Four UNESCO World Heritage sites you may never have even heard of
By Jack Stacey
18 April 2018
There's nothing which quite imbues us with existentialist wonder as an ancient monument from a lost civilisation.
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The Award Winning Leader in Escorted Worldwide Rail Holidays
Lake Baikal is an astounding 30 million years old, which makes it the world's oldest lake. It was created by a rift valley, formed when part of the Earth's crust pulled apart. It is also the deepest lake in the world, averaging a depth of 2,442 feet (744 metres). The massive size of the lake is difficult to comprehend; around 20% of the world's surface freshwater can be found here. According to ancient Chinese texts, people of the time believed it to be a part of the North Sea. This is not that surprising, as the lake is an incredible 395 miles (636 kilometres) long and 49 miles (79 kilometres) wide.
Ecological diversity
Lake Baikal, along with its immediate vicinity, is home to
more than 1,700 species of plants and animals - and about
two-thirds of these species cannot be found anywhere else in the
world. Due to its immeasurable ecological importance, Lake Baikal
was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996, ensuring both
the lake and its wildlife are protected for many years to come.
Step on board the Golden Eagle and be transported back to the romantic age of travel as we wend our way across Russia, Mongolia and Siberia in unprecedented luxury. This rail adventure takes you on a journey of over 8,000 miles; a true odyssey to the other side of the world.
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Witness the true splendour of Dr Zhivago landscapes from the warmth of your luxurious carriage, enjoying sleigh rides and choirs, saunas and yurts en-route to Vladivostok. Travel on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express train for an unforgettable 8,000-mile winter adventure.
… see more19 days from £11,895 pp
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Let the Tsar's Gold Train take you on an incredible adventure across almost half of the surface of the world from the ornate splendor of Moscow to the bustling beauty of modern Beijing, through remote Siberia, beautiful Mongolia and the vast landscapes of the Gobi Desert.
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Beginning and ending in London, we travel just under 23,000 miles across the globe on this incredible worldwide adventure. Starting in the iconic 'Big Apple', we chart a course across the heartland of America, to the West Coast. From there, we cross the Pacific into Asia and immerse ourselves in the rich legacies of China, before boarding the iconic Tsar's Gold Train for the journey across Russia. For the final leg of the journey, we head into central Europe, south through the imperial cities to Venice, boarding the luxurious Simplon-Orient- Express for the journey home.
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… see more50 days
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A brilliant experience - enjoyed every minute of it - except at border controls !
There is no need to say more - this holiday was excellent and exceeded our very high expectations.
By Jack Stacey
18 April 2018
There's nothing which quite imbues us with existentialist wonder as an ancient monument from a lost civilisation.
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By Sukie Chapman
5 April 2018
When I started working for Great Rail Journeys, I could never have guessed how much train knowledge and expertise I would pick up over the course of four short years.
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By Sukie Chapman
18 January 2018
You love rail travel but also want to explore further afield than Europe; this is a conundrum many of our customers call us about.
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By Jack Stacey
11 October 2017
Has there ever been a finer example of luxury, glamour and class than the Orient Express? Possibly the first luxury train in the world, the Orient Express combines a refined heritage, elegant carriages and the highest class of on board service to offer passengers a once-in-a-lifetime experience on history’s greatest rail journey.
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All activities were well planned out. Our tour manager was wonderful.