St Petersburg to Irkutsk and Lake Baikal, via Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Tobolsk, Omsk and Novosibirsk.

This journey can be done in reverse.

One of the most famous railways in the world, the Trans-Siberian Railway is thousands of kilometres long, running from the shores of the Baltic Sea to the shores of the Pacific Ocean.  Travelling in the luxury of the Imperial Russia train, passing by all the largest historical and cultural centres of the vast Russian Empire and visiting many of them, is an incredible way to journey through the heart of Russia.

Special Offers

Membership is free, requiring just a subscription to our newsletter on the Club site.  Gifts secured when booking made, and sent on final payment.

-         Club discount of 5% is available.

-        Until 31 May:  Gift from Osprey,  from their range of small leather goods

-        Authentic wooden Russian souvenirs.

Accommodation

Suites:  VIP Suite – The suites have comfortable seating in the form of a  sofa and an armchair.  During the evening it is converted into upper and lower berths by the steward.  A wardrobe allows one to store clothes and luggage, and there are individual air conditioning controls.  There is a shower ensuite with bathrobe and slippers provided. Complimentary mini bottle of Vodka and Russian sweets.

Restaurant Cars:  There are two elegant dining cars, one in opulent gold upholstery, the other in a rich red and gold upholstery.  The large panoramic windows provide amazing vistas  whilst enjoying traditional cuisine.

Bar Car:  The bar car is a great place to relax and settle into the unhurried pace of life on board.  Unwind in comfortable surroundings and watch the Russian landscape go by.  The carriage is separated by a decorative partition, thus giving two comfortable areas where one can eat, dance or just relax.

Itineraries

The tour guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel.

Day 1 –  St Petersburg.  City tour that includes visits to the exquisite Smolny Cathedral, a masterpiece of Rastrelli’s baroque; and/or the shimmering mosaics and marble floor patterns at the Church of the Saviour on Blood; and/or the ancient icon painting and carved iconostases at the St. Sampson’s Cathedral (built at the reign of by Peter I in gratitude for the victorious Poltava battle); and/or the icons of golden mosaics and the columns of malachite and lapis lazuli in the grand St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

Following this there is a visit to the beautiful  State Hermitage.  The collection of the State Hermitage includes more than three million works of art and artefacts of the world culture.

With these wonderful impressions, one leaves St Petersburg on the Grand Express train to settle in for the overnight journey to Moscow.

Day 2  – Moscow.   Here there is a visit to the amazing Kremlin, a treasure house of magnificent art.  Walk  along  Arbat Street, created in the 15^th century, thus laying claim to being one of the oldest surviving streets of the capital.  Originally the street formed part of an important trade route and was home to a large number of craftsmen.  Then we visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, with its beautiful interior and its copper domes that dominate the skyline.  Afterwards there is a tour of the famous metro stations, each one a delight of artist achievement and a surprising find underground.

Following this day of culture, we join the ‘Imperial Russia’ Train to settle in as it travels overnight to Kazan.

Day 3 – Kazan.  This picturesque Tartar capital with its beautiful colourful domes  is situated on the banks of the Volga.  There is a Grand city tour of ‘Old Kazan’, followed by a visit to the Kazan Kremlin and a delicious lunch of Tartar cuisine.  We rejoin the train to travel to Yekaterinburg.

Day 4 – Yekaterinburg.   The city tour is dedicated to the final days of the last Russian Emperor and his family, Tsar Nicholas II.  There is a visit to the Church on Blood which was built in memory of the tragic events.  We also visit the orthodox monastery with temples that are considered to be pearls of Russian construction.  Finally, before returning to the train,  we go to the Europe/Asia boundary where one can stand with a foot in each continent.

Day 5 – Tobolsk.   Arriving in Tobolsk, in the Russian heartland, one is taken on a visit of  the amazing Tobolsk Kremlin (a 17^th century fortress), within which is the Chamber Museum of Nicolas II.   The Romanov Royal family were sent to Tobolsk after being deposed.   The tour includes a visit to the obelisk to the conqueror of Siberia, and to the Svyato-Znamensky friary.

Day 6 -  Omsk.   On arrival in Omsk, the city of Cossacks,  we are welcomed in the traditional Russian manner with bread and salt.  There is a city tour, during which we visit the museums of Dostoevsky, Vrubel, followed by a tour to the first Siberian Fruit Garden and Achair monastery

Day 7 –  Novosibirsk.   Novosibirsk is a city of academic science.  It has not lost the charm of its past, which is shown in the Bark, Sun and Train museum.  We visit these and the Opera House, as well as ancient streets and the Ob River.

Day 8  -  Relax on the train

Day 9 -  Irkutsk.  Called the ‘Paris of Siberia’, with its classic wooden architecture and the Decembrist House museum (dedicated to the memory of the exiled aristocrats, forced to flee to this remote outpost after the failed revolution of 1825).  We visit this museum as well as the “wooden lace” house, also called the “House of Europe”, before wandering  the amazing streets of the city.  There is free time at the 130 Quarter (Irkutskaya Sloboda),  a quarter with reconstructed city buildings from the 19^th century.

Visit to the Talsty ethnographic museum  located in a picturesque place on the right bank of the Angara river.

Day 10  -  Baikal.  Following the night in Irkutsk,  we take the ferry to the Listvyanka village, the closest settlement to Irkutsk on the shores of the beautiful Lake Baikal,  the deepest lake in the world and known as  the Pearl of Siberia with its unique breed of freshwater seal.   Enjoy a picnic lunch and go on to the Chersky Stone observation point with a beautiful view of the southern part of the lake and the source of the Angara River.  Visit to Baikal Museum which displays the flora and fauna of the lake.

Day 11 -  Irkutsk  and the end of the journey.

Dates and Prices

2013

St Petersburg to Irkutsk:   July 26 to August 6

Irkutsk to St Petersburg:   August 8 to August 15

Euro 8500 per person

Euro 4250 supplement for single person.

General Information

Included:  Hotel – 1 night in St Petersburg and 1 night in Irkutsk.   Transfers – from airport to hotel and return to airport.  Porterage between hotels and stations.  Luggage service at stations.  Excursions with local guides.  Tour director (English speaking).  Doctor on board.  Tea/coffee throughout the day.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Luggage:  There is limited storage space inside the cabin for luggage storage.  Soft-topped luggage is easier to store.  Clients can have assistance to store their luggage.

Gratuities:  Tipping is at your discretion.

Dress Code:  During the day, dress is casual both on and off the train.   In the evening we suggest smart casual.

Visas:  These are not included.  Please take  into consideration the time needed to obtain visas and the number required depending on which countries the train passes through.

Changes:  Tours may be subject to change.

Booking & Reservations

All prices are at publicly-quoted rates.

We will be happy to answer any questions and make the booking for you  -  contact us in the UK : +44 (0)1249 890205 or info@luxurytrainclub.com      Please sign up to our newsletter to be kept informed of interesting trains and special offers.