Luxury Trans-Siberian: London to Vladivostok

Your sleeper service doesn’t leave until mid-afternoon, so you can leave your luggage at the hotel and spend a morning discovering the sights of Warsaw. Later, back at the station, it’s time to board the train for your first overnight journey through Belarus and into Russia.

​ALTERNATIVE ROUTES: As this sleeper train does not run every day, we may need to vary your route to Moscow depending on which departure date you choose. There is also a twice weekly service direct from Berlin to Moscow or a sleeper train travelling all the way from Paris. Please ask for details.

Early this morning, you will cross into Russia just west of the city of Smolensk.  Arrive into Belorusskaya station mid-morning, where you will be met and transferred to the Four Seasons Hotel (or similar) for an overnight stay.

The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish, whether you want to wander around the city and get your bearings or relax and enjoy the facilities of your hotel.

Today you will be given a tour of Moscow, encompassing the Kremlin and iconic Red Square, home to St Basil’s Cathedral with its distinctively colourful onion-domed spires.  Complete your Red Square experience with a visit to the tomb of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.

​Later today, transfer to Moscow Kazan Station where you will enjoy a glass of Russian champagne and canapés while you wait to board the magnificent Golden Eagle luxury train. Settle into your private cabin as the train begins its epic journey.

Kazan is a pretty an historic settlement on the Volga River, and is capital of the Tatarstan region.  See the UNESCO Heritage site of the Kremlin Fortress, in which you will see the striking mosque and onion-domed cathedral. You will then be treated to a private concert of the music of one of Kazan’s most famous sons, the opera singer Feodor Chaliapin.

There’s also some free time for you to explore the pedestrianised centre of the city before you re-board the train to continue your journey east.

Known as the capital of the Urals, Yekaterinburg was founded in 1723 by Peter the Great.  The Ural Mountains are regarded as the Great Divide, the natural border between Europe and Asia. As such, the architectural and cultural influences of both European and Asian civilisations are evident in its cosmopolitan landscape.  During your city tour here, you will visit the memorial church marking the site where Tsar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918, a significant moment in the Russian Revolution.

Novosibirsk is situated in the heart of Russia on the River Ob.  Your city tour takes in Lenin Square and the imposing Opera house, one of the world’s largest, which is home to two permanent ballet and opera companies.

The Freedom of Choice touring option here allows you to visit Novosibirsk’s world-class Railway Museum in the south of the city. Alternatively, you may choose to explore the Siberian minerals housed within the Mineralogical Centre or tour the extensive State Art Museum.

Reflect on the experiences of your journey so far as you enjoy a day unwinding onboard the train. Learn some more Russian phrases, get to know your fellow passengers better or relax and enjoy the scenery unfolding outside your window.

Known as the ‘Paris of Siberia’ due to its fascinating architecture, your visit to Irkutsk today takes in the most important museums and sites of the city. We will observe the traditional wooden structures and ornate lace-like embellishments which have given the city’s buildings their distinctive character, before visiting the Volkonsky House Museum. After the failure of the Decembrists uprising in 1925, aristocrats were exiled to this isolated outpost and the museum is now dedicated to their memory. An exclusive concert and champagne reception will attempt to recreate the ambience of this time.

Today you will visit one of the most notable highlights of the Trans-Siberian journey, Lake Baikal. Holding 20% of the world’s fresh water, it is one of Russia’s most striking natural sights.

The train line hugs steep cliffs along the lake, offering stunning vistas of the snow-capped mountains on the opposite shore. If the weather allows,  there will be a stop off for photos and the chance to brave a swim in beautifully clear, ice-cold waters. At the end point of the Baikal line, disembark the train to travel by boat across the lake to Listvyanka where chefs will serve up a barbeque on the waterfront, providing the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable day.

The cultural and ethnic diversity of the Buryat Republic’s capital, Ulan Ude, provides an interesting glimpse into the history and heritage of the area.

As you explore the Old Believers’ Village, you will observe the varied faces of the Buryat people and learn more about their history and culture. Enjoy a performance of folk singing and local traditions as you discover more about these religious people.

The next stop on your Trans-Siberian journey is Ulan Baatar, the capital city of Mongolia. A landlocked country famous for its nomadic communities, stunning scenery and rich culture, Mongolia was once at the centre of a colossal empire ruled over by Genghis Khan. It is also known for its vast green steppes and the white Gers (Yurts) dotted across its landscapes.

Your tour includes the imposing Gandan Monastery, home to over 500 monks. From here, move on to Sukhbaatar Square to see the imposing monument to the feared Mongolian warrior, Genghis Khan.

As the picturesque landscapes of the Russian Far East unfold beyond your window for the next three days, sit back and enjoy a leisurely day onboard or attend one of the Russian language lessons or lectures available. Take advantage of our second day onboard by rehearsing your new Russian skills or simply unwinding as we travel alongside the Shila and Amur rivers very close to the Chinese Border.

As the Golden Eagle makes substantial headway on its journey to Vladivostok, you will be treated with Russia at its most isolated and dramatic.

Today marks your last day onboard as the Golden Eagle passes just north of Osaka, Darwin and Seoul. This colossal journey concludes as you approach the most easterly point, crossing through Khabarovsk and the River Amur. Tonight provides the opportunity to say goodbye to your fellow travellers for the last twelve days, as you indulge in a final dinner onboard the train and reach your last destination.

Following your epic journey from London covering 11 time zones and 8,300 miles, the Pacific Ocean comes into view as the Golden Eagle enters Vladivostok. You will stay overnight at the Lotte Hotel (or similar).

The base of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, the city was closed to outsiders up until 1992 because of its military strategic importance.  Your tour here will include a preserved Second World War submarine and the new suspension bridge that spans the Golden Horn Bay, one of the largest of its kind anywhere in the world.

It’s time to leave Vladivostok today as you check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. This will usually be an overnight flight via Seoul, with Korean Airlines. Alternatively, you can extend your holiday. Have a look at our suggested extensions below or call for more details.