TRANS SIBERIAN RAILWAY ODYSSEY A Rail-Cruise extravaganza on the TSAR’S GOLD special train
with Scott McGregor
• BEIJING OPTIONAL PRE - TOUR • 26 July – 29 July 2019 •
• ULAANBATAAR • LAKE BAIKAL • IRKUTSK • NOVOSIBIRSK • YEKATERINBURG • KAZAN • MOSCOW 29 July – 13 August 2019
• ST PETERSBURG OPTIONAL POST - TOUR • 13 August - 18 August 2019 •
in association with Lernidee
The Tsar’s Gold Train On The Lake Baikal Railway OVERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS The world’s longest railway journey is also arguably its greatest; an odyssey not be rushed, but savoured by • Travel along the famous panoramic route of the Trans-Siberian cruising across the continents in your own opulent train Railway along the shores of the scenic Lake Baikal, and with plenty of revealing sidetrips. Built at enormous ex- appreciate the beauty of fantastic untouched natural landscapes pense as a way to unify and defend Russia’s rambling Imperial Empire, the Trans-Siberian railway was finally with green valleys and high mountains, and rich flora and fauna connected near the Chinese border in 1916 and when • Witness a horseback-riding demonstration, Naadam Games and completed it broke all the record books. 10,000km in other cultural experiences in Mongolia all, crossing eight time zones, calling into fifteen major • A full day dedicated entirely to enjoying the blissful Lake Baikal, cities and taking in a plethora of sights, it succeeded in the oldest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, hailed as the transforming one of the world’s last great frontier wil- ‘Blue Eye of Siberia’ dernesses and creating one of the most enthralling of • Enjoy a traditional bread and salt welcoming ceremony in all great train journeys. Novosibirsk to help you fully embrace the rich Siberian culture On this epic Railway Adventure, your special train the • Travel through the captivating Siberian villages, straight out of Tsar’s Gold tour will take you deep into the heart of Russia, the country Winston Churchill called “a riddle a fairy-tale, with their traditional wooden houses and Russian wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” You will ex- Orthodox churches perience first-hand the glories of an old-world empire • Enjoy vodka tasting with traditional Russian dishes, including red that has a foot in both European and Asian culture. caviar This grand tour will treat you to the best of the old and • Enjoy a freedom-of-choice program, with flexible excursions, the comfort and convenience of the new as you travel sightseeing and city tours of Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, Ulan-Ude, through some of the world’s most spectacular land- Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan and Moscow, Russia’s scapes and a fascinating mix of Asian and European proud capital cities in grand style. • Witness the grandeur of Moscow, exploring St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and the KGB Headquarters • Stay one night in a yurt in Mongolia, and 3 nights in an opulent five-star hotel in Moscow • Choose an option to begin your journey with a stay in a fabulous St. Petersburg five-star hotel in Beijing, and/or extend your journey to the Wild horses, Mongolia magical city of St Petersburg Kazan Yekaterinburg Novosibirsk
1 1 1 Irkutsk Moscow 1
Ulan Ude
Uland Bator Kazakhstan Mongolia Erlian
Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan China Beijing Tajikistan
Scott McGregor MEET YOUR TOUR LEADER
SCOTT MCGREGOR has been involved in the media for over 30 years as an actor, presenter, writer and producer, but his passion lies in sharing his love of travel, and particularly railway journeys. Graduating from NIDA in 1979, he appeared in a wide range of stage, film and TV roles, including the lead in the ABC’s epic mini-series 1915. He has presented and hosted numerous prime-time ratings winners including many years as the handyman on Better Homes and Gardens and Room For Improvement. He presented two series of his own Railway Adventures for Channels 10 and 7 and a number of programs for The History Channel. After more than a decade leading tours he decided to establish Railway Adventures in 2012. He also owns and operates RUWENZORI—an Orient Express- style tourist retreat on the Great Dividing Range near Mudgee. WHY TRAVEL WITH US
The joy of travel is not confined to the destination. How you travel is a large and rich part of the experience. Railway Adventures offers a truly unique perspective on some of the world’s most spectacular holiday destinations, with the confidence that the journey will be just as magical and memorable as what you find at the end of the line. WITH US, YOU CAN EXPECT: • Unique itineraries — each itinerary has been meticulously developed by a team of expert travellers with many years’ experience, an intimate knowledge of the destination, and with great cultural awareness. You are guaranteed to experience the best that each destination has to offer. • Authentic local experiences — whether it’s a little-known yet impressive steam railway, a small boutique hotel or an authentic restaurant, you can be sure of experiencing something special on our tours. • Expert local guides and operators — we employ local guides to share their passion and knowledge of the place they call home, while our partners on the ground provide the best possible support and backup all the way. • Small group sizes — a small number of passengers per trip guarantees an intimate experience with less time spent queuing, more time with your guide, and better access to sightseeing destinations. • Fully escorted – our tour leaders are experienced and capable, entertaining and considerate, and together with our local guides have your needs well covered. They help with everything along the way, providing peace of mind, and enabling you to relax and enjoy the journey. And you’ll find them jolly good company, to boot! • Customer satisfaction — our testimonials speak for themselves. Thousands have travelled with us over the years and many come back year after year, often bringing friends along. Our customer satisfaction ratings show that over 97% would recommend us to others and/or travel with us again.
TOUR MAP Train
St. Petersburg n Nights on Board n Nights at Hotel Kazan Yekaterinburg Novosibirsk
1 1 1 Irkutsk Moscow 1
Ulan Ude
Uland Bator Kazakhstan Mongolia Erlian
Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan
Turkmenistan China Beijing HOW YOU’LL TRAVEL Tajikistan
The best train trips possible, private luxury coach for off-train travel, guided walking where suitable, and other appropriate and appealing options to make exploration easy.
Dining Car on the Tsar’s Gold Metro in Moscow Cruise on the Moskva river in Moscow PRE-TOUR: BEIJING
Day 1 – Saturday 27th July: ARRIVE IN BEIJING Upon your arrival in Beijing, you’ll be welcomed by your local guide and be transferred to your centrally-located hotel. On the way to your hotel, the sights of Beijing will be on show. Capital of the ‘Middle Kingdom’, this is a grand iconic city dating back at least three millennia. This fascinating place has become a thriving metropolis and one of the world’s great capitals in recent years and was brought back to the attention of everyone on the world stage when it hosted the Olympic Games in 2008. After settling into your hotel for the next three nights we then re-group for a celebratory welcome dinner at one of Beijing’s signature restaurants. Overnight: Pan Pacific Beijing or similar, Beijing (D)
Day 2 – Sunday 28th July: BEIJING After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel we head out in the morning for a city tour. First stop is the extraordinary Temple of Heaven. At this time of the day, you will see the various activities of traditional Chinese city life in the morning: Tai Qi, Kung Fu, sabre practice, and meditation, to name a few. Then we will head over to the Forbidden City, a world heritage site and one of the most extensive imperial palaces in the world. Most Chinese buildings face south, facing the sun. According to ancient beliefs, it blocks bad luck from entry from the North, the usual direction of barbarian invasion. This explains why the iconic main entrance to the Forbidden City faces south towards the vast Tiananmen Square, the third largest city square in the world. In the afternoon, you will visit the Olympic stadium, also called the ‘Bird’s Nest’, which also gives us a chance to view the astounding cityscape and cutting-edge architecture as we motor through the busy city. Overnight: Pan Pacific Beijing or similar, Beijing (B,L,D)
Day 3 – Monday 29th July: BEIJING Today you will visit the eighth wonder of the world, the Great Wall of China. The giant wall extends for more than 6000 km through the countryside. Placed on the highest ridges, the wall offered an excellent view to the north and permitted the guards of the lookout towers to watch out for alarm fires down the wall alerting them to barbarian intruders. The journey heading north out of the bustle of Beijing takes us past China’s mountain landscapes and on the way, you visit the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Chang Tomb, a fascinating part of the Ming Tombs complex. In the evening, you’re invited to dine on the well-known delicacy of Peking Duck at a nearby restaurant. Overnight: Pan Pacific Beijing or similar, Beijing (B,L,D)
Day 4 – Tuesday 30th July: BEIJING TO ULAANBAATAR Today, after breakfast, we’ll be transferred to the airport to catch our flight to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. As soon as we arrive in the capital of Mongolia, our driver welcomes us at the airport and drives us to our centrally-located hotel. After checking in, enjoy some free time for the rest of the day. Dinner is at the hotel tonight. Overnight: Ramada Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar (B,D) ULAANBAATAR TO MOSCOW
Day 1 – Tuesday 30th July: AUSTRALIA or BEIJING TO ULAANBAATAR As soon as you arrive in the capital of Mongolia, our driver welcomes you at the airport and transfers you to your centrally-located hotel. After checking in, you are free to enjoy the rest of the day and evening at leisure. If time permits, join your fellow travellers for dinner at the hotel tonight. Overnight: Ramada Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar
Day 2 – Wednesday 31st July: ULAANBAATAR After breakfast this morning at the hotel, depart with your tour leader and a local guide for a tour of Ulaanbaatar. You’ll see the impressive Gandan Buddhist Monastery and the eclectic Choijin Lama Temple, a complex of four temples originally dedicated to the brother of the ruler Bogd Khan, who was the state oracle at the time. Our tour continues with a visit to the Museum of Mongolian National History, which presents this fascinating country’s history and culture from prehistoric times to the present day. This evening, join your tour leader and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner, celebrating the start of our epic adventure from Mongolia to Moscow together at a well-known local restaurant. Overnight: Ramada Hotel or similar, Ulaanbaatar (B, L, D)
Day 3 – Thursday 1st August: TO THE MONGOLIAN ALPS Today you leave behind vibrant Ulaanbaatar and take an early morning tour into the history and the stunning landscapes of Mongolia. Enjoy a 1.5- hour coach trip to the great statue of Genghis Khan, the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue in the world. After exploring the statue complex, you will head to the Aryabal Meditation temple, where Buddhist Monks perform meditation rituals amongst beautiful and tranquil mountains, as they have for many years. Later in the day, you enter the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, one of the most dramatic settings in the country, well-known for its natural beauty, forested alpine mountains and interesting rock formations. Upon reaching the middle of the park, you will have the opportunity to get on to a cow carriage to your next destination (upon availability). Over a traditional lunch and dinner, you will learn about the culture, talk to the nomads, and experience a snapshot of their daily life. After an eventful day, you will spend a night in a traditional ger (yurt), a cylindrical tent with concrete base, made up of a wooden lattice structure and covered with waterproof wool felt or animal skin. Each yurt has 2 beds, space for luggage, chairs, a small oven with woodfire for heating, that will be kept going by the yurt camp staff during the night. Towels, linen as well as extra blankets are also provided to make sure you feel as comfortable as possible in this authentic, atmospheric, traditional lodging. Overnight in a traditional ger (B, L, D)
Day 4 – Friday 2nd August: TO THE MONGOLIAN ALPS After breakfast, enjoy a morning hike with local Mongolian nomads and learn about their lifestyle, including the preparation of dairy products. You will later join your fellow travellers on a picnic lunch, before attending mini Naadam Games. The Naadam tradition combines three sporting passions of Mongolians: wrestling, horse racing and archery tournaments. Today, you will witness a Mongolian horseback-riding demonstration and a traditional wrestling match. Later in the afternoon, you will say farewell to the National Park and head back to Ulaanbaatar to board the famous Tsar’s Gold special train for the journey through the Trans-Siberian railway. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner with Mongolian music on board in the train’s convivial dinning car. Overnight: On board (B, L, D)
Day 5 – Saturday 3rd August: ULAN UDE Today, we say goodbye to the picturesque Mongolian steppes, as we travel North West through the valley of Mongolia’s largest river, the Selenga. We soon arrive in Ulan Ude, the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia, where our train joins the main route of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Our tour guide will lead us on an informative tour, to show us the main city attractions, which include Lenin’s monument in the main square of the city, the Tsar’s Triumph Gate and the Odigitrievsky Cathedral. Overnight: On board (B, L, D) Day 7 – Sunday 4th August: LAKE BAIKAL Today you will explore the remarkable natural surroundings of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest and largest freshwater lake by volume. It is rich in biodiversity with over 1000 plants and more than 1500 different animals existing in the area. In the morning, your private train takes you along the lake’s shores, on the old route of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. During two extended photo stops, you have the chance to explore the lake’s scenic environment. A short boat excursion from Port Baikal takes you out onto the lake, and gives you a chance to take a swim if you wish, after which you visit a picturesque Baikal village. Dinner is a Baikal-style picnic on the lake shore with a view of this incredible natural scenery (if weather permits). Overnight: On board (B, L, D)
Day 8 – Monday 5th August: IRKUTSK In the morning you arrive in Irkutsk, once the capital of Eastern Siberia in Tsarist times, also known as the “Paris of Siberia” for its rich and colourful architecture. Here you check in to your centrally-located hotel, safely leaving your large baggage on your private train. Your city tour begins with the Okhlopkov Drama Theatre, then the Tsar Alexander III memorial, and the wonderfully authentic Market Hall. Around noon you pay a visit to the famous open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture and Ethnography, which focuses on the daily life of historical Siberia. Enjoy a change of scene in your centrally-located hotel for the evening and dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel Irkutsk or similar, Irkutsk (B, L, D)
Day 9 – Tuesday 6th August: TRANS-SIBERIA After breakfast, back onboard your comfortable Tsar’s Gold train, the landscapes of eastern Siberia pass by. What a perfect introduction to the immensity of the world’s largest country and its incredible diversity. Fun, informative talks on board teach you about the region, and a vodka tasting with typical Russian snacks and red caviar is an opportunity to experience first-hand traditional Russian celebratory toasts and customs. Just sit back and enjoy the Trans-Siberian Railway experience. Overnight: On board (B, L, D)
Day 10 – Wednesday 7th August: NOVOSIBIRSK Around noon, your private train arrives in Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia, and the third-largest in Russia. There you are greeted with a traditional bread and salt ceremony. Later, you embark on a tour of the city, which includes many landmarks such as the Ascension Cathedral, Krasny Prospect street and the Chapel of St Nicholas, built in 1915 to mark the geographical centre of Russia. You will also have the opportunity to view the mighty Ob River, Lenin Square, the central market and the opera house, the largest theatre in Russia, larger even than the Bolshoi theatre in Moscow. Overnight: On board (B, L, D)
Day 11 – Thursday 8th August: YEKATERINBURG Your private train stops in the afternoon in Yekaterinburg, the administrative centre of the Ural Federal District and the Sverdlovsk Oblast. Located on the border between Europe and Asia, the city has been the anchor point for development in the Urals and Siberia and was once called ‘windows on Asia’. The city is famous for the 1918 assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Your tour guide takes you to see the Church of All Saints, completed in 2003 on the site of the house where the Romanovs were executed by the Bolsheviks in early 1918. Later, you visit the Yekaterinburg obelisk, which marks the border between Europe and Asia. After taking in all the city’s sights, you board your private train once again, and enjoy a delicious dinner as stunning Ural landscapes pass by your dining car window. Overnight: On board (B, L, D)
Day 12 – Friday 9th August: KAZAN After breakfast, we reach Kazan, the cradle of Tatar culture in Russia. The capital of the Republic of Tatarstan is a treasure to explore. On your city tour you’ll see the Kul Sharif mosque and the most famous Russian Orthodox cathedral, the old Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. You also take a tour of Kazan’s Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you learn about the turbulent history of the relationship between the Tatars, the Cossacks, and the Russians. Afterwards you will enjoy lunch in a city restaurant. Back onboard, your train continues its progress west across the rolling plains and forests of central Russia. Overnight: On board (B, L, D)
Day 13 – Saturday 10th August: MOSCOW Around noon, you arrive in the Russian capital of Moscow – the powerhouse of Russian history, culture and government – and are accompanied to your first-rate hotel. At noon, you visit the Kremlin grounds, an ancient fortress now containing the seat of the Russian parliament. You have the opportunity to view the Red Square, and several of the buildings’ interiors, including the magnificent St. Basil’s cathedral, famous for its striking characteristic domes. After dinner, you discover the city’s magic during an hour-long ‘City of Lights’ tour, including a stop at Red Square and a ride on the Moscow metro, known as a Palace of the People, because of its lavishly adorned train stations. The platforms are literally miniature art galleries. Overnight: InterContinental Tverskaya or similar, Moscow (B, L, D)
Day 14 – Sunday 11th August: MOSCOW After breakfast at your hotel, your tour of the city takes you to the reconstructed Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Lomonosov University, and then the Novodevichy Convent, one of the oldest and loveliest convents in the city, where many famous Russian and Soviet citizens are buried in its cemetery. In the company of our local guide, we also pass the notorious former KGB headquarters, the Bely Dom, or White House and numerous iconic buildings of central Moscow. After lunch at a local restaurant, you can then enjoy a free afternoon and evening to discover Moscow at your leisure. Overnight: InterContinental Tverskaya or similar, Moscow (B, L)
Day 15 – Monday 12th August: MOSCOW After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Kolomenskoye, located 10 km southeast of the Kremlin and surrounded by over 350 hectares of ancient woodland. This royal estate is now a preserve area, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There you will visit the imposing Church of Ascension, built in the 16th century to commemorate the birth of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. After lunch, the coach takes you back to the city to experience a cruise on the Moskva river to see the sights of Moscow from a different perspective. It’s a great way to see the city centre and its main landmarks such as the Kremlin, Moscow State University, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, hotels, parks and more. We gather later to celebrate with a farewell dinner for those who are departing our Odyssey here in Moscow. Overnight: InterContinental Tverskaya or similar, Moscow (B, L, D)
Day 16 – Tuesday 13th August: DEPARTURE Transfer to the airport to catch your flight home or onwards for other journeys. If you like, talk to us about other options for extending your stay to explore the wonders of Russia and Europe, or embark on the exciting optional extension to St Petersburg. (B) MOSCOW TO ST PETERSBURG
Day 1 – Tuesday 13th August: MOSCOW TO ST PETERSBURG This morning after breakfast at the hotel you embark on the Sapsan high-speed train linking Moscow to St Petersburg for a lightning four-hour journey. On the way you’ll witness the beauty of the Russian countryside, passing through the low glaciated landscapes of boulders, woodlands, lakes and old timber towns and villages. Our driver welcomes us at the train station in St Petersburg and transfers us to the centrally-located hotel. This evening, join your tour leader and fellow travellers for a welcome drink and dinner. Overnight: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel or similar, St Petersburg (B, D)
Day 2 – Wednesday 14th August: ST PETERSBURG Today after breakfast you are free to enjoy a day in St Petersburg. It is called the cultural capital of Russia: it has 2000 libraries, more than 80 theatres, and it’s the home to world-class museums and galleries, and many impressive monuments. There’s more than enough to keep you entertained during this day at leisure. If you’re feeling active, your tour leader and guide will have no end of suggestions for the day’s options. Overnight: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel or similar, St Petersburg (B)
Day 3 – Thursday 15th August: ST PETERSBURG This morning after breakfast at the hotel, our coach takes us to the famous church of Savior the Spilled Blood, the most iconic edifice in St Petersburg, well-known for its five coloured onion domes. This church was built in 1881, in memory of the tsar Alexander II, on the spot where he was assassinated by a group of revolutionaries. We will later head to the State Russian Museum to visit its magnificent collection of Russian art dating from the 9th to the 20th century. After lunch, our coach takes us back to the hotel to enjoy some time at leisure. In late afternoon, join your fellow travellers and board a comfortable sightseeing boat for a river cruise along the Neva river and the canals. St Petersburg is often called ‘Venice of the North’, as the city is a conglomeration of 42 islands and 86 canals. The boat ride gives you the opportunity to admire the majestic quays of the river and canals from another perspective, before having dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel or similar, St Petersburg (B, L, D)
Day 4 – Friday 16th August: ST PETERSBURG After breakfast, you will board a comfortable high-speed Hydrofoil that will take you to Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg’s most famous and spectacular Imperial estate. Nestled on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, the palace was built by Peter the Great initially as a resting place. But the Tsar was quick to recognize the attractiveness of the area and masterminded a vast estate intended to rival the famous gardens of Versailles. The Grand Palace, filled with fascinating and elaborate interiors, sits on top of a high seashore ridge overlooking the vast Lower Park. The enormous park is adorned with statues and pavilions, and boasts the world’s largest system of fountains, earning it the title of the ‘Russian Versailles’. After lunch in a local restaurant, you will have the opportunity to visit the Central Museum of Railway Transport (optional) and learn about all the aspects and components of the rail transport: locomotives and carriages, communication, automatics and control equipment, construction and wayside machines, bridges and other structures. We then return to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel or similar, St Petersburg (B, L)
Day 5 – Saturday 17th August: ST PETERSBURG This morning we’re up early so we can take advantage of your special early admission tickets to the astounding State Hermitage Museum, the second-largest art museum in the world, and home to the largest collection of paintings anywhere in the world. It contains 460 rooms, and about 3 million exhibits, dating from prehistoric to modern times. Enjoy a full morning wandering around the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, and much more. After a free time for lunch, we head to the Museum of Russian Electrical Transport to learn about the history of trams in St Petersburg, and later enjoy a private tour around the city on an old tram car from the 1930s. Overnight: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel or similar, St Petersburg (B, D)
Day 6 – Sunday 18th August: ST PETERSBURG Transfer to the airport to catch your flight home or onwards for other journeys. If you like, talk to us about other options for extending your stay to explore the Baltic countries. (B)
St Petersburg The Winter Palace - St Petersburg, home to the Hermitage Museum
PRICE PRE-TOUR IN BEIJING
Per person twin share...... $1,985 Single supplement...... $385
PRICE TOUR FROM ULAANBAATOR TO MOSCOW IN SUPERIOR CLASS
Per person twin share...... from $13,985 Single supplement...... from $4,875
PRICE EXTENSION IN ST PETERSBURG
Per person twin share...... $3,475 Single supplement...... $535 Kazan
WHAT’S INCLUDED (MAIN TOUR)
• Journey with guaranteed lodging in the booked category aboard the special private train, the Tsar’s Gold, from Ulaanbaatar to Moscow • 3 nights in a top-range hotel in Moscow, as well as 2 nights in mid-range hotels in Ulaanbaatar, Beijing - the Temple of Heaven one night in Irkutsk and one night in a traditional Mongolian yurt • Meals as specified in the program (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner), including fine dining in the dining car and local specialties • All transport mentioned in the itinerary • All excursions and sightseeing listed in the itinerary, including all entry fees • Excellent service and a three-guide system: head guide, group leader and local guides, as well as your Australian host • Porter service at all railway stations • Entertainment and culture: daily instruction on the country, people and customs • Airport transfers and tips and gratuities
WHAT WE DON’T INCLUDE
• Other international flights • Visa fees • Meals and services not mentioned in the itinerary • All other personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, laundry services, camera fees where applicable • Excursions listed as optional and extra in the itinerary • Travel insurance. Required to cover against all cancellation costs, medical expenses including repatriation in the event of accident or illness Moscow
WHERE YOU’LL STAY
Hand-picked hotels and resorts based on location, customer feedback, value and atmosphere.
Ramada Hotel, Ulaanbaatar In a traditional yurt in Mongolia
Intercontinental Tverskaya, Moscow Tsar’s Gold - Category Classic THE TSAR’S GOLD COMPARTMENTS
The Tsar’s Gold features the widest selection of compartments on any Trans-Siberian train. Choose between four compartment categories — from the popular Superior and Nostalgic Comfort categories, to the premium Bolshoi and Bolshoi Platinum, which feature private bathrooms and showers.
Cat. V - Bolshoi Platinum Number and Size of Beds
• Sleeps up to 2 guests • 1 large lower bed (47.2 × 72.4 in /120 × 184 cm) • 1 large upper bed (32.3 × 68.5 in /82 × 174 cm) Features
• Large compartment 77 sq ft/7.15 sq m • Large window • Small sofa • Table • Large closet • Private bathroom with sink, toilet and separate shower • 5 compartments per car
Cat. IV - Bolshoi Number and Size of Beds
• Sleeps up to 2 guests • 1 large lower bed (43.3 × 72.4 in/110 × 184 cm) • 1 large upper bed (31.5 × 68.5 in/80 × 174 cm) Features
• Large compartment 60 sq ft/5.57 sq m • Large window • Small sofa • Table • Small closet • Private bathroom with sink, toilet and integrated shower • 6 compartments per car
Cat. III - Nostalgic Comfort Number and Size of Beds
• Sleeps up to 2 guests • 2 lower beds (26.7 × 72.8 in/68 × 185 cm) Features
• Large window • Table • 2 shared bathrooms with sink and toilet per car • 9 compartments per car • Shower shared between 2 to 4 cars • Vintage interiors
Cat. II - Superior Number and Size of Beds
• Sleeps up to 2 guests • 2 lower beds (26.7 × 73.6 in/68 × 185 cm) Features
• Large window • Table • 2 shared bathrooms with sink and toilet per car • 9 compartments per car • Shower shared between 1 to 3 cars The Great Wall - China
SUGGESTED FLIGHTS We have suggested flights for this itinerary depending on your departure point from Australia, any preferred stopovers en-route and/ or your planned pre- and post-tour activities. We can also investigate your preferred airline and offer you a solution based on connection times and prices. Contact 1300 800 977 to discuss your options.
HOW TO BOOK Download a booking form from our website and follow the easy steps to getting on board. Alternatively, contact Railway Adventures on 1300 800 977 or at [email protected] if you’d prefer a form be sent to you. Complete the form and submit it, along with your $1000 pp deposit to secure your place on the tour.
DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE We endeavour to have all the details of our tours correct at the time of printing. However, sometimes factors beyond our control may affect the final inclusions and prices. These factors may include, but not be limited to; significant fluctuations in currency exchange rates, individual hotel/restaurant decisions that may affect bookings, weather events forcing a change of itinerary, unexpected trackwork on rail lines, unexpected closure of site attractions and so forth. Therefore, items mentioned in the brochure such as quoted prices, hotels and inclusions are subject to change. If a change is imposed on us, we will endeavour to ensure the substitute is of the same quality that you’ve paid for.
TOUR PACE / LEVEL OF FITNESS: Our itineraries are designed to make the most of each destination, so a reasonable amount of activity is built into most days, which is why we call them adventures. Our philosophy is to offer you the best experience possible, while leaving you, our guest, the flexibility to pace yourself and choose how much or how little you want to do. Each Railway Adventures tour incorporates periods of free time for your own exploration and relaxation. While you don’t need to be a ‘gym junkie’, a reasonable level of fitness is required for most of our tours. The ability to manage your own luggage, get on and off all manner of trains and coaches, walk for extended periods, stand comfortably, and climb steps and stairs will ensure you get the maximum enjoyment from your adventure.
ADDITIONAL TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS In addition to assisting with flight suggestions and bookings, we can also give you some ideas of what you could do before and after your Railway Adventure. We can also organise your all-important Travel Insurance for you. Call our office on 1300 800 977 if you would like to discuss options.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS For more information on factors such as travel insurance requirements, fitness levels, fees and charges, tour cancellations, payment schedules and so on, please refer to our Terms and Conditions, which accompany the booking form. They can also be found on our website Moscow, Russia
THE RAILWAY ADVENTURES STORY TRAVEL ACCREDITED LIC #A14416
Railway Adventures, launched in 2012 by well-known Australian TV personality and self-confessed rail fan, Scott McGregor, has entertained and enlightened more than 1200 travellers on over 100 tours from Sweden to Sri Lanka, Tasmania to Transylvania, Britain to Burma, Venice to Vietnam and all manner of adventures in our own wonderful country. New tours are launched regularly, inspired by new trains, new routes and what our travellers are telling us they want— travelling by train in a small group of like-minded people to some of the world’s most fascinating destinations. A lifelong passion for travel has taken Scott to scores of countries and his preference for rail has seen him exploring many of the world’s great train journeys, confirming his belief that the most relaxing, romantic and engaging way to see a country is by rail.