The Silk Road
By Private Train
October 1 20, 2004 (Westbound)
We are delighted to invite you on yet another grand journey to a fascinating part of the world on our favorite mode of transportation the train! This will be IRT's first-ever exclusive Silk Road journey. And what better way to travel through this intriguing land than by train? It will be a grand adventure exploring the wonders of this region. The journey: a 6,250-mile trip from Beijing to Moscow aboard the China Orient Express and Trans-Siberian Express. We are delighted to sponsor this program in conjunction with GW Travel of England.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Beijing, The Great Wall, Forbidden City
- Xian, The Terracotta Army & city tour
- Dunhuang
- Urumchi
- Almaty
- Tashkent
- Samarkand Registan Square
- Bukhara & Khiva
- Volgograd
- Moscow
- Last but not least the train, a comfortable hotel-on-wheels with bar car, restaurant cars, first-class sleeping cars, a staff of around 80 (60 Russian Train) most from Moscow Beijing and whom we have used many times beforeThe SILK ROAD
October 1 20, 2004
DAILY ITINERARY (Westbound)DAY 1. Beijing
Independent arrival in Beijing Airport. Transfers will be arranged for all passengers arriving at Beijing Capital Airport today to the Paragon Hotel, where we will stay for two nights. Afternoon at leisure to relax and adjust before meeting your fellow passengers at a welcome dinner.DAY 2. Beijing
After breakfast we will have a tour of Beijing including the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Lunch and dinner in the city.
DAY 3. Beijing
This morning we visit the Great Wall at Bedaling and Ming Tombs, then have lunch. Free time in the afternoon before boarding the China Orient Express train at the start of our 10,000-km (6,214-mile) journey to Moscow. Settle into your comfortable cabin and have a drink in the bar car before dinner en route to Xian.DAY 4. Xian
Breakfast time arrival in the ancient city of Xian. Over most of the past 2,000 years Xian was a booming metropolis vying with Rome and Constantinople for the title of the world's greatest city. Capital of China during the Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties and today's capital of Shaanxi Province, we will spend the day touring the city and visiting Shaanxi Provincial Museum, which covers the history of the Silk Road. Some other highlights are the Great Mosque, the 14-km city walls, Drum and Bell Towers, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Hauquing Lake and hot springs. Lunch and Dinner in the city with an overnight stay at the Sheraton Hotel.
DAY 5. Xian
Spend the morning visiting the world famous Terracotta Warriors which were only discovered 25 years ago. The 6,000 Terracotta figures of warriors and horses in rows and rows are one of the great archeological finds of the 20th century. Lunchtime departure as we enter an area of spectacular scenery where our train clings to the side of gorges, crosses ravines and passes through picturesque villages.DAY 6. Dunhuang
Morning finds us travelling through the Gobi Desert with arrival in Liuyuan after lunch. We transfer to the small city of Dunhuang where we will visit the fascinating Mogao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex which contains almost 500 grottoes, carved 700 and 1,700 years ago, and filled with an amazing collection of sculptures and murals depicting the evolution of Buddhist religious art over a 1,000-year period, Over 2,000 statues and 45,000 murals remain. Dinner in the city and overnight in the Dunhuang Hotel.DAY 7. Dunhuang
This morning we visit the Sand Dunes where the adventurous can take a camel ride over to Crescent Moon Lake. Lunchtime departure of our train as we continue our journey over the Gobi Desert.DAY 8. Urumchi
Mid-morning arrival in Urumchi. Lunch and dinner in the city with free time in the afternoon to stroll the bustling streets of Xinjiang Province's capital city. Travelers have been coming here for hundreds of years to visit the beautiful Tianchi, the "Lake of Heaven," also called "Heavenly Lake." Transfer to the Holiday Inn for the night.DAY 9. Urumchi
Free time in the morning. After lunch visit Heavenly Lake, situated at 6,235 feet elevation and dominated by the 17,864-ft. high Bogda Feng, or Peak of God, the idyllic setting looks like part of Switzerland or Canada in the midst of the Gobi Desert. Dinner will be at our hotel before rejoining the train for a late evening departure.
DAY 10. Crossing to Kazakstan
A final breakfast on the Chinese train is taken as we pass through dramatic mountain scenery before arriving in Alashankou, where border controls are carried out. We then transfer to the waiting Trans-Siberian Express private train for the continuation of our journey to Moscow. Lunch and dinner on the Russian train.DAY 11. Almaty
We arrive in Almaty after breakfast and tour the flourishing former capital of Kazakstan scenically located in the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains. We will visit the magnificent Zenkhov Cathedral during our morning city tour before having lunch in a Kazak Yurt in the mountains, some 16 miles from the city. Mid afternoon departure.DAY 12. Tashkent
After lunch on board we arrive in Tashkent, Capital of Uzbekistan. Spend the afternoon in this pleasant modern Soviet-style city that was rebuilt with wide tree-lined boulevards after a devastating earthquake in April 1966. After visiting the Museum of Fine Arts we will have dinner on the train as we depart for Samarkand.
DAY 13. Samarkand
The quintessential Central Asian town whose name, more than any other, instantly conjures up evocative images of the Silk Road. Many descriptions has been bestowed on this wonderful city 'Rome of the East', 'Pearl of the Muslim World' with Alexander the Great, Marco Polo and Tamerlane among its most well-known admirers. Founded in the 6th century BC, its architecture gives an indication of its former status as one of the most important cities in Asia. We will spend the day touring the many fabulous buildings including the Bibi Khanum Mosque, Ulug Beg observatory and culminating in Registan Square - one of the most awe-inspiring sights in all of Central Asia. The square will be illuminated after a dinner with traditional dancing and music. Return to the train for a late departure.DAY 14. Bukhara
Traversing the Kyzyikum Desert during the night, we'll awake to the splendor of Uzbekistan's largest oasis city, Bukhara. The city is not as grand as Samarkand but in many ways is more impressive. UNESCO provided funding for much of the city's renovation for its 2,500-year anniversary celebrations in 1999. Immerse yourself in the compelling history of this ancient walled city, with its 140 protected buildings. One of the many highlights is the Ark, fortified residence of the Emirs of Bukhara who were infamous for their cruelty and who survived into Soviet times. Lunch will be an authentic experience of traditional cuisine served within one of the many ancient medressehs (beautiful tiled Islamic schools), after which we will travel out of the city to visit the Emir's "Palace of the Moon and Stars." Dinner will be back on the train as we leave Uzbekistan briefly, passing through Turkmenistan along the Amu Darya, also known as the Oxus, River on your way to Khiva.
DAY 15. Ashgabat & Khiva
Early morning we arrive in the desert oasis of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan's capital, where we will spend the morning. The city has completely changed its face in the last five years as the modern "Khan" of Turkmenistan spent the country's oil money on developing a magnificent capital with marble palaces, fountains, gold statues and flowers everywhere. Enjoy lunch as we return to our train, making a stop at the deserted 2,000 year-old city of Merv, which is actually five walled cities covering 50 square miles and is dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage site. Overnight en route to Khiva.DAY 16. Khiva
Mid-morning the train crosses back into Uzbekistan to arrive in Urgench. We drive the short distance to Khiva to tour another fascinating Silk Road city that was one of the most important trading centers at the crossroads of the routes between Mongolia, Russia, China and Persia. Its former wealth is evident in the fabulous buildings, mosques, bazaars and minarets within the walled city which have been restored with UNESCO help for their recent 2,500th anniversary. Lunch will be in the city and dinner on the train as we depart north through the desert heading for Russia.DAY 17. Kara Kum
A relaxing day on the train as we head through the Kazakstan's Kara Kum desert. Enjoy the scenery and remote villages where we will stop in from time to time. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the train. In the evening we pass into Russia and follow the Volga River northwards.DAY 18. Volgograd
On the banks of the River Volga, Volgograd-or Stalingrad as the city was known in Soviet times-was the scene of probably the most important battle of World War II. The Russians finally turned back the Nazi advance to the Caucasian oil fields in Baku in the famous battle that claimed several hundreds of thousands lives. Up to this defeat Hitler had lost no major battles; after Stalingrad he won none. While it was the turning point of the war, Stalingrad had paid an enormous price. The city had been virtually destroyed, and we will visit the sobering Mamayev Kurgan war memorial followed by the excellent diorama and interesting museum before we return to our train for our farewell dinner on the Trans-Siberian Express.
DAY 19. Moscow
Lunchtime arrival in Moscow where we transfer to the Balchug-Kempinski Hotel overlooking the Kremlin for one night. Afternoon visit to Red Square and the Kremlin. Final Farewell Dinner will be held in the City.DAY 20. Moscow
Breakfast at the hotel and a morning tour of the Russian Capital bring our tour to an end. Transfers will be available in the afternoon to connect with the late afternoon flight departures.
FARES
First Class sharing $6,995
First Class single $9,245
Deluxe Class sharing* $10,995
Deluxe Class single* $14,995
Air connections on British Airways round-trip from London* $1,430Deluxe class is only available on the Trans-Siberian Express Train. On the China Orient Express couples booking this class will be allocated two compartments with a washroom between, singles will share the washroom with another single.
International air ticketing from the US in coach and business class will be available, as well as any pre- or post-tour holiday hotel nights. Prices can change before ticketing. Request business class or other routing ticketing upon booking.TRAINS
For this tour, we will be using two trains. The first is the China Orient Express; when we cross the border, we will transfer to our waiting Trans-Siberian Express. Accommodation on the trains is in modern air-conditioned first-class sleeping cars, two people per twin compartment. Single occupancy is available at a supplement. A washbasin and shower is shared between each two compartments on the Chinese train. There is a large amount of luggage space under the seats and above the door; hangers are provided for clothes, and there is a small table by the window. There are also two washrooms in each car; chemical toilets are available for use during stops.
The restaurant car will serve three meals per day (except where meals are taken in restaurants), and each sleeping car will have two attendants who provide tea and coffee throughout the tour and make up the beds each night during dinner. A Bar Car will also be included in the train formation. In Russia, members will transfer to the Trans-Siberian Express, which will have attached one or two of the new en-suite Russian deluxe carsWe expect the number of passengers to be 50, plus the on-train staff of 60 (80 in China), accommodated in a train of 13 cars. These are comfortable, well-appointed modern trains, ideal for our long journey through China and Russia.
Please note a limited number of ensuite class compartments with private ensuite shower and toilet are available.
GENERAL INFORMATION
A full passport with at least six months validity from the start of the tour is required.
Visas-Chinese, Uzbek, Kazak, Turkmen and Russian Visas-will be required. We will provide instructions for arrangement of all visas. The cost is not included.THE TOUR PRICE INCLUDES
- All meals.
- Wine, beer and soft drinks provided with lunch and dinner.
- The services of English-speaking tour leaders and local guides and at least one host from The Society of - - International Railway Travelers throughout the tour.
- English-speaking interpreters
- Comprehensive off-train sightseeing program as detailed in the itinerary.
- A doctor who will travel with the train throughout the tour.
- Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water throughout the tour from your car attendantTHE TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
International air
Insurance (it is a booking condition that passengers have adequate insurance).
Charges of a personal nature on the train or at the hotels (laundry, telephone, bar account etc.).
Visa or Excess Baggage Charges, Airport Departure Taxes, Vaccination or Medical Costs.BOOKING CONDITIONS
Please read carefully the following conditions to which your booking is subject. Signing the booking form indicates you have read these conditions and agree to abide by them.
1. CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING. A deposit of 25% of the total tour cost is required in order to confirm a reservation. A booking is not accepted by IRT and no contract exists until the date we accept your payment, upon which a confirmation invoice which will be sent to you. Your confirmation invoice will specify exactly what is requested by you. It is your responsibility to check the invoice and advise us immediately in the event of any error. A provisional booking can be made by telephone to (800) 478-4881 and, if space is available, we will hold your reservation for seven days with no obligation on your part. After seven days the reservation will lapse.
2. TRAVEL INSURANCE. It is a condition of your booking that you take out adequate Travel Insurance coverage. This may be done through IRT's recommended insurer TravelPlus; you will receive a brochure about this upon confirmation of your booking or earlier by request. The policy covers: Accident medical expense: $5,000; Sickness medical expense: $5,000; Medical evacuation/repatriation: $50,000; Accidental death and dismemberment: $25,000; Trip Cancellation/Interruption : full cost of trip; Lost Baggage : $1,000. Coverage limits are subject to change. If you take out an alternative policy this must provide at least the same amount of coverage as shown above and you must supply us with a copy of your policy and name address and telephone number of your insurers.
3. FINAL PAYMENT. We must receive the balance due at least 90 days prior to departure or in full upon receipt of a confirmation invoice if the booking is made less than 90 days from the departure date. If full payment is not received 90 days prior to the departure date, we reserve the right to treat the booking as canceled and you will lose your deposit(s).
4. CANCELLATIONS. If you or a member of your party is forced to cancel your booking you must confirm this to IRT in writing immediately. The letter should be signed by the person who signed the original booking form. The date of cancellation is the date on which your letter is received by us. There will be a cancellation charge to compensate us for making your booking and the risk that we will be unable to resell your place(s). Insurance charges are non refundable. Cancellation charges are:
Notice given before the Cancellation fee excluding insurance premium
scheduled departure date
120+ days: $300 per person administrative fee
120-90 days: Loss of deposit
89 days-departure date: 100% of tour cost5. TICKET CONDITIONS. You are required to accept the Terms and Conditions of Carriage of Air, Sea and Rail carriers used in your tour, some of which limit or exclude liability. These conditions are the subject of international agreements between countries. Copies of conditions that will apply to your tour are available on request.
6. COMPLAINTS. The stated mission of The Society of International Railway Travelers is to offer the very best in rail travel around the globe for its members. However, if you have any problem or complaint during your journey please bring it to the attention of the tour guide immediately so that he may have the opportunity to put it right. Should a problem remain unsolved, please write to the Society at its main office at 1810 Sils Ave., Louisville KY. Our desire is to set things right. We cannot accept liability for any claims received more than two months after the completion of your journey. We also cannot render any refunds for any reason outside the terms set forth in these booking conditions. All claims will be settled by arbitration in Louisville, Kentucky.
7. YOUR CONTRACT. Upon signing the booking form, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions herein. Your contract with us, made under the terms of these booking conditions, is subject to U.S. Law and jurisdiction and is held to be made in Louisville, Kentucky.
8. SURCHARGES. IRT does not expect to make surcharges. IRT does, however, reserve the right at any time to receipt of the final balance to impose a surcharge of such an amount as will, in the reasonable opinion of IRT, compensate the company for any adverse movement in currency exchange rates.
9. RESPONSIBILITY: The Society of International Railway Travelers, Inc. (IRT) and Hardy Publishing Co., Inc. (HPC), parent company of The Society of International Railway Travelers, act only as agents for the passenger with respect to travel services. IRT and HPC do not own or operate any of the suppliers of services or accommodations for your trip. As a result, IRT and HPC are not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such supplier of any other third party over whom IRT and HPC has no control. We can assume no responsibility nor liability in whole or in part for any delays, delayed or changed departure or arrival, missed carrier connections, loss, damage, weather, strikes, acts of God, circumstances beyond our control, force majeure, war, quarantine, criminal activity, expense, accident, sickness, injury or death to person or property, or mechanical defect, failure, or negligence of any nature howsoever caused in connection with any accommodations, restaurant, transportation or other services, for any substitution of hotels or of common carrier equipment beyond our control, with or without notice, or for any additional expenses occasioned thereby. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors you are required to spend an additional night, you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour due to these causes or voluntary cancellations. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely.
No revisions of the printed itinerary or its included features are anticipated; however, IRT and HPC reserve the right to make changes at any time and for any reason, with or without notice, and IRT and HPC shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever to passengers by reason of such cancellation, substitution or changes. All fares as well as ship and train schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, special programs, and guest lecture series (if applicable), are subject to change without prior notice. IRT and HPC shall not be required to refund any portion of the fare or make any other compensation under these circumstances. IRT and HPC cannot be responsible for penalties assessed by air carriers that may result due to operational and/or itinerary changes, regardless if the passenger and/or IRT and HPC make the flight arrangements. Any additional expenses resulting from the above will be paid by the individual passenger. IRT and HPC reserve the right to substitute a similar category for those listed in this brochure. IRT and HPC reserve the right to increase the tour price in the event of cost increases due to changes in air fares, currency fluctuations or fuel surcharges and such increases are to be paid to IRT and HPC by the tour participant upon notice to the tour participant of such increases.
When issued, the air tickets shall constitute the sole contract between the air company concerned and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger. Please note that advertised air rates can change before ticketing. The airlines and other transportation companies concerned are not held responsible for any act, omission, or events during the time passengers are not on board their conveyances.
11. MEDICAL. Any physical or mental condition which may require special medical attention must be reported in writing. All Society trips require some walking. In Russia, almost no facilities exist for disabled persons. By forwarding of deposit by either check or credit card, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers and accepts the terms of this contract. IRT and HPC reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour member should such a person's health, mental condition, physical infirmity or attitude jeopardize the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other participants.
12. HEALTH. Passengers should refer to the Department of Health leaflet 'Travelers guide to Health' (number T1) which is available from Travel Agents or from the Dept. of Health. Clients should check with their doctor before departure as to which inoculations are considered necessary or recommended for the area in which you will be traveling. Such precautions do not take the place of Insurance. In some foreign countries the standard of hygiene and safety may differ from those in the U.S. For your own protection you should take particular care with hygiene and to what you eat and drink while abroad.
13. BAGGAGE. Baggage and personal effects are taken at owner's risk throughout the trip and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.
14. VISAS & PASSPORTS. A full passport with at least 6 months validity from the end of the tour is required for all our tours. Passengers should ensure that they obtain all the necessary documentation and visas prior to departure as IRT and GW Travel assume no responsibility for passengers refused entry into a country for incorrect documentation and any repatriation charges will be the responsibility of the passenger. Please advise your nationality at the time of booking in case additional visas may be required.
15. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS. Travel Documents will be issued after receipt by the Company of the full price or final balance and not normally later than fourteen days prior to departure.
16. BEHAVIOR. Passengers are expected to behave in a reasonable manner toward other passengers, IRT tour guide and other persons with whom we have contact during our tour. If a passenger behaves, in the opinion of the tour guide, in a way likely to disrupt the enjoyment or endanger to safety of other passengers the tour manager will issue him or her with a verbal warning. Should this not resolve the matter a second, written, warning will be issued. If the disruptive behavior continues after the second warning then the passenger will be removed from the tour and will have to make his or her own arrangements to return home. No refunds for the untravelled portion of the tour will be entertained. The right is retained to refuse any application for reservation(s), cancel any reservation(s) or decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour group at any time.
17. OTHER CONDITIONS. All bookings are accepted and all arrangements are made by us subject to (a) any and all conditions imposed from time to time by IRT, HPC, GW Travel Limited, airlines and sea, road and rail carriers, providers of accommodations and catering and other services and facilities connected with your holiday (and such conditions will apply to you just as if they were incorporated in these conditions) and (b) any law direction or order imposed from time to time by any competent authority. Some of the third party conditions seek to exclude or limit liability of the third party concerned: for instance the responsibility of IATA airlines in connection with the holiday(s) in this brochure is limited to the carriage of passengers and their luggage in accordance with the Conditions of Carriage of the participating airlines. All charter flights are offered subject to Government approval.
18. SAFETY ON RAIL TOURS. Railways are busy and potentially dangerous places. If you alight at any photostop, other than scheduled stops at recognized stations, or visit any railway installation, whether included or not in the tour, you do so at your own risk and are advised that your travel insurance MAY NOT cover you in case of mishap. Permission to travel on the locomotives may be given during the tour however you do this entirely at your own risk; IRT, GW Travel and the Railways concerned will not and do not accept any liability in case of mishap.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-IRT-4881
www.irtsociety.com
