The Trans-Caucasian Steam Express
TBILISI-YEREVAN-LAKESEVAN-GYUMRI-MARALIK-GORI-BATUMI-BORJOMI-
BAKURIANI-VALE-MTSKHETA-TELAVI-ASTARA-BAKU
September 3-16, 2002
SAVE $200 PER PERSON IF BOOKED BY DECEMBER 31!
Itinerary
Tuesday 3rd September
Group assembles at the Five Star Metechi Palace Hotel in Tbilisi,
Georgia's capital. Passengers arriving on British Airways flight
BA6721 from London Heathrow (departing 21:00 previous day) will
be met on arrival at 05:55 and taken to the hotel, where we will
stay two nights. After breakfast and time to freshen up we tour
the city with a full day in Tbilisi in its spectacular mountain
setting. Lunch will be in the old town accompanied by local folk
musicians. Dinner in the hotel.
Wednesday 4th September
Free morning in Tbilisi. After lunch we depart for Georgia's
holiest Monastery the David Gareja Complex built in the
6th century. The complex is also famous for its many frescos
dating back to the 9th century when a renowned school of fresco
painting thrived there. Back in Tbilisi we have a traditional
Georgian dinner in the old city.
Thursday 5th September
Free time to explore Tbilisi before we transfer to the station
and join the Trans-Caucasian for it's inaugural departure at
lunch time. An added attraction of the first tour is that it
is planned to be steam hauled for most and probably all of the
journey. On future departures steam will be used only on some
scenic sections. Mid afternoon we cross the border into Armenia
and follow a scenic river valley as the sun sets.
Friday 6th September
During the night we pass through Gyumri and follow the Turkish
border before arriving in Yerevan, Armenia's capital. We tour
this pleasant city with snow-covered Mt Ararat (16,800 feet)
towering in the distance. As lunch is served in the dining car
we head north on the direct route to Tbilisi which is currently
closed at the Azeri border. At Razdan we join the Zod branch
and spend the afternoon following the shoreline of Lake Sevan,
the Shahrani Mountains rising directly from the lake with several
peaks in the 6 - 10,000 foot range. In the evening we start to
retrace our steps towards Yerevan.
Saturday 7th September
Passing Yerevan in the early hours we continue to Gyumri, formerly
Leninakan, arriving late morning. For most of the morning we
will be skirting the 13,300 foot Mt Aragatz. We will visit the
steam depot here before taking the short branch to the Turkish
border at Akhuryan. The border with Turkey has been closed since
1992 and there are no signs of it being re-opened. We return
to Gyumri and take the branch line to Maralik before passing
back through Gyumri to our next stop at Spitak. Epicentre of
the 1988 Armenian earthquake, the old town was destroyed and
the decision was made not to rebuild it but to build a new town
some kilometres away.
Sunday 8th September
This morning again we follow the scenic Debeda River valley on
our way back to Tbilisi and on to Gori, where we arrive late
morning. Lunch with traditional entertainment will be on the
Mtkvari riverbank beneath the 6th century Uplistsikhe Cave City,
which we will visit after lunch. Gori is Stalin's birthplace;
his small house has been preserved and a huge columned museum
has been constructed, alongside which is parked his private railway
car. We view the Gori Fortress before rejoining the train for
dinner. On leaving Khashuri we encounter the Rikoti, the most
difficult section of the Trans-Caucasian main line, indeed the
most difficult section of any main line in the former Soviet
Union. With gradients of 1 in 55 (1.8%) for the first 10 kms
to Suramskiy Summit before descending for 50 kms to Zestafoni
there are long sections between 1 in 34 (2.9%) and 1 in 50 (2%).
Monday 9th September
After breakfast we arrive in Batumi on the Black Sea and one
of the oldest cities in Georgia, dating back to 300BC. We spend
the morning in the city, where we will visit the 10th century
Gonio Fortress and the Botanical Gardens before heading inland
again through the tea plantations of Ajara province. Late afternoon
we visit Kutaisi, Georgia's second city, where we will visit
the ancient foundations of the Bagrati Temple (a World Heritage
site) and the Gelati Monastery. We return to the train for dinner,
with a late evening climb out of Zestafoni.
Tuesday 10th September
During the night we reverse direction in Khashumi and take the
Vale branch through the Borjomi gorge to Vale. At breakfast time
we return through the gorge to the spa town of Borjomi. After
visiting the narrow-gauge depot, we depart on the electric narrow-gauge
'Cuckoo Train' that runs 37 kms up to the mountain resort and
ski area of Bakuriani. This is a very scenic line, and we will
stop midway to have a shashlik (barbecue) lunch. From Bakuriani
we will return to Borjomi by road and there visit the Romanov
Likani Palace and gardens before returning to the train for dinner
as we continue through the gorge.
Wednesday 11th September
Breakfast time arrival in Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia,
where we will visit the 12th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
and the 6th century Jvari Church of the Holy Cross perched hihg
above the confluence of the Mtkvachari and Aragui rivers. From
Mtskheta the Georgian Military highway, built by Tsar Alexander
I, runs north to Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia. We will travel
to the ski area of Gudauri, near the summit, where we will visit
several ancient cave dwellings and villages set in spectacular
mountain scenery, the 16,300 foot Mt Kazbek (third highest in
the Caucasus) dominating the skyline. Lunch in Gudauri. In the
evening we rejoin our train in Tbilisi and run to Telavi.
Thursday 12th September
Georgia has been justly famous for its wines and Telavi, situated
in the plains under the Caucasus Mountains, is the centre of
the main wine growing area. We will visit the local Tsinadali
winery, taste some of their products and have lunch before visiting
the adjacent Chavchavadze Palace and Park. We rejoin our train
at Telavi station and head for the Azeri border, which we cross
late this evening.
Friday 13th September
During the day we steam southeast across increasingly desolate
scrub and desert as we head towards the Caspian. Mid afternoon
we head south towards the Iranian border, pausing at Kazimagomed
to view the strategic reserve here.
Saturday 14th September
Early morning finds us at Astara on the Iranian border. The station
is almost on the sea shore. From here we will run along the Caspian
coast, north towards Baku where we arrive in the evening after
our farewell dinner on the train. We say goodbye to our Moscow
train crew and transfer to the Five Star Hyatt Regency Hotel
for two nights.
Sunday 15th September
Free time in the morning followed by a town tour of Baku in the
afternoon. Dinner at the Xari Bül Bül traditional Azeri
restaurant with local folk musicians.
Monday 16th September
For passengers returning to London, we will provide a transfer
to Baku Airport for the 10:30 British Airways flight BA6724 to
London Heathrow, arriving 12:30.
The train is presently expected to feature haulage by L-class 2-10-0s throughout.
Accommodation on the train is in modern air-conditioned
first class sleeping cars, two people per twin, lower berth compartment;
single occupancy is available at a supplement. 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 two washrooms in each car, chemical toilets are available
for use during stops and a shower car is included in the train
formation, for which towels are provided.
The restaurant car will serve three meals
per day (except where meals are taken off the train) and each
sleeping car will have two attendants who provide complimentary
tea and coffee throughout the tour and make up the beds each
night during dinner.
This is a comfortable modern train, ideal for the very remote
areas that we will be visiting.
FARE (Land-only)
Full Tour Tbilisi to Baku £
2,995 $ 4,495
Single Supplement £
695 $
1,045
Early booking discount: If booked by December 31, take $200 per person off the tour price!
Private Saloon Car supplement (see below) £ 5,500 $ 7,985
Master Bedroom $4,000 Single Bedroom $2,500 Double
Bedroom $1,750
Saloon Cars provide a completely self-contained
exclusive environment for small group travel, suitable for 4-6
persons with private facilities and lounge. Each car has one
master bedroom (for one or two persons) with en-suite bathroom,
and two regular compartments for two persons each, a large saloon
with comfortable seating area and dining table. Each car has
a staff of two who can provide meals in the Saloon car (if required).
Private Saloon Car supplement is the cost per car, payable in
addition to the tour price per person. The minimum number of
passengers required for a saloon car is four. Please ask for
our separate brochure.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The minimum number of passengers required to run this tour is
25.
GW Travel will advise no later than June 15, 2002 if this tour
will be cancelled due to insufficient bookings.
A full passport with at least six months validity from the start
of the tour is required.
The tour language will be English.
GW Travel holds Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 3408
and are bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
THE TOUR INCLUDES
- All meals.
- A generous (but not unlimited) allowance of Wine, Beer or soft
drinks provided with Lunch and Dinner.
- Steam program as outlined with photostops and runpasts.
- A Laundry attendant who will provide laundry service throughout
the tour.
- The services of GW Travel representatives throughout the tour.
- Interpreters.
- A Doctor who will travel with the train throughout the tour.
- Local musicians at some off train events.
- Security guards.
THE TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE
Connecting air fares from London to Tbilisi and from Baku or
Moscow to London.
Insurance (it is a booking condition that passengers have adequate
insurance).
Charges of a personal nature on the train at the hotels (laundry,
telephone, bar accounts etc.).
Visa or Excess Baggage Charges, Airport Departure Taxes.
Vaccination or Medical Costs.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Although the arrangements for this tour include steam haulage
throughout and back-up locomotives will be stationed along the
route, GW Travel wishes to make it clear that no guarantee is
given that 100% steam haulage will be provided. Further, no refunds
will be made if for operational, mechanical or other reasons
beyond our control, steam traction is not provided along the
entire route or if any of the side trips or town tours have to
be dropped or curtailed in order to maintain our overall schedule.
TERMS & 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 15% of the tour cost is due in order to confirm you booking. A booking is not accepted by IRT and no contract exists until the earlier of a) The date we accept your payment or b) the date we issue our 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) IRT-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 if a deposit has not been made.
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 MedTrip; you will receive a brochure about this upon confirmation of your booking or earlier by request. The policy covers: Accident medical expense: $100,000; Medical evacuation/repatriation: $500,000; Accidental death and dismemberment: $25,000; Lost Baggage : $1,000 ; Trip Cancellation/Interruption : full cost of trip up to $10,000. (Subscriber shall pay 10% of the cost of any reimbursement in respect of trips costing in excess of $10,000. 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 our 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 then 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 as a percentage of
scheduled departure date total, excluding insurance premium.
121+ days Full refund
120-61 days Loss of deposit
60-46 days 50%
45 days-departure date 100%
5. 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 some areas we may be traveling, 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. Tickets are usually arranged on departure for those bookings made within seven days. Please take your confirmation with you on departure.
16. BEHAVIOR. Passengers are expected to behave in a reasonable manner toward other passengers, tour manager and other persons with whom we have contact during our tour. If a passenger behaves, in the opinion of the tour manager, 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.
By signing the booking form you are accepting
these conditions.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-478-4881 or 502-454-0277
www.irtsociety.com
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