STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

An Epic Journey from Vladivostok to

June 16 to July 2, 2017

a program of the stanford alumni association STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

Get ready for the ride of your life on this epic, 6,000-mile-long journey aboard the luxurious, modern Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express train, traversing the world’s largest country—from her deepwater Pacifc seaport of Vladivostok to her cosmopolitan capital, Moscow. We’ll travel through endless miles of Siberian taiga (subarctic evergreen forest); dip down onto the vast Mongolian steppe; view , the world’s largest body of fresh water; visit the majestic in the exotic city of ; and end our incredible journey marveling at the iconic façade of St. Basil’s Cathedral on in Moscow. Along the way, we’ll delve into ’s long history, fascinating cultures, politics and economy, and meet her modern-day peoples. All aboard for a fabulous adventure!

Brett S. Thompson, ’83, Director, Stanford Travel/Study St. Basil’s Cathedral, moscow Highlights LISTEN to the UNESCO- EXPLORE the kremlin of ENJOY a private concert RIDE in modern comfort recognized 17th-century Kazan, capital of , and champagne reception on the tracks of the czarist- songs of Russia’s Old with its mix of Orthodox in Irkutsk at the Decembrist era Old Railway line along Believers in a village near churches and Muslim House-Museum, home the shore of Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude. mosques. of a once-imprisoned the world’s deepest and Decembrist activist. oldest freshwater lake.

COVER: Qol Sharif Mosque, KAZAN

Village of Listvyanka, lake baikal A r c t i c O c e a n St. Petersburg

Moscow

Kazan Ekaterinburg R USSIA

Novosibirsk Lake Baikal Ulan KAZAKHSTAN Ude Irkutsk Khabarovsk

MONGOLIA Vladivostok CHINA Ulaanbaatar Ulan Ude

on our rail journey across Chinese border and travel who have preserved their Itinerary Russia. TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS toward the Mongolian 17th-century clothing, (B,L,D) steppe. TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS architecture, language and FRIDAY & SATURDAY, (B,L,D–BOTH DAYS) traditions, including their JUNE 16 & 17 MONDAY, JUNE 19 distinctive style of singing. DEPART U.S. / KHABAROVSK THURSDAY, JUNE 22 Enjoy a concert of this music, Arrive in Khabarovsk, VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA ULAANBAATAR, which UNESCO has added the easternmost point Depart the U.S. on overnight to its “Representative List of our journey. Founded Today visit the capital of flights, arriving in Vladivostok of the Intangible Cultural by Cossacks in 1858, Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. Learn on Saturday. Upon arrival, Heritage of Humanity.” Khabarovsk was originally about the traditional, and transfer to our four-star hotel TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS (B,L,D) in Vladivostok’s historic a military outpost guarding disappearing, nomadic life of the country’s inhabitants center. Enjoy a welcome Russia’s border with China. SATURDAY, JUNE 24 reception and dinner this Visit lively Muravyov-Amursky at the National History LAKE BAIKAL evening. HOTEL HYUNDAI (6/17: D) Street with its 19th-century Museum, and at the Museum Ride through tunnels and buildings and the war of Natural History view around cliffs along the scenic SUNDAY, JUNE 18 memorial in Glory Square, prehistoric fossils found shoreline of Lake Baikal, the VLADIVOSTOK / dedicated to Russian in the Gobi Desert Travel world’s deepest and oldest EMBARK TRANS- Far Easterners who were outside the city to marvel at freshwater lake. Have a SIBERIAN EXPRESS the striking mountain scenery Due to its strategic awarded medals for heroism barbeque at the lake’s edge, of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. importance, Vladivostok during “The Great Patriotic and for the adventurous, TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS (B,L,D) was declared off limits War” (WWII). At the Natural take a quick dip in its chilling to foreigners and most History Museum, view its crystalline water. Stop at the collection of indigenous FRIDAY, JUNE 23 lakeside village of Listvyanka Russians from the post- ULAN UDE, RUSSIA World War II era until the peoples’ artifacts and Arrive in Ulan Ude, and visit a local family’s dissolution of the Soviet exhibits about the region’s capital of the Republic private home. TRANS-SIBERIAN Union in 1992. Visit the plants and animals. TRANS- of Buryatia. Founded by EXPRESS (B,L,D) Socialist-Realist railway SIBERIAN EXPRESS (B,L,D) Cossacks in 1666 as a winter SUNDAY, JUNE 25 station, the Pacific Navy encampment, the outpost TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, IRKUTSK War Memorial, the Fortress became a strategic trading JUNE 20 & 21 Today admire the classic Museum and the Eagle’s ABOARD THE TRANS- center linking Russia with wooden architecture of the Nest observation point. SIBERIAN EXPRESS China and Mongolia. Visit small and cultured city of Learn about the city’s original Spend two full days onboard the city’s most significant Irkutsk, a place of exile from indigenous population at the our luxury train, reading, sites, which reflect the unique the time of Genghis Khan Arsenyev Regional Museum. relaxing, attending lectures culture and spiritual beliefs through the Soviet period. Board our well-appointed and watching the changing of the Buryat people. Also At the Decembrist House- train and depart this evening landscape as we skirt the tour a village of Old Believers, Museum, once the home of Ulan Ude MONGOLIA

Decembrist Sergei Volkonsky, Museum of Regional Studies. beautifully reconstructed Qol collection of Russian fine learn about the history of the TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS (B,L,D) Sharif Mosque, a remarkable art. Celebrate the end of our unsuccessful 19th-century synthesis of Tatar and Russian journey at a farewell reception movement to abolish serfdom WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 cultures. TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS and dinner this evening. EKATERINBURG and institute reforms. Con- (B,L,D) HOTEL BALTSCHUG KEMPINSKI (B,L,D) clude our time here with a Transit from Asia to classical music concert and today and arrive at Ekaterin- FRIDAY, JUNE 30 SUNDAY, JULY 2 a glass of champagne in burg, formerly known as MOSCOW / DISEMBARK MOSCOW / U.S. Transfer to the airport this Volkonsky’s former drawing Sverdlovsk. Ekanterinburg Upon our arrival in Moscow, is perhaps most famed for tour several classic sites of morning for return flights to room. TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS the U.S. (B) (B,L,D) being the city where the last Russia’s capital city, such as czar, Nicholas II, and his Red Square with its colorful MONDAY, JUNE 26 family were executed by the St. Basil’s Cathedral and ABOARD THE TRANS- Bolsheviks in 1918. Visit the the Post-trip SIBERIAN EXPRESS Church on the Blood, built Cemetery where many Watch the vast Siberian taiga, between 2000 and 2003 over Russian dignitaries are buried. or subarctic coniferous forest, Extension the site where the czar and Drive by the Bolshoi Theater St. Petersburg pass by from the comfort of his family were murdered. The and the Lubyanka Prison our train as we continue our JULY 2 TO 5, 2017 church was designed in the before checking in to our (3 additional days) journey across North Asia. early-20th-century Russian/ hotel. HOTEL BALTSCHUG KEMPINSKI TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS (B,L,D) Byzantine style favored by (B,L,D) Take an express train to the ill-fated czar. TRANS-SIBERIAN St. Petersburg, whose miles TUESDAY, JUNE 27 EXPRESS (B,L,D) SATURDAY, JULY 1 of canals have earned this NOVOSIBIRSK MOSCOW imperial city the nickname, Stop today at Novosibirsk, a Today we visit the renowned “the Venice of the North.” population center that didn’t THURSDAY, JUNE 29 KAZAN and its Visit Catherine’s Palace with exist until the construction of Explore historic Kazan, capital Armory Museum. Built in the its magnificent Amber Room, the Trans-Siberian Railway of the Republic of Tatarstan 16th century as a warehouse and Alexander’s Palace, and has since become and a former khanate for the Kremlin’s weaponry, where Czar Nicholas II and his Russia’s third-largest city. (principality) of the Mongol the Armory now houses family were under house arrest Visit Lenin Square, site of Empire. Visit the Kazan Russia’s national treasures, before being exiled to Siberia. Novosibirsk’s State Academic kremlin, a UNESCO World including a collection of Also explore the magnificent Opera and Ballet Theater, the Heritage site that is home to Fabergé eggs, the coronation , home to largest opera house in Russia both Orthodox churches and dress of Catherine the Great one of the largest collections and nicknamed the “Siberian Muslim mosques. Tour the and the throne of Ivan the of art in the world. Coliseum.” View artifacts of Annunciation Cathedral, built Terrible. After lunch, admire Siberia’s many indigenous by , and the the Tretyakov Gallery’s superb Details and a full itinerary will be peoples at Novosibirsk’s State sent to confirmed participants.

Golden Eagle Program Trans-Siberian Express Cost*

Silver Class Cabins silver class CABIN Silver Class Cabins Silver Class cabins feature modern en $19,995 per person, double occupancy suite amenities including power showers $26,745 per person, single occupancy** and under-floor heating, a DVD/CD player, LCD screen, audio system, individual Gold Class Cabins air conditioning, recessed lighting and wardrobe space. Size: 60 sq. ft., measuring $22,995 per person, double occupancy 6'7" x 9', including the bathroom. Lower $31,745 per person, single occupancy** Day Night berth is 4' wide; upper berth is 2'9" wide. Imperial Suite Gold Class Cabins Gold class CABIN $33,195 per person, double occupancy Although they feature the same amenities and en suite facilities as Silver Class cabins, * Association nonmembers add $300 Gold Class Cabins are more spacious and per person. have a larger shower area. Size: 77 sq. ** Single accommodations may be limited to as few as 2 cabins. ft., measuring 6'7" x 11'8", including the bathroom. Lower berth is 4'5" wide and can be used as a double bed; upper berth is Day Night 2'9" wide.

Imperial Suite Each sleeping car has its own dedicated attendants The two Imperial Suites onboard are the who provide turndown service, tea, coffee and equivalent of two Gold Class cabins. A mineral water. Towels, bathrobes, slippers and special non-refundable deposit is required toiletries are provided and onboard laundry service to hold an Imperial Suite and special is also available. cancellation fees apply. Availability is The train formation includes sleeping cars and on a first-come, first-served basis. restaurant cars, plus a kitchen, bar, staff, generator For more information please contact and office car. The restaurant cars provide both Stanford Travel/Study. international and local cuisine, serving three meals a day when passengers are onboard; during some city stops, meals are provided at local restaurants. Information Terms & Conditions

Dates Deposit & Final Payment Responsibility June 16 to July 2, 2017 (17 days) A $1,000-per-person deposit is The Stanford Alumni Association, required to hold space on this Stanford University and our program. A $200-per-person operators act only as agents Size deposit is required to hold space for the passenger with respect This program can accommodate up to 40 Stanford participants. for the optional post-trip extension. to transportation and exercise Single accommodations are extremely limited; please call for Sign up online at alumni.stanford. every care possible in doing so. availability. Please note that the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian edu/trip?siberia2017 or call the However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, Express can accommodate up to 100 passengers and Stanford Travel/Study office at (650) 725- 1093. Final payment is due 120 days accident, delay or irregularity in Travel/Study will occupy a portion of the cabins onboard. Lec- prior to departure. As a condition connection with the service of any tures, select excursions and some special programming will be of participation, all confirmed automobile, motor coach, launch exclusive to Stanford participants. participants are required to sign or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the a Release of Liability. acts or defaults of any company or Included Cancellations & Refunds person engaged in conveying the 3 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations 12-night train Deposits and any payments are passenger or in carrying out the journey aboard the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express refundable, less a $500-per- arrangements of the program. We 15 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 15 dinners Welcome and farewell person cancellation fee, until 120 cannot accept any responsibility for days prior to departure. After that losses or additional expenses due cocktail receptions Gratuities to guides, drivers and train crew date, refunds can be made only to delay or changes in air or other for all group activities All tours and excursions as described if the program is sold out and services, sickness, weather, strike, in the itinerary Transfers and baggage handling on program your place(s) can be resold, in war, quarantine, force majeure or arrival and departure days Train fees and embarkation taxes which case a $1,000-per-person other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance Educa- cancellation fee will apply. have to be borne by the passenger tional program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, Insurance as tour rates provide arrangements including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and Stanford Travel/Study provides only for the time stated. We reserve travel information Services of our professional tour manager all travelers who are U.S. or the right to make such alterations Canadian citizens with minimal to assist you throughout the program to this published itinerary as may medical, accident and evacuation be deemed necessary. The right coverage under our group-travel is reserved to cancel any program Not Included insurance policy. Our group policy prior to departure in which case International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport and visa is intended to provide minimal the entire payment will be refunded fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than levels of protection while you are without further obligation on our traveling on this program. You may part. The right is also reserved Silver Class Cabins those specified as included Independent and private transfers $19,995 per person, double occupancy choose to subscribe to optional to decline to accept or retain Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance trip-cancellation and baggage any person as a member of the $26,745 per person, single occupancy** Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet insurance. Information offering program. No refund will be made for access, telephone and faxes, laundry and gratuities for such insurance will be provided an unused portion of any tour unless Gold Class Cabins nongroup services to travelers with their welcome arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is $22,995 per person, double occupancy materials. The product offered includes special benefits if you carried at the owner’s risk entirely. $31,745 per person, single occupancy** Air Arrangements purchase your policy within 14 The airlines concerned are not to International and U.S. domestic airfare is not included in the days of written confirmation of be held responsible for any act, program cost. Information on recommended flight itineraries your participation on the trip. omission or event during the time Imperial Suite that passengers are not onboard $33,195 per person, double occupancy to Vladivostok, Russia, and return from Moscow will be sent to Eligibility their plane or conveyance. Neither confirmed participants by our designated agent. We encourage membership in the the Alumni Association, Stanford Alumni Association as the program University nor our operators accept What to Expect cost for nonmembers is $300 liability for any carrier’s cancellation We consider this program to be moderately strenuous with many more than the members’ price. penalty incurred by the purchase of A person traveling as a guest paid a nonrefundable ticket in connection fully scheduled days. Train travel, as well as touring in Russia for by a current member will not with the tour. Program price is and Mongolia, can be quite difficult. Daily excursions involve one be charged the nonmember fee. based on rates in effect in October to three miles of walking on city streets, sometimes over cobble- For more information or to purchase 2016 and is subject to change stones or on unpaved terrain. Some sites do not allow motor a membership, visit alumni.stanford. without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel coaches to pull directly in front, thus requiring a several-minutes’ edu/goto/membership or call (650) 725-0692. charges. walk to reach the entrance. Train stations and guided tours may require climbing up and down flights of stairs where steps may be steep, uneven and/or without handrails, and elevators are generally unavailable. The train can be very bumpy and noisy; participants should feel comfortable walking without assistance between train cars while the train is moving. Medical care and treatment are not always available or up to U.S. standards. tELEPHONE (650) 725-1093 Email [email protected] Participants on this program should be fit, active and in excellent health. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50 program. © COPYRIGHT 2016 STANFORD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed on recycled, FSC-certified paper in the U.S.

Stanford Faculty Leader

KATHRYN STONER, a senior fellow at Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, was on the faculty at Princeton University for nine years prior to coming to Stanford in 2004. She has held fellowships at Harvard University as well as at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. Her main research interests include comparative state building and effective governance, Russian domestic and international politics, and political economy of developing countries. She is currently working on a book titled Resurrected? Russia’s Return as a Global Power, due to be out in early 2018. During our program, Dr. “I waited 50 Stoner, who has visited Russia dozens of time in the last 20 years, will discuss the politics years for a and economics of present-day Russia, while drawing upon the country’s rich history. — At Stanford: senior fellow, Center on Democracy, Development and the trip to Russia. Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; This trip made faculty director, Ford Dorsey Program in International Policy Studies — Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, and the Woodrow Wilson Center, the long wait Washington, D.C. — Author, Resisting the State: Reform and Retrenchment in Post-Soviet worth it.” Russia (2006) and Local Heroes: The Political Economy of Russian Regional Governance (1997) Glenn Fowler, — BA and MA, political science, University of Toronto Russian Rivers, 2015 — PhD, government, Harvard University

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

Sign up online: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?siberia2017 OR BY PHONE: (650) 725-1093

Kazan Kremlin

Stanford Travel/Study Nonprofit Org. Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center U.S. Postage 326 Galvez Street PAID Stanford, CA 94305-6105 Stanford Alumni An Epic Journey from (650) 725-1093 Association Vladivostok to Moscow

June 16 to July 2, 2017

alumni.stanford.edu/goto/travelstudy

“I keep thinking I’ve been on the best Stanford Travel/Study trip ever, and then the next one turns out to be even better.”

Henry Muller, ’68

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

THE KREMLIN AND THE MOSCOW RIVER, MOSCOW