T R AV E L E R F AV O R I T E
TRANS-SIBERIAN RAIL EXPEDITION
• Journey across Russia on one of the world’s most legendary railways. • Enjoy a home-cooked meal in an Irkutsk family home. • Learn about the history of Russian space exploration during a talk by a cosmonaut.
Navy War Memorial, and the Monument to the First Settlers. Take in views of the city and its bay from the Eagle’s Nest observation platform, and visit the Vladivostok Fortress. This evening, climb aboard our luxury train and set off on our journey across Russia. Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express through Day 13 | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D DAY 3 I KHABAROVSK Explore Khabarovsk’s lively squares and visit the Khabarovsk Regional Museum. Learn about the flora and fauna of the region, and see artifacts from the indigenous tribes of the Goldi and the Gilyak. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D
DAY 1 I VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA Arrive in Vladivostok and check in to our hotel. Meet fellow travelers at a welcome dinner. Lotte Hotel Vladivostok | Meals: 1D DAY 2 I VLADIVOSTOK As a strategic naval outpost, Vladivostok was closed to most of the world from World War II until the end of the Cold War. Get acquainted with this modern city on a tour that includes the brightly painted railway station, the Pacific
DAYS 4–5 I SIBERIA/MONGOLIAN STEPPE As the train slips past rolling hills and Siberian villages of log houses, relax with a book, attend a talk by our expert, or simply watch the remote and ever-changing countryside pass by. On our second full day on board, we enter the sweeping Mongolian steppe. Meals: 2B, 2L, 2D DAY 6 I ULAANBAATAR/GORKHI-TERELJ NATIONAL PARK Depart Mongolia’s capital this morning for
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nearby Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Enjoy the alpine scenery, watch a demonstration of Mongolian horseback riding, and visit a traditional ger (felt tent). View a colossal equestrian statue of Genghis Khan, then enjoy dinner and a performance of Mongolian throat singing and traditional dance before we reboard our train and continue on our way back into Russia. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D DAY 7 I ULAN-UDE, RUSSIA The train rolls through the valley of the Selenga River, which flows into Lake Baikal. Stop in Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic and once a major trading post. Pay a visit to a village of Old Believers, a group descended from 17th-century religious exiles whose fascinating culture has changed little over the centuries, and watch a performance of their unique choral music. Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D DAY 8 I LAKE BAIKAL Arrive at beautiful Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The lake basin holds about 20 percent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water. Our train route hugs the rocky shores and passes through 33 tunnels. Take in spectacular views from the train, and stop to explore the
Clockwise from above: The Kremlin and spires of St. Basil’s Cathedral act as colorful bookends to Moscow’s Red Square; the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express skirts the shores of Lake Baikal; young Mongolians don traditional garb in Ulaanbaatar; the colors of sunset mirror those of Kazan’s Qol Sharif Mosque.
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