TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY ADVENTURE

Transcription

1 Open to alumni UBC and friends TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY ADVENTURE ULAAN BAATAR TO MOSCOW MAY 15 30, 2018 Dear Alumni and Friends, Get ready for the ride of a lifetime. You will experience the amazing cultural, historic, and geographic diversity of the Eurasian landmass as we travel from Asia to Europe on the famous Trans-Siberian railway. Beginning with a few days in the wild beauty of Mongolia, we will then travel to Ulan Ude, the heart of Buddhism in Russia, followed by the grassy steppes and pine forests of Siberia as well as Lake Baikal the world s largest and deepest freshwater lake. We ride onwards over the Ural Mountains, the border between Asia and Europe, to the modern city of Ekaterinburg where we will visit a Russian orthodox shrine to the tragic murders of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. We end our amazing adventure in complex, and surprisingly beautiful, contemporary Moscow. This is a trip for the culturally curious and adventuresome traveller. The Trans-Siberian railway that you will experience is not a journey arranged for tourists; it is a means of public transportation. You will get your morning tea from a samovar in the train corridor and barter for local fruit, cheese, salted omul (a dried fish speciality from Lake Baikal), and syshki (crunchy O-shaped crackers) on railway station platforms along the way. Travel by second class, or kupe, enables you to meet the locals with whom you might play cards, drink tea, or share food. We won t see Mongolia and Russia only by train, however. We are off the train as much as we are on it with a mix overnight train trips and hotel stays in cities, exploring urban attractions, markets, and cultural sites. We will end at the Kremlin in Russia s muscular capital city. The time on the train will finally match the time on our watches as every train keeps Moscow-time regardless of which time zone the train is actually in. Anne Gorsuch TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS BY:

2 Lake Baikal WHY ALUMNI UBC TRAVEL CLUB? Discover how breaking bread is an essential part of Russian train etiquette Joke with local villagers over a plate of posy in Buryat fashion. Delight in the gingerbread patterning of traditional wooden houses in Siberian villages Dine with the Old Believers in Ulan Ude Observe freshwater seals in Lake Baikal RUSSIA St Petersburg Lake Ekaterinburg Baikal Ulan-Ude Moscow KAZAKHSTAN Irkutsk MONGOLIA Ulanbaatar STUDY LEADER Anne Gorsuch is an historian of the Soviet Union, and former Department Head, in the UBC History Department. A frequent traveler to Russia, she has published on the history of youth in revolutionary Russia, international tourism in the Khrushchev era, and Cuban-Soviet relations in the 1960s.

3 DETAILED ITINERARY Tuesday, May 15: Arrive in UlaanBaatar, Mongolia Arrive in UlaanBaatar, where a local representative provides a transfer to our hotel in the city centre. The contrast between ancient traditions and a 21st century democracy is most visible in here where traditional gers and Buddhist monasteries sit side by side with modern high-rises. As most flights arrive in the late evening, no activities are planned today. Overnight: Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel Wednesday, May 16: Exploring UlaanBaatar Meet Anne, fellow participants, and your tour manager for a briefing over breakfast this morning. Then set off to explore the city. Visit the Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia, and learn the history of the massive statue of the Lord Who Looks in Every Direction. Strolling through the monastery grounds, hear the low tones of the horns used to call the lamas to the temple and observe their daily rituals. Visit the recently renovated Chenrezi and Kalachakra Temples, as well as the magnificent 25-metre statue of Migjid Janraisig, gilded in pure gold. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Welcome Dinner Overnight: Best Western Tuushin Hotel, Ulaanbaatar Thursday, May 17: The Mongolian steppe at Terelj Travel out of the city to the steppes to get a feel for the huge distances and enormous sky that nomads have contended with for eons. This sweeping alpine landscape is dotted with traditional gers and grazing livestock. We stay overnight in this nomadic dwelling; the original design ensured an easily collapsible and transportable structure so people could follow their heards seeking new pastures. Overnight: Temple Ger Camp, Gorkhi-Terelj Friday, May 18: By train to Buryatia, Russia Visit the Mandshir Monastery, which as once a large Buddhist centre, located in the Bogd Khaan Mountain Reserve. For the over 300 monks who once lived here, the scenic forest setting must have provided daily inspiration. This evening, enjoy dinner and a performance of Mongolian throat-singing before transferring to the train station and embarking on our first overnight train journey to Buryatia, Russia. Overnight: On board the train Saturday, May 19: Across the border to Russia Observe border formalities as we leave Mongolia and enter Russia where a special presentation on Russian border issues informs the process. Get to know the villages of Buryat indigenous people who maintain their unique cultural identity, language and religious beliefs. Meet students and teachers at a local school this afternoon, and then continue to Ulan Ude for an evening arrival. Overnight: Geser Hotel, Ulan Ude Sunday, May 20: Ulan Ude The city, founded by the Cossacks in 1666, prospered as a trading post on the Tea Route from China. It is the centre of Russian Buddhism; the university has recovered from Stalinist restrictions and is once again a place of teaching. Here, young lamas live and study, and the main temple is decorated with silks, precious stones, and painted woodwork. The area is also a centre for Russia s Old Believers, who rebelled against the 1652 reforms of the Orthodox liturgy and ritual, and managed to preserved their 17th century traditions. Overnight: Geser Hotel, Ulan Ude Monday, May 21: Ulan Ude / day train to Irkutsk Board the day train after breakfast at the hotel and ride a small portion of the epic Trans-Siberian rail line, connecting Ulan Ude and Irkutsk the two primary cities of Siberia. Arrive late in the afternoon at Irkutsk for a short walking tour before check-in. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Overnight: Empire Hotel, Irkutsk Tuesday, May 22: Irkutsk Spend the day exploring the Irkutsk area, which has been a place of exile since Genghis Khan offered it to captives as an alternative to death. Peruse the local market, and see such notable sites as the Cathedral of the Epiphany, the Gagarin Embankment and the World War II Memorial. This evening climb to the bell tower of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and enjoy a concert of chimes by a master bell ringer. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Overnight: Empire Hotel, Irkutsk Sevastyanov s House, Ekaterinburg Ulan Ude

4 Wednesday, May 23: Irkutsk for Listvyanka Following breakfast, depart Irkutsk for Listvyanka on the shores of Lake Baikal. Here, board a private boat for a five-hour roundtrip cruise along the old Circumbaikal Railway. On land, explore some of the many tunnels in this famously complex rail system. The Circumbaikal is the original line used by the Trans-Siberian Railway before the present-day route was completed. After the boat excursion, head to the small fishing village of Listvyanka for check-in and dinner. Overnight: Krestovaya Pad, Listvyanka Thursday, May 24: Listvyanka and Irkutsk / board the Trans- Siberian Railway Learn about the world s oldest and deepest freshwater lake at Listvyanka s Baikal Museum. In the lake itself, the nerpa or freshwater seals are both fascinating and entertaining. Visit the Museum of Wooden Architecture and its 166-acre collection of authentic Russian and native Buryat, Evenki and Tafalar houses and community buildings from the 17th to the early 20th centuries, arranged to resemble historic villages. After lunch with a local family, head back to Irkutsk for a classical music concert in the restored house of Prince Sergei Volkonsky. Transfer to the station to board the overnight train to Ekaterinburg along the Trans-Siberian Railway. Overnight: On board the train Sunday, May 27: Exploring Ekaterinburg / board the Trans- Siberian Railway Spend a full day exploring Ekaterinburg today before boarding an overnight train to Moscow. Visit some of Ekaterinburg s prominent sites such as the Plotinka Dam, Military History Museum, and the Black Tulip the statue of an exhausted and traumatized soldier, which serves as a memorial to the young men sent to fight in Afghanistan in the last years of Soviet power. After lunch, head westward out of town to cross continents at the Europe-Asia Obelisk, an then bear north to Ganina Yama and the Holy Monastery of the Royal Martyrs Tsar Nicholas and Family. In the late afternoon, transfer to the Ekaterinburg rail station for the overnight train to Moscow. Monday, May 28: To Moscow aboard the Trans-Siberia Railway Spend the day aboard the railway and arrive in Moscow in the evening. Overnight: Park Inn Sadu, Moscow Traditional rural home Moscow Kremlin and St. Basil Cathedral on Red Square Friday, May 25: Aboard the Trans-Siberia Railway Almost two full days aboard the Trans-Siberia give you the chance to develop a sense of scale and perspective in the vast expanse of Siberia. There will be lots of opportunity to move around the train and meet locals and international visitors alike. Stretch your legs during short stops at small towns and remote villages. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: On board the train Saturday, May 26: Aboard the Trans-Siberia Railway / Arrive in Ekaterinburg After another full day aboard the rail, arrive in Ekaterinburg early in the evening in time for dinner and a relaxing evening at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: Park Inn Hotel, Ekaterinburg Tuesday, May 29: Exploring Moscow on foot Take to Moscow s streets and exceptional Metro today during a full day in Russia s storied capital. Visit Red Square, with St. Basil s Cathedral and the Kremlin, which imposingly overlooks the Moskva and Neglina rivers. On the Kremlin grounds, the Armory Museum was originally a 16th century warehouse for the Kremlin s weaponry, before becoming an exhibition hall and museum in The Armory Museum now houses Russia s national treasures such as icons, Fabergé eggs, a bejeweled chalice belonging to Prince Yuri and Catherine the Great s ball gowns and shoes. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at will. This evening, toast your journey with a farewell dinner at a fine restaurant. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: Park Inn Sadu, Moscow Wednesday, May 30: Depart Moscow Following breakfast, the tour concludes with transfers to the airport. Meals: Breakfast

5 OPTIONAL EXTENSION Moscow Wednesday, May 30: Moscow Continue your exploration of Moscow with a visit to the Tretyakov Gallery displaying pieces from the 11 th century to the present including mosaics, icons, and paintings rarely seen outside Russia. Stroll through Gorky Park, the Soviet Union s first Park of Culture and Rest and the setting for Martin Cruz Smith s cold war murder mystery. Later take a look at the Moscow s extensive metro system; the stations in the city centre are showpieces of Socialist art. Overnight: Park Inn Sadu, Moscow Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Extension Cost (per person): US$1295 Single supplement: US$200 Includes: Two nights accommodation, based on double occupancy, meals as listed in the itinerary, full program of activities with local English speaking guide. Note that gratuities are not included. This extension is locally escorted. Thursday, May 31: Moscow Tour two of the Soviet Union s most interesting vestiges; Moscow s Space Exploration Museum is housed at the base of the monument named To the Conquerors of Space, a huge upright titanium contrail behind a rocket taking off to the sky; Stalin s nuclear bunker is a 75,000-square-foot space meant to sustain 5,000 people for three months. A more peaceful visit this afternoon is to the 16 th century Novodevichy Convent with its beautiful Smolensk Cathedral and fanciful graves of Soviet luminaries. Overnight: Park Inn Sadu, Moscow Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Friday, June 1: Depart Moscow Transfer to the airport for homeward-bound flights. Meals: Breakfast

6 HOW TO BOOK Please contact Amanda at the Worldwide Quest Office TOUR DETAILS Tour Cost (per person): Approx US$6495 Taxes and Gratuities (per person): US$300 Single Supplement: US$895 for hotel rooms only We would be happy to try to match you with a suitable roommate. If we are unable to, the single supplement will apply. Group Size: participants What s Included: Airport transfers for passengers arriving and departing as per the group itinerary Accommodation in double occupancy, based on hotels listed or similar Meals as indicated in the itinerary Bottled water with meals Transportation see note below for details and upgrade option All activities and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary Services of specialized English speaking tour guide and local guide Gratuities for escort, local guides, drivers, hotel and group meals (as indicated above) Taxes (as indicated above) Not Included: Roundtrip international airfare from your home Airport transfers if arriving or departing separately from group itinerary (see Joining Instructions below) Meals and beverages not included in the itinerary Items of a personal nature (e.g. laundry, drinks, phone calls, etc.) Travel insurance Additional transport due to any emergency situation Any item not mentioned in What s Included above Payment Details: A non-refundable deposit of US$500 per person is required to reserve your space on this tour. A second payment of US$1000 is due six months prior to departure. The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. Optional Upgrade: US$895 per person for two travellers per compartment instead of four travellers per compartment for the overnight segments. Please note: not all trains offer actual first-class, two berth compartments, therefore pricing is for a privacy upgrade of two travelers/compartment which may be in an actual first-class, two berth compartment; or may be organized as two travelers utilizing all four berths in a second class, four-berth compartment. TICO#:

7 WHAT TO EXPECT Joining Instructions This tour begins on arrival in UlaanBaatar, Mongolia where an airport transfer is provided. When you make flight arrangements or any pre-trip night booking with Worldwide Quest, your transfer from the airport to our group hotel on arrival is included. If you are making your own flight or pre-trip hotel arrangements, this transfer can be provided at additional cost. The tour concludes with a single complimentary transfer from the hotel to the Moscow Airport on May 30th. Please contact us to verify timing prior to making your flight arrangements. Level of Activity: Easy to Moderate When not on the train, you must be able to walk unassisted on flat, uneven ground for up to three hours at a time. Most of this will be in cities and villages, but we will be spending some time in natural terrain at places like Lake Baikal and Terelj. Accommodation We have selected a range of comfortable hotels for nights not spent aboard the Trans-Siberia Railway. Hotels are comfortable with well-appointed rooms with all amenities. Depending on the hotel, Internet is available either via WIFI or at on-site business centres. The Temple Ger Camp in Mongolia is a collection of fortified yurts with washroom facilities separate from sleeping quarters. The Krestovaya Pad is a delightful boutique hotel on the shores of Lake Baikal. Please note that single occupancy is available for hotels. Transportation Aboard the Trans-Siberian train from UlaanBaatar, you will overnight in sleeper 2nd class four-person compartments. The day train Trans-Siberian from Ulan Ude to Irkutsk is a sitting train. Irkutsk to Ekaterinburg 2 nights is aboard Trans-Siberian (sleeper 2nd class, 4 people to a compartment); overnight train from Ekaterinburg to Moscow aboard Trans-Siberian (sleeper 2nd class, 4 people to a compartment). Non-rail transportation will be on well-equipped coaches. Weather Expect increasingly warm temperatures with daytime highs in the C range, and nighttime lows of 0-6 C. A mix of sun and cloud is typical. Small amounts of rain could be encountered. Travel Documents All foreign nationals require entry visas to travel to Russia. This can be obtained by submitting an application and all required documentation to the Russian Embassy or Consulate. In Mongolia, you only need a passport which is valid for six months after the date of your return home. ADDITIONAL INFO Terms and Conditions For additional information about our terms and conditions, please refer to your booking form, the current brochure or our website. All participants booking with Worldwide Quest are covered by the terms of the Ontario Travel Industry Act (Worldwide Quest International, Ontario - License # ). Cancellation Policy All payments are non-refundable, however you may transfer your initial deposit for any land tour to another tour 90 days or more prior to your scheduled departure date. Initial deposits for cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable. Your second payment and your final payment are nonrefundable and non-transferable. If you cancel within 90 days prior to trip departure, all associated trip costs are nonrefundable. The tour price is quoted as a package. No partial refunds or credits will be given for services not used. In the event of a cancellation, you must notify Worldwide Quest immediately and in writing. Travel Insurance We urge you to ensure that you have adequate cancellation and medical insurance in place, should an unexpected event cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip or should the tour not be operable per our terms and conditions. We will offer you Manulife insurance coverage. Medical insurance including emergency medical evacuation coverage is mandatory on all our tours. TRAVEL WITH ALUMNI UBC It s your travel experience. Indulge your curiosity as we take you to unique places you ve always dreamed about. UBC experts and knowledgeable local hosts provide context. That allows you to develop a deep connection to the people you meet and the cultures, cuisines and landscapes you re exploring. Best value in educational travel Meaningful local experiences Thoughtful itineraries See our complete list of tours at: WorldwideQuest.com/alumniUBC The University of British Columbia Alumni Association will not be responsible for the financing, the arranging, or the conducting of these tours. They assume no liability or responsibility for damages or financial loss to person howsoever arising from the negligence, omission or otherwise of travel services arranged through Worldwide Quest International. Refer to the General Terms and Conditions established by Worldwide Quest International with respect to participating in this tour.

8 TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY COMMON AREA DINING AREA 2 ND CLASS ACCOMMODATION (INCLUDED) 1 ST CLASS ACCOMMODATION *UPGRADE SECOND CLASS