Traveling the full length of the Trans-Siberian Railway can be the experience of a lifetime. Today train lovers and cultural travelers alike have the chance to traverse this legendary route in the comfort of a private train specially designed and adapted for this ultimate rail adventure.

Russia's far-flung Trans-Siberian rail line has over 6,000 miles of track laid through cities, villages, taiga and mountains. The BAM (Baikal Amur Mainline) route detours north above Lake Baikal, through remote Siberian villages built on permafrost where international travelers are seldom seen.

Following the BAM Route, visit Russia's last frontier, through tiny villages untouched by tourism. Though bracketed by the same two cities as the Classic Route, Vladivostok and Moscow, the BAM line explores more remote stretches of Siberia.

One of the featured stops is Severobaikalsk. The city of Severobaikalsk began in 1974 as a base camp for construction of the BAM railroad line. Cleared from the virgin taiga on the north shore of Lake Baikal, the town was little more than a collection of tents, cabins and railroad cars at first. By 1980 it was declared a city, and today more than 30,000 people live in this remote place, surrounded on three sides by mountains, and on the other by Lake Baikal.

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• Moscow - Immerse yourself in Moscow's rich architectural heritage. Experience St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and The Kremlin.
• Vladimir - Steeped in antiquity, Vladimir echoes with ancient culture and a rich architectural wealth including the spectacular Uspensky Cathedral.
• Suzdal - Suzdal is Russia's most perfectly preserved walled city and a World Heritage Site. Listen to a private concert by monks in the St Euthymius Monastery.
• Yekaterinburg - Reflect on the poignantly tragic site where the Romanov family were executed by the Bolsheviks - a truly historic moment to the end of Russia's Tsarist period.
• Irkutsk - The 'Paris of Siberia'. Explore its classic wooden architecture and the Decembrist House museum dedicated to the exiled aristocrats who made their home here.
• BAM - A once in a lifetime experience to travel through an outstanding area of untouched natural beauty on the BAM (Baikal-Amur Mainline).
• Also see Komsomolsk na Amur, Tynda, Novaya Chara, Severomuysk, Bratsk, The Sayan Mountains and Abakan.

Day 1 Vladivostok
Arrive at Vladivostok airport, where you will be met and transferred to the centrally located four-star Hotel Hyundai. You will enjoy a welcome reception dinner at your hotel, whilst you meet your fellow travelers and, together, anticipate the epic 14 day voyage that lies ahead.

Day 2 Vladivostok
Today you spend the morning in Vladivostok. This once 'closed' Russian port now offers visitors an exciting opportunity to unravel its mysteries as you explore its principal military attractions including a tour of a restored submarine before boarding the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express during the afternoon. After settling into your modern, stylish cabins, enjoy dinner in one of the beautifully designed restaurant cars as our rail adventure westwards to Moscow begins.

Day 3 Komsomolsk na Amur
During the night you cross the Amur River in Khabarovsk and reach the most easterly point of your journey. After a short visit to Komsomolsk, a manufacturing centre and tin mining district, you join the BAM (Baikal-Amur Mainline). This new route runs north of and parallel to the original Trans-Siberian route and heads westward through a virtually untouched area of outstanding natural beauty. Simply absorb this stunning and atmospheric landscape as you enjoy dinner and listen to the resident pianist with new friends.

Day 4 On Board
Spending the day onboard the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, there is ample opportunity to relax in the Bar Car, have your first Russian language lesson and admire the Siberian scenery. Travelling through the untouched tundra, you experience Russia at its most remote. The beauty unfolds before you as you enter the region of permafrost. Here the vast distances and forbidding geographic and climatic conditions render the entire region a challenging environment for human existence.

Day 5 Tynda
Heading west you visit Tynda. With a population of around 40,000, it is the largest town for over 300 miles in any direction. It was built to be the administrative centre for the construction of the BAM route during the 1970’s and our visit to a local museum gives you a fascinating insight into the building of this line.

Day 6 Novaya Chara
Today is spent in Novaya Chara, a remote and isolated small village. Your tour takes you to an interesting small museum that reveals the history of this area, including the Marble Canyon Gulag. Many prisoners were sent here during the Soviet regime to mine for Uranium for the Russian nuclear program. Today, the area is famous for Charoite, a rare semi-precious lilac coloured gemstone, unique to this region. If you come across the many gem traders that frequent this area, you will have the opportunity to purchase your own piece of the attractive Charoite as a memento of your visit here.

Your next stop is the unique 6km long Sand Dunes, the origin of which remains a mystery. What is known, however, is that the dunes played an important role in the culture of the region's indigenous people as many ancient artefacts have been found here dating back thousands of years.

Day 7 Severomuysk, Severobaikalsk
This morning travel through the scenic Severomuysk mountain range. It is herethat you pass through the longest railway tunnel in Russia, an impressive testament to this country's visionary engineering skill. Stretching for 15.7 km, it was one of the most complicated of all the tunnels to be constructed along the railway. After lunch, you arrive in remote Severobaikalsk (North Baikal), where the road network is completely isolated from the rest of Russia. The BAM provides a vital lifeline for this beautiful area at the northern tip of the Lake. This afternoon you explore the unique way of life here and meet some of the local inhabitants.

Day 8 Bratsk
The city of Bratsk is home to one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world. You will spend several hours here, examining this impressive feat of technological engineering that was constructed in the 1960's. After your absorbing tour, you continue on to Taishet, where the BAM ends and you cross the Trans-Siberian main line. This section of the line was nicknamed 'The Road of Courage', after the many natural obstacles that had to be overcome during its construction; namely the towering Sayan Mountains populated with dense Siberian forests, rapid rivers and formidable permafrost. Construction began in 1942 and took 23 years to complete the section between Taishet and Abakan.

Day 9 Sayan Mountains and Abakan
Today relax onboard as the train travels through the Sayan Mountains. A sense of wonder permeates your senses as every mile you travel offers up sweeping panoramas of natural beauty. If time and weather conditions permit, we may stop at Abakan located at the confluence of the Yenisei and Abakan rivers. Enjoy this special day as you relax in the Bar Car with your fellow passengers or take part in an optional Russian lesson or lecture.

Day 10 Novosibirsk
After breakfast you stop at Seyatel to visit the Novosibirsk Railway museum before continuing into Novosibirsk. Truly a modern 'Soviet' city, you experience the life and character of a rich cultural city where the arts, science and literature predominate. The city tour takes you to The Novosibirsk Opera House. An architectural marvel, it houses two permanent ballet and opera companies and is the largest opera house in the world. In front of the Opera House, you visit an imposing statue of Lenin - a marvellous opportunity to have your photograph taken with this iconic political leader. Before rejoining the train, stand on the banks of the immense river Ob, which flows an astonishing 3,500 miles from its source to the Arctic.

Day 11 Yekaterinburg
Founded in 1723 by Peter the Great, this third largest Russian city is also the capitalof the Urals. The contrasting cultural and architectural influences of European and Asian civilisations fuse in this fascinating and cosmopolitan landscape, making it a truly unique experience. The city tour takes you to the execution site where the Romanov, Nicholas II of Russia was executed with his family by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Now a church dedicated to their memory, this site offers a powerful insight into the turmoil of the Russian Revolution.

Day 12 Kazan
You arrive at the historic city of Kazan in the morning. Situated on the Volga, Kazanis the capital of Tatarstan. One of the highlights of this absorbing city tour is the exploration of the Kremlin Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This uniquefortress is an outstanding example of the all-embracing fusion of Tatar, Italian and Russian architectural influences. Within the walls of this ancient urban citadel you will explore its mosque and Russian Orthodox cathedral. After enjoying a relaxing dinner on the Golden Eagle, you may wish to adjourn to the Bar Car where you can enjoy your last evening onboard.

Day 13 Moscow
After travelling along this epic route to the end of the Trans-Siberian line, you arrive in Moscow by mid-morning. The city tour of Moscow principally takes you to Red Square. 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. At the conclusion of the city tour, you transfer to the luxurious five star Marriott Royal Aurora hotel (orsimilar) located in the heart of this vibrant city. Your final evening is spent saying your goodbyes to fellow travelling companions and friends at the Farewell Dinner.

Day 14 Moscow
Following breakfast, any free time can be spent exploring this rapidly evolving city. It is possible that you visit The Kremlin this morning. At the conclusion of your time here, you will be transferred to Moscow airport to begin your journey home.

This itinerary is also available in reverse.

   

   

   

Dates	Silver Class	Gold Class
Feb 18 - Mar 3, 2010 (Westbound)	$12,795	$15,795
Feb 7 - Feb 20, 2010 (Eastbound)	$12,795	$15,795