for each guest room – the only hotel in Moscow to offer this fine service.

Our final evening is spent saying our goodbyes to our fellow travelling companions and friends at the Farewell Dinner.

Day 15  : Moscow

Following breakfast, any free time can be spent exploring this rapidly evolving city. It is possible that we will visit The Kremlin this morning. At the conclusion of your time here, you will be transferred to Moscow Airport to begin your journey home.

Why not extend your stay in Moscow with additional nights to explore more of the city at your leisure or have time to take in a performance at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre? Tickets need to be pre-booked and are subject to schedule and availability.

 

 MOSCOW

The City Tour of Moscow will offer excellent views of the Kremlin, Red Square, Kitay Gorod, Tverskaya, Arbat, and Zamoskvorechje. Later we will visit Red Square and the Kremlin with its golden domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, the State Historical Museum, the elegant arcades of the GUM department store, and many other landmarks. Inside the Kremlin the main attractions are the three Cathedrals of the Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel, which date back to the 15th-16th centuries. Other landmarks are Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Tsar Bell, Tsar Cannon, Hall of Facets, Terem Place, and the Great Kremlin Palace - the official residence of Russian presidents.