The Silk Road Norway
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golden eagle luxury trains VOYAGES OF A LIFETIME BY PRIVATE TRAINTM THE SILK ROAD NORWAY SWEDEN GERMANY Kirkenes (Norway) Nikel Murmansk FINLAND POLAND ESTONIAST. PETERSBURG LATVIA LITHUANIA Petrozavodsk GOLDEN EAGLE BELARUS ROUTE MAP ROMANIA MOSCOW UKRAINE Vladimir & Suzdal COLOUR KEY Kazan TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS Moscow - Vladivostok Vladivostok - Moscow Yekaterinburg TRANS-MONGOLIAN EXPRESS Moscow - Ulaan Baatar Ulaan Baatar - Moscow GEORGIA Gori, Uplistsikhe & Mtskheta WINTER WONDERLAND Tbilisi TURKEY Lake Sevan Moscow - Ulaan Baatar - Vladivostok Vladivostok - Moscow YEREVAN Baku KAZAKHSTAN ARCTIC EXPLORER Turkmenbashi Moscow - St Petersburg Baikonur St Petersburg - Moscow CASPIAN UZBEKISTAN SEA CASPIAN ODYSSEY Khiva Yerevan - Almaty Darvaza Ashgabat ALMATY SILK ROAD IRAN Bukhara Merv Bishkek Beijing - Moscow Samarkand Tashkent Almaty - Moscow TURKMENISTAN Shahrisabz Kokand Andizhan Lake Issyk-Kul Margiland KYRGYZSTAN Osh REPUBLICS OF THE SILK ROAD Dushanbe Moscow - Almaty AFGHANISTAN Kirkenes (Norway) Kamchatka Peninsula RUSSIA Yekaterinburg Novaya Chara Tynda Novy Urgal Novosibirsk Khabarovsk Nerchinsk Abakan Lake Baikal Irkutsk Ulan Ude ULAAN BAATAR ALMATY CHINA VLADIVOSTOK MONGOLIA Lake Issyk-Kul KYRGYZSTAN Turpan BEIJING JAPAN Dunhuang Xian CONTENTS Foreword by Tim Littler, President & Founder Rail Cruising By Private Train What’s Included In The Tour Price Golden Eagle – Train Information Dining On Board Bar Lounge Car On Board Accommodation Tour Itineraries The Silk Road Important Information About Our Tours Tour Previews 2021-2022 Booking Conditions WELCOME TO CONTENTS GOLDEN EAGLE LUXURY TRAINS Since launching the company as GW Travel in to take, the level of tipping required, or having that 1989, we have developed a whole range of fully extra glass of wine with your meal complemented by escorted rail cruises across Europe, Asia, Africa your very own private en-suite cabin. We want you to and the Americas, carrying many thousands of ultimately enjoy a relaxing and carefree experience. delighted passengers. For 2021 we continue to also offer a 2020 has certainly been the most collection of rail journeys across challenging year on record with Europe, China and India. All not being able to operate the featuring the signature touches of majority of our planned tours but a Golden Eagle rail cruise, these we are now looking positively journeys are highlighted on pages towards 2021 and hopefully a year 92-93 or available to view on our where we return to at least near website www.getrains.com normality and we can welcome back guests on board our trains I invite you to look through our and enjoy the spectacular journeys 2021 collection and feel certain that we offer. you will be inspired by our range of luxury rail tours. The majority of our tours either start or end in Moscow, from where we operate the iconic On behalf of all the team at Golden Eagle Luxury Trans-Siberian and Silk Road journeys, on board our Trains we look forward to welcome you on board exclusive train, the Golden Eagle. In recent years one of our prestigious Voyages of a Lifetime by we have successfully expanded the programme to Private Train in the near future and to having the include journeys into the Arctic Circle, through the opportunity to share some special travel moments South Caucasus region and across Central Asia. and experiences with you. We are proud to offer these unique range of pioneering rail journeys to some of the world’s remote and exotic destinations, all of which are designed and operated exclusively by us. Each tour is meticulously planned by our vastly experienced and knowledgeable team to offer you a wholly unique Tim Littler travel experience. A special part of our tours is the President & Founder exceptional level of inclusivity that we provide, so that you do not have to worry about which excursion As Eric Newby in his 1977 book The Big Red Train Ride succinctly stated, ‘ The Trans-Siberian is the big train ride.’ THE TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS / FIRST SUMMER TOUR DEPARTS MAY 2021 4 golden eagle RAIL CRUISING BY PRIVATE TRAIN Rail cruising is a fantastic way to absorb the rich culture and cinematic landscape of the country. The programmes we offer are carefully Thanks to the railway pioneers who We offer our guests fir t-class customer designed to balance generous amounts drove railroads through some of the service, a romantic exploration of the of relaxation, while voyaging across the most inaccessible areas on earth, rail world’s most remarkable sites and a room vast landscapes of Russia and Central cruising uniquely allows us access to with a view that constantly changes. Asia with sightseeing that opens a these remote regions; and whereas Aboard this luxury hotel-on-wheels you window into the soul and spirit of the ocean cruising takes you to the edge of can expect welcoming cabins, fine dinin places and communities we visit. a country, rail cruising takes you to the and elegant surroundings – no matter very heart of it. where you choose to explore. 5 golden eagle UNIQUE ITINERARIES Our rail cruise itineraries are planned and operated exclusively by us and we never lose sight of the little things that really matter to you so that you can experience our Voyages of a Lifetime in a relaxed and informal manner. Our itineraries are designed to turn culture or explore ancient history of the visit and draw back the veil on a part of dreams of a lifetime into priceless Silk Road, we have created an exclusive the world surrounded by intrigue, myth memories and take in some of the range of extraordinary rail cruises. and legend. Not to mention that it also most culturally diverse destinations the offers some of the most remarkable world has to offer. Whether you have With Russia and its neighbouring and iconic rail journeys in the world. always wanted to discover Siberia’s countries changing so rapidly, it grand wilderness, Mongolia’s nomadic remains an immensely exciting time to UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES VISITED ON OUR TOURS RUSSIA CHINA UZBEKISTAN • Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow • Mogao Caves, Dunhuang • Itchan Kala, Khiva • Architectural Ensemble of the • The Great Wall • Historic Centre of Shahrisabz Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev • Mausoleum of the First Qin • Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures Posad, Moscow Emperor (Terracotta Warriors), Xian • Ensemble of the Novodevichy • Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Convent, Moscow Qing Dynasties (Forbidden City) AZERBAIJAN • White Monuments of Vladimir in Beijing and Suzdal • Walled City of Baku with • Temple of Heaven: An Imperial • Historic and Architectural Complex the Shirvanshah’s Palace and Sacrificial Altar in Beijin of the Kazan Kremlin Maiden Tower • Lake Baikal • Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, near Baku ARMENIA TURKMENISTAN GEORGIA • Monastery of Geghard and the • State Historical & Cultural Park • Historical Monuments of Mtskheta Upper Azat Valley, near Yerevan ‘Ancient Merv’ • Monastery of Haghpat, near Lake Sevan 6 Voyages of a Lifetime by Private TrainTM | GOLDEN EAGLE A TYPICAL DAY ON BOARD Russian language lessons, attending talks on the local history and culture, trying your hand at bridge, tasting vodkas, improving your photographic skills, or simply soaking up the Each rail cruise is a hand-picked collection of fascinating atmosphere in the Bar Lounge Car. places, and each day brings a new opportunity for discovery – another chance to explore your world in a personal and meaningful way. FREEDOM OF CHOICE On a typical day the Golden Eagle will travel through the Customise your journey and enjoy the opportunity to select night as you sleep in your private cabin. Disembarking after from an array of Freedom of Choice touring options that best breakfast the following morning, you will be whisked away suits your interests. Your off-t ain excursions will still take by coach or minibus to explore, for example, the sights and in all the major attractions of the places we are visiting but, sounds of Lake Baikal, Samarkand, Yerevan or the Kremlin and in featured locations, you will be presented with a variety Red Square, and at the end of the day return to the sanctuary of activities from which to choose and enjoy a tailor-made of your hotel-on-wheels, greeted by your cabin attendants experience. In short, it means that your holiday is just that, with complimentary refreshments. your very own, and it’s all included in the tour price, with no more for you to pay. All Freedom of Choice tours are booked Enjoy a hot shower in your private en-suite bathroom and on board the train, so you don’t need to decide prior to the then, as we set off again o your next destination, settle tours departure. It is the ultimate in fl xibility. down with your travelling companions for pre-dinner drinks in the Bar Lounge Car followed by a meal, in one of the two We have a full range of Freedom of Choice touring to include Restaurant Cars, of local specialities and international cuisine, hiking around Lake Baikal, cookery classes in Irkutsk and accompanied by a selection of fine wines. here is no need museum visits in Moscow. to hurry, the Restaurant Cars accommodate all the guests in a single sitting – so linger over coffee and reflect on th TOUR EXTENSIONS adventures of the day or return to the bar for a night-cap and listen to the resident pianist. Extend your Voyage of a Lifetime by Private Train™ with one of our fantastic tour extensions. Some days will be spent partly or entirely on board the train, providing an opportunity for guests to watch the landscape Our selection of tour extension options includes St Petersburg, unfold. The Golden Eagle offers different on board activities Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, the Imperial City of Beijing, and facilities so you might spend the time taking part in Shanghai and the stunning but remote Kamchatka Peninsula.