The
CRIMEAN EXPRESS
Journey through Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine
in the comfort of our deluxe private train
June 2-15, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG - MOSCOW - MINSK - BREST - LVOV - KISHINIEV - ODESSA - YALTA
-SEVASTOPOL - KIEV
A journey of discovery to the land of Florence Nightingale and the Charge
of the Light Brigade
The names ooze history; Kiev (the cradle of Ancient Rus), Lvov, Odessa, Yalta, Sevastopol, Balaclava (Charge of the Light Brigade), The Tsar's Summer Palace at Livadia (site of the Yalta conference in 1945), Catherine the Great, Nicholas II, Florence Nightingale and many other evocative names and places that are waiting to share their romantic beauty and historic events with you. Every stone here is a witness to dramatic events, conflicts and happy times, love stories and tragedies - and in the Crimea some of the most stunning scenery in Europe.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
ˇ Moscow - Vibrant modern capital of Russia, which is in fact 500 years older than St. Petersburg
ˇ Minsk - Capital of Belarus
ˇ Brest - On today's border with Poland and scene of fierce fighting during World War II
ˇ Lvov - Ancient and well-preserved Capital of Western Ukraine
ˇ Kishiniev - Capital of Moldova
ˇ Odessa - Harbor city famous for the Potemkin steps, tree-lined boulevards and outdoor cafés
ˇ Yalta - Renowned Black Sea resort nestled in a natural amphitheatre below the 4,000 ft. Crimean Mountains
ˇ The Tsar's Winery at Massandra - location of the world's largest collection of old wines (1m bottles)
ˇ The Tsar's Palaces at Livadia and Massandra, Count Vorontzov's Alupka Palace
ˇ Sevastopol - Hero City of the USSR following the siege in WWII
ˇ Balaclava - British base during the Crimean War and location of the "'Charge of the Light Brigade"
ˇ Khersones - Ancient and vast Greek settlement within the City of Sevastopol
ˇ Bakhchisarai - Most Western Khanate from the days of Ghengis Khan and the Golden Horde
ˇ Kiev - Capital of the Ukraine and ancient Capital of Russia; the cradle of Ancient Rus
May is one of the best times of the year to visit this area, when spring flowers and cherry trees are in bloom.
Itinerary
Day 1: St Petersburg
Guests are met and transferred to the Nevskiy Palace Hotel in the city centre.
Welcome dinner.
Day 2: St Petersburg
After breakfast we tour this magnificent city and visit Catherine the Great’s
Summer Palace in Pushkin, including the world-famous Amber Room. Lunch at
the Podvorye Restaurant in Pushkin before returning to the city for an afternoon
and evening tour. As this is the ‘White Nights’ period it never
really goes dark. Around midnight we arrive at Moskovski station where our
train awaits. It will be pulled for the first part of the journey by Europe’s
largest, and Russia’s most modern steam engine, GW Travel’s P36-0032.
Day
3: Moscow
Travelling through the night we arrive in the morning in Moscow. We spend
the afternoon touring this vibrant capital and all its highlights. Dinner
is near Red Square before we return to our private train for a midnight departure.
Day 4: Minsk
We spend the morning in Minsk, capital of Belarus. Lunch onboard as we 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 our 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. Our city
tour includes lunch before we reboard our train and head south.
Day 6: Kishiniev
Passing over the border into Moldova during the night, we arrive at lunchtime
in the capital city of Kishiniev. Our afternoon tour of the city includes
a visit to a Moldovan winery where we have dinner.
Day 7: Odessa
Breakfast time arrival in Odessa, with its tree-lined Primorsky Boulevard
featuring street cafes on the embankment, and Potemkin Steps. This Black Sea
city was immortalised in Eisenstein’s 1925 film ‘Battleship Potemkin’.
Nearby is the impressive Opera & Ballet Theatre. Lunch in the city and
dinner on the train as we depart for the Crimea.
Day 8: Feodosiya
During breakfast we cross the Perekop Isthmus and on to the Crimean peninsula.
At Dzhonkoy we turn east and run through the arid central part of the Crimea.
Lunchtime arrival in the seaside resort of Feodosiya. Here we leave our train
for several days and drive along the coast to Yalta, pausing to view the stunning
Genoese fortifications at Sudak. For the next three nights our home is the
exclusive sea-front hotel Oreanda. Built in 1895 and fully restored in 2001,
it is by far the best hotel in the Crimea. Dinner at the Tiflis Georgian restaurant
Day
9: Yalta
In the morning there is a guided tour of Yalta including Chekhov’s house
and the Botanical Gardens, followed by lunch on the Hispaniola, a Spanish
galleon parked on the sea-front opposite our hotel. In the afternoon we visit
the Massandra Palace and Imperial Winery, touring the cellars (they have bottles
dating back to 1775, and many bottles from the Tsar’s personal collection),
followed by a tasting of their excellent dessert wines. Early evening we take
a trip along the picturesque coastline. The boat drops us at Cape Ai-Todor,
where we 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 10: Yalta
Morning visit of the 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
in February 1945. Lunch at the Oreanda, then free time before we depart for
a private tour of the Tsar's Summer Palace at Livadia and 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 small restaurant attached to the palace.
Day 11: Sevastopol
Early departure for Sevastopol, home of the Black Sea fleet. On the way we
pass the dacha in which Mikhail Gorbachev was imprisoned during the abortive
coup of 1991. Sevastopol is a town steeped in the history of both the Crimean
War and World War II, on both occasions being under siege for almost a year.
Until 1995 Sevastopol was a controlled city with visitors needing a separate
visa, required even by Ukrainians and Russians. Our 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. We visit the beautiful and secluded natural harbour in Balaclava
(British base during the Crimean war), the Diorama depicting the WWII battle,
and from which 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. Lunch
and dinner are in Sevastopol.
Day 12: On Board
Breakfast time departure as we head north towards Kiev. As the train pulls
away from the coast, out of Sevastopol we pass cave dwellings, some of which
are still inhabited and have glass windows. After about one hour we pause
in Bakhchisarai, seat of the Crimean Khans, descendants of Genghis Khan’s
Golden Hordes. We visit the Khan’s Palace (built in 1519 but destroyed
by fire, it was rebuilt for Catherine the Great’s triumphal visit to
the Crimea in 1787). We pass through the village on our way to the Uspensky
Cliff Monastery. Dating from the 8th century it has become a working monastery
again since the end of communism. During the afternoon we leave the Crimean
peninsula. Lunch and dinner on board.
Day 13: Kiev
Breakfast time arrival in Kiev, where we transfer to the hotel. Our tour of
this ancient city includes the beautifully-restored Caves Monastery, Lavra
complex, which includes 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 the recently-completed 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.
FARES
Prices are per person for the fully inclusive tour from St. Petersburg
to Kiev and do not include air fares as our passengers join the tour from
all over the world.
| Accommodations: | Rate: |
| Heritage Class, twin share: | $6,195 per person |
| Heritage Class, single occupancy: | $8,495 |
| Gold Class, twin share: | $11,995 per person |
| Gold Class, single occupancy: | $16,995 |
*Rates include three meals a day and off-train activities listed here. Rates do not include airfare or Russian visa fees.
Click
here to download our tour booking form.
Please
read our tour terms and conditions.
Accommodation on the Train,
"The Siberian Tiger Trans-Siberian Express":
First-class sleepers are modern air-conditioned cars built in Germany. They
are cozy and comfortable, and provide an ideal method of transport for the
remote areas of Russia that we visit. Classes offered on board:
Heritage Class:
Heritage class carriages have nine private compartments. Toilet facilities
are located at the end of each carriage. Heritage class compartments have
two lower beds that convert to couches for daytime use. A purpose-built shower
car is included for Heritage Class passengers.
Gold Class:
Gold Class compartments are the most luxurious and spacious on the train.
Gold Class carriages have only five compartments per car, each with en-suite
facilities (power shower, toilet and sink). Compartments feature underfloor
heating, DVD/CD player, audio system, individual air conditioning, recessed
lighting and wardrobe space. There is a wide lower bed, as well as an upper
twin bed.
Gold Class Cabin
Booking: If you wish
to book, please call 800-478-4881.
We will send you a booking form to complete, sign and return to us with your
deposit within 7 days. Alternatively, you may download
our booking form here. All bookings are first-come, first-served basis.
THE TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
ˇ Accommodation aboard our private train.
ˇ Hotel accommodation where indicated in the itinerary.
ˇ All meals including a generous allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks
and water with meals on and off the train.
ˇ The services of an experienced Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled
off-train touring.
ˇ Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water around the clock from your car
attendant.
ˇ Gratuities to local guides, drivers, tour management and train staff.
THE TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
ˇ Insurance (It is a booking condition that passengers have adequate insurance).
We recommend Travelex
Insurance.
ˇ International airfare or surface transport to the point of joining/leaving
the tour (except where stated otherwise)
ˇ Charges of a personal nature on the train or at the hotels (laundry, telephone,
bar account, etc.).
ˇ Visa or Excess Baggage Charges, Airport Departure Taxes, Vaccination or
Medical Costs.
ˇ Alcoholic and soft drinks in the bar outside of meal times
Click
here to download our tour booking form.
Click
here for complete tour booking terms and conditions.
The Society of International Railway Travelers
2010 Edgeland Ave., #100 Louisville, KY 40204
800-478-4881 or 502-454-0277
Send us an e-mail
with questions or comments
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