The Trans-Siberian Express
Sunday 24th August to Sunday 7th September 2008
Travelling by private luxury train we will experience the longest and most famous railway journey in the world. The Trans-Siberian Express traverses the whole expanse of Russia from Moscow to its east coast, visiting Mongolia on the way. Few other journeys enable the passenger to relax so completely and become lost in the rhythm of the train as time zones and the urgency to arrive become meaningless. We use a high quality private train, only put into service in 2007, and is fully en-suite and has restaurant, bar and laundry carriages. The tour is fully inclusive (including all meals with wine on the train) with an extensive sightseeing programme in the main towns and cities along the route. There is also plenty of time to relax as our ‘Hotel-on-Wheels’ soaks up the miles.
Get up when you want, sleep when you want. Having your own hotel room all the time means not having to pack and unpack every day!
Get up when you want, sleep when you want. Having your own hotel room all the time means not having to pack and unpack every day!
Sunday 24th August
Fly to Moscow
We depart on the morning flight to Moscow.
We will transfer to the five-star Baltschug Kempinski Hotel (or similar) by the Moskva River, opposite to the Kremlin, for a one night stay including a welcome dinner. (D)
Monday 25th August
Tour of Moscow
Today we have a tour of Moscow, including the Red Square and the Kremlin. In the evening we transfer to the station where our luxury train will be waiting. We check into our cabins before our Trans-Siberian Express departs for its six thousand mile journey. (B L D)
Tuesday 26th August
Kazan
Our train arrives in Kazal in the morning, one of the largest cities in Russia and the picturesque capital of Tatarstan. Located on the Volga River, like many Russian cities it has are trams and trolley busses. One of the highlights of the day is our visit to the Kremlin Fortress, a UNESCO world heritage site, containing a stunning mosque and a Russian Orthodox cathedral. After dinner we can listen to the resident pianist in our comfortable bar car whilst enjoying a drink with new friends as our train takes us through the night. (B L D)
Wednesday 27th August
Yekaterinburg
We cross the divide between Europe and Asia before arrival in Yekaterinburg, capital of the Urals. Our city tour includes the site where the Romanovs were executed and the monument on the divide where we can have one foot in Europe and one in Russia. (B L D)
Thursday 28th August
Novosibirsk
Today we stop in this modern “Soviet” city where we visit the famous Opera House, Lenin Square, the Railway Museum and see the River Ob, which flows 3,500 miles from its source to the Arctic.
(B L D)
Friday 29th August
On Board
As we head east we can relax, spending the day on board our Trans-Siberian Express. The more adventurous can learn Russian. (B L D)
Saturday 30th August
Irkutsk
Our train arrives in Irkutsk, the ‘Paris of Siberia’ in the morning. Our tour here includes the major sights and museums of this fascinating city including the classic wooden architecture for which this area is renowned. (B L D)
Sunday 31st August
Lake Baikal
A fantastic day’s adventure awaits us as we wind our way through tunnels and round cliffs along the shoreline of the world’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal. We stop at one of the bays and have a barbecue beside the water’s edge before visiting Listvyanka, a small Baikal village nestled at the base of the surrounding hills. As usual we return to our train for dinner with an evening departure. (B L D)
Monday 1st September
Ulan-Ude
We have a morning arrival in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryat Republic. This is where the line to Ulaan Baator leaves the line to Vladivostok.
A fascinating change of people and faces greet us as we tour the colourful Buddhist Temple and travel by coach to the Village of Old Believers. Today’s attractions include a concert featuring local dancers and musicians. (B L D)
Tuesday 2nd September
Ulaan Baatar
For some the arrival into the capital of Mongolia, Ulaan Baatar, will be the highlight of the tour.
We visit the National History Museum before lunch. Lunch allows us to experience local hospitality and entertainment at its best as we eat in a Ger (Yurt) restaurant. A Ger is a traditional tent dwelling for approximately a third of this nomadic nation. This afternoon there is free time for shopping or an optional visit to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. We board the train in time for dinner as we head back into Russia. (B L D)
Wednesday 3rd September
Travelling on Board
We enjoy the peaceful pace on board our train and can attend the various lectures about the area. Or we can simply enjoy the warm atmosphere in the bar car and continue viewing the beautiful scenery as our train takes us through this vast country. (B L D)
Thursday 4th September
Through Siberia
Following the Shilka and Amur Rivers, we are never far from the Chinese border. Here Siberia is at its most remote. Beauty unfolds before us as we enter the region of permafrost. The vast distances and forbidding geographic and climatic conditions render the entire region a difficult environment for human existence. (B L D)
Friday 5th September
Travelling on board
This will be our last full day on board our Trans-Siberian Express. We are now directly north of Seoul, Darwin and interestingly, Osaka. We reach the most easterly point of the journey passing through Khabarovsk, where we cross the River Amur. (B L D)
Saturday 6th September
Vladivostok
This morning we arrive in Vladivostok, the end of the Trans-Siberian line. Until recent years it was inaccessible to westerners and even most Russians. Our city tour includes its principal military attractions including a visit to a preserved submarine. We check in to the Hotel Hyundai for one night and our farewell dinner. (B L D)
Sunday 7th September
Return to the UK
We transfer to the airport for a flight back to Moscow, changing there for an onward flight to London arriving in the evening. (B)
General information
A full passport with at least six months validity from the end of the tour is required. We will assist with obtaining the double entry visa required for Russia and the single visa for Mongolia. (cost not included)
Fly to Moscow
We depart on the morning flight to Moscow.
We will transfer to the five-star Baltschug Kempinski Hotel (or similar) by the Moskva River, opposite to the Kremlin, for a one night stay including a welcome dinner. (D)
Monday 25th August
Tour of Moscow
Today we have a tour of Moscow, including the Red Square and the Kremlin. In the evening we transfer to the station where our luxury train will be waiting. We check into our cabins before our Trans-Siberian Express departs for its six thousand mile journey. (B L D)
Tuesday 26th August
Kazan
Our train arrives in Kazal in the morning, one of the largest cities in Russia and the picturesque capital of Tatarstan. Located on the Volga River, like many Russian cities it has are trams and trolley busses. One of the highlights of the day is our visit to the Kremlin Fortress, a UNESCO world heritage site, containing a stunning mosque and a Russian Orthodox cathedral. After dinner we can listen to the resident pianist in our comfortable bar car whilst enjoying a drink with new friends as our train takes us through the night. (B L D)
Wednesday 27th August
Yekaterinburg
We cross the divide between Europe and Asia before arrival in Yekaterinburg, capital of the Urals. Our city tour includes the site where the Romanovs were executed and the monument on the divide where we can have one foot in Europe and one in Russia. (B L D)
Thursday 28th August
Novosibirsk
Today we stop in this modern “Soviet” city where we visit the famous Opera House, Lenin Square, the Railway Museum and see the River Ob, which flows 3,500 miles from its source to the Arctic.
(B L D)
Friday 29th August
On Board
As we head east we can relax, spending the day on board our Trans-Siberian Express. The more adventurous can learn Russian. (B L D)
Saturday 30th August
Irkutsk
Our train arrives in Irkutsk, the ‘Paris of Siberia’ in the morning. Our tour here includes the major sights and museums of this fascinating city including the classic wooden architecture for which this area is renowned. (B L D)
Sunday 31st August
Lake Baikal
A fantastic day’s adventure awaits us as we wind our way through tunnels and round cliffs along the shoreline of the world’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal. We stop at one of the bays and have a barbecue beside the water’s edge before visiting Listvyanka, a small Baikal village nestled at the base of the surrounding hills. As usual we return to our train for dinner with an evening departure. (B L D)
Monday 1st September
Ulan-Ude
We have a morning arrival in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryat Republic. This is where the line to Ulaan Baator leaves the line to Vladivostok.
A fascinating change of people and faces greet us as we tour the colourful Buddhist Temple and travel by coach to the Village of Old Believers. Today’s attractions include a concert featuring local dancers and musicians. (B L D)
Tuesday 2nd September
Ulaan Baatar
For some the arrival into the capital of Mongolia, Ulaan Baatar, will be the highlight of the tour.
We visit the National History Museum before lunch. Lunch allows us to experience local hospitality and entertainment at its best as we eat in a Ger (Yurt) restaurant. A Ger is a traditional tent dwelling for approximately a third of this nomadic nation. This afternoon there is free time for shopping or an optional visit to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. We board the train in time for dinner as we head back into Russia. (B L D)
Wednesday 3rd September
Travelling on Board
We enjoy the peaceful pace on board our train and can attend the various lectures about the area. Or we can simply enjoy the warm atmosphere in the bar car and continue viewing the beautiful scenery as our train takes us through this vast country. (B L D)
Thursday 4th September
Through Siberia
Following the Shilka and Amur Rivers, we are never far from the Chinese border. Here Siberia is at its most remote. Beauty unfolds before us as we enter the region of permafrost. The vast distances and forbidding geographic and climatic conditions render the entire region a difficult environment for human existence. (B L D)
Friday 5th September
Travelling on board
This will be our last full day on board our Trans-Siberian Express. We are now directly north of Seoul, Darwin and interestingly, Osaka. We reach the most easterly point of the journey passing through Khabarovsk, where we cross the River Amur. (B L D)
Saturday 6th September
Vladivostok
This morning we arrive in Vladivostok, the end of the Trans-Siberian line. Until recent years it was inaccessible to westerners and even most Russians. Our city tour includes its principal military attractions including a visit to a preserved submarine. We check in to the Hotel Hyundai for one night and our farewell dinner. (B L D)
Sunday 7th September
Return to the UK
We transfer to the airport for a flight back to Moscow, changing there for an onward flight to London arriving in the evening. (B)
General information
A full passport with at least six months validity from the end of the tour is required. We will assist with obtaining the double entry visa required for Russia and the single visa for Mongolia. (cost not included)
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Price
| Gold Class twin sharing | £7295 |
| Gold Class single | £10595 |
| Silver Class twin sharing | £5995 |
| Silver Class single | £8495 |
Gold Class cabins (77 sq ft) have underfloor heating, DVD player, LCD screens and individual air conditioning.
Fully en-suite, the bathrooms contain a separate shower cubicle.
Silver cabins are more compact at 60sq ft but have similar facilities with a fully en-suite wet room.
Fully en-suite, the bathrooms contain a separate shower cubicle.
Silver cabins are more compact at 60sq ft but have similar facilities with a fully en-suite wet room.
Price includes:
- Scheduled flights London to Moscow and Vladivostok to London
- Hotels in Moscow and Vladivostok
- Travel on the Trans-Siberian Express
- All meals, visits and tours mentioned in the itinerary
- Wine is included with all dinners and restaurant lunches
- All transfers are included
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
Excluded are other drinks and items of a personal nature.
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
Excluded are other drinks and items of a personal nature.