Golden Eagle Luxury Trans-Siberian Express (Eastbound)

• Arrive in Moscow Airport and transfer the the Ritz Carlton, a five-star centrally located hotel. A welcome reception and dinner await you, giving you time to relax and meet other travelers.  
• You also have the option of arriving in Moscow early to extend your stay. During this time you can explore the city and possibly visit the famous Bolshoi Theater (please note tickets need to be pre-booked and are subject to schedule and availability). 

• Today you will tour Moscow's famous historical and cultural sites. This tour will take you to the Kremlin and to see the Tsars' treasures in the Armory Chamber. Next you will head to Red Square, where you will encounter unique architecture including St. Basil's Cathedral, GUM department store, and Lenin's tomb. Lunch will be served at the legendary Cafe Pushkin, where you can sample Russian cuisine. The last tour of the day takes you through the Moscow metro stations, world famous for their architecture and art.
• Alternatively, our Freedom of Choice option allows you to see other site of Moscow such as the State Tretyakov Gallery or the Space Museum. This is a good option for those that have previously visited Moscow.
• At the end of the day arrive at Moscow Kazansky Station. Here you will enjoy champagne and hors d'oeuvres in the Imperial Waiting Room. You will then be escorted to the luxurious Golden Eagle train accompanied by a military brass band.

Your train arrives in Kazan, a beautiful and cultural city on the River Volga. Take a tour of the city, exploring the Kazan Kremlin, a citadel built by Ivan the Terrible and home to a picturesque mosque and domed cathedral. Enjoy a private concert to honor famous opera singer Feodor Chaliapin (1873-1938). You also have the opportunity to explore the pedestrian area of Kazan at your leisure.

• Today you visit Yekaterinburg, the capital of the Ural Mountains. This city was founded by Peter the Great in 1723, and has a dark past from the Russian Revolution. Here you will visit the church that was built on the site where the Romanovs were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Your tour also takes you to the border between Europe and Asia, where you can drink champagne with a foot in each continent!
• With our Freedom of Choice Option you can also visit the Museum of Military Machinery. This new museum holds exhibits on military hardware and civilian vehicles, providing insight into the Soviet era.

• Novosibirsk is a modern city with Soviet influences located in central Russia. Here you will tour Lenin Square, named after the Russian political leader and home to a large statue of its namesake. View the adjacent Opera House where two permanent ballet and opera companies perform. 
• With Freedom of Choice you have the option to visit Novosibirsk’s excellent Railway Museum or the Mineralogical Centre which displays Siberian minerals.

• Today you have the opportunity to relax on your luxury train as you make your way east across beautiful landscapes. 
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• Today we visit Irkutsk, home to museums and unique wooden architecture. This city is known as the "Paris of Siberia" due to its cultural significance in the region. Your tour will take you to the Volkonsky House Museum, dedicated to the exiled aristocrats of the 1825 Decembrists. Your group will have a champagne reception and private concert to commemorate the times of Russian aristocracy.
• You can take a Russian cooking lesson or visiting a Russian Dacha (summer house) with our Freedom of Choice option.

• Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and a stunning natural wonder. Home to 20% of the world's freshwater, this lake also holds 50 species of fish and freshwater seals. Your train, hauled by a Soviet era steam locomotive for this portion of the journey, will wind around the lake, providing beautiful views from several angles. We stop to take pictures, weather permitting, and you have the option of taking a dip in the cool waters of Lake Baikal. Our next stop is the town of Listvyanka where you can visit Lake Baikal Museum and Aquarium to learn more about the lake. 
• Enjoy a barbecue dinner, including smoked omul, a fish that only lives in the lake. 
• A Freedom of Choice option is to go on a hiking adventure through the hills alongside the lake.

Today you visit the capital of the Buryat Republic, Ulan Ude. This historic city is home to the Buryat people, and you will have the opportunity to experience their culture as you tour the Old Believers' Village and a concert. Enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and interesting experience of this unique Mongol-Buddhist region.

• The next stop on your journey is the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbatar. As you travel through Mongolia you will notice that this former dynastic empire is home to beautiful scenery, picturesque Yurts, and interesting nomadic people. Visit Gandan Monastery, also known as "The great place of complete joy," a Buddhist Monastery that houses over 500 months. View the monument to Genghis Khan, legendary Mongol leader, in Chinggis Square, before continuing out of the city to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Here you can meet a nomadic family or go horseback riding.
• As part of our Freedom of Choice option you can alternatively chose to stay in the city and visit the National Museum and Bogd Khan Winter Palace Museum. These site provide you an in-depth history of the country.
• Part of this day includes shopping and exploring the city, where you can buy famous Mondolian cashmere and experience a performance by Mongolian throat singers and contortionists.

Today you spend on the train, enjoying breathtaking landscapes and learning more about Russia. You can even attend a lecture or Russian language lessons right on your train.

Continue your journey to Vladivostok today, as you train continues east. Enjoy your luxurious amenities and the education opportunities provided, such as lectures and Russian lessons. View remote and interesting Russian scenery as you near the Chinese border.

Enjoy your last full day on board the your train as it passes north of Seoul, Darwin, and Osaka on its way to Vladivostok. You will reach the farthest point east on your journey and cross the River Amur. Enjoy your final dinner on the train as you continue onwards to your final destination.

Today you reach Vladivostok, also known as the "Ruler of the East" a military port on the Sea of Japan. At this point you will have covered 6,600 miles (10,600 kms) by rail. This city was closed off from outsiders for more than 60 years, and is now an excellent destination to explore military attractions. You can visit a preserved World War II submarine and a notable suspension bridge over Golden Horn Bay. You will spend the night in the four-star Hotel Hyundai.

Today you say goodbye to your fellow passengers and head to Vladivostok Airport after breakfast. Return home with lifelong memories of your epic journey across the Asian continent.