Itinerary: Moscow – Kazan – Yekaterinburg – Novosibirsk – Irkutsk – Lake Baikal – Ulan Ude - Ulaan Baatar – Vladivostok
The longest continuous train journey in the world, covering over 6000 miles and eight times zones over the course of two weeks, holds a unique appeal and features at No 1 on many intrepid explorers’ list of must-do expeditions.
This epic voyage on board Golden Eagle’s Tran-Siberian Express travels between Moscow in the west of Russia, through less-visited areas of the largest country in the world, almost to its furthest flung easterly reaches; the city of Vladivostok.
You’ll start your holiday with an airport transfer, champagne reception and welcome dinner with an overnight hotel stay in Moscow. On Day 2 there is a guided tour of this fascinating city, complete with a lunch at the famous Café Pushkin and visits to Red Square with its intricate “onion domes”, the Kremlin and the stunning Moscow Metro; so ornate that it is also known as “The People’s Palace”.
Late in the afternoon, it’s time to board the electric blue carriages of your luxury hotel-on-the-rails and make your way down the fully-carpeted and curtained hallways and settle into your home for the next 12 nights. The onboard accommodation is available in three levels of comfort – Silver, Gold and Imperial Cabins – the cabins are very traditional in style and Gold and Imperial are among the largest of their type to be found on luxury trains.
The first stretch of the journey as you leave Moscow is usually hauled by a steam locomotive. Some of the destinations on the route were formerly closed to foreigners, and the train takes you through areas that would otherwise have been difficult to access were it not for the incredible feat of engineering that is the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
The dining cars exude an atmosphere of timeless elegance to enjoy your freshly-prepared meals, and there is an onboard pianist who will delight you with the sounds of Tchaikovsky while you sit back, enchanted by this legendary journey.
You’ll visit places such as Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk, then venture through the Ural Mountains which form the boundary between Europe and Asia. Through Siberia and past the deepest lake in the world – reaching depths of over a mile down and holding a staggering 20% approx. of the entire global freshwater reserves, Lake Baikal is one of the highlights of the voyage. You can enjoy a lake-shore barbeque and even take a dip in the waters if you are so inclined!
The voyage takes you across seemingly endless steppes and on, into Mongolia, where you’ll come face-to-face with the impossibly large silvery monument to Genghis Khan and also get a taste of traditional life, meeting a nomadic family at a traditional Ger – perhaps even try your hand at horse-riding; a very important part of life out in the wilds of the country.
For the last few days you can put your feet up and watch remote Russian landscapes pass by before pulling into the final destination, Vladivostok. A city tour is included and another overnight stay in a hotel with a farewell dinner before you bid goodbye to Russia and head home, an airport transfer is included.
The journey can be done in reverse and this train also operates routes such as the Silk Road, Trans-Mongolian Express, Trans-Siberian Winter Wonderland.
Golden Eagle have other trains in their fleet, operating luxury journeys across India, Scandinavia, Caspian Odyssey, Transylvania, Switzerland, Austria, the Balkans, China and Tibet.
Call our team of helpful specialists to build this train into your dream holiday on 0800 988 3369.
© Fred. Olsen Travel 2024.
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