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2022 Tour code: TSJ22
Itinerary
We begin our extraordinary journey in London. We meet at London St Pancras and take the Eurostar to Brussels, where we join the train to Berlin. We stay in Germany's enigmatic capital for two nights.
We enjoy a fascinating 'east meets west' guided tour of the city today. Admire impressive Imperial buildings and learn about the unique sights of this once-divided city, as we take in interesting insights from our local guide.
We continue our journey east, travelling across the Polish border to the vibrant city of Warsaw, where we spend the night. Warsaw is drenched in history, having survived many turbulent wars and movements. After the Second World War, a painstaking restoration process saw the beautiful Old Town gain UNESCO World Heritage status, and Warsaw earned the nickname the 'phoenix city'.
We delve into this rich history on a guided tour, strolling around the quaint Old Town and exploring the atmospheric streets lined with old merchants' houses, craft shops, and cosy cafés. This evening, we board the overnight sleeper train to Russia's capital, Moscow.
This morning we arrive in the vibrant metropolis of Moscow, a lively city filled with history. If you select our fly option, today you arrive in Moscow and join the rest of the group.
Today, we discover the sights of Moscow. We have a private viewing of the Tsar's Armoury before visiting the Red Square, seeing the iconic Kremlin, Lenin's Mausoleum, and the rainbow-hued domes of St Basil's Cathedral. We enjoy lunch at Pushkin, a legendary restaurant with early 19th-century décor, before a tour of the Moscow Metro System. Quite unlike any other in the world, the stations that make up Moscow's Metro are breathtaking, filled with opulent chandeliers, stained glass, sculptures, and Art Deco bronze and marble finishings.
This afternoon, we board the legendary Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express and begin our 12-night adventure on the Trans-Siberian Railway to Vladivostok. This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience and widely regarded as the most remarkable rail journey in the world. Travelling on the Golden Eagle itself is an unforgettable experience; luxuriously decorated in a classical style, the train is equipped with every modern convenience for our comfort, and we relax amidst the elegant surroundings as we speed away from Moscow and towards Kazan.
Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, is the first stop on our Trans-Siberian adventure. Nestled on the banks of the River Volga, the city is renowned for its ornate, multi-coloured architecture, including the cobalt onion-domes of its cathedral, the inspiring Kul Sharif Mosque, and the classical-style buildings of the university.
We're immersed in this splendid architecture as we head out on a walk with a local guide. After a delicious lunch of authentic local cuisine, we visit the Museum of Kazan and the traditional Tatar district, before joining the Golden Eagle for our onwards journey.
We reach a landmark point of our journey today, crossing the Europe-Asia divide before arriving in Yekaterinburg. The city was founded in 1723 by Peter the Great and is famous for the Church of the Blood, which we see today. The dramatic golden-domed church was built in the early 21st century on the site where the Romanov family were murdered in 1918, and is dedicated to their memory. After lunch at a local restaurant, we return to the train and continue overnight towards Novosibirsk.
We spend the morning relaxing as we're whisked through the landscapes of southern Russia. Later this afternoon, we stop off in Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia. Although the city boasts the title of the third-largest in Russia, it has the charms of a large town, with tree-lined streets and lush green spaces dotted amongst its Soviet-era centre. We head out on a guided tour of the city's main attractions, seeing Lenin Square and the Opera House, before settling down in a local restaurant for dinner. Back on the Golden Eagle tonight, we continue to Irkutsk.
Today is spent on board, enjoying the passing scenery as we travel through the dramatic Sayan Mountains. This evening, we sit down to a special 'Caviar Dinner' on board.
We arrive in Irkutsk, an old merchant city and one of the most popular stops on the route of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Affectionately known as the 'Paris of Siberia', much of the city's cultural heritage came from the Decembrist exiles, and today many of their wooden houses have survived. During a sightseeing tour, we take in this wood-carved architecture, which sits amongst grand 19th-century structures and eye-catching cathedrals, as well as the Decembrist House Museum. Our tour ends with a Champagne reception and private concert performed by talented classical musicians. Back on board, we continue our journey, heading towards Lake Baikal.
Lake Baikal is one of the highlights of our journey through Siberia, and we spend today discovering its stunning landscapes. Endlessly blue, it is the largest freshwater lake in the world, as well as the oldest. We change to a steam-hauled locomotive for a scenic journey that skirts the shores of the vast lake, before continuing with a boat ride. We cruise to the small village of Listvyanka, nestled at the foot of the surrounding hills, where we visit Lake Baikal Museum and Aquarium. Tonight, we enjoy a delicious lakeside barbecue dinner, which includes traditionally smoked fish from the waters of the lake.
Today we arrive in Ulan Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic. The city is fascinating; closed to outsiders until 1991, there's a distinctly Asian atmosphere here, with colourful Buddhist temples dotted across the city. We enjoy a guided tour that includes a visit to an Old Believers settlement, home to a centuries-old religious community. We have a unique glimpse into this little-known culture. We meet locals in traditional dress and enjoy a delicious lunch of local specialities, before being entertained with a lively folk concert featuring local music and dance.
We cross into Mongolia, arriving in its capital, Ulaanbaatar - noted for being the coldest capital city in the world. The city is an eclectic blend of contrasts, with Soviet-era buildings standing alongside more sleek, modern structures. We take a guided tour, passing the Genghis Khan monument, a 131-foot tall statue of Genghis Khan on horseback, symbolically pointing east toward his birthplace. Lunch is a traditional Mongolian barbecue before we visit the Bogd Palace Museum and enjoy some free time to shop for souvenirs. Cashmere is one of the most important industries in Mongolia, and there are plenty of shops here selling all manner of excellent cashmere goods. We enjoy dinner accompanied by a Mongolian folk performance in a local restaurant before returning to the train.
Today is spent relaxing on board, as we travel east through this vast and varied country
We settle down for a couple more days onboard, enjoying time to relax amidst the timeless luxury of the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express. The train follows the Shilka and Amur Rivers close to the Chinese border today. Our route takes us across an area of permafrost, as remote as it is dramatic, and from the warmth and comfort of our train, we enjoy the perfect vantage point to admire the scenery.
During today, we reach the most easterly point of our journey. As we speed through Siberia and towards the Pacific coastline, we sit down to an elegant farewell dinner.
After travelling across an incredible 11 time zones and over 8,000 miles, our epic rail journey concludes today, as the Trans-Siberian Express arrives in Vladivostok. A dynamic port city, built around the Golden Horn Bay and close to the borders of China and North Korea, Vladivostok is the unofficial capital of Russia's Far East. We're introduced to the city on a guided tour before we transfer to our hotel for the night.
Today our holiday draws to a close, and we transfer to the airport for our return flight to London Heathrow, via Moscow.