VIP Deluxe Cars

Passengers per compartment: 1 to 2

Size: 64.5 ft²

Consists of 5 passenger compartments, 2 places in each.
Berths: one upper, one lower one.
A table with an armchair. An LCD TV. An inbuilt cabinet for clothes and luggage.
En-suite there is a shower cabin and an environmentally friendly toilet.
An individual air conditioner for heating and cooling the cabin.
VIP cars have two-seat compartments with an area larger than two ordinary ones.
A compartment has a comfortable transformable sofa and a foldaway upper berth.

Business Class Sleeping Cars

(1 to 2 passengers per compartment)

Consists of 6 passenger compartments, 2 places in each.
Berths: one upper, one lower one.
A table with an armchair. An LCD TV set.
A private en-suite wet room with a washbasin, toilet and shower.
An individual air conditioner for heating and cooling the cabin.
Business Class cars have two-seat compartments with an area of 5.5 sq m.
A compartment has a comfortable transformable sofa and a foldaway upper berth.

First Class Plus Sleeping Cars

Passengers per compartment: 1 to 2

Size: 37.6 ft²

Consists of 8 passenger compartments, 2 places in each.
Berths: one upper, one lower one.
A table with an armchair. An LCD TV. An inbuilt clothes cabinet.
Between two compartments there is one shared room with washbasin and shower facilities (no wc).
Two wc: one at each end of the carriage.
In compartment 9 there is an auxiliary room for storing luggage.
The air conditioning system is general, with an option of additional temperature control in each compartment.

First Class Sleeping Cars

Passengers per compartment: 1 to 2

Size: 37.6 ft²

Consists of 8 passenger compartments, 2 places in each.
Berths: two lower ones.
A table. An LCD TV.
There is a shared shower compartment – ie one shower for the whole carriage
Two water closets: one at each end of the carriage.
Both berth are lower (standard size).
The air conditioning system is general, with an option of additional temperature control in each compartment.

Imperial Train Dining

Russian Winter Northern Lights Tour:
14 February 2022

Day 1: Moscow  

Arrive at the international airport and you will be transferred to your hotel to check in for 2 nights.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 2: Moscow 

After breakfast, enjoy a grand city tour to include a visit to the Moscow Kremlin, a symbol of the Russian State and one of the greatest architectural complexes in the world, a treasure house of
magnificent relics and monuments of art/. Lunch in the city is included and later we visit Arbat Street, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and take a tour of Moscow’s famous metro stations. Tonight we dine out at a city restaurant.

Overnight in hotel
Meals: B, L, D

Day 3: Moscow 
Enjoy a visit to see Russia at its sparkling winter best! We go to Kolomenskoe, a former royal estate situated several kilometres southeast of Moscow, on the ancient road leading to the town of Kolomna and overlooking the steep banks of the Moskva River.
In the afternoon, we visit Arbat Street, a lively pedestrian area, great for shopping.
In the evening, after dinner in a city restaurant, we board the Imperial Russia train, where a warm welcome awaits us in our home for the next 3 nights.

Tonight we leave for St Petersburg.

Overnight on the train.
Meals: B, L, D

Day 4: Arrival in St Petersburg  

We take breakfast in a restaurant in the city before our grand city tour of the highlights of the ‘Venice of the North’ and the impressive Kazan Cathedral.  We also visit Peter and Paul’s Fortress and St Isaac’s Cathedral before heading out to the glorious Catherine Palace at Pushkin.   Today you will also see the Petrovskaya Akvatoria, an amazing scale model (over 500 m sq) of the city in the 18th century.

Tonight we have dinner and a tour of this romantic city by night, before re-boarding the Imperial Train.  Tonight we leave for Petrozavodsk
Overnight on the train
Meals: B, L, D

Day 5: Petrozavodsk
Today we tour the small village of Kinerma, officially one of the most beautiful villages in Russia! It is a unique monument of wooden architecture of Livvik Karelians and a living example of the traditional settlement in Karelia.  We lunch with a local family and also take a city tour in Petrozavodsk visiting the Museum of Fine Arts of Karelia. This evening as we enjoy dinner on board, we depart for Murmansk.
Overnight on the train
Meals: B, L, D

Day 6: Murmansk 
Today  our train crosses the Arctic Circle, as “Imperial Russia” train pulls through the Kola Peninsula heading to Murmansk, follow the changing scenery with beautiful landscapes of the Khibiny Mountains. Murmansk is the largest city in the world north of the Arctic Circle, it lies 125 miles (200 km) north of the Arctic Circle, and on the eastern shore of Kola Bay, 30 miles (48 km) from the ice-free Barents Sea. The town, founded in 1915 as a supply port in World War I, was a base for the British, French, and American expeditionary forces against the Bolsheviks in 1918.  Its name probably derives from the local Sami word murman, meaning “the edge of the earth.”

Shortly before lunch, we arrive in Murmansk, For the next two days you will be staying at a 4 star hotel in the city.
This town started as a tiny settlement and Arctic trading post. Thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream, the port is ice-free all year round. Depart for the city tour with such major attractions as nuclear icebreaker Lenin, World War II memorials. Later this afternoon enjoy your down time at your hotel room or make a discovery walk of the hotel vicinity.
26 December tour:  Join us for a festive dinner with a colorful show program in the beautifully decorated city restaurant to celebrate the New Year!*

Overnight in hotel
Meals: B, L, D
* Applies to 26 December departure only

Day 7: Murmansk  
A leisurely breakfast in the hotel.
Today, some fresh air as we enjoy a visit to the local Saami village for traditional winter activities. You will enjoy deer sledge and an entertainment program with Russian Santa Claus. A visit to husky dogs, deer, moose and rabbits. Local lunch in a Saami yurt, hearing the legends of the ancient Saami people. After lunch you can try on the local costume.

On our way back, we pass by a place where Northern Lights can be seen best (depends on the weather conditions, sighting of lights is not guaranteed).

Dinner at a city restaurant and return to the hotel.

Overnight in hotel

Meals: B, L, D

Day 8: On board  

Check out after breakfast before re-joining the Imperial Russia train. We spend the day onboard as we travel towards Vologda, so you may simply relax with your fellow travellers or enjoy some onboard activities.  There will be an accordion concert with vodka tasting.

Overnight on the train
Meals: B, L, D

Day 9: Vologda  
Today we enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before arriving in Vologda, located on the Vologda River about 285 miles north of Moscow.   The ancient city of Vologda could be easily included in the Golden Ring of Russia. Unlike other regional cities, Vologda has preserved its history and culture. It is considered the cultural centre of northern Russia.
We enjoy a city tour which takes in the Kremlin and its territory.  Today we have fun with a Master-class of making sugared cranberries.

After dinner in a local city restaurant, we board our train to depart for Moscow.

Overnight on the train
Meals: B, L, D

Day 10: Moscow 

We arrive in Moscow, where you say farewell to the train crew and your fellow passengers:
Transfers to the airport for return home or onward to your next destination.

Meals: B

Russian Winter Northern Lights: Moscow, St.Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Murmansk, Vologda, Moscow

Northern Lights Route (Click to enlarge)

INCLUDED:

• 5 nights onboard the “Imperial Russia Train”
• 2 nights in 5 *Moscow hotel and 2 nights in 4* Murmansk hotel
• Arrival and departure transfers
• Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 10
• Tea/coffee on board throughout the day
• Excursions with local guides according to the programme
• Excursions will be conducted in English, German, French and Spanish.
• Services of the porter at the hotel and the railway station
• Brief informative lectures on the Russian New Year and Russian traditions, geography and history of Russia
• English Speaking Group Leader and Tour managers
• Bathrobe and slippers on-board the “Imperial Russia Train”
• Doctor on board

NOT INCLUDED:

• Flights
• Russian entry visas
• All drinks ordered in the bar car
• Tips and gratuities for train crew and guides
• Personal expenses
• Porterage at the airport
• Travel and Medical Insurance (obligatory for the duration of the Tour)

25% Non-refundable deposit upon confirmation of the tour (incl single supplement if applicable)

Balance payment due 70 days prior to departure.

Tour itinerary is a guide only and tour content and order may be changed

Hotels will be advised nearer the time of travel

IMPORTANT: Northern lights are a naturally occurring condition, subject to local weather conditions.
Therefore, sighting cannot be guaranteed during your tour.

Most visitors require a visa to visit Russia, it is your responsibility to check and adhere to Entry requirements

Moscow airport information:
Sheremetyevo (SVO)
Domodedovo(DME)
Vnukovo (VKO)