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Naadam is the one and only
Big Event in Mongolia –a lively national
festival, held every year from the 11th –
13th July. Naadam means “three manly
games”. Known as the world’s
second-oldest Olympics, it celebrates what
defined civilisation in the Steppes eight
centuries ago; archery, wrestling and horse
riding. The competitors in the riding events
are all children aged between five and twelve,
many of whom have been in the saddle since the
age of one. As they race along the plains for
20 kilometers, thousands of spectators line the
remote track to watch up to 650 children
sitting confidently astride their small but
sturdy Mongolian steed. It is claimed that such
equestrian skills won Genghis Khan an empire
that stretched from the Sea of Japan all the
way to Europe.
In recent times, women have
been allowed to enter and they now compete in
two of the three events, horse racing and
archery. Once a religious ceremony, the
festival now formally commemorates the 1921
revolution when Mongolia declared itself a free
country.
This is a unique
opportunity to be among the few non-Mongolians
to experience this spectacular but little known
festival and soak up the exciting atmosphere of
this national holiday. Our tour combines the
Naadam Festival with an amazing overland
journey to Moscow on board our Golden Eagle
Trans-Siberian Express private train.
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Itinerary - 13 Days (Westbound) |
| Day 1 Ulaan
Baatar |
| Arrive at Ulaan
Baatar airport, where you will be met and
transferred to your centrally located
hotel for a three nights stay. We will
enjoy a welcome reception dinner at our
hotel, whilst you meet your fellow
travellers. |
| Day
2 Ulaan Baatar |
| Today we spend a
full day at the Naadam Festival. We get
to observe the elaborate opening ceremony
which consists of local dancers,
athletes, horse riders and musicians,
before watching the national horse
race. |
| Day 3 Ulaan
Baatar |
| This is the day
for all main competitions. In the morning
we’ll attend archery, wrestling and
ankle bone shooting. In the afternoon
we’ll visit Genghis Khan’s
‘13th Century National Park’
– a celebration of the great kings
of Mongolia. |
| Day
4 Ulaan Baatar |
| Today we board the
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express to
begin our journey towards
Moscow. |
| Day 5 Ulan Ude |
| This afternoon we
arrive in Ulan Ude, capital of the Buryat
Republic. The ethnic and cultural
diversity of this area offers a unique
insight into its Mongol heritage.
As we tour the area you will notice the
different faces and dress styles of these
welcoming people. During our
exploration of the Old Believers Village
we have the opportunity to learn about
the culture and history of these
communities as we are treated to a
traditional meal and enjoy a concert
featuring local dancers and
musicians. |
| Day 6 Lake
Baikal |
| Few natural sights
can surpass the beauty and grandeur of
Lake Baikal. For five hours we wind
our way through tunnels along cliff
hugging tracks above the lake with a
vista of snow capped peaks along the far
shore. Lake Baikal is the deepest
lake in the world and holds 20% of the
world’s freshwater. Also
known as the ‘Pearl of
Siberia’ it is home to a unique
breed of freshwater seal and over fifty
species of fish including omul which we
will be serving in the dining car for
some of our meals. Weather permitting, we
stop at one of Baikal’s picturesque
and secluded bays to enjoy a delicious
BBQ including freshly smoked fish
prepared by our own chefs. For the
brave hearted, there is even time for a
refreshing swim in the crystal clear
waters before we visit Listvyanka, a
small Baikal settlement nestling at the
base of the surrounding
hills. |
| Day 7 Irkutsk |
| We arrive in
Irkutsk, the ‘Paris of
Siberia’, and our visit today takes
in the most significant sites and museums
in this fascinating city, including an
exploration of the classic wooden
architecture that has given many of this
region’s buildings such a
distinctive and unique appearance. Next,
we visit the Decembrist House museum
which is dedicated to the memory of the
exiled aristocrats who were forced to
flee to this remote outpost after the
failed revolution of 1825. Here we enjoy
a private concert before returning to our
waiting train for
dinner. |
| Day 8 Onboard |
| A day to unwind
and reflect on the many sights and sounds
we have experienced on our journey so
far. Chat to your fellow
passengers, perhaps learn a few more
words of Russian or simply enjoy the ever
changing landscape outside your
window. |
| Day 9
Novosibirsk |
| A modern
‘Soviet’ city, we experience
the life and character of
Novosibirsk’s rich culture where
the arts, science and literature
predominate. Our city tour takes us
to the Opera House. An
architectural marvel, it houses two
permanent ballet and opera companies and
is the largest opera house in the
world. In front of the Opera House,
we visit an imposing statue of Lenin
– a marvellous opportunity to have
your photograph taken with this iconic
political
leader. |
| Day 10
Yekaterinburg |
| Founded in 1723 by
Peter the Great, Yekaterinburg is the
third largest Russian city and the
capital of the Urals. The cultural and
architectural influences of European and
Asian civilisations come together in this
fascinating and cosmopolitan landscape.
Our city tour takes us to the poignant
site where the Romanov, Nicholas II of
Russia was executed with his family by
the Bolsheviks in 1918. Now a church
dedicated to their memory, this site
provides us with a powerful insight into
the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. We
cross the Europe/Asia divide after we
leave Yekaterinburg. |
| Day 11 Kazan |
| We spend our last
full day on board the Golden Eagle today.
We arrive at the picturesque and historic
city of Kazan by mid-morning. Situated on
the River Volga, Kazan is the capital of
Tatarstan. Here we have the opportunity
to see for ourselves its rich tapestry of
history and culture. One of the
highlights of this city tour is our
exploration of the Kremlin Fortress, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the
walls of this ancient citadel we will
explore its stunning mosque and
magnificent onion-domed
cathedral. |
| Day 12 Moscow |
| After travelling
along this epic route we arrive in
Moscow. Our city tour of Moscow
principally takes us to Red Square, an
iconic symbol of Russia’s former
military and political might. Here
we see an eclectic mix of fascinating
architecture, such as the ornate St
Basil’s Cathedral with its
magnificent onion-domed spires, the
grandeur of The Kremlin and the sombre
and evocative site of Lenin’s tomb.
At the conclusion of our city tour, we
transfer to the luxurious five-star
Marriott Royal Aurora hotel (or similar)
located in the heart of this vibrant
city. Our final evening is spent saying
our goodbyes to our fellow travelling
companions and friends at the Farewell
Dinner. |
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Day 13
Moscow
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Following
breakfast, you will be transferred to
Moscow airport to begin your journey
home.
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| 2011
Naadam Festival - Itinerary - 13 Days
(Eastbound) |
|
Day
1 |
Moscow
(arrivals) |
Day
8 |
Lake
Baikal |
| Day 2 |
Moscow |
Day 9 |
Ulan Ude |
| Day 3 |
Kazan |
Day 10 |
Ulaan Baatar,
Mongolia
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| Day 4 |
Yekaterinburg |
Day 11 |
Ulaan Baatar |
| Day 5 |
Novisibirsk |
Day 12 |
Ulaan Baatar |
| Day 6 |
Onboard |
Day 13 |
Ulaan Baatar
(departures) |
| Day 7 |
Irkutsk |
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Prices per person for 2012
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Silver Class
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£
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US$
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€
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Twin
|
8,595
|
13,795
|
10,995
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Single
|
12,495
|
19,995
|
15,995
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Deposit
|
750
|
1,500
|
1,000
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Gold Class
|
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£
|
US$
|
€
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Twin
|
10,695
|
17,195
|
13,695
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Single
|
15,195
|
24,395
|
19,195
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Deposit
|
1,000
|
2,000
|
1,500
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Eastbound 2012
|
Westbound 2012
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1 Jul - 13 Jul
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10 Jul - 22 Jul
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Prices per person for 2013
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Silver
Class |
Gold
Class |
Imperial
Class |
|
GBP
£ |
Euro
€ |
USD $ |
GBP
£ |
Euro
€ |
USD $ |
GBP
£ |
Euro
€ |
USD $ |
|
Twin |
£9,195 |
€10,595 |
$14,795 |
£11,595 |
€13,195 |
$18,495 |
£18,395 |
€20,995 |
$29,495 |
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Single |
£13,395 |
€15,395 |
$21,495 |
£16,495 |
€18,895 |
$26,395 |
£25,995 |
€29,895 |
$41,795 |
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IMPORTANT Visa
Information: British citizens
will require a visa for Mongolia and
for Russia. Please allow at least a
month to obtain your visa. Citizens of
other nationalities should contact
their local consulate for specific visa
information. Please note that all visa
requirements are subject to change.
Special Offer - UK residents
only: Please ask about our
FREE visa service. You pay only the
applicable Consular fee.
Prices are land only. Flights not
included.
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