This regal journey by private train carries you through the capitals of Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine and on to the sunny Crimean Peninsula, where the warm Mediterranean climate created “the playground of the czars.”

Begin in St. Petersburg, touring the Amber Room in Catherine’s Palace, then board the train to Moscow, where you can explore Red Square and the Kremlin. Back on board, you will speed to Minsk, capital of independent Belarus, and then Brest, famous for its 19th century fortress, almost destroyed during World War II.

Ukraine’s best-preserved city, Lviv, is next. Then on to Moldova’s capital, Kishinev, where you sample the deep red wine the country is known for. The next morning you atravel to Odessa, Ukraine’s Black Sea port city, climbing the much-filmed Potemkin Steps. Then the tour heads for the Crimea.

In palm-lined Yalta tour and taste at the imperial Massandra Winery. Next is a visit to Livadia, the palace where Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met to discuss the fate of Europe in 1945. In Sevastopol, relive the Crimean War’s Charge of the Light Brigade and visit the ruins of an ancient Greek settlement at Chersonesus.

Pause at Bakhchysaray, the capital of the Crimean Khanate from the early 16th century.

The last two days are spent getting to know Kiev, with its beautiful cathedrals and museums.

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• Moscow - Immerse yourself in Moscow's rich architectural heritage. Experience St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and The Kremlin.
• St Petersburg - Visit Catherine the Great's Summer Palace, St Isaac's Cathedral and Nevsky Prospect.
• Tours of Minsk, Lvov, Kishiniev, Odessa, Yalta and Kiev featuring the most interesting attractions these great cities have to offer.

Guest Speaker - HRH Princess Michael of Kent
Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent will join GW Travel's Crimean Express in 2010 as Guest Speaker.

The Princess is a successful author and has written a number of books on European historical subjects and has been lecturing internationally since 1986.

Her Royal Highness will join the northbound and southbound Crimean Express tours in Sevastopol, Ukraine and on board the Golden Eagle she will deliver an insightful and engaging lecture on the life of Catherine the Great and her role in the history of the Crimea.

Following the lectures, HRH Princess Michael will travel northbound on the train for a number of days.

Day 1 Moscow
Arrive at Moscow airport, where you are met and transferred to a luxurious five-starhotel located in the heart of this vibrant city for a one-night stay. You'll enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel, whilst you meet your fellow travellers and, together, look forward to the 14 day voyage that lies ahead.

Day 2 Moscow
The city tour of Moscow principally takes you to Red Square, an iconic symbol of Russia's former military and political might. Here you see an eclectic mix of fascinating architecture, such as the ornate St Basil's Cathedral with its magnificent onion-domed spires, the grandeur of The Kremlin and the sombre and evocative site of Lenin's tomb. In the late afternoon, board the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express and after settling into your modern, stylish cabins. Afterward you enjoy dinner in one of the beautifully designed restaurant cars as your journey to Kiev begins.

Day 3 St Petersburg
Today you tour this magnificent city and visit Catherine the Great's rococo Summer Palace in Pushkin, including the world-famous Amber Room. Lunch is at the Podvorye 'Coach House' Restaurant in Pavlovsk before returning to the imperial capital city ofthe Russian Empire for an afternoon tour of the key sights including St Isaac's Cathedral and Nevsky Prospect.

Day 4 Minsk
Spend the morning in Minsk, capital of Belarus. Lunch onboard as you head to the Polish border and Brest. A short stop and tour of this city which saw fierce fighting during World War II.

Day 5 Lvov
Breakfast is early prior to the arrival in Lvov, capital of western Ukraine and an ancient city that has seen many rulers. Named ‘Lemberg’ during Polish/Austrian rule, and again briefly during Nazi occupation, the old city, with its winding streets, has survived almost untouched. The city tour includes lunch before you reboard the train and head south.

Day 6 Kishiniev
Passing over the border into Moldova during the night, you arrive at lunchtime in the capital city of Kishiniev. The afternoon tour of the city includes a visit to a local winery.

Day 7 Odessa
With its tree-lined Primorsky Boulevard featuring street cafes on the embankment and Potemkin Steps, you arrive in the elegant city of Odessa at lunchtime. This Black Seacity was immortalised in Einstein's 1925 film 'Battleship Potemkin'. Nearby is the impressive Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Day 8 Sevastopol, Ukraine
Sevastopol is home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet and is a town steeped in the history of the Crimean War and World War II, on both occasions being under siege for almost a year. The tour includes the Old Town, the Panorama (a 360-degree painting and montage depicting the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War) and Khersones, reputed to be the most complete ancient Greek settlement in existence, and only opened to foreigners a few years ago. Spend your final night on board the Golden Eagle.

Day 9 Balaclave, Ukraine
Before arriving late afternoon at the Hotel Oreanda in Yalta for a 3 night stay you visit Balaclava and the Diorama depicting the WWII battle and from where there is a fine view of the valley where the Charge of the Light Brigade took place. The valley is now covered in neat rows of vines and in the middle is a white stone memorial to the infamous Charge.

Day 10 Yalta
Today there is a guided tour of Yalta including Chekhov's House and the Botanical Gardens, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you visit the Massandra Palace and Imperial Winery, touring the cellars (they have bottles dating back to 1775 and many bottles from the Tsars personal collection), followed by a scenic cruise along the picturesque coastline. The boat drops us at Cape Ai-Todor, where you climb over 100 steps for dinner at Lastochinko Gnezdo (the Swallow's Nest), a fairy-tale castle breathtakingly perched high above the sea. This restaurant is a world famous location and many world leaders have eaten here.

Day 11 Yalta
This morning you visit Alupka Palace which was built for Count Mikhail Vorontsov, former special envoy to the United Kingdom and friend of the Marlborough Family. The Palace is a strange, but attractive combination of a Scottish castle with Arabian additions. Churchill stayed here during the Yalta conference of February 1945. In the afternoon you enjoy a private tour of the Tsar's Summer Palace at Livadia and the site of the Yalta conference between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. A champagne reception in the grounds will be followed by a concert of chamber music and dinner in the restaurant attached to the palace.

Day 12 Kiev
You take a short flight from Simferopol to Kiev, one of Europe's oldest cities, where you transfer to your 5-star city centre hotel for 2 nights.

Day 13 Kiev
The tour of this ancient city includes the beautifully restored Monastery of Caves, Lavra Complex which has the highest bell tower in the former USSR, the huge Mother Ukraina WWII monument and museum, a stroll along Khreshchatyk Street, Saint Sophia's Cathedral and Independence Square.

Day 14 Kiev
Free time for shopping in the morning (Kiev is known for its inexpensive and Excellent caviar!). Airport transfers for guests connecting to international flights.

This itinerary is also available in reverse.

   

   

   

 Departure Dates:

• April 24 - May 7 (Southbound)
• April 27 - May 10 (Northbound)