The Trans-Siberian Express
VLADIVOSTOK - KHABAROVSK - ULAN UDE - BAIKAL/ IRKUTSK - NOVOSIBIRSK - YEKATERINBURG - ST PETERSBURG - MOSCOWJune 7-21, 2003
Fully inclusive 14-day tour, Vladivostok to Moscow
One of the World's 20 Best Railway Adventures (as determined by the editors of the International Railway Traveler.)
DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1 (Saturday)
Group flight from US is met at Vladivostok airport after customs clearance. Transfer to the Hotel Hyundai for overnight stay.Day 2 (Sunday)
Free day in Vladivostok. Group meets for reception dinner and overnight stay. Overnight at the centrally-located Hotel Hyundai.
Day 3 (Monday)
The town tour takes in, amongst other things, the principal military attractions of Vladivostok. Evening departure of the Trans-Siberian Express with welcome dinner on the trainDay 4 (Tuesday)
Morning arrival in Khabarovsk, where you visit the Natural History Museum by the Amur River. Heading west, never far from the Chinese border, you enjoy the relaxed pace of life on board. You are now due north of Seoul, Darwin and interestingly, Osaka.Day 5 (Wednesday)
A full day on the train enjoying the comfort, space and service found on no other Trans-Siberian trains! Siberia at its most remote and beautiful unfolds before you as you enter the region of permafrost (though it will certainly not be cold in summer!). Here the vast distances and forbidding geographic and climatic conditions render the entire region a difficult environment for human existence.
Day 6 (Thursday)
Passing Chita early morning you are directly over Beijing. Afternoon arrival in Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat Republic. Your city tour here includes a visit to the colourful Buddhist Temple at nearby Ivolginsk. You are now above Hanoi and Saigon.Day 7 (Friday)
A very spectacular part of the journey along the Port Baikal branch, cut into the cliffs through tunnels and over bridges along the shoreline of Lake Baikal. You stop en route for a barbecue lunch (weather permitting), then enjoy a short cruise on the lake, visit Listvyanka and the fascinating exhibition of the area's unique ecology at the Limnological Institute.
Day 8 (Saturday)
Morning arrival in Irkutsk, known as the Paris of Siberia. You spend the day visiting the major sights and museums, including the classic Siberian wooden architecture, with the opportunity for some free time in the afternoon. You are now above Singapore.Day 9 (Sunday)
Heading west, passing Krasnoyarsk, you are above Mongolia, Burma, Thailand and Malaysia.Day 10 (Monday)
A stopover in Novosibirsk, where you visit the Opera House, Lenin Square and the Ob River, which flows 3,500 miles from its source to the Arctic.
Day 11 (Tuesday)
Yekaterinburg, last city in Asia and Capital of the Urals. Your town tour includes the Romanov execution site, and the Urals Mineralogical Museum. Shortly after departure, cross the Europe/Asia divide.Day 12 (Wednesday)
Last full day on the train. Passing Vyatka (Kirov) you are due north of Tehran.
Day 13 (Thursday)
Morning arrival in St. Petersburg where you spend a full day touring. Visit the stunning Imperial Palaces, including the State Hermitage with its remarkable collection of art. Late night departure on the final leg of your epic journey to Moscow.Day 14 (Friday)
Morning arrival in Moscow. Full day touring including Red Square and the Kremlin. Overnight in the 5-star Hotel Baltschug Kempinski opposite the Kremlin following the farewell gala dinner.Day 15 (Saturday)
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time in the morning. Airport transfer.
PRICES
Prices are per person for fully-inclusive tour Vladivostok to Moscow and do not include airfare.
First class twin share:
First class single occupancy:
Deluxe class en-suite twin share:
Deluxe class en-suite single occupancy:$ 4,495 per person
$ 5,995 per person
$ 6,995 per person
$ 9,995 per personFirst class twin share: $ 4,495 per person
First class single occupancy: $ 5,995 per person
Deluxe class en-suite twin share: $ 6,995 per person
Deluxe class en-suite single occupancy: $ 9,995 per person
TRAIN CONFIGURATION
We are proud to offer this tour through GW Travel of England, the largest operator of private trains in the former Soviet Union. GW Travel does not operate a 'fixed formation' train, it varies the configuration to suit the number of passengers. Maximum capacity is 84 passengers. 45 passengers are needed for each departure to run a full train. Our cars are detached for the city stopovers and continue on a later train. Train configuration is announced two months before departure.
FLIGHTS and other OPTIONS
IRT's Group Air
IRT will be offering two group air flights: one from Los Angeles and one from New York. Schedule, airline and price will be announced closer to the tour departure. Coach, business and first class will be available.
Additional add-ons:
Bolshoi/Mariinsky Theatre (subject to performance) from around £ 35 / $ 50 per person.
Private airport transfers: from £ 45 / $ 65 per person.Hotel rates unavailable at this time:
Seoul Incheon Airport Hotel
Vladivostok Hyundai Hotel
St Petersburg Astoria-Angleterre Hotel.
Moscow Baltschug Kempinski Hotel
London Heathrow Sheraton HotelMoscow to London by Rail: possible on the Moscow to Cologne sleeper service, connecting to Brussels and Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel to London (arrive Monday afternoon). Cost from $800 per person, which includes 2 nights in sleeping car.
Beijing by Rail: possible to Vladivostok by (very basic!) regular service train. 3-4 days extension.
Other destinations from Vladivostok: Flights to Japan (Vladivostok Air to Toyama & Niigata), S. Korea (Korean Air to Seoul). Weekly ferry to Fushiki, Japan in Summer. Details on request.Please indicate your requirements for all add-ons on your booking form and you will be sent full details with your booking confirmation.
HOW TO BOOK
Please call our toll-free number, and we will hold your booking with no obligation for 7 days. Upon receipt of your Booking Form and a 15% deposit, we will issue a booking confirmation. Deposits are accepted by check or Visa, Mastercard or Discover. A 3% surcharge applies for credit card usage. The balance is due by check 90 days before your tour departure.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
All bookings are accepted subject to the booking conditions of The Society of International Railway Travelers and GW Travel, as listed below. These conditions require you to have adequate Travel Insurance.Please read carefully the following conditions to which your booking is subject. Payment of deposit and signing the booking form indicates you have read these conditions and agree to abide by them.
1. CONFIRMATION OF 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.
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. It is also a condition that you take out Medtrip insurance, cost $22, explained overleaf.
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.
90+ days $250 per person administrative fee
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. 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, 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.
By signing the booking form you are accepting these conditions.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-IRT-4881
www.irtsociety.com
Send us e-mail with comments or questions
