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TOUR IHR1: New for 2011 - An Exclusive Luxury Rail Journey -
Voyage of a Lifetime

 

The Golden Eagle Crimean Express (14 Days)

 

Special Guest Speaker – HRH Princess Michael of Kent

 

Features: From Moscow to Kiev on April 23 or Kiev to Moscow on April 27 There will be one unique opportunity to join this extraordinary, Private, Historical and Cultural tour visiting the exotic capitals of Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine before journeying on to the warm, Mediterranean sunshine of the Crimean Peninsula situated on the Black Sea. You will explore the worlds of Florence Nightingale, the Charge of the Light Brigade and the little known cities of Minsk, Kishinev and Lviv before reaching the playgrounds of Yalta. You will experience first class comfort and service with all meals included while on board one of the world’s most luxurious trains.

Day 1: April 23: Arrive into Moscow, where you are met and transferred to your five-star hotel, the Ritz- Carlton in the centre of the city for a two-night stay

Day 2: April 24: Moscow: An overview of the city with a visit to the Novodevichy Convent and its historical cemetery. In the afternoon you will visit the Izmailovsky Park for the weekly bazaar.

Day 3: April 25: Today’s agenda includes an exploration of the city centre with visits to the Kremlin,
Assumption Cathedral where all the tsars were crowned; and the Armory Museum to view the unique collection of Faberge Easter Eggs, and the thrones and crowns of former Russian royalty. Transfer to the station to board the Golden Eagle Crimean Express to settle in ready to enjoy your first dining experience on board the Golden Eagle Crimean Express

Day 4: April 26: St Petersburg. You have the opportunity to explore this magnificent city known as the
“Venice of the North”. Sights to see are Catherine’s Summer Palace in Pushkin which houses the
now-restored Amber Room. Today lunch will be in the Podvorye Restaurant in Pavlovsk. After lunch the group will return to the city to tour St Isaac’s Cathedral and still have time to stroll along Nevsky Prospect. Overnight on board your private train.

Day 5: April 27: A full day will be spent in Minsk the capital of the little visited capital of Belarus. This
city witnessed fierce fighting in World War II. Overnight on board

 

 


Day 6: April 28: Today you will arrive in Western Ukraine’s capital of Lviv. Originally the city was named
“Lemberg” and was occupied by the Nazi forces. The old section of the city has long, winding streets which survived untouched from the war years. Lunch will be enjoyed in the city before rejoining your luxury train and heading further south.

Day 7: April 29: During the night you will have crossed the Moldovan border and by lunchtime you will
arrive at the capital city of Kishinev. An afternoon tour includes a visit to a local winery.

Day 8: April 30: Odessa is an elegant city and you will enjoy its tree-lined streets featuring many street cafes on the embankment and Potemkin Steps. The city also possesses a very fine and impressive Opera and Ballet Theatre

Day 9: May 01: Today your luxury train takes you to Sevastopol the home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet
and has historical significance as the setting for the Crimean War. Of particular interest
also is the 360-degree Panorama depicting the siege of Sevastopol. A rare visit is made to Khersones, regarded as the most complete ancient Greek settlement. Tonight you spend your last night on board the Golden Eagle. HRH Princess Michael of Kent will join the tour here in Sevastopol

Day 10: May 02: You will first visit Balaclava and the Diorama depicting the WWII battle and from there
have a clear overview of the valley where the Charge of the Light Brigade took place. There is a late afternoon arrival in Yalta where you will check in to the Hotel Oreanda for the beginning of a three night stay

Day 11: May 03: The tour has now brought you to Yalta and the playground of the Romanovs’.
Before lunch at the Swallows Nest, a spectacular and fairy-tale castle breathtakingly perched high above the sea, there will be time to explore Chekhov’s House and the Botanical Gardens. In the afternoon there is a scenic cruise along the coastline before visiting the Massandra Palace former home of Tsar Alexander II with its Imperial Winery and a tour of the extensive cellars.

Day 12: May 04: This morning you will visit Alupka Palace with its strange mixture of styles ranging from
a Scottish Castle to Arabian architecture. This was Stalin’s residence during the Yalta Conference in February 1945. This afternoon you will enjoy  a private tour of the Tsar’s Summer Palace at Livadia and the site of the Yalta Conference between Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt. A special treat will be a champagne reception followed by a concert of chamber music and dinner in the restaurant attached to the palace.

Day 13: May 05: Yalta to Kiev: After a leisurely morning in Yalta you transfer to the airport for your flight to Kiev where you will check in to the Premier Palace hotel for the next two nights.  The cost of your flight is included.

Day 14: May 06: Kiev. Today’s tour of the city includes the restored Monastery of Caves, Lavra Complex
with its huge bell tower, the Mother Ukraina WWII monument and museum, Saint Sophia’s Cathedral and Independence Square.

Day 15: May 07: End of Tour. Transfer to Kiev airport for your onward flight.

Note: This tour also runs in reverse commencing from Kiev on April 27

Prices:    New Heritage Class  $9,995.00 per person twin share      
$12,722.00 Single

Silver Class $14,795.00 per person twin share   
$21,017.00 Single

Gold Class $17,795.00 per person twin share   
$25,222.00 Single