Grand Trans Siberian Express 2010 (Westbound)

Tailor Made Holidays in Cuba

The island of Cuba lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; the main island is 1,200km long with an irregular coastline that offers hundreds of bays and beaches. The largest of all Caribbean Islands is an addictive mixture of lavish Spanish colonial architecture, imposing communist statues and plazas, sublime powder white beaches, teeming coral reefs, densely forested mountains and verdant tropical plantations.

Travelling in Cuba is without doubt an incredible cultural experience and it should be treated as such. Cuba is definitely not a country that should be visited if you are looking for luxury or a trip where everything runs like clockwork. The appeal of Cuba is that it has remained free of western influence and commercialisation. There are no advertising hoardings or fast food restaurants. The countryside is beautiful, the beaches are stunning (although many are dominated by large all inclusive resorts) and most of all the people are wonderful. The colonial architecture, history and music all add further to its appeal culminating in a unique holiday which you will never forget. Anyone visiting with an open mind, a sense of humour and an adventurous spirit will be more than rewarded by what they find.

Cuba's unique and turbulent history weaves a fascinating tale from Spanish colonial rule and the slave trade to Batista's dictatorship and Castro's revolution. This is reflected in its vibrant culture, thriving arts scene and flamboyant music. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union Cuba's economy has struggled and this combined with the US embargo are still very much in evidence. Although Cuba's focus is now on tourism to ensure its future prosperity, the country is a law unto itself when it comes to quality of hotels, food, service and transportation. It may be a Caribbean island with the climate, scenery and wonderful beaches to match but the fact remains it is a communist country struggling not only with a crumbling infrastructure and the governmental control over its people and businesses but also the continuing US embargo.

Without doubt all of this adds to the charm of this unique country but it also means that Cuba's ability to maintain service levels and standards is far less reliable than that of other developing countries in the world. Capital investment is restricted and requires approval by the government. The Cuban government sets most prices and rations goods. Even simple items that we take for granted, such as bread, can be hard to come by. The government's control over everything prevents private enterprise and with a strictly enforced regulated wage system gives many of the local people little incentive to be doing a good job. With Raul Castro now in control, change is occurring but progress is slow.

At ICAN Holidays we pride ourselves in the fact that we offer clients what they want - our holidays are all tailor made. Only you know what your ideal holiday should include. Whether you want to concentrate on culture or spend time wildlife watching, sample a city’s hustle and bustle or relax in a secluded beauty spot, ICAN Holidays will assist you discover the joy of designing a unique holiday just for you.

Throughout this website we have provided suggested itineraries for all the regions we visit, and you may wish to base your travels on these. After an initial consultation, one of our Specialists will create a unique itinerary for your holiday, complete with background information, historical notes, colour pictures, etc. We will not begin to book your holiday until you are completely satisfied with it.

Because our Specialists regularly travel to the regions you will be visiting, they can offer invaluable advice and suggestions for things to see and do while you are there and you can be confident that your unique itinerary has been created by someone who has extensive first-hand knowledge of the places and accommodation it contains.

Cuba has a warm and tropical climate with two distinct seasons.

The best time to visit is from December to May when you will have dry sunny days. From June to November Cuba can be hot, humid and wet. During the winter months of December and January daytime temperatures can drop below 20 degrees centigrade whilst in the summer months of July and August temperatures soar, especially in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.

The hurricane season begins in June and in some years can continue through to November.

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All our holidays are unique travel experiences, and therefore tailor-made to suit individual requirements. We do not publish prices on our website as they can vary enormously for tailor-made travel. In some instances we do promote holidays that are part of our "Classic" series and these will include approximate pricing.

Prices are generally for private arrangements and are per person using economy class flights based on two people travelling together and sharing a room.

There are a number of factors which will influence the price of your travel arrangements, these include the standard of hotel (we offer a variety of standards from ‘three star’ to the super-luxurious), the season, the duration of your trip, the class of flights and the airline used, the level of private guiding and the complexity of the itinerary. Our specialists will be delighted to discuss the various options in more detail with you.

ICAN Guides Cuba

ICAN Itineraries Cuba

Classic Cuba ~ 8 Days / 7 Nights

Grand Trans Siberian Express 2010 (Westbound)

Written by Travel Correspondent

Monday, 23 November 2009 13:52

Grand Trans Siberian Express 2010

China – Mongolia - Russia (westbound)

Beijing – Gobi Desert – Ulaanbaatar – Ulan Ude – Lake Baikal – Irkutsk Krasnoyarsk – Novosibirsk – Yekaterinburg – Kazan – Moscow

train9 Experience the legendary trans Siberian Railway and the Trans Mongolian Railway onboard a private charter train. Forget about any hassle of packing and unpacking every day. Your cabin is your "home on wheels" during the entire rail cruise journey.

Our train offers a choice of First Class and Deluxe accommodation as well as restaurants, a bar, a service car with shower cabins for First Class passengers and a conference car for lectures.

Stops for land excursions at the most interesting places along the route are included every day. In Ulaanbaatar, the Capital of Mongolia, a night in a hotel is included as well as hotel nights are included in Moscow and Beijing.

Our rail cruise offers you the opportunity to enjoy travelling through some remote areas of the world such as Siberia and the Gobi Desert and at the same time enjoying a certain level of comfort onboard the private charter train.

Beijing Arrival	Moscow Departure
Saturday 10 July 2010	Saturday 24 July 2010
Monday 02 August 2010	Monday 16 August 2010
Saturday 28 August 2010	Saturday 11 September 2010
Monday 20 September 2010	Monday 04 October 2010

Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival Beijing
Morning arrival in Beijing. You will meet your tour guide at Beijing airport and will transfer you to the hotel. Depending on your time available an afternoon visit to the Temple of Heaven is planned.
Accommodation in a 4 star Hotel in Beijing.

Day 2 : Beijing
Full day sightseeing tour to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. In the evening enjoy the Peking Duck welcome dinner.
Accommodation in a 4 star Hotel in Beijing.

Day 3 : Beijing
A full day city sightseeing tour will show the Imperial Palace (“Forbidden City”) and the huge Tian An Men Square in the morning and the Summer Palace in the afternoon. In the evening depart from Beijing by private train to the border city of Erlian.
Accommodation onboard the Chinese Private Train.

Day 4 : Erlian
In Erlian railway station the Russian railway gauge system (“broad gauge” 1520 mm wide) meets the China railway gauge system (“standard gauge” 1435 mm wide). The Grand Trans Siberian Express therefore welcomes you here in Erlian. The connecting Chinese special train from Beijing will arrive on the same platform. While your luggage will be transferred by service staff to the Grand Trans Siberian Express, you will enjoy a rickshaw tour to the local market and a traditional Chinese lunch. In the afternoon the Grand Trans Siberian Express will pass the Chinese–Mongolian border. All passport and custom formalities will take place on the train; you may just stay in your compartment.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 5 : Ulaan Baatar
In the morning the Grand Trans Siberian Express arrives in Ulaan Baatar, the capital of Mongolia. During a full day sightseeing tour you will visit the famous Gandan Monastery, the central Sukhabatar Square, the Bogd Khan Museum which used to be formerly the winter and sometimes also the summer palace of the Khan’s, as well as the Zaisan monument at a viewpoint high above the city. From there you will have an excellent view of the city which is surrounded by large areas of yurt settlements. An amazing cultural music and dance show in the evening will introduce Mongolian folk music and culture to you. Accommodation in a 4 star hotel in Ulaan Baatar.

Day 6 : Ulaan Baatar
Today an unforgettable excursion will take you to the Terelj National Park which is famous for its scenery similar to locations in Switzerland. A stone formation called “turtle” and other holy places will fascinate you. In the Terelj National Park area you will have the chance to meet a herder family inside their yurt (Home). Enjoy the rest of the day viewing the wonderful scenery of Mongolia with yurts, nomads, and horses passing by from time to time. In the evening the train leaves for Russia. Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 7 : Ulan Ude
Early morning the Mongolian border station Suche Baatar and the Russian border station Naushki will be reached. All passport and customs formalities will take place again on the train. You may stay in your compartment and don’t have to leave the train.

This afternoon the Grand Trans Siberian Express arrives at Ulan Ude. The city which you will visit in the afternoon used to be a "closed city” for foreigners during the time of the USSR. It is the capital of the so-called Buryat Autonomous Republic of the Russian Federation. With Buryats being an ethnic group close to Mongolians it shows to be an amazing mix of cultures and a meeting place between east and west. Like Irkutsk, the city still has large areas with typical Siberian wooden houses. An excursion will bring you to the Ivolginsky Monastery which is the centre of Buddhism in Russia. The Dalai Lama has visited it three times already since the opening of the city in 1991.

In Ulan Ude the Grand Trans Siberian Express switches from the Trans Mongolian mainline to the traditional Trans Siberian mainline on its way to Moscow.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 8 : Lake Baikal
Today one of the top highlights of the tour with the Grand Trans Siberian Express will amaze you for the rest of the day. Baikal Lake holds the biggest fresh water reserves in the world. It stretches up to 26 miles from east to west and more than 370 miles from north to south. With 1,620 meter it is the deepest lake of the world.

The mountain ranges around Lake Baikal and the deep blue water of the lake, you will never forget. The entire morning the train is running at low speed over scenic Circum Baikal Railway line between Sludyanka and Port Baikal, which for many years has seen only a couple of local trains and tourist trains. A photo stop will be arranged at a small village where you can get off the train, put your feet into the clear and cold water of Lake Baikal and also visit the typical wooden houses of local people. A Baikal picnic is also a part of the programme. After lunch you will leave the train at Port Baikal where a boat takes you on a short cruise on Lake Baikal to the small village Listvyanka. A walk through the village takes you to St Nicholas church, a typical orthodox wooden built church beautifully renovated in the post Soviet era. With a great Siberian dinner in a rustic restaurant along Angara River an unforgettable day will end, with entertainment of local folk music. After dinner you travel back to Port Baikal and rejoin the train.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 9 : Irkutsk
Morning arrival in Irkutsk, famous for its trade with Mongolia and China and used to be called “Paris of Siberia” because of its colourful live. You visit the old town with its large quarters still consisting of wooden houses only, before invited to the cultural highlight of the tour, a private classical concert in the wooden house of Decembrist Volkonsky. In the evening you rejoin the private train.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 10 : Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk, like Yekaterinburg and Ulan Ude used to be a formerly “closed city”. It is located along Yenissei River which is the mightiest of the big rivers of Russia. During a boat cruise on the Yenissei River you will get an idea how wide, how Great Russian Rivers can be. The Yenisei is the greatest river system flowing to the Arctic Ocean, slightly shorter but with 1.5 times the flow of the Mississippi-Missouri. Rising in Mongolia, it follows a northerly course to the Kara Sea, passing a large part of central Siberia.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 11 : Novosibirsk
In the morning the Grand Trans Siberian Express stops in Novosibirsk, with 1,5 million inhabitants Russia’s third largest city and the biggest of Siberia, which is widely regarded as the centre of Siberia. It was founded in 1893 as the future site of the Trans Siberian railway bridge crossing the Siberian river Ob. Its importance further increased in the mid of the 20th century with the completion of the Turkestan Railway connecting Novosibirsk to Central Asia and the Caspian Sea.

During a sightseeing tour you will see the incredible fruit market which is something you don’t expect in Siberia. An excursion out of city to the small town of Akademgorodok, which used to be a centre of scientific research in Soviet times and now styles itself to the Russian “Silicon Valley”. There you visit a unique geological museum which displays beautiful examples of Siberian minerals. The recently opened railway museum shows locomotives and cars of all periods of the Trans Siberian Railway. Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 12 : Yekaterinburg
Stop in Yekaterinburg, capital of the Ural mountains. It was founded in 1723 by Csar Peter I as the metallurgical factory and by the XX century it had become one of the largest and the most important financial, industrial and cultural centers. West of the city there is the geographical border defined by scientists between Europe and Asia. An excursion takes you to the obelisk there which marks this virtual border. Back in the center of the city, you will visit the 2004 completed Cathedral on The Blood built at the place where Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 13 : Kazan
A full day of sightseeing in Kazan starts with a comprehensive tour of the city, which is the centre of the so-called Tatarstan Autonomous Republic. The city has a beautiful citadel, also called Kremlin, which was declared the World Heritage Site in 2000. Also of interest are the towers and walls, erected in the 16th and 17th centuries but later reconstructed; the Qol-Earil Mosque, which is already rebuilt inside the citadel and the Governor's House now the Palace of the President of Tatarstan. In the afternoon you will enjoy a boat ride on the River Volga.
Accommodation onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express.

Day 14 : Moscow
Today the almost 6’000 miles long journey from Peking to Moscow terminates. A full day sightseeing tour shows you the magnificent Red Square, the Kremlin grounds and other highlights of Moscow. After dinner a tour of Moscow by night through the beautiful illuminated city will make you to forget old stories of Russia being grey and dark. Moscow has become a vibrant city, comparable to Paris or Rome and full of life.
Accommodation in a 4 star Hotel in Moscow.

Day 15 : Moscow
Morning at leisure in Moscow. Airport transfers are provided by our service team to connect with your flight departing Moscow.

Services End

Cost Per Person:

First Class Compartment - Share twin accommodation - R55,430 per person
First Class Compartment - Single accommodation - R75,000

Deluxe Category Compartment - Share twin accommodation - R110,820 per person
Deluxe Category Compartment - Single accommodation - R171,015

Your holiday includes:

9 nights accommodation in the category booked onboard the Grand Trans Siberian Express Erlian (Chinese border) to Moscow.
1 night accommodation in First Class/Comfort sleepers onboard the Chinese connecting train - Beijing to Erlian (Chinese border) (no deluxe cars available on the Chinese connecting train)
1 night accommodation at a 4 star Hotel, Moscow
1 night accommodation at a 3 star Hotel, Ulaanbaatar
2 nights’ accommodation at a 4 star Hotel, Beijing
Full board throughout the tour, starting with dinner on the first day and terminating with breakfast on the last day
Transfers airport - hotel v.v. in Moscow and Beijing on day 1 and day 15
Sightseeing and excursions in Moscow, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude, Ulaanbaatar, Erlian, Beijing
Lectures onboard (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian (other languages on request)
Cultural events mentioned in the programme
Private classic concert in Irkutsk
English, German, French, Spanish, Italian speaking local tour guides (other languages on request)
English Speaking Tour Director throughout the tour

Your holiday does not include:

International Flights (Should you require assistance with flights please ask us for options)
Visa Russia, Mongolia, China
Gratuities (EUR 100 / USD 140 tipping kit recommended)

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 13:22

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