Got $16,000-plus Laying Around for a Trip?

[guest Harvard]

This from the Harvard Alumni Association sounds like it would be a pretty nice trip...but the cost makes me wonder what world they think their alumni are living in!! Not everyone who graduated Harvard has money falling out of their pockets...

The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express with Naadam Festiva

June 29, 2012 - July 13, 2012

Group Size: 15-40 travelers

Starting from $15,995 per person

Join a deluxe tour of Russia and Mongolia aboard the luxury Golden Eagle Trans- Siberian Express. Depart from Moscow to the middle of Siberia, then head south to Mongolia's capital, UlaanBaatar. Explore the classic sites of 860-year-old Moscow as well as some newer ones, including the Cold War Bunker that Stalin installed under the city. Trace the shores of Siberia's UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal, the deepest and most ancient lake on earth. Experience Mongolia's wind-combed steppe at Ghorki-Terelj National Park and attend the remarkable Naadam Festival in UlaanBaatar, famous for its wrestling, horseracing, and archery.

Trip Highlights

Experience 3 UNESCO World Heritage attractions off-train and enjoy on-board educational lectures.

Descend 200 feet below Moscow to the Tagansky Cold War Bunker Museum.

Ride around the tip of Lake Baikal on the fantastically scenic Old Railway, the original alternative to ferrying the train cars and passengers across the lake.

Attend the matchless Naadam Festival, a celebration of Mongolia's land and traditions, in the capital, UlaanBaatar.

Schedule by Day

Jun 29: Depart USA

Jun 30: Arrive Moscow

Jul 1: Moscow

Jul 2: Moscow / Depart on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express

Jul 3: Kazan

Jul 4: Ekaterinburg

Jul 5: Novosibirsk

Jul 6: Onboard the train

Jul 7: Irkutsk

Jul 8: Lake Baikal

Jul 9: Ulan Ude

Jul 10: Arrive UlaanBaatar

Jul 11: UlaanBaatar / Naadam Festival

Jul 12: UlaanBaatar / Naadam Festival

Jul 13: Depart UlaanBaatar

Pricing

Silver Class: $15,995 per person double occupancy

Single supplement Silver Class: $6,990

Gold Class: $18,995 per person double occupancy

Single supplement Gold Class: $7,990

Accommodations

2 nights at the Marriott Aurora Royal Hotel in Moscow

8 nights aboard the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express

3 nights at the Hotel Kempinski Khan Palace in UlaanBaatar

Trip Details

application/pdf iconRegistration Form ($2,000 deposit)

application/pdf iconTerms and Conditions

application/pdf iconTrip Itinerary

Study Leader

Timothy Colton

Activity Level

Moderately Active

For More Information

Source URL: http://alumni.harvar...ns-siberia-2012

 

[the_traveler]

Maybe not all alumni have that kind of money - but some do!

In fact that trip is on my bucket list - after I win the lottery!

 

[me_little_me]

I wouldn't even consider the $16K Silver Class. That's for the proletariat. We oligarchs only go Gold Class!

I told my wife that I'd take her only I don't want to buy two tickets. I'll just pay the single supplement and find some local cutie.

Why not plan the next forum get-together on that train?

 

[the_traveler]

No AGR points!

 

[reefgeek]

Much cheaper in hard class, er, coach.

 

[caravanman]

Hi,

The Man in Seat 61 estimates that this trip (Moscow to China) can be done in reasonable comfort for around $800 for the six night rail fare...

Lots of info , click here...

This was one big trip I always dreamed of taking, together with an urge to visit St Petersburg. I don't know if there is a "Golden road to Samarkand", but that sounded a cool place too! In some ways it is not always "a small world"

Ed

 

[afigg]

This from the Harvard Alumni Association sounds like it would be a pretty nice trip...but the cost makes me wonder what world they think their alumni are living in!! Not everyone who graduated Harvard has money falling out of their pockets...

Perhaps not every Harvard graduate, but there are plenty of Harvard graduates who can afford the trip. The Harvard endowment was valued at $32 biilion at the end of June. Harvard could buy a small country with their endowment.

Only need 15 to 40 people to sign up for the tour.

 

[Shawn Ryu]

Thats more than what I earn a year.

 

[guest]

This from the Harvard Alumni Association sounds like it would be a pretty nice trip...but the cost makes me wonder what world they think their alumni are living in!! Not everyone who graduated Harvard has money falling out of their pockets...

Perhaps not every Harvard graduate, but there are plenty of Harvard graduates who can afford the trip. The Harvard endowment was valued at $32 biilion at the end of June. Harvard could buy a small country with their endowment.

Only need 15 to 40 people to sign up for the tour.

Maybe Harvard should consider buying Amtrak!!! :lol:

 

[Shanghai]

Stanford offered as similar trip a couple of years ago.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

The fun part is when they need to change out the trucks because the rail gauge changes. :giggle:

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

I'll just pay the single supplement and find some local cutie.

If a local cutie joins you, you will not need to pay the single supplement anymore. :wub:

 

[Ispolkom]

The fun part is when they need to change out the trucks because the rail gauge changes. :giggle:

Sadly, the two times I went over the break of gauge at Brest-Litovsk, we had to stay in our car while they switched the trucks. It would have been fun to see.

 

[bobnabq]

Even if I had that much money, there are many other places I'd prefer to see than Russia and Mongolia.

 

[A.J.]

the golden eagle is a substantially different experience than the standard Trans-Siberian. it is a series of special cars which stop every night. you can book this on your own (through a few travel sites online) and the prices are about the same. the golden eagle is super luxurious and includes stops and tours every day. however, if you want to travel the REAL trans-siberian route, you can go moscow to vladivostok for about $1200 in a 1st class sleeping compartment (2 beds). so you don't have to be super wealthy to do it.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

Even if I had that much money, there are many other places I'd prefer to see than Russia and Mongolia.

IMHO, it more the train ride experience, than the destinations.

 

[guest]

You can book the rail part of this trip on your own for about 700 dollars US...

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

You can book the rail part of this trip on your own for about 700 dollars US...

Is that for "Gold Class" or "Silver Class" on-board the train?

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

700 usd is for a regular Ruissan Sleep car, not for the tour group in a private train. There are several trains travel this route just to haul passengers between stops, this one a deluxe tour of Russia and Mongolia aboard the luxury Golden Eagle Trans- Siberian Express.

If I could I would, but I will be travel this route next summer by the regular RZD sleepers.

www.seat61.com is a site to check out, got pictures and good detail and links on how to take this trip.

 

[A.J.]

Even if I had that much money, there are many other places I'd prefer to see than Russia and Mongolia.

to each his own! i'm sure there might be places you'd like to go that some of us wouldn't. that's life. and like another already said, a big part of the trans-siberian is the actual rail experience.

 

[SarahZ]

however, if you want to travel the REAL trans-siberian route, you can go moscow to vladivostok for about $1200 in a 1st class sleeping compartment (2 beds).

This has been on my bucket list ever since I took a Russian history class in 2003. My professor was from Russia, and she told us all about the train route. Henry Rollins did a stand-up routine about it too.