The Iconic Trans-Siberian Railway SEP 5 – 23, 2019
We bring travellers together Wheel & Anchor is a community of Canadian travellers, for those who value the occasional bottle of wine, the camaraderie of travelling with friends, and both seeing the world and experiencing it. It’s not just about where we go, but who goes with us along the way.
2
Traditional Mongolian throat singing
FOUNDER’S NOTE
“I believe in one thing only, the power of human will.” – Joseph Stalin Over 9,000 kilometres of steel stitch the Russian Federation
If checking off a list of the world’s most symbolic travel
together and to travel its length is to travel through history
adventures is your thing, then there is simply no choice but
from the days of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire until
to join us on the Trans-Siberian. But there is something far
modern day Russia. A trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway
more compelling to this journey - a chance to witness for
takes one through some of the remotest parts of Asia, at the
oneself what unites this, the largest country in the world.
same time connecting hundreds of cities most of us have
Either way, it will undoubtedly be one of, if not the most
never heard of, yet whose survival depends on its operation.
memorable trip you have ever taken.
I titled this trip iconic because, as a rail fanatic myself, there is hardly a more appropriate label for this journey. At the same time, it is important to note that this is not the trip that locals (or backpackers) would take. The Zarengold or Czar’s Gold is an upscale train operated for the last couple of decades by a very reputable German company. The onboard service is impeccable and the journey is broken up by stops at the most interesting places along the way.
Gordon Dreger Founder
11 Time zones in Russia (8 crossed on the Trans-Siberian)
20 Percent of the world’s fresh water in Lake Baikal
50 Estimated percentage of Russian police who accept bribes
51,000 Number of Buddha statues in the Yungang Grottoes
17,098,242 Size of Russia in square kilometres (1.7x Canada)
SEP 5 – 23, 2019
Highlights Lake Baikal
Moscow
Yekatarinburg
Datong
Terelj National Par
Host Profile
As a kid I always loved trains. I would beg my parents to stop at the railway crossing to wait for a train to pass by as I watched in giddy excitement. As an adult my fascination with trains has not abated and where the opportunity presents itself and time allows, I’ll opt for the train over anything else every time. I find travel by rail to be a more honest way to go. If you hop on a plane then you end up whizzing high above all of the people, the culture, the landscapes and you arrive, as if transplanted, in your destination having missed everything along the way as if it wasn’t important. I’ll be honest that this trip isn’t for everyone. The compartments are small and most of us will be sharing a washroom (albeit a relentlessly maintained one) down the hall. And yet it is exactly that experience that makes it all them more worthwhile because travel doesn’t get more real than by train. I will certainly do my utmost to make sure you
Gordon Dreger
are completely comfortable and that you see all the highlights of this
Host – The Iconic Trans-Siberian Railway
vast country. And if all else fails, there will be plenty of vodka onboard.
D N
U
S
S
I
C
A
R
Kazan
S
SEP 5 – 23, 2019
Itinerary
U
Yekaterinburg Novosibirsk
MOSCOW
R
O
P
A
Irkutsk
Lake Baikal
Ulan Ude
E
M
E
ULAN BATOR
O N G O L I A
Datong C
M
I E
D
D
L
A
S
T
E
S A
I
BEIJING N A
O
S
H
U I
T A
H
- E A S T
FEATURE
Construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway 8
FEATURE: Construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway
In 1891, on his way back from an
the tracks on October 17. Though 21
around-his-world trip, the heir to
people were killed, the royal family
the Russian throne attended the
emerged unharmed, according to
inauguration ceremony for the
a story immediately propagated
construction of the Trans-Siberian
by their retinue, because Czar
Railway.
Alexander III bore the weight of the collapsed roof of their dining car on
The imperial family were train
his shoulders until they were all able
crazy, ever since they had their
to escape.
own personal railway in 1837 built to take them the 17km from
Romanov popularity skyrocketed.
their house in St Petersburg to
Churches were built to glorify the
Tsarskoye Selo, their version of
Czar (and God) for their survival.
Marie Antoinette’s little royal village
An icon called God’s Grace on the
in her backyard. It was Russia’s first
17th of October was painted, with
railway, and little – but not quite
copies handed around the empire.
so little – ones started to spring up
Suddenly, trains, Romanovs, and
around the empire.
God’s will were all aligned, and by 1891, the site of a Romanov
But it was, ironically, a train disaster
anywhere near a train, or a railroad,
in 1888 in Borki in present-day
was enough to get the patriotic
Ukraine that really sealed the
Russian heart pumping, even all the
loving relationship between the
way over in Vladivostok.
Romanovs and their rolling stock. An overloaded and over-fast train containing the royal family went off 9
Cascade tunnels
FEATURE: Construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway
Over the next 25 years, 90,000
VIA’s cross-country Canadian, it’s
workers would move 100 million
become one of the world’s great
cubic metres of rock to stretch
train journeys.
the railroad farther than it had ever been stretched, and more
Unlike VIA Rail, it may also have
remarkable still, farther than any
started a war.
railroad has stretched since. Before the Trans-Siberian, Russia At the time, it was the sort of project
and Japan were pretty far apart,
that was rolling out across the
their spheres of influence mutually
world, with both Canada and the
exclusive. But with the ability to
United States undertaking similarly
send trains – and potentially troops
extravagant rail projects. And like
– all the way into China, Japan got
those railways, the Trans-Siberian
concerned. There are many reasons
ended up being a great economic
for the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-
boon. But unlike those others,
05 -- including the czar’s investment
the Trans-Siberian succeeded in
in a lumber company in Korea, a
joining two worlds, the East and the
nation Japan was about to occupy --
West, linking Japan and China to
but the Trans-Siberian was certainly,
Europe for the first time by modern
at the very least, an aggravating
conveyance. It remains the chief
factor.
mode of cargo transport between Asia and Europe to this day.
It’s not often you get to take a train trip that has had such monumental
10
Trans Siberian train transporting wooden logs
As with VIA Rail, it’s the cargo that
effects on the modern world. If you
pays for the passengers, and like
can, you should.
Moscow skyscrapers at night
DAY 1 // SEP 05
Depart Canada Depart from Canada
We board our overnight flight to Moscow.
Anticipated Flight: Air Canada / Lufthansa Departs
Arrives
9:40pm Toronto
11:10am (next day) Frankfurt
12:55pm Frankfurt
5:05pm Moscow
11
St. Basil Cathedral
DAY 2 // SEP 06
Arrive in Moscow Dinner
On arrival in Moscow, we head straight to the hotel to freshen up and relax. The remainder of the day you can wander about to get your initial impressions of this vast city. We shall have our welcome dinner together in a local restaurant.
Did you know... Moscow is the capital and most populous city in Russia, with 12.2 million residents inside the city limits and 17.1 million in the greater urban area. It goes without saying that it is the major political, economic, cultural, and scientific centre of Russia as well as Eastern Europe. It is also the largest city entirely on the European continent. The city is well known for its architecture, particularly historic buildings like Saint Basil’s Cathedral with its brightly coloured domes.
12
...DAY 2 CONTINUED
With over 40 percent of its territory covered by greenery, it is one of the greenest capitals in Europe and the world boasting the largest forest in an urban area. The city has served as the capital of a progression of states; from the medieval Grand Duchy of Moscow and the subsequent czardom of Russia to the Russian Empire followed by the Soviet Union and the contemporary Russian Federation. The oldest evidence of humans on the territory of Moscow dates from the Neolithic period (the Schukinskaya site on the Moscow River). In the 9th century, the Oka River was part of the Volga trade route and the upper Volga watershed became an area of contact between the indigenous FinnoUgric peoples and the expanding Volga Bulgars, the Scandinavians (Varangians) as well as the Slavic peoples.
Our hotel: InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya Hotel
Moscow State University
13
DAY 3 // SEP 07
Moscow Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s sightseeing tour includes photo stops at the most remarkable sights of Moscow. First on the list are Vorobyov’s (the Sparrow) hills, where we can enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the city. We then head to Poklonnaya Hill, whose name is derived from Russian for “to bow down”, as everyone approaching the capital from the west was expected to do homage here. Historically the hill had great strategic importance, as it commanded the best view of the Russian capital. In 1812 it was the spot where Napoleon expected the keys to the Kremlin to be brought to him by Russians (which was not to be). We will also visit Christ the Saviour Cathedral which was built after the last of Napoleon’s soldiers left Moscow. It signifies the gratitude of Russians for saving Russia from his armies and also acted as a memorial to the sacrifices of the Russian people. On December 5, 1931 by order of Stalin’s minister Kaganovich, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was
14
The hall of Komsomolskaya subway
St. Basil Cathedral at sunset
...DAY 3 CONTINUED blown up and reduced to rubble. It took more than a year to clear the debris from the site. In August 2000 the Cathedral was rebuilt solely on donations from the Russian people. From here we head to Red Square where we shall take time to meander about, taking in the feeling of simply being in one of the world’s most notable places we will visit, Saint-Basil’s cathedral, and also the GUM department store with its spectacular galleria. After lunch in a local restaurant, we will set out to explore the Moscow subway system, also known as the “underground palace” of Moscow. We will not only ride the subway, but also visit a unique underground museum where we will hear interesting facts about the history of the most beautiful stations. These stations are like luxurious palaces and they are breathtaking in the originality of their architecture, sculptures and mosaics. After a full day exploring Moscow, we head back to our hotel for dinner and the introduction of our train crew for the next 10 days.
15
DAY 4 // SEP 08
Moscow – Board Train Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning we continue our tour of Moscow including a visit to the imposing Kremlin grounds and the magnificent cathedral from czarist times. Towards evening, we head for Yaroslavsky station where we shall be personally greeted prior to departure aboard our private train. A relaxed gettogether in the dining car will then offer us the chance to get an overview of our journey.
16
The Czar's Gold Private Train in Moscow
TRAIN INFO
The Czar’s Gold Private Train
The Czar’s Gold Private Train
Meet the Czar’s Gold - a private Trans-Siberian train famous for its attentive service, opulent dining menu, spacious and comfortable compartments and facilities to cater to every need. The Tsar's Gold offers a high standard of comfort, fulfillment and luxury. There are 5 types of compartments available to our members: from classic to ultra luxurious Platinum compartments for 2 with private showers to Nostalgic cabins with decor inspired by 1950s Soviet sleeping cars. Being a luxury Trans-Siberian train, Czar's Gold is all about experiences: you will have a dedicated tour director throughout your entire journey. Daily onboard classes on Russian history and language will keep you entertained during your pan-continental commute, and local guides will be taking you on city tours during your stops. The Czar's Gold Trans-Siberian train is truly a once-ina-lifetime journey!
18
18
Benefits and Amenities: What to Expect on the Czar’s Gold Private Train
WORLD-CLASS STAFF AND CREW
DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINK
FUN AND INFORMATIVE TALKS
MORE COMPARTMENTS
Welcome aboard! The friendly and
See you for dinner at seven? Well-
We have carefully curated a
The Czar’s Gold features the widest
knowledgeable staff are always on
appointed dining cars delight
program of events and sightseeing
selection of compartments on
hand to help. Our German partners
guests with international meals and
opportunities to provide you with
any Trans-Siberian train. Choose
have provided over 750 successful
lovingly crafted local specialties.
profound insight into the rich
between five compartment
private train tours on the Trans-
Perfect for relaxing with new friends
lands and heritage you explore
categories—from the popular
Siberian Railroad to more than
over an after-dinner drink as you
with us. Hear fascinating talks on
Classic, Superior and Nostalgic
30,000 satisfied guests. Comfort,
take in the stunning scenery. Ornate
local histories and the magic of the
Comfort categories, to the premium
convenience and security are
dining cars with panoramic windows
Russian language. Enjoy traditional
Bolshoi and Bolshoi Platinum, which
paramount. There is even have a
provide breathtaking views—the
tea ceremonies or a sampling of
feature private bathrooms and
doctor on call 24 hours a day.
romance of Russian rail travel at its
exquisite vodkas, complete with
showers.
best.
authentic toasts and customs.
19
19
Train Compartments: The Largest Selection of Compartments Available on the Trans-Siberian Railroad
CAT. V - BOLSHOI PLATINUM
CAT. IV - BOLSHOI
CAT. III - NOSTALGIC COMFORT
• Sleeps up to 2 guests
• Sleeps up to 2 guests
• Sleeps up to 2 guests
• 1 large lower bed
• 1 large lower bed
• 1 lower bed
(47.2 x 72.4 in /120 x 184 cm) • 1 large upper bed
• 1 large upper bed
(32.3 x 68.5 in /82 x 174 cm)
• Large compartment 77 sq ft/7.15 sq m • Large window • Small sofa • Table • Large closet
(43.3 x 72.4 in/110 x 184 cm)
• Private bathroom with sink, toilet and separate shower • 5 compartments in each carriage
• 1 upper bed 31.5 x 72.8 in/80 x 185 cm
(31.5 x 68.5 in/80 x 174 cm)
• Large compartment 60 sq ft/5.57 sq m • Large window • Small sofa • Table • Small closet
• Private bathroom
• Large Window
with sink, toilet and
• Table
bathrooms with sink
integrated shower
• Armchair
and toilet in each
• Bathroom with
carriage
• 6 compartments in each carriage
sink and shower, shared between 2 compartments
20
• 2 additional shared
• 9 compartments in each carriage • Vintage interiors
20
Train Compartments: The Largest Selection of Compartments Available on the Trans-Siberian Railroad
CAT. II - SUPERIOR
CAT. II - CLASSIC
• Sleep up to 2 guests
• Sleep up to 2 guests
• 2 lower beds
• 2 lower beds
26.7 x 72.8 in /68 x 185 cm
• Large window • Table • 2 shared bathrooms with sink and toilet per carriage
21
26.7 x 73.6 in/68 x 187 cm
• 9 compartments in each carriage • Shared shower • Vintage interiors
• Large window • Table • 2 shared bathrooms
• 9 compartments in each carriage • Shared shower
with sink and toilet per carriage
21
DAY 5 // SEP 09
Kazan
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning we will arrive in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. We take a tour of the Kazan Kremlin (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site) with its wonderful panoramic view over the Volga, where we learn about the turbulent history of the relationship between the Tatars, the Cossacks, and the Russians. Our train resumes its journey eastwards in the evening.
22
Kul Sharif Mosque inside the Kazan Kremlin
...DAY 5 CONTINUED
Did you know... Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1.1 million people, it is the sixth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. Tatar autonomy is strong here and is not just about bilingual street signs. Moscow has pumped vast sums into the republic to persuade it to remain a loyal part of Russia. It also ensures that Tatarstan benefits greatly from the vast oil reserves in this booming republic. Although Tatar nationalism is strong, it is not radical, and the local version of Sunni Islam is very moderate. Slavic Russians make up about half of the population, and this cultural conflux of Slavic and Tatar cultures makes Kazan an all-the-more-interesting city.
Kazan, Russia
23
DAY 6 // SEP 10
Yekaterinburg Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our train stops around noon in Yekaterinburg, the historical capital of the Urals. The city is remembered as the place where the Russian Czar Nicholas II and his family were murdered in 1918. During a brief tour we will visit the Cathedral of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood, which was built in 2003 in commemoration of that tragic historic event. We’ll also tour the city centre which was attractively restored in 2009. Back on board, we will continue on our journey toward the vast steppes of western Siberia.
24
Cathedral on the Spilled Blood
...DAY 6 CONTINUED Yekaterinburg, Russia
Did you know... Yekaterinburg,
alternatively
known
as
Ekaterinburg, is the fourth-largest city in Russia and the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast (an ‘oblast’ is roughly the equivalent of a province). It is located on the Iset River east of the Ural Mountains in the centre of the Eurasian continent and on the border between Europe and Asia. It is the main cultural and industrial center of the oblast. Yekaterinburg’s urban area is the fourth largest in Russia, as well as one of the three most developed post-industrial urban areas in the country. Yekaterinburg is also the headquarters of the Central Military District. Bustling, but less than startling on the outside, the political capital of the Ural Mountains is overflowing with history and culture, while its economic growth is manifested in a thriving restaurant scene and, as in many other regional capitals, in atrociously busy streets!
25
Bugrinsky Bridge on Ob River
DAY 7 // SEP 11
Novosibirsk Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We arrive in Novosibirsk, the heart of Siberia, where we are welcomed in the traditional Russian fashion with bread and salt. During a short city tour, we will experience the most Soviet of all cities during our journey. We will see the enormous Trans-Siberian Monument and the mighty Ob River.
26
...DAY 7 CONTINUED Opera House in Novosibirsk
Did you know... Novosibirsk is the third-most populous city in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is the most populous city in Asian Russia, with a population of about 1.5 million. It is the administrative center of Novosibirsk Oblast as well as of the Siberian Federal District. Although Novosibirsk is Russia’s third-largest city, you wouldn’t necessarily realize it. The city centre is compact and, thanks to lots of parks and treelined avenues, it has a quiet, rural air to it, which makes it an ideal city for strolling about. There is a lot here worth strolling around for, including a slew of quirky museums and monuments, some impressive galleries, a good theatre and entertainment scene and as well as some memorable places to eat. All this means it’s hard not to like Novosibirsk and, sitting as it does on the main rail line, it is an ideal Trans-Siberian pit stop.
27
Ice-cold Russian vodka
DAY 8 // SEP 12
Siberia Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our train crosses the wide Yenisei River and rolls on through Siberia. The train’s chefs once again demonstrate their skills as they serve the guests Russian specialties in a “Czar’s feast”. A vodka tasting accompanied by Russian snacks and clever toasts offers us a very enjoyable opportunity to experience local hospitality. Our train passes by villages with their typical wooden houses and through birch forests set against a background of impressive mountainscapes and, hopefully, ample sunshine.
28
...DAY 8 CONTINUED
Did you know... Siberia is an extensive geographic region and by the broadest definition, is also known as North Asia. Siberia has historically been a part of Russia since the 16th and 17th centuries. The territory of Siberia extends eastwards from the Ural Mountains to the watershed between the Pacific and Arctic drainage basins. The Yenisei River conditionally divides Siberia into five parts, Western and Eastern. Siberia stretches southwards from the Arctic Ocean to the hills of north-central Kazakhstan and to the national borders of Mongolia and China. Worldwide, Siberia is well known primarily for its long, harsh winters, with a January average of −25°C, as well as its extensive history of use by Russian and Soviet administrations as a place for prisons, labour camps, and exile.
Vast landscape of Siberia
29
Sukachev Estate in Irkutsk
DAY 9 // SEP 13
Irkutsk Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today our train reaches Irkutsk, the capital of Eastern Siberia in czarist times. During our city tour we will see, among other things, the picturesque Siberian wooden houses and a memorial to Czar Alexander III (the initiator of the Trans-Siberian Railway), which was erected in 2003 where the Trans-Siberia Obelisk previously stood. After lunch we will visit an informative open-air museum with a focus on life and work in historical Siberia.
Our hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Irkutsk City Centre Hotel
30
The Kazansky Church
...DAY 9 CONTINUED
Did you know... Irkutsk was founded in 1661 as a Cossack settlement for trading gold and furs. It was declared a city in 1686, and connected to Europe via a road constructed in 1760. In the 18th century it gained significance as a transportation and trading centre of Eastern Siberia. It was a hub of the Tea Road between China and India and European Russia. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Irkutsk developed as a centre of science and culture. The first book was published in 1807, the first school opened in 1781, the first hospital in 1807, the first public library in 1839, and the first school for girls in 1845. In 1864 its first telephone was installed, and in 1898 the Trans-Siberian Railway reached Irkutsk. During the Czarist era, it was a major transit point for criminals and political exiles being sent farther east.
31
FEATURE
Lake Baikal 32
FEATURE: Lake Baikal
33
It's maybe not surprising that
But this is Siberia, Irkutsk to be
Lakes are of course magnets for
the uppest of upper-end spots in
the world's biggest stash of fresh
more precise, just north of central
wildlife, who like to wander down
Moscow and St. Petersburg, or here,
water, a lake so deep that even
Mongolia, about 6,000km east of St.
for a sip now and then, so bears,
on Lake Baikal.
Putin hasn't managed to get to the
Petersburg, and roughly 3,000km
squirrels, minks, reindeer, and
bottom of it, lies tucked away in
west of Vladivostok. What this
as many as 25 other fur-bearing
As in so many parts of both Siberia
the depths of Siberia, a place that
means is, while there's no Marriott,
creatures are not unusual sights.
and China, the balance between
is itself so vast, Western travellers
and little chance of scoring a "My
And among the hundreds of
nature and industry is teetering,
are only beginning to rediscover its
grandparents went to Lake Baikal
different sorts of creatures who
and pulp and paper, oil, and nuclear
myriad wonders.
and all they got me was this crappy
live in the lake itself, the omul may
enrichment are all encroaching
t-shirt" t-shirt, there are amenities,
be of greatest interest. Known as
on the lake. According to a recent
How deep it is, you ask? If I tell you
including hotels, restaurants, a
a salmonid, or a salmon-like fish,
New York Times story, tourism is
it's 1.6km, you may be impressed, or
place or two to get a vodka, and
the omul is only found in Lake
one of the bulwarks against the
you may shrug your shoulders. But
even a 100km lakeshore running
Baikal, and though over-fishing
industrialization of Lake Baikal. If
if I say it's so deep, that it contains
trail. I've not run or walked the
in the 1940s almost crashed the
tourism becomes profitable enough,
more than one fifth of the world's
trail myself, the Frolikha Adventure
species, years-long moratoria
depending as it does on the lake and
total surface fresh water, more than
Coastline Track, a German-Russian
and current sustainable fishing
its surroundings staying relatively
all the North American Great Lakes
co-production set up in 2009, but
practices have greatly recuperated
pristine, industry is likely to move
combined, it'll give you some idea of
it's not hard to imagine it becoming
the fish, meaning you get to try the
elsewhere.
how remarkable a thing Lake Baikal
a signal experience, one of those
raskolata, an Indigenous Siberian
is.
things your mind returns to in
salad made of shaved, frozen omul,
So, really, it's kind of your civic duty
quiet moments, at home between
with salt and pepper and sometimes
as a global citizen to visit the place
There have been attempts to
chores and errands on a weekend
a little onion. There are versions
and have some of that salad.
tourist the place up a bit from
afternoon. Did I really do that? Was I
of it throughout Russia, usually
time to time, this being one of the
really there?
called stroganina and made with
world's greatest natural wonders,
various sorts of fish, but omul is
no matter what those lists say.
the gold standard, available only in
Colourful houses around Lake Baikal
DAY 10 // SEP 14
Lake Baikal Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We check out of our hotel this morning and drive to Listvyanka, a Siberian village on the shores of Lake Baikal, the largest reservoir of non-frozen fresh water in the world. From the village, a boat brings us across the lake’s deep waters to Port Baikal, where our train will waiting. We then travel for several hours directly along the shore of Lake Baikal, on the original route of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Our train will stop for several hours at a particularly scenic spot where we can truly enjoy the majestic calm of this unique natural wonder. Dinner is served as a picnic on the shores of Lake Baikal, weather permitting.
34
DAY 11 // SEP 15
Lake Baikal – Ulan Ude – Monglolia Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The journey continues along the banks of the seemingly endless Lake Baikal and then through the splendid Selenga Valley and the wild solitude of eastern Siberia’s mountainous steppes. We take a tour of Ulan Ude during an intermediate stop. Border formalities at the Russian-Mongolian frontier are a simple matter which will be carried out on board.
35
Bridge over the Selenga River into Ulan Ude
Lake Baikal, Siberia
...DAY 11 CONTINUED
Did you know... Lake Baikal is a rift lake in Russia, located in southern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast. It is the largest freshwater lake by volume in the world, containing 22–23% of the world’s fresh surface water (more than the Great Lakes combined!). With a maximum depth of 1,642m, Baikal is the world’s deepest lake. It is also considered among the world’s clearest lakes and the world’s oldest lake - at 25–30 million years. The lake was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It is home to Buryat tribes who reside on the eastern side of Lake Baikal, rearing goats, camels, cattle, and sheep, where the mean temperature varies from a winter minimum of −19°C to a summer maximum of 14°C.
36
DAY 12 // SEP 16
Ulan Bator Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today early-risers are treated to central Mongolia’s spectacular scenery, set in a mountain landscape dotted with colourful yurt camps and inhabited by solitary riders on horseback. In the morning we arrive in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. During our city tour we will see the impressive Gandan Buddhist Monastery and the odd Choijin Lama Temple, among other sights. Afterwards, we will have the unique chance to attend an optional tour: a performance of traditional Mongolian folk arts including throat singing,
horse-headed
fiddle
playing,
national
costumes, and dances. On request and at a modest surcharge, we can organize alternative lodging in a yurt in the beautiful landscape of the Mongolian Alps. This is a rare experience and a dream come true for nature lovers. Our hotel: Ramada Ulaanbaatar City Center Hotel
37
Traditional Mongolian yurt
Ulan Bator, Mongolia
...DAY 12 CONTINUED
Did you know... Ulan Bator, also known as Ulaanbaatar, is the capital of Mongolia. The city is an independent municipality not part of any province, and its population is just over 1 million. Located in the north-central part of the country, the city is at an elevation of about 1310m in a valley on the Tuul River. Ulan Bator is connected by highway to all the major towns in Mongolia and by rail to the TransSiberian Railway and Chinese railroad network. The city was founded in 1639 as a Buddhist monastery centre and, in the 20th century, grew into a major manufacturing hub of the region.
38
DAY 13 // SEP 17
Ulan Bator Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast we drive by coach to Terelj National Park, east of Ulan Bator. Here we get to see the nomadic herdsmens’ exotic settlements of traditional tents, horse herds, and scraggly yaks, a type of wild Tibetan cattle. A small Mongolian horse-riding demonstration will be put on especially for us and we will enjoy a picnic lunch served in these splendid surroundings. In the evening we continue aboard our train towards China.
39
Terelj National Park
DAY 14 // SEP 18
Crossing the Gobi Desert Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Around midday we shall arrive at the frontier between Mongolia and China. At this point our special Chinese train will await us because the rail gauge in China is different than in Russia. We will arrive late at night (around 1am) at DĂ tĂłng for a special (Wheel & Anchor only) stop where our group will disembark and transfer to a first class hotel for the next 2 nights.
Our hotel: Yungang Meigao Hotel
40
Sand dunes in the Gobi Desert
...DAY 14 CONTINUED
Did you know... The Gobi Desert is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Taklamakan Desert to the west, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the southwest, and by the North China Plain to the southeast. The Gobi is notable in history as part of the great Mongol Empire, and as the location of several important cities along the Silk Road. The Gobi Desert is also the source of many important fossil finds, including the first dinosaur eggs. It reveals itself in pockets of amazing scenery, bridged by vast stretches of desolation where smartphone signals die and silence saturates. It can be daunting to be this far out in such harsh conditions, but this is where desert foliage shimmers in greens and golds, and where Tibetan lamas etched ancient messages on red rock cliffs. You’ll watch horses romp and gazelles sprint, hear goats and sheep cry, and commiserate with camels huddling in fierce winds that gather and roll across the steppe. At night galaxies erupt on the domed sky.
The Gobi Desert
41
FEATURE
Datong: A treasure trove on the edge of forever
42
FEATURE: Datong: A treasure trove on the edge of forever
Datong may be the best place to see China in one
The project was so bold, in fact, and got so
The Yungang Grottoes are 50,000 shallow
place, as it was, and as it is.
much attention, that Geng ended up getting a
caves, each one of them with a carved likeness
promotion of sorts, winning the mayorship of
of Buddha, ranging from a few centimetres to
Though not a name to conjure with in this part
Taiyuan, the provincial capital, leaving the project
7 metres high. Fifty thousand of them. Despite
of the world, Datong is never far from public
unfinished. What's left is a classic white elephant,
being carved out of fragile sandstone between
discussion in China. About 300km west of Beijing,
and interesting to take a look at in its own right,
1,400 and 1,500 years ago, these thousands of
and roughly the same distance south of the Gobi
though it remains a sore spot for locals, 500,000
odes to a man already a thousand years old
Desert, Datong is home to some of China's most
of whom were forcibly displaced by the mayor's
when they were wrought remain. Valleys are
impressive historical sites.
grand plan.
pretty, mountains are beautiful, paintings can be impressive. Yungang Grottoes are beyond any of
This has made it a big tourist attraction in China's
But none of that has managed to eclipse the
that, and reason in themselves to take a train for
exploding domestic tourist economy – the
reasons people have been going to Datong in the
thousands of kilometres across two continents to
Chinese spent US$679 billion seeing Chinese sites
first place.
see.
and prompted local politicians to try to maximize
The Yungang Grottoes couldn’t be eclipsed by
But even they have competition here.
Datong's revenues by shifting the local economy
anything. They're the sort of thing that, were we
from its industrial roots towards something a
living in a different age, of lone Western travellers
little more like the Chinese version of Main Street,
sailing the world and publishing reports when
USA at Disneyland. Mayor Geng Yanbo launched
they got back home, we'd love to read about,
an ambitious program to rebuild the long-
but would believe about as much as we believed
destroyed city walls to bolster the city's ancient
the stories of the island where the people went
attractions.
around carrying their heads under their arms.
in 2017, compared to Canada's CA$24 billion –
43
FEATURE: Datong: A treasure trove on the edge of forever
The Hanging Temple, about 65km outside of Datong, was already as much as a century old by the time those Buddhas were being carved. Reputedly originally the work of a single monk, though expanded, repaired, and maintained by thousands since, this temple is built on the side of a cliff. With no large-scale excavations techniques or equipment at his disposal, the monk simply stuck the temple onto the cliff, burrowing support beams into the rock, a structure that has proved strong and stable enough to last more than 1,500 years. Though originally Buddhist, by the 14th or 15th century, it had become a temple for Confucians and Taoists, as well. Fully open to the public, you can walk the halls and promenades of this extraordinary piece of devotional architecture and wonder at the nature of faith, the ingenuity of the focused human mind, and what else must be out there in the world, as remarkable as this, that you've yet to discover.
44
Hanging Temple, Datong
DAY 15 // SEP 19
Dàtóng Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our morning sightseeing tour will take us into the Hengshan Mountains. On the way we will see idyllic little towns and villages and get a sense of rural life in China. Our destination will be the Hanging Temple, literally stuck into the side of a vertical cliff. This UNESCO designated temple is a phenomenal ensemble between nature and an ancient but sophisticated culture. After lunch in a local restaurant we continue to the Yungang Grottoes, our 2nd UNESCO cultural visit of the day. In a little over a kilometre of sandstone hills we will find over 50,000 Buddha statues scattered in the numerous caves, the tallest of which being over 17m high. We return to Dàtóng late in the afternoon for dinner at our hotel.
45
Stairs in the Hengshan Mountains
...DAY 15 CONTINUED
Did you know... Dàtóng (大同) is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province in the People’s Republic of China. It is located in a basin at an elevation of 1,040 metres and borders Inner Mongolia to the north and west and Hebei to the east. The area of present-day Datong was close to the Beidi (“Northern Barbarian”) state of Dai, which was conquered by the Zhao clan of Jin in 457 BC. It was a frontier land between the agricultural Chinese and Beidi and the nomads of the Eurasian steppe (known to the Chinese as the Hu or Donghu). The area was well known for its trade in horses. Dàtóng today is both fascinating and charming. At night, the old-town comes alive with red lanterns swinging in the breeze and wind chimes tinkling on the illuminated city walls. These evoke Dàtóng’s past glories as an ancient capital. It doesn’t matter that most of this has been recreated from scratch by an overambitious mayor with a mountain of cash. An estimated ¥50 billion was spent on a colossal renovation of the old quarter. The city wall was rebuilt in its entirety, enclosing a retinue of renovated (or newly built) sights, the paint still fresh on most.
46
DAY 16 // SEP 20
Dàtóng – Běijīng Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast we embark our coach and head toward Běijīng. Along the way we will stop at a cultured pearl farm as well as at some Ming Tombs, the final resting place for 13 Emperors of the Ming Dynasty with its impressive Avenue of the Animals. Our highlight of the day shall be a stop at the Great Wall of China – a must for any visit in the country and considered to be the 8th wonder of the world. We arrive in the early evening at our hotel in central Běijīng.
Our hotel: Capital Hotel Beijing
47
The Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
DAY 17 // SEP 21
Běijīng Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s excursion will take us to some of the highlights of the sights in Běijīng. One of the most photographed sites in Běijīng will be our first stop, the Temple of Heaven with its adjoining park and the massive Square of Heavenly Peace. We will also see the contemporary architecture of the Olympic village, in particular the ‘bird’s nest’ stadium. In the afternoon we may peek behind the walls of the Forbidden City, the former emperor’s palace which was not accessible to common people for centuries.
48
Beijing skyline
...DAY 17 CONTINUED
Did you know... Běijīng, formerly referred to as Peking, is the capital of the People's Republic of China, the world's second most populous city proper, and most populous capital city. It was also the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. As a city combining both modern and traditional architecture, Běijīng is a megacity rich in history, exemplified in its global influence in politics, economy, education, history, culture, and technology. Běijīng is the second largest Chinese city by urban population after Shànghai and is the nation's political, cultural, and educational center. The city's history dates back three millennia. As the last of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, Běijīng has been the political centre of the country for much of the past eight centuries. With mountains surrounding the inland city on three sides, in addition to the old inner and outer city walls, Běijīng was strategically poised and developed to be the residence of the emperor and thus was the perfect location for the imperial capital.
49
DAY 18 // SEP 22
Běijčng Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Our morning excursion will take us to the Summer Palace of the emperor, a site often overlooked by visitors. Following lunch the afternoon will be at leisure to relax or take in some of this immense city on your own. Our farewell dinner this evening will be the world renowned Peking Duck, an appropriate last meal in China.
50
The summer palace of the Emperor
The Forbidden City in Beijing
DAY 19 // SEP 23
Depart Běijīng Breakfast
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our trip home having travelled overland nearly a quarter of the way around the world!
Anticipated Flight: Air Canada Departs
Arrives
6:05pm Běijīng
6:50pm Toronto
51
Pricing & Inclusions
The Great Wall of China at sunset
PACKAGE PRICE PER PERSON Compartment Category
Twin Occupancy
Single Occupancy
Cat.II / Classic
CDN $12,950 per person
CDN $16,320 per person
Cat.II / Superior
CDN $13,450 per person
CDN $17,110 per person
Cat.II+ / Superior Plus
CDN $13,950 per person
CDN $17,640 per person
Cat.III / Nostalgic Comfort
CDN $16,150 per person
CDN $22,150 per person
Cat.IV / Bolshoi
CDN $19,750 per person
CDN $28,280 per person
Cat.V / Bolshoi Platinum
CDN $22,440 per person
CDN $32,260 per person
INCLUSIONS Overall • International airfare and taxes for flights from Toronto – Moscow, and Běijīng – Toronto. • Chinese Visa fee: The Chinese Visa for Canadian passport holders is included in the above rates. If you would like to obtain the visa on your own, you will receive a credit of CDN $180 per person. • NOTE: Due to Chinese embassy regulations, we are only permitted apply for the visa on behalf of members living in Ontario (except Ottawa) and Manitoba. • Russian Visa: The Russian Visa for Canadian passport holders is included in the above rates. If you would like to obtain the visa on your own, you will receive a credit of CDN $150 per person, and we will provide you with visa support letters. • NOTE: Due to Russian embassy regulations, we are only permitted to apply for Russian Visas for members living in Ontario (excluding Ottawa), Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. • Services of a Wheel & Anchor host from arrival until departure
53
...INCLUSIONS CONTINUED Train Program • Accommodation onboard the train in the booked category between Moscow and Erlian. • Accommodation in a 2-bed compartment in a Chinese sleeper car between Erlian and Datong. The Chinese train does not feature carriages in the Nostalgic Comfort or Bolshoi categories. • Tour director with pertinent knowledge of the travelled route throughout the journey • Experienced local tour guides • All transfers / bus trips according to itinerary • All excursions and sightseeing according to the itinerary including all entry fees (except optional tours) • Meals onboard include water and tea/coffee • Porter service at all railway stations • Vodka tasting with traditional Russian snacks • Concise informational talks on the Trans-Siberian Railway, regional geography, culture, and history of the countries along the route • A physician on board the train (Moscow – Chinese border) • Shower facilities on board (shared in all categories except Bolshoi) • Hotel accommodation in Moscow, Irkutsk, Ulan Bator, Dàtóng and Běijīng with daily breakfast as per itinerary
Red caviar and Russian vodka
54
EXCLUSIONS • Meals not shown in the itinerary • Optional travel, health, accident or other insurance • Add-on airfares from other Canadian cities (please call us for fares)
AIR CREDIT For passengers who want to do their own flights Toronto- Moscow // Běijīng Toronto, the air credit will be CDN$1,300 per person for airfare and air taxes. You would need to arrive/depart on the same group flights so as to be able to take airport transfers; otherwise the fee for airport transfers will be quoted separately if you arrive/depart on different flights.
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT First Deposit:
$2,500 per member at the time of booking
Second Deposit:
$2,500 per member due 180 days prior to departure
Final Payment:
121 days prior to departure
CANCELLATION CHARGES ON LAND/TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS From time of of booking to 181 days prior to departure:
$2,500 per person
180-121 days prior to departure:
$5,000 per person
120 days or less prior to departure:
100% of tour cost
AIR CANCELLATION PENALTIES ARE SUBJECT TO AIRLINE REGULATIONS
Insert caption
Lion guarding the Forbidden City
55
NOTE • Please ensure that names submitted to us are exactly as shown on passport. • Passports must be valid until 6 months after the return date. • Group flights are not eligible for frequent flyer mileage accrual. • Please contact us for premium economy class and business class airfare. • Please contact us for optional travel insurance.
STRENUOUSNESS This journey involves a lengthy journey by train along rail bed which is not always in perfect condition. The train may rock and jolt along the way making walking within and between the carriages tricky at times and may occasionally impact a full night’s sleep. The carriages are accessible by 3 steps which are quite steep and assistance is usually available. The excursions mostly do not involve very long walks except in Moscow and Beijing which have large pedestrian areas. Some uneven terrain and sidewalks will be encountered from time to time and members should be able to walk unassisted for up to 1km at a time. There are unavoidable steps to enter most cathedrals, churches and other major buildings.
Detailed terms and conditions will be provided at time of booking or upon request.
Peking Duck
56
SEP 02 – 06, 2019
Optional Pre-Tour: St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Russia
SEP 02, 2019
Depart Canada Board your overnight flight to St. Petersburg.
Anticipated Flight: Air Canada / Lufthansa Departs
Arrives
9:40pm Toronto
11:10am (next day) Frankfurt
1:10pm Frankfurt
4:50pm St. Petersburg
58
Palace Square and the Alexander Column
SEP 03, 2019
Arrive in St. Petersburg After arriving in St. Petersburg, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. St. Petersburg does not bear the nickname ‘Venice of the North’ for nothing. Countless canals, palaces and churches make the city a cultural work of art. Experience a fascinating tour that takes you to the main attractions including the famous shopping boulevard Newski Prospekt, palace square, stock exchange and old harbour.
Your hotel: Crowne Plaza Ligovsky Hotel
59
Peter and Paul Cathedral
...SEP 03 CONTINUED
Did you know... Saint Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city after Moscow, with around 6 million inhabitants. An important Russian port on the Baltic Sea, it has a status of a federal subject (a federal city). Situated on the Neva River, at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea, it was founded by Czar Peter the Great on May 27, 1703. In 1914, the name was changed from Saint Petersburg to Petrograd, in 1924 to Leningrad, and in 1991 back to Saint Petersburg. Between 1713 and 1728 and in 1732–1918, Saint Petersburg was the capital of Imperial Russia. In 1918, the central government bodies moved to Moscow. Saint Petersburg is one of the modern cities of Russia, as well as its cultural capital. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saint Petersburg is home to the Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world.
60
The Hermitage
SEP 04, 2019
St. Petersburg Breakfast
This day takes you to Peter and Paul Fortress and Peter and Paul Cathedral, the burial place of the Romanov dynasty. Here you can visit the tombs of almost all the empresses and Czars. In the afternoon you can enjoy a guided tour through the worldfamous Hermitage with paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. In the evening you have time for a leisurely stroll, a theatre visit, or an intimate evening boat ride on the Neva.
61
Palace of Catherine the Great
SEP 05, 2019
St. Petersburg Breakfast, Dinner
In the morning you will visit the former residence of the Czar Pavel I, Pavlovsk, located 28 km outside of St. Petersburg. You will make a tour through the beautiful park and visit the palace, which was designed by Charles Cameron from 1782 to 1786 on the banks of Slavyansk in a wonderful park during the transition from the Baroque style to Classicism. Another attraction is the collection of original objects of the imperial family of Russia. Your visit in the afternoon takes you to Pushkin / Tsarskoe Selo, 25 km south of St. Petersburg. The focus is the Catherine Palace, until 1729, led by Rastrelli in the baroque style, the former summer residence of the Czars. The most famous room is the legendary Amber Room, that Peter the Great was given in 1716 by Prussian King William II. Since June 2003 a successful reconstruction makes the room shine in full glory.
62
Express train to Moscow
SEP 06, 2019
St. Petersburg – Moscow Breakfast
In the morning you will be transferred to Moskovsky station. You will travel comfortably by scheduled train to Moscow and then transferred to our hotel. Transportation: local train Arrive in Moscow, meet your local assistant and transfer to your hotel where you will join the rest of the group.
63
Pricing & Inclusions
Russian Borscht
PACKAGE PRICE PER PERSON CDN $1,840 per person based on double occupancy CDN $2,370 per person based on single occupancy
INCLUSIONS • Transfers and tours as per itinerary including entrance fees • 3 nights hotel accommodation in St. Petersburg with daily breakfast • 1 dinner at local restaurant including water • Scheduled train journey ticket St. Petersburg – Moscow • Our international flight included in the main group package will be changed to Toronto – St. Petersburg instead of Toronto – Moscow
EXCLUSIONS • Gratuities for local guides and drivers for the pre-tour portion • Porterage at hotel • Meals not included in the itinerary • Tour escort for the pre-tour portion • Add-on fares from cities across Canada (please call us for fares)
65
FEATURE
Genghis Khan
66
FEATURE: Genghis Khan
There are some monuments that are so monumental, they’re worth a trip across the world just to see them. Admittedly, this is not usually the case with statues. You'd like to think that the people with the most statues of them are somehow also the most important. But they mostly aren’t. With the exception of the Buddha, whose guy quite a few, the most popularly sculpted folks have a depressing tendency to having chosen their families especially well. For all the
This did not the to be the case for
other Buddhist place. Then there’s
Temüjin was born into a relatively
foofaraw, Queen Victoria didn't
the biggest statues, however.
that Jesus in Rio, and that ridiculous
powerful family who’d fallen on
confection celebrating Peter the
hard times by the time he was a
Great in Russia.
teen. By the time he was 45, he had
actually do much other than be
67
born to the right people at the right
The Buddha is supreme here,
time and have the right aunt die in
dominating the list of the world’s
childbirth along with the right male
biggest, from China's 153m Spring
So it makes sense that the biggest
the Mongol Empire, and by the time
baby that allowed her reign over
Temple Buddha through dozens
equestrian statue in the world is
he died, had made it into the largest
an especially successful period for
of other behemoths in Burma,
dedicated to the man who achieved
contiguous empire in history.
England.
Thailand, Taiwan, and most every
the most on horseback.
both created and was the ruler of
FEATURE: Genghis Khan
He was not a good guy – he was responsible
where portraits hang, in the earliest of which
It makes you wonder, in fact, why there
for the death of as many as 40 million – but he
he’s depicted as looking more Han Chinese than
aren’t more of these sorts of monuments and
was consequential in the extreme. His empire-
the bulkier Patrick Gallagher-type he's often
memorials to the guy. (The one unveiled in 2012
building was such an enormous undertaking that
imagined as these days. Before visiting, chances
in London's Marble Arch is pretty good though.)
it had a measurable effect on global ecology,
are you will have known more about Alexander
returning so many previously developed lands
the Great than the much more impressive first
Even this one was only built in 2008. Maybe it
back into forest through massive slaughter that
Mongol khan.
has something to do with Mongolian tradition,
the atmosphere was significantly cleaner as a result. In the process, he also united Asia for the first time.
the same kind that prompted Genghis to ask By the time you leave, things will have balanced
to be buried in an unmarked grave of which,
out a bit better, and you’ll have an idea of just
apparently, not even a contemporary record was
how global a figure he is.
kept. Perhaps he, and other old Mongols, wanted to be known for their works rather than their physical remains.
So, despite the fact that the statue 54km outside of Ulan Bator is 40m high and rests on 36 columns
Whatever the reason there aren’t more of these
that are themselves 10m high, this colossus does
sprinkled around the globe – hard feelings for all
not come across as an overstatement.
the bloodshed? Jealousy that it wasn’t a European or one of their antecedents who managed the
Built on the spot where legend has it he found
feat? – it’s all the more reason to visit the one in
a golden whip, and facing what is thought to
Mongolia.
have been his birthplace, this monument to the man who became known as Genghis Khan is not only impressive, it gives visitors a sense
68
of the man, his origins, and his effect. There’s a
Note: While a visit to the monument is not included
museum in the base of the monument, set in the
in our program, a sidetrip can be arranged upon
middle of 200 hectares of strollable parkland,
advance booking at an extra charge.
The Iconic Trans-Siberian Railway SEP 5 – 23, 2019
WHEELANDANCHOR.CA +1 (416) 628-2800 EXT. 250 INFO@WHEELANDANCHOR.CA
All tours are sold through New Sky Travel, 2900 Warden Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1W 2S8 TICO Reg. No. 1817786. Bookings are subject to our standard terms & conditions, all of which are available from our office upon request or automatically at the time of booking.