Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Seattle,WA
Permit No. 744
Reservation Form
Trans-Siberian Express
Gold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle TransSiberian Express offer luxurious accommodation
that equals or surpasses the best luxury trains in
the world today. Each compartment is configured
for double, twin, or single occupancy. Every cabin
has its own en-suite shower and WC, an audio
system, a DVD system with plasma flat-screen
TV, air-conditioning with individual climate
control, a wardrobe, and luggage storage.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation) or credit card
information to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of payment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
A Legendary Rail Journey
down a taxi next to an 800-year-old building, is a wonder
of the world. World-class museums, a fabulous Metro
system, the venerable Kremlin and dazzling St. Basil’s
with its frosted domes greet the traveler to Russia’s
capital city.
Board the private Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address (no PO boxes please) ________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________________________________
Tel (Home) _________________________________ (Work) _____________________________________
Fax __________________________________________ Email _____________________________________
Please note preferences:
Class of service:
❏ Silver Class ($10,885 per person)
❏ Gold Class ($12,985 per person)
❏ I am traveling alone and prefer a single room wherever available at the single
supplement rate ($3,600 for Silver Class, $5,000 for Gold Class)
❏ I will share accommodations with ________________________________________________
❏ I would like to know about possible roommates
❏ Non Smoker ❏ Smoker (shares are not guaranteed)
Optional Post-Tour: Gobi Desert Extension, July 13-17, 2007
❏ I would like more information on the Post-Tour Extension
$1,695 per person, double
International Airfare:
❏ Please arrange my air from ____________________ to Moscow / from UlaanBaatar and
send me a sample itinerary and price.
I/we have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the trip as described in the brochure.
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
For further details about any trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029,
or e-mail [email protected].
PROGRAM COST INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS & AIR ARRANGEMENTS: Please see reverse.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS: To reserve space, complete and return the reservation form with your deposit
($2,000 per person in either Silver Class or Gold Class). If paying by check, make payable to MIR Corporation. Mail
payment and registration form to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of
payment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be
processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid or
due in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or less
before departure, no refund. All cancellations must be made in writing to the Alumnae Association of Smith College.
Note: Neither the Alumnae Association of Smith College nor MIR Corporation, the tour operator, accepts liability for any
airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour.
INSURANCE: As a service to its travelers, the Alumnae Association of Smith College automatically provides all travelers
coverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection with
your own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additional
insurance is available and will be mailed upon receipt of your reservation.
DISCLAIMER: The Alumnae Association of Smith College (AASC) is the sponsor of the tours. As the sponsor, AASC has
engaged independent tour operators to arrange the tours. Because the AASC does not own, operate, manage, or control,
and is not in a partnership or joint venture with, either the tour operators or the various independent companies and persons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, directors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissions
of the tour operator or the various suppliers, including any acts or omissions on their part that cause, without limitations,
injury, death, theft, damage to or loss of property, delay, inconvenience, or the cancellation, substitution, overbooking or
downgrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to your
trip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association credit
card benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, voluntary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friends
contribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please make
donation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of MIR Corporation and Smith College for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to
passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release is required for
trip participation.
ELIGIBILITY: These trips are designed for alumnae of Smith College and accompanying members of their immediate
families. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about any
trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].
TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATION
Journeys to Legendary Destinations at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia since 1986. www.mircorp.com.
CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932.
©2006 MIR Corporation, photographs and all rights reserved
Sincerely,
Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deepest rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat people as the Sacred Sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Baikal has a diversity of species unparalleled in the world,
and holds over 20% of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water.
From Siberia, head south to Mongolia for the biggest
celebration of the year, Naadam. Cheer on the horses
with their school-age riders; admire the stately wrestlers
in their eagle costumes; and marvel at the long
bows wielded by male and
female archers alike.
Murmansk
RUSSIA
Archangelsk
Veliky Ustyug
St. Petersburg Vologda
Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82
Executive Director
Novgorod
Tver
Moscow
Kirov
Ekaterinburg
Saratov
Volgograd
SMITH TRAVEL
PHONE: 800-225-2029
ALUMNAE HOUSE
E-MAIL: [email protected]
33 ELM STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063
Smith Travel
Alumnae House
33 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01063
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.
Krasnodar
Sochi
Novosibirsk
Tayshet Bratsk
Taksimo
LAKE Severobaikalsk
BAIKAL
Irkutsk Listvyanka
Sukhbaatar
Astrakhan
MONGOLIA
Kara Korum
Bayanzag
GOB
I
Join us for a remarkable ride on the
Trans-Siberian Railway all the way from
Moscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capital
city, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,
SIBERIA
Ulan Ude Chita
UlaanBaatar
Yolyn Am
RT
SE
DE
(cabin configuration may vary)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature as it appears on credit card
The Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia has been a vital artery carrying
goods and passengers from Moscow to the hinterlands since the late
19th century. During the railway’s early years the long journey was
fraught with difficulties, delays and discomfort, but today Smith alumnae
and friends have the opportunity to board a private train that makes the
trip in style and comfort.
Admire 850-year-old Moscow’s Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral before
boarding the train to Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing almost 20 percent of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water. Here a branch of
the railroad heads south into Mongolia, whose high-altitude grasslands
have supported nomadic pastoralists for thousands of years. Attend the
annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a
glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic celebrations.
We invite you to join your fellow alumnae on this uncommon journey
through the cities and villages of Western Russia, Siberia and Mongolia,
seen from the vantage point of a comfortable private train on the continent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups
are advisable.
Express in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural
MOU
NTAIN
S
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
❏ Enclosed is a deposit for $ ___________ ($2,000 per person) to hold __________ place(s) on
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival.
Please make check payable to MIR Corporation. Or charge my deposit to
❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard ❏ Amex
Acct# __________________________ Exp Date _____________
Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,
URAL
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Silver Class Cabins on the
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Express are smaller than Gold
Class cabins and still have
en-suite facilities, though
with a smaller shower area.
Silver Class features the same
amenities available in Gold
Class cars, but in a smaller
space. Silver Class carriages
contain six cabins as opposed
to five in Gold Class.
Registration
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag
LAND PROGRAM RATE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,885 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,985 (Gold Class)
Per person land tour based on double occupancy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 (Gold Class)
Single availability limited.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Ch
through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the high
steppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and comfortable private train, stopping in fascinating
towns and villages along the way.
Lake Baikal
Day-by-Day
Itinerary
Formed in a rift in the earth’s surface, Lake
Baikal grows a little wider every day as the
edges of the rift move away from each other.
The world’s deepest and most ancient lake, it
contains twenty percent of the planet’s
unfrozen fresh water. As large in area as
Belgium, Lake Baikal is listed by UNESCO as
nurturing a priceless diversity of marine life,
including some species that are found
nowhere else, like the golomyanka, a transparent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,
and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.
Day 1, Friday, June 29
Depart USA
Depart the USA for Moscow. (Meals Aloft)
Day 2, Saturday, June 30
Arrive Moscow, Russia
Transfer to the five star Metropol, featured in
the film, Dr. Zhivago, and just a five-minute
walk from Red Square. Welcome Dinner this
evening. Metropol Hotel or similar (D)
Day 3, Sunday, July 1
Moscow, Russia
Survey some of Moscow’s best-known places: the Duma building where Russia’s
governing body meets, the Bolshoi Theater, the forbidding Lubyanka prison where
the KGB was headquartered, and Red Square, with its St. Basil’s Cathedral. Designed
and built between 1555 and 1561, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, St Basil’s was
originally painted white. The domes were not patterned and colored as they are today
until a hundred years later.
Travel by Metro to the Izmailovsky Park Weekend Fair. The Metro stations in the
city center are showpieces of Socialist art, furnished with statues, frescoes and
mosaics, and with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings. Located on the
former royal hunting preserve, the huge outdoor market at Izmailovsky Park is the
best place in Moscow to people-watch and to find deals on a huge variety of Russian
souvenirs and crafts, from matrioshka dolls to lacquered boxes, and from Soviet
memorabilia to watercolors. Metropol Hotel or similar (B, L D)
Day 4, Monday, July 2
Moscow, Russia • board the Trans-Siberian
Today, enjoy independent explorations of the city or tour the Kremlin and and the
Armory Museum. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes, ruling from the
Kremlin, became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian
Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its
influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power as well.
Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory
was transformed into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. It now houses Russia’s
national treasures, such as religious icons; Fabergé eggs; a bejeweled chalice belonging
to Prince Yuri, Moscow’s founder; and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes.
In the evening, board the waiting Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train
for departure to the east. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 5, Tuesday, July 3
Aboard train
Relax and enjoy the first full day aboard the private train. Pass by Perm, founded in
1723 when copper smelting works were established there. Perm benefited greatly
from its location on the Kama River, the Great Siberian Post Road and the TransSiberian Railway. Riding the rails, enjoy presentations by the group’s study leaders.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 6, Wednesday, July 4
Ekaterinburg, Russia
Ekaterinburg, founded in 1721 and named after Catherine I, is best known as the
place where the last czar, Nicholas II, and his family were imprisoned and executed
by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Church on the Blood stands over the spot where they
died. Formerly known as Sverdlovsk, the city was closed to foreigners until 1990
because of its many defense plants. This is where U.S. pilot Gary Powers was shot
down in his U2 spy plane in 1960.
Schedules permitting, visit the Romanov execution site, the Stone Carving and
Jewelry Museum, the military museum, and a local art museum. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 7, Thursday, July 5
Novosibirsk, Russia
With a population of over 1.6 million people, Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia
and the industrial center of the region. It did not exist before the Trans-Siberian
Railway was built and its growth is largely due to the railway and its traffic. This afternoon, tour Novosibirsk, including a visit to the Opera House and Lenin Square.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 8, Friday, July 6
Aboard train
Admire the scenery today and experience Siberia’s vast wilderness as the train rolls by
the taiga, crossing several rivers and passing through the beautiful Sayan Mountains.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 9, Saturday, July 7
Irkutsk, Russia
Explore Irkutsk, founded in 1661 as a Cossack garrison and fortress. Czarist and
Bolshevik exiles from the 18th through the 20th centuries brought culture and education to Irkutsk. A tour includes a stop at the Church of Our Savior, the Gagarin
embankment, and the World War II Memorial.
Visit the restored house of Prince Sergei Volkonsky, now the House Museum of the
Decembrists. The Decembrists were a group of young officers who had served abroad
during the War of 1812 and become advocates of democratic reform. In December
1825, they tried to force the Senate to sign a manifesto abolishing serfdom and instituting reforms. Their rebellion was quickly put down, and five of the leaders hanged.
The rest were sentenced to forced labor in Siberia. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 10, Sunday, July 8
Lake Baikal, Russia
Today is dedicated to
beautiful Lake Baikal, the
world’s deepest and most
ancient lake. As large in
area as Belgium, Lake
Baikal is home to over
1,500 species of aquatic
life, and its zooplankton
filter the water to neartransparency.
Join the Circumbaikal
Railway, the original line
used by the Trans-Siberian
before the present route was completed. The Circumbaikal is considered one of the
most complicated rail systems in the world, hugging the sheer cliffs of the lake shore.
Stop for lunch at one of the old rail stations and, weather permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the beach.
Visit the lakeside village of Listvyanka, exploring the St. Nicholas Church and the
Limnological Museum of Baikal. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 11, Monday, July 9
Ulan Ude, Mongolia
Ulan Ude was founded in
the 17th century by
Cossacks as a winter
encampment on the
Selenga River. Today, the
cultural identity, language,
and spiritual beliefs of the
ethnically Mongol Buryats
of this region make visiting Ulan Ude a fascinating
experience.
Visit the Ivolginsky
Datsan, a Buddhist
monastery known as the spiritual center of Russian Buddhists. Enjoy either a Buryat
folklore performance or a visit to a village of Semeiskie, Old Believers. Aboard train
(B, L, D)
Day 12, Tuesday, July 10
Arrive UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
Cross into Mongolia and arrive at UlaanBaatar, the political, industrial and cultural
heart of Mongolia. Located in a basin 5,000 feet above sea level, UlaanBaatar is
surrounded by the beautiful Khan Khentii Mountains.
Mongolians are traditionally nomadic people, and the concept of a settlement or
city is fairly new. UlaanBaatar, or Red Hero, was established only 350 years ago, when
the trade routes between St. Petersburg and Beijing made it an important commercial
center. At one time, over 90 percent of native Mongolians were pastoralists. Now,
over 30 percent of them live in UlaanBaatar.
Time permitting, drive outside the city to the Gorkhi Terelj National Park for a visit
to a nomadic ger camp, with an optional horseback ride. Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis
Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 13, Wednesday, July 11
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
A celebration of Mongolia’s land and traditions, the
Naadam Festival spotlights the nation’s three most
popular and meaningful sports: archery, horse
racing, and wrestling. Naadam has been celebrated
for centuries as a test of the courage and strength of
nomadic people. Attend the opening ceremony and
the long distance horseracing event. Finish the day
with dinner and a folk performance. Hotel
UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 14, Thursday, July 12
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
This morning attend the
wrestling competitions at
the Nadaam Festival.
Later, explore the Gandan
Monastery or the National
History Museum. Built in
1840, the monastery is one
of Mongolia’s oldest and
most important sites.
During the communist
purges of the late 1930s, it
survived only because the
communists wanted to
maintain it as a showcase
for foreigners.
The National History Museum provides an excellent overview of the country’s
history and culture, with exhibits that illustrate Mongolian life from prehistoric
times to the present.
This evening celebrate the journey
with a toast and a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or
similar (B, L, D)
Day 15, Friday, July 13
Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, the journey comes to an end with transfers to
the airport for departure. (B)
Traveler Information
Included: 13 nights accommodations; 5 in hotels, 8 aboard train (in either Silver
or Gold Class cabins) • All meals per itinerary • Bottled/purified water • Beer or
wine with lunches and dinners • Group arrival/departure transfers & baggage
handling for those arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • All excursions & entrance fees • Hotel taxes • Gratuities to guides, drivers, train staff,
porters • Services of a professional tour manager • Educational program and
comprehensive pre-departure materials
Not Included: International flights between the U.S. and Russia/Mongolia •
Passport & visa fees • Medical immunizations • Insurance • Video/photography
fees • Arrival/departure transfers and baggage handling for those not
arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • Laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls/faxes, excess baggage fees, fuel surcharges
Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare. Because
there are a number of flight options available, there is no group flight for this program. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.
Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert
July 13-17, 2007
On this adventurous post-tour extension, enter the austere beauty of the South
Gobi Desert, dotted with hardy desert plants that serve as forage for wild Bactrian
camels, Argali mountain sheep, and goitered gazelle. Experience the Singing
Sands of Khongoryn Els and explore the Flaming Cliffs, where the first nest of
dinosaur eggs was discovered. Take a walk in cool Vulture’s Mouth Canyon and
sleep in Mongolia’s premier eco-lodge, Three Camel ger camp, built in accordance
with old nomadic traditions.
What To Expect:
Serguei Oushakine, Assistant Professor
in Princeton’s Department of Slavic Languages
and Literatures, will serve as Study Leader for
this journey.
Born and raised in Siberia, Professor Oushakine
received his degree in political science from
St. Petersburg State University and went on to
teach at Altai State Technical University. He
earned his PhD in anthropology from Columbia
University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at
the Harriman Institute at Columbia before joining the Princeton faculty in 2006.
In 2000, The Russian Academy of Sciences awarded him its Annual Award
for Young Scholars for work in the field of social sciences. Having studied history, political theory, gender, and anthropology, Professor Oushakine focuses his
current research on transitional periods in Russia’s twentieth-century history,
exploring cultural identity in Soviet and contemporary Russia. His forthcoming
book, The Patriotism of Despair: Communities of Loss in Contemporary Russia,
documents how manifestations of patriotism have changed since the collapse of
the Soviet Union.
This trip is moderately active due to the daily walking involved, and passengers
may encounter unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces, and problems getting on and
off trains (perhaps owing to low platforms, steep steps and gaps between the platform and the train). Flexibility, a sense of humor, and the ability to walk at least a
mile a day will be essential components to the enjoyment of this trip. Reaping the
rewards of an adventure requires traveling with flexibility and a willingness to
accept local standards of amenities and services. In true expedition style, some
delays or changes in the itinerary are likely.
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Seattle,WA
Permit No. 744
Reservation Form
Trans-Siberian Express
Gold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle TransSiberian Express offer luxurious accommodation
that equals or surpasses the best luxury trains in
the world today. Each compartment is configured
for double, twin, or single occupancy. Every cabin
has its own en-suite shower and WC, an audio
system, a DVD system with plasma flat-screen
TV, air-conditioning with individual climate
control, a wardrobe, and luggage storage.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation) or credit card
information to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of payment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
A Legendary Rail Journey
down a taxi next to an 800-year-old building, is a wonder
of the world. World-class museums, a fabulous Metro
system, the venerable Kremlin and dazzling St. Basil’s
with its frosted domes greet the traveler to Russia’s
capital city.
Board the private Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address (no PO boxes please) ________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________________________________
Tel (Home) _________________________________ (Work) _____________________________________
Fax __________________________________________ Email _____________________________________
Please note preferences:
Class of service:
❏ Silver Class ($10,885 per person)
❏ Gold Class ($12,985 per person)
❏ I am traveling alone and prefer a single room wherever available at the single
supplement rate ($3,600 for Silver Class, $5,000 for Gold Class)
❏ I will share accommodations with ________________________________________________
❏ I would like to know about possible roommates
❏ Non Smoker ❏ Smoker (shares are not guaranteed)
Optional Post-Tour: Gobi Desert Extension, July 13-17, 2007
❏ I would like more information on the Post-Tour Extension
$1,695 per person, double
International Airfare:
❏ Please arrange my air from ____________________ to Moscow / from UlaanBaatar and
send me a sample itinerary and price.
I/we have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the trip as described in the brochure.
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
For further details about any trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029,
or e-mail [email protected].
PROGRAM COST INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS & AIR ARRANGEMENTS: Please see reverse.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS: To reserve space, complete and return the reservation form with your deposit
($2,000 per person in either Silver Class or Gold Class). If paying by check, make payable to MIR Corporation. Mail
payment and registration form to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of
payment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be
processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid or
due in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or less
before departure, no refund. All cancellations must be made in writing to the Alumnae Association of Smith College.
Note: Neither the Alumnae Association of Smith College nor MIR Corporation, the tour operator, accepts liability for any
airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour.
INSURANCE: As a service to its travelers, the Alumnae Association of Smith College automatically provides all travelers
coverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection with
your own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additional
insurance is available and will be mailed upon receipt of your reservation.
DISCLAIMER: The Alumnae Association of Smith College (AASC) is the sponsor of the tours. As the sponsor, AASC has
engaged independent tour operators to arrange the tours. Because the AASC does not own, operate, manage, or control,
and is not in a partnership or joint venture with, either the tour operators or the various independent companies and persons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, directors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissions
of the tour operator or the various suppliers, including any acts or omissions on their part that cause, without limitations,
injury, death, theft, damage to or loss of property, delay, inconvenience, or the cancellation, substitution, overbooking or
downgrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to your
trip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association credit
card benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, voluntary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friends
contribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please make
donation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of MIR Corporation and Smith College for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to
passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release is required for
trip participation.
ELIGIBILITY: These trips are designed for alumnae of Smith College and accompanying members of their immediate
families. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about any
trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].
TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATION
Journeys to Legendary Destinations at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia since 1986. www.mircorp.com.
CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932.
©2006 MIR Corporation, photographs and all rights reserved
Sincerely,
Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deepest rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat people as the Sacred Sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Baikal has a diversity of species unparalleled in the world,
and holds over 20% of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water.
From Siberia, head south to Mongolia for the biggest
celebration of the year, Naadam. Cheer on the horses
with their school-age riders; admire the stately wrestlers
in their eagle costumes; and marvel at the long
bows wielded by male and
female archers alike.
Murmansk
RUSSIA
Archangelsk
Veliky Ustyug
St. Petersburg Vologda
Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82
Executive Director
Novgorod
Tver
Moscow
Kirov
Ekaterinburg
Saratov
Volgograd
SMITH TRAVEL
PHONE: 800-225-2029
ALUMNAE HOUSE
E-MAIL: [email protected]
33 ELM STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063
Smith Travel
Alumnae House
33 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01063
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.
Krasnodar
Sochi
Novosibirsk
Tayshet Bratsk
Taksimo
LAKE Severobaikalsk
BAIKAL
Irkutsk Listvyanka
Sukhbaatar
Astrakhan
MONGOLIA
Kara Korum
Bayanzag
GOB
I
Join us for a remarkable ride on the
Trans-Siberian Railway all the way from
Moscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capital
city, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,
SIBERIA
Ulan Ude Chita
UlaanBaatar
Yolyn Am
RT
SE
DE
(cabin configuration may vary)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature as it appears on credit card
The Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia has been a vital artery carrying
goods and passengers from Moscow to the hinterlands since the late
19th century. During the railway’s early years the long journey was
fraught with difficulties, delays and discomfort, but today Smith alumnae
and friends have the opportunity to board a private train that makes the
trip in style and comfort.
Admire 850-year-old Moscow’s Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral before
boarding the train to Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing almost 20 percent of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water. Here a branch of
the railroad heads south into Mongolia, whose high-altitude grasslands
have supported nomadic pastoralists for thousands of years. Attend the
annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a
glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic celebrations.
We invite you to join your fellow alumnae on this uncommon journey
through the cities and villages of Western Russia, Siberia and Mongolia,
seen from the vantage point of a comfortable private train on the continent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups
are advisable.
Express in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural
MOU
NTAIN
S
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
❏ Enclosed is a deposit for $ ___________ ($2,000 per person) to hold __________ place(s) on
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival.
Please make check payable to MIR Corporation. Or charge my deposit to
❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard ❏ Amex
Acct# __________________________ Exp Date _____________
Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,
URAL
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Silver Class Cabins on the
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Express are smaller than Gold
Class cabins and still have
en-suite facilities, though
with a smaller shower area.
Silver Class features the same
amenities available in Gold
Class cars, but in a smaller
space. Silver Class carriages
contain six cabins as opposed
to five in Gold Class.
Registration
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag
LAND PROGRAM RATE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,885 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,985 (Gold Class)
Per person land tour based on double occupancy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 (Gold Class)
Single availability limited.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Ch
through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the high
steppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and comfortable private train, stopping in fascinating
towns and villages along the way.
Lake Baikal
Day-by-Day
Itinerary
Formed in a rift in the earth’s surface, Lake
Baikal grows a little wider every day as the
edges of the rift move away from each other.
The world’s deepest and most ancient lake, it
contains twenty percent of the planet’s
unfrozen fresh water. As large in area as
Belgium, Lake Baikal is listed by UNESCO as
nurturing a priceless diversity of marine life,
including some species that are found
nowhere else, like the golomyanka, a transparent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,
and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.
Day 1, Friday, June 29
Depart USA
Depart the USA for Moscow. (Meals Aloft)
Day 2, Saturday, June 30
Arrive Moscow, Russia
Transfer to the five star Metropol, featured in
the film, Dr. Zhivago, and just a five-minute
walk from Red Square. Welcome Dinner this
evening. Metropol Hotel or similar (D)
Day 3, Sunday, July 1
Moscow, Russia
Survey some of Moscow’s best-known places: the Duma building where Russia’s
governing body meets, the Bolshoi Theater, the forbidding Lubyanka prison where
the KGB was headquartered, and Red Square, with its St. Basil’s Cathedral. Designed
and built between 1555 and 1561, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, St Basil’s was
originally painted white. The domes were not patterned and colored as they are today
until a hundred years later.
Travel by Metro to the Izmailovsky Park Weekend Fair. The Metro stations in the
city center are showpieces of Socialist art, furnished with statues, frescoes and
mosaics, and with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings. Located on the
former royal hunting preserve, the huge outdoor market at Izmailovsky Park is the
best place in Moscow to people-watch and to find deals on a huge variety of Russian
souvenirs and crafts, from matrioshka dolls to lacquered boxes, and from Soviet
memorabilia to watercolors. Metropol Hotel or similar (B, L D)
Day 4, Monday, July 2
Moscow, Russia • board the Trans-Siberian
Today, enjoy independent explorations of the city or tour the Kremlin and and the
Armory Museum. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes, ruling from the
Kremlin, became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian
Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its
influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power as well.
Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory
was transformed into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. It now houses Russia’s
national treasures, such as religious icons; Fabergé eggs; a bejeweled chalice belonging
to Prince Yuri, Moscow’s founder; and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes.
In the evening, board the waiting Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train
for departure to the east. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 5, Tuesday, July 3
Aboard train
Relax and enjoy the first full day aboard the private train. Pass by Perm, founded in
1723 when copper smelting works were established there. Perm benefited greatly
from its location on the Kama River, the Great Siberian Post Road and the TransSiberian Railway. Riding the rails, enjoy presentations by the group’s study leaders.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 6, Wednesday, July 4
Ekaterinburg, Russia
Ekaterinburg, founded in 1721 and named after Catherine I, is best known as the
place where the last czar, Nicholas II, and his family were imprisoned and executed
by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Church on the Blood stands over the spot where they
died. Formerly known as Sverdlovsk, the city was closed to foreigners until 1990
because of its many defense plants. This is where U.S. pilot Gary Powers was shot
down in his U2 spy plane in 1960.
Schedules permitting, visit the Romanov execution site, the Stone Carving and
Jewelry Museum, the military museum, and a local art museum. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 7, Thursday, July 5
Novosibirsk, Russia
With a population of over 1.6 million people, Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia
and the industrial center of the region. It did not exist before the Trans-Siberian
Railway was built and its growth is largely due to the railway and its traffic. This afternoon, tour Novosibirsk, including a visit to the Opera House and Lenin Square.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 8, Friday, July 6
Aboard train
Admire the scenery today and experience Siberia’s vast wilderness as the train rolls by
the taiga, crossing several rivers and passing through the beautiful Sayan Mountains.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 9, Saturday, July 7
Irkutsk, Russia
Explore Irkutsk, founded in 1661 as a Cossack garrison and fortress. Czarist and
Bolshevik exiles from the 18th through the 20th centuries brought culture and education to Irkutsk. A tour includes a stop at the Church of Our Savior, the Gagarin
embankment, and the World War II Memorial.
Visit the restored house of Prince Sergei Volkonsky, now the House Museum of the
Decembrists. The Decembrists were a group of young officers who had served abroad
during the War of 1812 and become advocates of democratic reform. In December
1825, they tried to force the Senate to sign a manifesto abolishing serfdom and instituting reforms. Their rebellion was quickly put down, and five of the leaders hanged.
The rest were sentenced to forced labor in Siberia. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 10, Sunday, July 8
Lake Baikal, Russia
Today is dedicated to
beautiful Lake Baikal, the
world’s deepest and most
ancient lake. As large in
area as Belgium, Lake
Baikal is home to over
1,500 species of aquatic
life, and its zooplankton
filter the water to neartransparency.
Join the Circumbaikal
Railway, the original line
used by the Trans-Siberian
before the present route was completed. The Circumbaikal is considered one of the
most complicated rail systems in the world, hugging the sheer cliffs of the lake shore.
Stop for lunch at one of the old rail stations and, weather permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the beach.
Visit the lakeside village of Listvyanka, exploring the St. Nicholas Church and the
Limnological Museum of Baikal. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 11, Monday, July 9
Ulan Ude, Mongolia
Ulan Ude was founded in
the 17th century by
Cossacks as a winter
encampment on the
Selenga River. Today, the
cultural identity, language,
and spiritual beliefs of the
ethnically Mongol Buryats
of this region make visiting Ulan Ude a fascinating
experience.
Visit the Ivolginsky
Datsan, a Buddhist
monastery known as the spiritual center of Russian Buddhists. Enjoy either a Buryat
folklore performance or a visit to a village of Semeiskie, Old Believers. Aboard train
(B, L, D)
Day 12, Tuesday, July 10
Arrive UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
Cross into Mongolia and arrive at UlaanBaatar, the political, industrial and cultural
heart of Mongolia. Located in a basin 5,000 feet above sea level, UlaanBaatar is
surrounded by the beautiful Khan Khentii Mountains.
Mongolians are traditionally nomadic people, and the concept of a settlement or
city is fairly new. UlaanBaatar, or Red Hero, was established only 350 years ago, when
the trade routes between St. Petersburg and Beijing made it an important commercial
center. At one time, over 90 percent of native Mongolians were pastoralists. Now,
over 30 percent of them live in UlaanBaatar.
Time permitting, drive outside the city to the Gorkhi Terelj National Park for a visit
to a nomadic ger camp, with an optional horseback ride. Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis
Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 13, Wednesday, July 11
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
A celebration of Mongolia’s land and traditions, the
Naadam Festival spotlights the nation’s three most
popular and meaningful sports: archery, horse
racing, and wrestling. Naadam has been celebrated
for centuries as a test of the courage and strength of
nomadic people. Attend the opening ceremony and
the long distance horseracing event. Finish the day
with dinner and a folk performance. Hotel
UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 14, Thursday, July 12
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
This morning attend the
wrestling competitions at
the Nadaam Festival.
Later, explore the Gandan
Monastery or the National
History Museum. Built in
1840, the monastery is one
of Mongolia’s oldest and
most important sites.
During the communist
purges of the late 1930s, it
survived only because the
communists wanted to
maintain it as a showcase
for foreigners.
The National History Museum provides an excellent overview of the country’s
history and culture, with exhibits that illustrate Mongolian life from prehistoric
times to the present.
This evening celebrate the journey
with a toast and a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or
similar (B, L, D)
Day 15, Friday, July 13
Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, the journey comes to an end with transfers to
the airport for departure. (B)
Traveler Information
Included: 13 nights accommodations; 5 in hotels, 8 aboard train (in either Silver
or Gold Class cabins) • All meals per itinerary • Bottled/purified water • Beer or
wine with lunches and dinners • Group arrival/departure transfers & baggage
handling for those arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • All excursions & entrance fees • Hotel taxes • Gratuities to guides, drivers, train staff,
porters • Services of a professional tour manager • Educational program and
comprehensive pre-departure materials
Not Included: International flights between the U.S. and Russia/Mongolia •
Passport & visa fees • Medical immunizations • Insurance • Video/photography
fees • Arrival/departure transfers and baggage handling for those not
arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • Laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls/faxes, excess baggage fees, fuel surcharges
Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare. Because
there are a number of flight options available, there is no group flight for this program. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.
Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert
July 13-17, 2007
On this adventurous post-tour extension, enter the austere beauty of the South
Gobi Desert, dotted with hardy desert plants that serve as forage for wild Bactrian
camels, Argali mountain sheep, and goitered gazelle. Experience the Singing
Sands of Khongoryn Els and explore the Flaming Cliffs, where the first nest of
dinosaur eggs was discovered. Take a walk in cool Vulture’s Mouth Canyon and
sleep in Mongolia’s premier eco-lodge, Three Camel ger camp, built in accordance
with old nomadic traditions.
What To Expect:
Serguei Oushakine, Assistant Professor
in Princeton’s Department of Slavic Languages
and Literatures, will serve as Study Leader for
this journey.
Born and raised in Siberia, Professor Oushakine
received his degree in political science from
St. Petersburg State University and went on to
teach at Altai State Technical University. He
earned his PhD in anthropology from Columbia
University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at
the Harriman Institute at Columbia before joining the Princeton faculty in 2006.
In 2000, The Russian Academy of Sciences awarded him its Annual Award
for Young Scholars for work in the field of social sciences. Having studied history, political theory, gender, and anthropology, Professor Oushakine focuses his
current research on transitional periods in Russia’s twentieth-century history,
exploring cultural identity in Soviet and contemporary Russia. His forthcoming
book, The Patriotism of Despair: Communities of Loss in Contemporary Russia,
documents how manifestations of patriotism have changed since the collapse of
the Soviet Union.
This trip is moderately active due to the daily walking involved, and passengers
may encounter unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces, and problems getting on and
off trains (perhaps owing to low platforms, steep steps and gaps between the platform and the train). Flexibility, a sense of humor, and the ability to walk at least a
mile a day will be essential components to the enjoyment of this trip. Reaping the
rewards of an adventure requires traveling with flexibility and a willingness to
accept local standards of amenities and services. In true expedition style, some
delays or changes in the itinerary are likely.
Lake Baikal
Day-by-Day
Itinerary
Formed in a rift in the earth’s surface, Lake
Baikal grows a little wider every day as the
edges of the rift move away from each other.
The world’s deepest and most ancient lake, it
contains twenty percent of the planet’s
unfrozen fresh water. As large in area as
Belgium, Lake Baikal is listed by UNESCO as
nurturing a priceless diversity of marine life,
including some species that are found
nowhere else, like the golomyanka, a transparent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,
and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.
Day 1, Friday, June 29
Depart USA
Depart the USA for Moscow. (Meals Aloft)
Day 2, Saturday, June 30
Arrive Moscow, Russia
Transfer to the five star Metropol, featured in
the film, Dr. Zhivago, and just a five-minute
walk from Red Square. Welcome Dinner this
evening. Metropol Hotel or similar (D)
Day 3, Sunday, July 1
Moscow, Russia
Survey some of Moscow’s best-known places: the Duma building where Russia’s
governing body meets, the Bolshoi Theater, the forbidding Lubyanka prison where
the KGB was headquartered, and Red Square, with its St. Basil’s Cathedral. Designed
and built between 1555 and 1561, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, St Basil’s was
originally painted white. The domes were not patterned and colored as they are today
until a hundred years later.
Travel by Metro to the Izmailovsky Park Weekend Fair. The Metro stations in the
city center are showpieces of Socialist art, furnished with statues, frescoes and
mosaics, and with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings. Located on the
former royal hunting preserve, the huge outdoor market at Izmailovsky Park is the
best place in Moscow to people-watch and to find deals on a huge variety of Russian
souvenirs and crafts, from matrioshka dolls to lacquered boxes, and from Soviet
memorabilia to watercolors. Metropol Hotel or similar (B, L D)
Day 4, Monday, July 2
Moscow, Russia • board the Trans-Siberian
Today, enjoy independent explorations of the city or tour the Kremlin and and the
Armory Museum. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes, ruling from the
Kremlin, became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian
Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its
influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power as well.
Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory
was transformed into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. It now houses Russia’s
national treasures, such as religious icons; Fabergé eggs; a bejeweled chalice belonging
to Prince Yuri, Moscow’s founder; and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes.
In the evening, board the waiting Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train
for departure to the east. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 5, Tuesday, July 3
Aboard train
Relax and enjoy the first full day aboard the private train. Pass by Perm, founded in
1723 when copper smelting works were established there. Perm benefited greatly
from its location on the Kama River, the Great Siberian Post Road and the TransSiberian Railway. Riding the rails, enjoy presentations by the group’s study leaders.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 6, Wednesday, July 4
Ekaterinburg, Russia
Ekaterinburg, founded in 1721 and named after Catherine I, is best known as the
place where the last czar, Nicholas II, and his family were imprisoned and executed
by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Church on the Blood stands over the spot where they
died. Formerly known as Sverdlovsk, the city was closed to foreigners until 1990
because of its many defense plants. This is where U.S. pilot Gary Powers was shot
down in his U2 spy plane in 1960.
Schedules permitting, visit the Romanov execution site, the Stone Carving and
Jewelry Museum, the military museum, and a local art museum. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 7, Thursday, July 5
Novosibirsk, Russia
With a population of over 1.6 million people, Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia
and the industrial center of the region. It did not exist before the Trans-Siberian
Railway was built and its growth is largely due to the railway and its traffic. This afternoon, tour Novosibirsk, including a visit to the Opera House and Lenin Square.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 8, Friday, July 6
Aboard train
Admire the scenery today and experience Siberia’s vast wilderness as the train rolls by
the taiga, crossing several rivers and passing through the beautiful Sayan Mountains.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 9, Saturday, July 7
Irkutsk, Russia
Explore Irkutsk, founded in 1661 as a Cossack garrison and fortress. Czarist and
Bolshevik exiles from the 18th through the 20th centuries brought culture and education to Irkutsk. A tour includes a stop at the Church of Our Savior, the Gagarin
embankment, and the World War II Memorial.
Visit the restored house of Prince Sergei Volkonsky, now the House Museum of the
Decembrists. The Decembrists were a group of young officers who had served abroad
during the War of 1812 and become advocates of democratic reform. In December
1825, they tried to force the Senate to sign a manifesto abolishing serfdom and instituting reforms. Their rebellion was quickly put down, and five of the leaders hanged.
The rest were sentenced to forced labor in Siberia. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 10, Sunday, July 8
Lake Baikal, Russia
Today is dedicated to
beautiful Lake Baikal, the
world’s deepest and most
ancient lake. As large in
area as Belgium, Lake
Baikal is home to over
1,500 species of aquatic
life, and its zooplankton
filter the water to neartransparency.
Join the Circumbaikal
Railway, the original line
used by the Trans-Siberian
before the present route was completed. The Circumbaikal is considered one of the
most complicated rail systems in the world, hugging the sheer cliffs of the lake shore.
Stop for lunch at one of the old rail stations and, weather permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the beach.
Visit the lakeside village of Listvyanka, exploring the St. Nicholas Church and the
Limnological Museum of Baikal. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 11, Monday, July 9
Ulan Ude, Mongolia
Ulan Ude was founded in
the 17th century by
Cossacks as a winter
encampment on the
Selenga River. Today, the
cultural identity, language,
and spiritual beliefs of the
ethnically Mongol Buryats
of this region make visiting Ulan Ude a fascinating
experience.
Visit the Ivolginsky
Datsan, a Buddhist
monastery known as the spiritual center of Russian Buddhists. Enjoy either a Buryat
folklore performance or a visit to a village of Semeiskie, Old Believers. Aboard train
(B, L, D)
Day 12, Tuesday, July 10
Arrive UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
Cross into Mongolia and arrive at UlaanBaatar, the political, industrial and cultural
heart of Mongolia. Located in a basin 5,000 feet above sea level, UlaanBaatar is
surrounded by the beautiful Khan Khentii Mountains.
Mongolians are traditionally nomadic people, and the concept of a settlement or
city is fairly new. UlaanBaatar, or Red Hero, was established only 350 years ago, when
the trade routes between St. Petersburg and Beijing made it an important commercial
center. At one time, over 90 percent of native Mongolians were pastoralists. Now,
over 30 percent of them live in UlaanBaatar.
Time permitting, drive outside the city to the Gorkhi Terelj National Park for a visit
to a nomadic ger camp, with an optional horseback ride. Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis
Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 13, Wednesday, July 11
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
A celebration of Mongolia’s land and traditions, the
Naadam Festival spotlights the nation’s three most
popular and meaningful sports: archery, horse
racing, and wrestling. Naadam has been celebrated
for centuries as a test of the courage and strength of
nomadic people. Attend the opening ceremony and
the long distance horseracing event. Finish the day
with dinner and a folk performance. Hotel
UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 14, Thursday, July 12
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
This morning attend the
wrestling competitions at
the Nadaam Festival.
Later, explore the Gandan
Monastery or the National
History Museum. Built in
1840, the monastery is one
of Mongolia’s oldest and
most important sites.
During the communist
purges of the late 1930s, it
survived only because the
communists wanted to
maintain it as a showcase
for foreigners.
The National History Museum provides an excellent overview of the country’s
history and culture, with exhibits that illustrate Mongolian life from prehistoric
times to the present.
This evening celebrate the journey
with a toast and a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or
similar (B, L, D)
Day 15, Friday, July 13
Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, the journey comes to an end with transfers to
the airport for departure. (B)
Traveler Information
Included: 13 nights accommodations; 5 in hotels, 8 aboard train (in either Silver
or Gold Class cabins) • All meals per itinerary • Bottled/purified water • Beer or
wine with lunches and dinners • Group arrival/departure transfers & baggage
handling for those arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • All excursions & entrance fees • Hotel taxes • Gratuities to guides, drivers, train staff,
porters • Services of a professional tour manager • Educational program and
comprehensive pre-departure materials
Not Included: International flights between the U.S. and Russia/Mongolia •
Passport & visa fees • Medical immunizations • Insurance • Video/photography
fees • Arrival/departure transfers and baggage handling for those not
arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • Laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls/faxes, excess baggage fees, fuel surcharges
Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare. Because
there are a number of flight options available, there is no group flight for this program. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.
Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert
July 13-17, 2007
On this adventurous post-tour extension, enter the austere beauty of the South
Gobi Desert, dotted with hardy desert plants that serve as forage for wild Bactrian
camels, Argali mountain sheep, and goitered gazelle. Experience the Singing
Sands of Khongoryn Els and explore the Flaming Cliffs, where the first nest of
dinosaur eggs was discovered. Take a walk in cool Vulture’s Mouth Canyon and
sleep in Mongolia’s premier eco-lodge, Three Camel ger camp, built in accordance
with old nomadic traditions.
What To Expect:
Serguei Oushakine, Assistant Professor
in Princeton’s Department of Slavic Languages
and Literatures, will serve as Study Leader for
this journey.
Born and raised in Siberia, Professor Oushakine
received his degree in political science from
St. Petersburg State University and went on to
teach at Altai State Technical University. He
earned his PhD in anthropology from Columbia
University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at
the Harriman Institute at Columbia before joining the Princeton faculty in 2006.
In 2000, The Russian Academy of Sciences awarded him its Annual Award
for Young Scholars for work in the field of social sciences. Having studied history, political theory, gender, and anthropology, Professor Oushakine focuses his
current research on transitional periods in Russia’s twentieth-century history,
exploring cultural identity in Soviet and contemporary Russia. His forthcoming
book, The Patriotism of Despair: Communities of Loss in Contemporary Russia,
documents how manifestations of patriotism have changed since the collapse of
the Soviet Union.
This trip is moderately active due to the daily walking involved, and passengers
may encounter unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces, and problems getting on and
off trains (perhaps owing to low platforms, steep steps and gaps between the platform and the train). Flexibility, a sense of humor, and the ability to walk at least a
mile a day will be essential components to the enjoyment of this trip. Reaping the
rewards of an adventure requires traveling with flexibility and a willingness to
accept local standards of amenities and services. In true expedition style, some
delays or changes in the itinerary are likely.
Lake Baikal
Day-by-Day
Itinerary
Formed in a rift in the earth’s surface, Lake
Baikal grows a little wider every day as the
edges of the rift move away from each other.
The world’s deepest and most ancient lake, it
contains twenty percent of the planet’s
unfrozen fresh water. As large in area as
Belgium, Lake Baikal is listed by UNESCO as
nurturing a priceless diversity of marine life,
including some species that are found
nowhere else, like the golomyanka, a transparent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,
and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.
Day 1, Friday, June 29
Depart USA
Depart the USA for Moscow. (Meals Aloft)
Day 2, Saturday, June 30
Arrive Moscow, Russia
Transfer to the five star Metropol, featured in
the film, Dr. Zhivago, and just a five-minute
walk from Red Square. Welcome Dinner this
evening. Metropol Hotel or similar (D)
Day 3, Sunday, July 1
Moscow, Russia
Survey some of Moscow’s best-known places: the Duma building where Russia’s
governing body meets, the Bolshoi Theater, the forbidding Lubyanka prison where
the KGB was headquartered, and Red Square, with its St. Basil’s Cathedral. Designed
and built between 1555 and 1561, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, St Basil’s was
originally painted white. The domes were not patterned and colored as they are today
until a hundred years later.
Travel by Metro to the Izmailovsky Park Weekend Fair. The Metro stations in the
city center are showpieces of Socialist art, furnished with statues, frescoes and
mosaics, and with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings. Located on the
former royal hunting preserve, the huge outdoor market at Izmailovsky Park is the
best place in Moscow to people-watch and to find deals on a huge variety of Russian
souvenirs and crafts, from matrioshka dolls to lacquered boxes, and from Soviet
memorabilia to watercolors. Metropol Hotel or similar (B, L D)
Day 4, Monday, July 2
Moscow, Russia • board the Trans-Siberian
Today, enjoy independent explorations of the city or tour the Kremlin and and the
Armory Museum. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes, ruling from the
Kremlin, became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian
Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its
influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power as well.
Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory
was transformed into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. It now houses Russia’s
national treasures, such as religious icons; Fabergé eggs; a bejeweled chalice belonging
to Prince Yuri, Moscow’s founder; and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes.
In the evening, board the waiting Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train
for departure to the east. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 5, Tuesday, July 3
Aboard train
Relax and enjoy the first full day aboard the private train. Pass by Perm, founded in
1723 when copper smelting works were established there. Perm benefited greatly
from its location on the Kama River, the Great Siberian Post Road and the TransSiberian Railway. Riding the rails, enjoy presentations by the group’s study leaders.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 6, Wednesday, July 4
Ekaterinburg, Russia
Ekaterinburg, founded in 1721 and named after Catherine I, is best known as the
place where the last czar, Nicholas II, and his family were imprisoned and executed
by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Church on the Blood stands over the spot where they
died. Formerly known as Sverdlovsk, the city was closed to foreigners until 1990
because of its many defense plants. This is where U.S. pilot Gary Powers was shot
down in his U2 spy plane in 1960.
Schedules permitting, visit the Romanov execution site, the Stone Carving and
Jewelry Museum, the military museum, and a local art museum. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 7, Thursday, July 5
Novosibirsk, Russia
With a population of over 1.6 million people, Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia
and the industrial center of the region. It did not exist before the Trans-Siberian
Railway was built and its growth is largely due to the railway and its traffic. This afternoon, tour Novosibirsk, including a visit to the Opera House and Lenin Square.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 8, Friday, July 6
Aboard train
Admire the scenery today and experience Siberia’s vast wilderness as the train rolls by
the taiga, crossing several rivers and passing through the beautiful Sayan Mountains.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 9, Saturday, July 7
Irkutsk, Russia
Explore Irkutsk, founded in 1661 as a Cossack garrison and fortress. Czarist and
Bolshevik exiles from the 18th through the 20th centuries brought culture and education to Irkutsk. A tour includes a stop at the Church of Our Savior, the Gagarin
embankment, and the World War II Memorial.
Visit the restored house of Prince Sergei Volkonsky, now the House Museum of the
Decembrists. The Decembrists were a group of young officers who had served abroad
during the War of 1812 and become advocates of democratic reform. In December
1825, they tried to force the Senate to sign a manifesto abolishing serfdom and instituting reforms. Their rebellion was quickly put down, and five of the leaders hanged.
The rest were sentenced to forced labor in Siberia. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 10, Sunday, July 8
Lake Baikal, Russia
Today is dedicated to
beautiful Lake Baikal, the
world’s deepest and most
ancient lake. As large in
area as Belgium, Lake
Baikal is home to over
1,500 species of aquatic
life, and its zooplankton
filter the water to neartransparency.
Join the Circumbaikal
Railway, the original line
used by the Trans-Siberian
before the present route was completed. The Circumbaikal is considered one of the
most complicated rail systems in the world, hugging the sheer cliffs of the lake shore.
Stop for lunch at one of the old rail stations and, weather permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the beach.
Visit the lakeside village of Listvyanka, exploring the St. Nicholas Church and the
Limnological Museum of Baikal. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 11, Monday, July 9
Ulan Ude, Mongolia
Ulan Ude was founded in
the 17th century by
Cossacks as a winter
encampment on the
Selenga River. Today, the
cultural identity, language,
and spiritual beliefs of the
ethnically Mongol Buryats
of this region make visiting Ulan Ude a fascinating
experience.
Visit the Ivolginsky
Datsan, a Buddhist
monastery known as the spiritual center of Russian Buddhists. Enjoy either a Buryat
folklore performance or a visit to a village of Semeiskie, Old Believers. Aboard train
(B, L, D)
Day 12, Tuesday, July 10
Arrive UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
Cross into Mongolia and arrive at UlaanBaatar, the political, industrial and cultural
heart of Mongolia. Located in a basin 5,000 feet above sea level, UlaanBaatar is
surrounded by the beautiful Khan Khentii Mountains.
Mongolians are traditionally nomadic people, and the concept of a settlement or
city is fairly new. UlaanBaatar, or Red Hero, was established only 350 years ago, when
the trade routes between St. Petersburg and Beijing made it an important commercial
center. At one time, over 90 percent of native Mongolians were pastoralists. Now,
over 30 percent of them live in UlaanBaatar.
Time permitting, drive outside the city to the Gorkhi Terelj National Park for a visit
to a nomadic ger camp, with an optional horseback ride. Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis
Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 13, Wednesday, July 11
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
A celebration of Mongolia’s land and traditions, the
Naadam Festival spotlights the nation’s three most
popular and meaningful sports: archery, horse
racing, and wrestling. Naadam has been celebrated
for centuries as a test of the courage and strength of
nomadic people. Attend the opening ceremony and
the long distance horseracing event. Finish the day
with dinner and a folk performance. Hotel
UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 14, Thursday, July 12
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
This morning attend the
wrestling competitions at
the Nadaam Festival.
Later, explore the Gandan
Monastery or the National
History Museum. Built in
1840, the monastery is one
of Mongolia’s oldest and
most important sites.
During the communist
purges of the late 1930s, it
survived only because the
communists wanted to
maintain it as a showcase
for foreigners.
The National History Museum provides an excellent overview of the country’s
history and culture, with exhibits that illustrate Mongolian life from prehistoric
times to the present.
This evening celebrate the journey
with a toast and a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or
similar (B, L, D)
Day 15, Friday, July 13
Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, the journey comes to an end with transfers to
the airport for departure. (B)
Traveler Information
Included: 13 nights accommodations; 5 in hotels, 8 aboard train (in either Silver
or Gold Class cabins) • All meals per itinerary • Bottled/purified water • Beer or
wine with lunches and dinners • Group arrival/departure transfers & baggage
handling for those arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • All excursions & entrance fees • Hotel taxes • Gratuities to guides, drivers, train staff,
porters • Services of a professional tour manager • Educational program and
comprehensive pre-departure materials
Not Included: International flights between the U.S. and Russia/Mongolia •
Passport & visa fees • Medical immunizations • Insurance • Video/photography
fees • Arrival/departure transfers and baggage handling for those not
arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • Laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls/faxes, excess baggage fees, fuel surcharges
Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare. Because
there are a number of flight options available, there is no group flight for this program. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.
Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert
July 13-17, 2007
On this adventurous post-tour extension, enter the austere beauty of the South
Gobi Desert, dotted with hardy desert plants that serve as forage for wild Bactrian
camels, Argali mountain sheep, and goitered gazelle. Experience the Singing
Sands of Khongoryn Els and explore the Flaming Cliffs, where the first nest of
dinosaur eggs was discovered. Take a walk in cool Vulture’s Mouth Canyon and
sleep in Mongolia’s premier eco-lodge, Three Camel ger camp, built in accordance
with old nomadic traditions.
What To Expect:
Serguei Oushakine, Assistant Professor
in Princeton’s Department of Slavic Languages
and Literatures, will serve as Study Leader for
this journey.
Born and raised in Siberia, Professor Oushakine
received his degree in political science from
St. Petersburg State University and went on to
teach at Altai State Technical University. He
earned his PhD in anthropology from Columbia
University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at
the Harriman Institute at Columbia before joining the Princeton faculty in 2006.
In 2000, The Russian Academy of Sciences awarded him its Annual Award
for Young Scholars for work in the field of social sciences. Having studied history, political theory, gender, and anthropology, Professor Oushakine focuses his
current research on transitional periods in Russia’s twentieth-century history,
exploring cultural identity in Soviet and contemporary Russia. His forthcoming
book, The Patriotism of Despair: Communities of Loss in Contemporary Russia,
documents how manifestations of patriotism have changed since the collapse of
the Soviet Union.
This trip is moderately active due to the daily walking involved, and passengers
may encounter unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces, and problems getting on and
off trains (perhaps owing to low platforms, steep steps and gaps between the platform and the train). Flexibility, a sense of humor, and the ability to walk at least a
mile a day will be essential components to the enjoyment of this trip. Reaping the
rewards of an adventure requires traveling with flexibility and a willingness to
accept local standards of amenities and services. In true expedition style, some
delays or changes in the itinerary are likely.
Lake Baikal
Day-by-Day
Itinerary
Formed in a rift in the earth’s surface, Lake
Baikal grows a little wider every day as the
edges of the rift move away from each other.
The world’s deepest and most ancient lake, it
contains twenty percent of the planet’s
unfrozen fresh water. As large in area as
Belgium, Lake Baikal is listed by UNESCO as
nurturing a priceless diversity of marine life,
including some species that are found
nowhere else, like the golomyanka, a transparent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,
and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.
Day 1, Friday, June 29
Depart USA
Depart the USA for Moscow. (Meals Aloft)
Day 2, Saturday, June 30
Arrive Moscow, Russia
Transfer to the five star Metropol, featured in
the film, Dr. Zhivago, and just a five-minute
walk from Red Square. Welcome Dinner this
evening. Metropol Hotel or similar (D)
Day 3, Sunday, July 1
Moscow, Russia
Survey some of Moscow’s best-known places: the Duma building where Russia’s
governing body meets, the Bolshoi Theater, the forbidding Lubyanka prison where
the KGB was headquartered, and Red Square, with its St. Basil’s Cathedral. Designed
and built between 1555 and 1561, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, St Basil’s was
originally painted white. The domes were not patterned and colored as they are today
until a hundred years later.
Travel by Metro to the Izmailovsky Park Weekend Fair. The Metro stations in the
city center are showpieces of Socialist art, furnished with statues, frescoes and
mosaics, and with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings. Located on the
former royal hunting preserve, the huge outdoor market at Izmailovsky Park is the
best place in Moscow to people-watch and to find deals on a huge variety of Russian
souvenirs and crafts, from matrioshka dolls to lacquered boxes, and from Soviet
memorabilia to watercolors. Metropol Hotel or similar (B, L D)
Day 4, Monday, July 2
Moscow, Russia • board the Trans-Siberian
Today, enjoy independent explorations of the city or tour the Kremlin and and the
Armory Museum. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes, ruling from the
Kremlin, became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian
Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its
influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power as well.
Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory
was transformed into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. It now houses Russia’s
national treasures, such as religious icons; Fabergé eggs; a bejeweled chalice belonging
to Prince Yuri, Moscow’s founder; and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes.
In the evening, board the waiting Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train
for departure to the east. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 5, Tuesday, July 3
Aboard train
Relax and enjoy the first full day aboard the private train. Pass by Perm, founded in
1723 when copper smelting works were established there. Perm benefited greatly
from its location on the Kama River, the Great Siberian Post Road and the TransSiberian Railway. Riding the rails, enjoy presentations by the group’s study leaders.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 6, Wednesday, July 4
Ekaterinburg, Russia
Ekaterinburg, founded in 1721 and named after Catherine I, is best known as the
place where the last czar, Nicholas II, and his family were imprisoned and executed
by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Church on the Blood stands over the spot where they
died. Formerly known as Sverdlovsk, the city was closed to foreigners until 1990
because of its many defense plants. This is where U.S. pilot Gary Powers was shot
down in his U2 spy plane in 1960.
Schedules permitting, visit the Romanov execution site, the Stone Carving and
Jewelry Museum, the military museum, and a local art museum. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 7, Thursday, July 5
Novosibirsk, Russia
With a population of over 1.6 million people, Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia
and the industrial center of the region. It did not exist before the Trans-Siberian
Railway was built and its growth is largely due to the railway and its traffic. This afternoon, tour Novosibirsk, including a visit to the Opera House and Lenin Square.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 8, Friday, July 6
Aboard train
Admire the scenery today and experience Siberia’s vast wilderness as the train rolls by
the taiga, crossing several rivers and passing through the beautiful Sayan Mountains.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 9, Saturday, July 7
Irkutsk, Russia
Explore Irkutsk, founded in 1661 as a Cossack garrison and fortress. Czarist and
Bolshevik exiles from the 18th through the 20th centuries brought culture and education to Irkutsk. A tour includes a stop at the Church of Our Savior, the Gagarin
embankment, and the World War II Memorial.
Visit the restored house of Prince Sergei Volkonsky, now the House Museum of the
Decembrists. The Decembrists were a group of young officers who had served abroad
during the War of 1812 and become advocates of democratic reform. In December
1825, they tried to force the Senate to sign a manifesto abolishing serfdom and instituting reforms. Their rebellion was quickly put down, and five of the leaders hanged.
The rest were sentenced to forced labor in Siberia. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 10, Sunday, July 8
Lake Baikal, Russia
Today is dedicated to
beautiful Lake Baikal, the
world’s deepest and most
ancient lake. As large in
area as Belgium, Lake
Baikal is home to over
1,500 species of aquatic
life, and its zooplankton
filter the water to neartransparency.
Join the Circumbaikal
Railway, the original line
used by the Trans-Siberian
before the present route was completed. The Circumbaikal is considered one of the
most complicated rail systems in the world, hugging the sheer cliffs of the lake shore.
Stop for lunch at one of the old rail stations and, weather permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the beach.
Visit the lakeside village of Listvyanka, exploring the St. Nicholas Church and the
Limnological Museum of Baikal. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 11, Monday, July 9
Ulan Ude, Mongolia
Ulan Ude was founded in
the 17th century by
Cossacks as a winter
encampment on the
Selenga River. Today, the
cultural identity, language,
and spiritual beliefs of the
ethnically Mongol Buryats
of this region make visiting Ulan Ude a fascinating
experience.
Visit the Ivolginsky
Datsan, a Buddhist
monastery known as the spiritual center of Russian Buddhists. Enjoy either a Buryat
folklore performance or a visit to a village of Semeiskie, Old Believers. Aboard train
(B, L, D)
Day 12, Tuesday, July 10
Arrive UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
Cross into Mongolia and arrive at UlaanBaatar, the political, industrial and cultural
heart of Mongolia. Located in a basin 5,000 feet above sea level, UlaanBaatar is
surrounded by the beautiful Khan Khentii Mountains.
Mongolians are traditionally nomadic people, and the concept of a settlement or
city is fairly new. UlaanBaatar, or Red Hero, was established only 350 years ago, when
the trade routes between St. Petersburg and Beijing made it an important commercial
center. At one time, over 90 percent of native Mongolians were pastoralists. Now,
over 30 percent of them live in UlaanBaatar.
Time permitting, drive outside the city to the Gorkhi Terelj National Park for a visit
to a nomadic ger camp, with an optional horseback ride. Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis
Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 13, Wednesday, July 11
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
A celebration of Mongolia’s land and traditions, the
Naadam Festival spotlights the nation’s three most
popular and meaningful sports: archery, horse
racing, and wrestling. Naadam has been celebrated
for centuries as a test of the courage and strength of
nomadic people. Attend the opening ceremony and
the long distance horseracing event. Finish the day
with dinner and a folk performance. Hotel
UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 14, Thursday, July 12
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
This morning attend the
wrestling competitions at
the Nadaam Festival.
Later, explore the Gandan
Monastery or the National
History Museum. Built in
1840, the monastery is one
of Mongolia’s oldest and
most important sites.
During the communist
purges of the late 1930s, it
survived only because the
communists wanted to
maintain it as a showcase
for foreigners.
The National History Museum provides an excellent overview of the country’s
history and culture, with exhibits that illustrate Mongolian life from prehistoric
times to the present.
This evening celebrate the journey
with a toast and a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or
similar (B, L, D)
Day 15, Friday, July 13
Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, the journey comes to an end with transfers to
the airport for departure. (B)
Traveler Information
Included: 13 nights accommodations; 5 in hotels, 8 aboard train (in either Silver
or Gold Class cabins) • All meals per itinerary • Bottled/purified water • Beer or
wine with lunches and dinners • Group arrival/departure transfers & baggage
handling for those arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • All excursions & entrance fees • Hotel taxes • Gratuities to guides, drivers, train staff,
porters • Services of a professional tour manager • Educational program and
comprehensive pre-departure materials
Not Included: International flights between the U.S. and Russia/Mongolia •
Passport & visa fees • Medical immunizations • Insurance • Video/photography
fees • Arrival/departure transfers and baggage handling for those not
arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • Laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls/faxes, excess baggage fees, fuel surcharges
Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare. Because
there are a number of flight options available, there is no group flight for this program. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.
Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert
July 13-17, 2007
On this adventurous post-tour extension, enter the austere beauty of the South
Gobi Desert, dotted with hardy desert plants that serve as forage for wild Bactrian
camels, Argali mountain sheep, and goitered gazelle. Experience the Singing
Sands of Khongoryn Els and explore the Flaming Cliffs, where the first nest of
dinosaur eggs was discovered. Take a walk in cool Vulture’s Mouth Canyon and
sleep in Mongolia’s premier eco-lodge, Three Camel ger camp, built in accordance
with old nomadic traditions.
What To Expect:
Serguei Oushakine, Assistant Professor
in Princeton’s Department of Slavic Languages
and Literatures, will serve as Study Leader for
this journey.
Born and raised in Siberia, Professor Oushakine
received his degree in political science from
St. Petersburg State University and went on to
teach at Altai State Technical University. He
earned his PhD in anthropology from Columbia
University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at
the Harriman Institute at Columbia before joining the Princeton faculty in 2006.
In 2000, The Russian Academy of Sciences awarded him its Annual Award
for Young Scholars for work in the field of social sciences. Having studied history, political theory, gender, and anthropology, Professor Oushakine focuses his
current research on transitional periods in Russia’s twentieth-century history,
exploring cultural identity in Soviet and contemporary Russia. His forthcoming
book, The Patriotism of Despair: Communities of Loss in Contemporary Russia,
documents how manifestations of patriotism have changed since the collapse of
the Soviet Union.
This trip is moderately active due to the daily walking involved, and passengers
may encounter unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces, and problems getting on and
off trains (perhaps owing to low platforms, steep steps and gaps between the platform and the train). Flexibility, a sense of humor, and the ability to walk at least a
mile a day will be essential components to the enjoyment of this trip. Reaping the
rewards of an adventure requires traveling with flexibility and a willingness to
accept local standards of amenities and services. In true expedition style, some
delays or changes in the itinerary are likely.
Lake Baikal
Day-by-Day
Itinerary
Formed in a rift in the earth’s surface, Lake
Baikal grows a little wider every day as the
edges of the rift move away from each other.
The world’s deepest and most ancient lake, it
contains twenty percent of the planet’s
unfrozen fresh water. As large in area as
Belgium, Lake Baikal is listed by UNESCO as
nurturing a priceless diversity of marine life,
including some species that are found
nowhere else, like the golomyanka, a transparent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,
and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.
Day 1, Friday, June 29
Depart USA
Depart the USA for Moscow. (Meals Aloft)
Day 2, Saturday, June 30
Arrive Moscow, Russia
Transfer to the five star Metropol, featured in
the film, Dr. Zhivago, and just a five-minute
walk from Red Square. Welcome Dinner this
evening. Metropol Hotel or similar (D)
Day 3, Sunday, July 1
Moscow, Russia
Survey some of Moscow’s best-known places: the Duma building where Russia’s
governing body meets, the Bolshoi Theater, the forbidding Lubyanka prison where
the KGB was headquartered, and Red Square, with its St. Basil’s Cathedral. Designed
and built between 1555 and 1561, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, St Basil’s was
originally painted white. The domes were not patterned and colored as they are today
until a hundred years later.
Travel by Metro to the Izmailovsky Park Weekend Fair. The Metro stations in the
city center are showpieces of Socialist art, furnished with statues, frescoes and
mosaics, and with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings. Located on the
former royal hunting preserve, the huge outdoor market at Izmailovsky Park is the
best place in Moscow to people-watch and to find deals on a huge variety of Russian
souvenirs and crafts, from matrioshka dolls to lacquered boxes, and from Soviet
memorabilia to watercolors. Metropol Hotel or similar (B, L D)
Day 4, Monday, July 2
Moscow, Russia • board the Trans-Siberian
Today, enjoy independent explorations of the city or tour the Kremlin and and the
Armory Museum. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes, ruling from the
Kremlin, became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian
Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its
influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power as well.
Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory
was transformed into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. It now houses Russia’s
national treasures, such as religious icons; Fabergé eggs; a bejeweled chalice belonging
to Prince Yuri, Moscow’s founder; and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes.
In the evening, board the waiting Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train
for departure to the east. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 5, Tuesday, July 3
Aboard train
Relax and enjoy the first full day aboard the private train. Pass by Perm, founded in
1723 when copper smelting works were established there. Perm benefited greatly
from its location on the Kama River, the Great Siberian Post Road and the TransSiberian Railway. Riding the rails, enjoy presentations by the group’s study leaders.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 6, Wednesday, July 4
Ekaterinburg, Russia
Ekaterinburg, founded in 1721 and named after Catherine I, is best known as the
place where the last czar, Nicholas II, and his family were imprisoned and executed
by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Church on the Blood stands over the spot where they
died. Formerly known as Sverdlovsk, the city was closed to foreigners until 1990
because of its many defense plants. This is where U.S. pilot Gary Powers was shot
down in his U2 spy plane in 1960.
Schedules permitting, visit the Romanov execution site, the Stone Carving and
Jewelry Museum, the military museum, and a local art museum. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 7, Thursday, July 5
Novosibirsk, Russia
With a population of over 1.6 million people, Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia
and the industrial center of the region. It did not exist before the Trans-Siberian
Railway was built and its growth is largely due to the railway and its traffic. This afternoon, tour Novosibirsk, including a visit to the Opera House and Lenin Square.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 8, Friday, July 6
Aboard train
Admire the scenery today and experience Siberia’s vast wilderness as the train rolls by
the taiga, crossing several rivers and passing through the beautiful Sayan Mountains.
Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 9, Saturday, July 7
Irkutsk, Russia
Explore Irkutsk, founded in 1661 as a Cossack garrison and fortress. Czarist and
Bolshevik exiles from the 18th through the 20th centuries brought culture and education to Irkutsk. A tour includes a stop at the Church of Our Savior, the Gagarin
embankment, and the World War II Memorial.
Visit the restored house of Prince Sergei Volkonsky, now the House Museum of the
Decembrists. The Decembrists were a group of young officers who had served abroad
during the War of 1812 and become advocates of democratic reform. In December
1825, they tried to force the Senate to sign a manifesto abolishing serfdom and instituting reforms. Their rebellion was quickly put down, and five of the leaders hanged.
The rest were sentenced to forced labor in Siberia. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 10, Sunday, July 8
Lake Baikal, Russia
Today is dedicated to
beautiful Lake Baikal, the
world’s deepest and most
ancient lake. As large in
area as Belgium, Lake
Baikal is home to over
1,500 species of aquatic
life, and its zooplankton
filter the water to neartransparency.
Join the Circumbaikal
Railway, the original line
used by the Trans-Siberian
before the present route was completed. The Circumbaikal is considered one of the
most complicated rail systems in the world, hugging the sheer cliffs of the lake shore.
Stop for lunch at one of the old rail stations and, weather permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the beach.
Visit the lakeside village of Listvyanka, exploring the St. Nicholas Church and the
Limnological Museum of Baikal. Aboard train (B, L, D)
Day 11, Monday, July 9
Ulan Ude, Mongolia
Ulan Ude was founded in
the 17th century by
Cossacks as a winter
encampment on the
Selenga River. Today, the
cultural identity, language,
and spiritual beliefs of the
ethnically Mongol Buryats
of this region make visiting Ulan Ude a fascinating
experience.
Visit the Ivolginsky
Datsan, a Buddhist
monastery known as the spiritual center of Russian Buddhists. Enjoy either a Buryat
folklore performance or a visit to a village of Semeiskie, Old Believers. Aboard train
(B, L, D)
Day 12, Tuesday, July 10
Arrive UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
Cross into Mongolia and arrive at UlaanBaatar, the political, industrial and cultural
heart of Mongolia. Located in a basin 5,000 feet above sea level, UlaanBaatar is
surrounded by the beautiful Khan Khentii Mountains.
Mongolians are traditionally nomadic people, and the concept of a settlement or
city is fairly new. UlaanBaatar, or Red Hero, was established only 350 years ago, when
the trade routes between St. Petersburg and Beijing made it an important commercial
center. At one time, over 90 percent of native Mongolians were pastoralists. Now,
over 30 percent of them live in UlaanBaatar.
Time permitting, drive outside the city to the Gorkhi Terelj National Park for a visit
to a nomadic ger camp, with an optional horseback ride. Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis
Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 13, Wednesday, July 11
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
A celebration of Mongolia’s land and traditions, the
Naadam Festival spotlights the nation’s three most
popular and meaningful sports: archery, horse
racing, and wrestling. Naadam has been celebrated
for centuries as a test of the courage and strength of
nomadic people. Attend the opening ceremony and
the long distance horseracing event. Finish the day
with dinner and a folk performance. Hotel
UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or similar (B, L, D)
Day 14, Thursday, July 12
UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
This morning attend the
wrestling competitions at
the Nadaam Festival.
Later, explore the Gandan
Monastery or the National
History Museum. Built in
1840, the monastery is one
of Mongolia’s oldest and
most important sites.
During the communist
purges of the late 1930s, it
survived only because the
communists wanted to
maintain it as a showcase
for foreigners.
The National History Museum provides an excellent overview of the country’s
history and culture, with exhibits that illustrate Mongolian life from prehistoric
times to the present.
This evening celebrate the journey
with a toast and a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel UlaanBaatar, Genghis Khan or
similar (B, L, D)
Day 15, Friday, July 13
Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia
After breakfast at the hotel, the journey comes to an end with transfers to
the airport for departure. (B)
Traveler Information
Included: 13 nights accommodations; 5 in hotels, 8 aboard train (in either Silver
or Gold Class cabins) • All meals per itinerary • Bottled/purified water • Beer or
wine with lunches and dinners • Group arrival/departure transfers & baggage
handling for those arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • All excursions & entrance fees • Hotel taxes • Gratuities to guides, drivers, train staff,
porters • Services of a professional tour manager • Educational program and
comprehensive pre-departure materials
Not Included: International flights between the U.S. and Russia/Mongolia •
Passport & visa fees • Medical immunizations • Insurance • Video/photography
fees • Arrival/departure transfers and baggage handling for those not
arriving/departing on recommended flight itinerary • Laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls/faxes, excess baggage fees, fuel surcharges
Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare. Because
there are a number of flight options available, there is no group flight for this program. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.
Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert
July 13-17, 2007
On this adventurous post-tour extension, enter the austere beauty of the South
Gobi Desert, dotted with hardy desert plants that serve as forage for wild Bactrian
camels, Argali mountain sheep, and goitered gazelle. Experience the Singing
Sands of Khongoryn Els and explore the Flaming Cliffs, where the first nest of
dinosaur eggs was discovered. Take a walk in cool Vulture’s Mouth Canyon and
sleep in Mongolia’s premier eco-lodge, Three Camel ger camp, built in accordance
with old nomadic traditions.
What To Expect:
Serguei Oushakine, Assistant Professor
in Princeton’s Department of Slavic Languages
and Literatures, will serve as Study Leader for
this journey.
Born and raised in Siberia, Professor Oushakine
received his degree in political science from
St. Petersburg State University and went on to
teach at Altai State Technical University. He
earned his PhD in anthropology from Columbia
University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at
the Harriman Institute at Columbia before joining the Princeton faculty in 2006.
In 2000, The Russian Academy of Sciences awarded him its Annual Award
for Young Scholars for work in the field of social sciences. Having studied history, political theory, gender, and anthropology, Professor Oushakine focuses his
current research on transitional periods in Russia’s twentieth-century history,
exploring cultural identity in Soviet and contemporary Russia. His forthcoming
book, The Patriotism of Despair: Communities of Loss in Contemporary Russia,
documents how manifestations of patriotism have changed since the collapse of
the Soviet Union.
This trip is moderately active due to the daily walking involved, and passengers
may encounter unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces, and problems getting on and
off trains (perhaps owing to low platforms, steep steps and gaps between the platform and the train). Flexibility, a sense of humor, and the ability to walk at least a
mile a day will be essential components to the enjoyment of this trip. Reaping the
rewards of an adventure requires traveling with flexibility and a willingness to
accept local standards of amenities and services. In true expedition style, some
delays or changes in the itinerary are likely.
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Seattle,WA
Permit No. 744
Reservation Form
Trans-Siberian Express
Gold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle TransSiberian Express offer luxurious accommodation
that equals or surpasses the best luxury trains in
the world today. Each compartment is configured
for double, twin, or single occupancy. Every cabin
has its own en-suite shower and WC, an audio
system, a DVD system with plasma flat-screen
TV, air-conditioning with individual climate
control, a wardrobe, and luggage storage.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation) or credit card
information to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of payment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
A Legendary Rail Journey
down a taxi next to an 800-year-old building, is a wonder
of the world. World-class museums, a fabulous Metro
system, the venerable Kremlin and dazzling St. Basil’s
with its frosted domes greet the traveler to Russia’s
capital city.
Board the private Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address (no PO boxes please) ________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________________________________
Tel (Home) _________________________________ (Work) _____________________________________
Fax __________________________________________ Email _____________________________________
Please note preferences:
Class of service:
❏ Silver Class ($10,885 per person)
❏ Gold Class ($12,985 per person)
❏ I am traveling alone and prefer a single room wherever available at the single
supplement rate ($3,600 for Silver Class, $5,000 for Gold Class)
❏ I will share accommodations with ________________________________________________
❏ I would like to know about possible roommates
❏ Non Smoker ❏ Smoker (shares are not guaranteed)
Optional Post-Tour: Gobi Desert Extension, July 13-17, 2007
❏ I would like more information on the Post-Tour Extension
$1,695 per person, double
International Airfare:
❏ Please arrange my air from ____________________ to Moscow / from UlaanBaatar and
send me a sample itinerary and price.
I/we have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the trip as described in the brochure.
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
For further details about any trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029,
or e-mail [email protected].
PROGRAM COST INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS & AIR ARRANGEMENTS: Please see reverse.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS: To reserve space, complete and return the reservation form with your deposit
($2,000 per person in either Silver Class or Gold Class). If paying by check, make payable to MIR Corporation. Mail
payment and registration form to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of
payment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be
processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid or
due in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or less
before departure, no refund. All cancellations must be made in writing to the Alumnae Association of Smith College.
Note: Neither the Alumnae Association of Smith College nor MIR Corporation, the tour operator, accepts liability for any
airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour.
INSURANCE: As a service to its travelers, the Alumnae Association of Smith College automatically provides all travelers
coverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection with
your own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additional
insurance is available and will be mailed upon receipt of your reservation.
DISCLAIMER: The Alumnae Association of Smith College (AASC) is the sponsor of the tours. As the sponsor, AASC has
engaged independent tour operators to arrange the tours. Because the AASC does not own, operate, manage, or control,
and is not in a partnership or joint venture with, either the tour operators or the various independent companies and persons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, directors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissions
of the tour operator or the various suppliers, including any acts or omissions on their part that cause, without limitations,
injury, death, theft, damage to or loss of property, delay, inconvenience, or the cancellation, substitution, overbooking or
downgrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to your
trip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association credit
card benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, voluntary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friends
contribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please make
donation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of MIR Corporation and Smith College for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to
passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release is required for
trip participation.
ELIGIBILITY: These trips are designed for alumnae of Smith College and accompanying members of their immediate
families. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about any
trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].
TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATION
Journeys to Legendary Destinations at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia since 1986. www.mircorp.com.
CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932.
©2006 MIR Corporation, photographs and all rights reserved
Sincerely,
Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deepest rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat people as the Sacred Sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Baikal has a diversity of species unparalleled in the world,
and holds over 20% of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water.
From Siberia, head south to Mongolia for the biggest
celebration of the year, Naadam. Cheer on the horses
with their school-age riders; admire the stately wrestlers
in their eagle costumes; and marvel at the long
bows wielded by male and
female archers alike.
Murmansk
RUSSIA
Archangelsk
Veliky Ustyug
St. Petersburg Vologda
Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82
Executive Director
Novgorod
Tver
Moscow
Kirov
Ekaterinburg
Saratov
Volgograd
SMITH TRAVEL
PHONE: 800-225-2029
ALUMNAE HOUSE
E-MAIL: [email protected]
33 ELM STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063
Smith Travel
Alumnae House
33 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01063
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.
Krasnodar
Sochi
Novosibirsk
Tayshet Bratsk
Taksimo
LAKE Severobaikalsk
BAIKAL
Irkutsk Listvyanka
Sukhbaatar
Astrakhan
MONGOLIA
Kara Korum
Bayanzag
GOB
I
Join us for a remarkable ride on the
Trans-Siberian Railway all the way from
Moscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capital
city, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,
SIBERIA
Ulan Ude Chita
UlaanBaatar
Yolyn Am
RT
SE
DE
(cabin configuration may vary)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature as it appears on credit card
The Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia has been a vital artery carrying
goods and passengers from Moscow to the hinterlands since the late
19th century. During the railway’s early years the long journey was
fraught with difficulties, delays and discomfort, but today Smith alumnae
and friends have the opportunity to board a private train that makes the
trip in style and comfort.
Admire 850-year-old Moscow’s Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral before
boarding the train to Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing almost 20 percent of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water. Here a branch of
the railroad heads south into Mongolia, whose high-altitude grasslands
have supported nomadic pastoralists for thousands of years. Attend the
annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a
glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic celebrations.
We invite you to join your fellow alumnae on this uncommon journey
through the cities and villages of Western Russia, Siberia and Mongolia,
seen from the vantage point of a comfortable private train on the continent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups
are advisable.
Express in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural
MOU
NTAIN
S
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
❏ Enclosed is a deposit for $ ___________ ($2,000 per person) to hold __________ place(s) on
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival.
Please make check payable to MIR Corporation. Or charge my deposit to
❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard ❏ Amex
Acct# __________________________ Exp Date _____________
Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,
URAL
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Silver Class Cabins on the
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Express are smaller than Gold
Class cabins and still have
en-suite facilities, though
with a smaller shower area.
Silver Class features the same
amenities available in Gold
Class cars, but in a smaller
space. Silver Class carriages
contain six cabins as opposed
to five in Gold Class.
Registration
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag
LAND PROGRAM RATE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,885 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,985 (Gold Class)
Per person land tour based on double occupancy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 (Gold Class)
Single availability limited.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Ch
through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the high
steppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and comfortable private train, stopping in fascinating
towns and villages along the way.
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Seattle,WA
Permit No. 744
Reservation Form
Trans-Siberian Express
Gold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle TransSiberian Express offer luxurious accommodation
that equals or surpasses the best luxury trains in
the world today. Each compartment is configured
for double, twin, or single occupancy. Every cabin
has its own en-suite shower and WC, an audio
system, a DVD system with plasma flat-screen
TV, air-conditioning with individual climate
control, a wardrobe, and luggage storage.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation) or credit card
information to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of payment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
A Legendary Rail Journey
down a taxi next to an 800-year-old building, is a wonder
of the world. World-class museums, a fabulous Metro
system, the venerable Kremlin and dazzling St. Basil’s
with its frosted domes greet the traveler to Russia’s
capital city.
Board the private Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address (no PO boxes please) ________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________________________________
Tel (Home) _________________________________ (Work) _____________________________________
Fax __________________________________________ Email _____________________________________
Please note preferences:
Class of service:
❏ Silver Class ($10,885 per person)
❏ Gold Class ($12,985 per person)
❏ I am traveling alone and prefer a single room wherever available at the single
supplement rate ($3,600 for Silver Class, $5,000 for Gold Class)
❏ I will share accommodations with ________________________________________________
❏ I would like to know about possible roommates
❏ Non Smoker ❏ Smoker (shares are not guaranteed)
Optional Post-Tour: Gobi Desert Extension, July 13-17, 2007
❏ I would like more information on the Post-Tour Extension
$1,695 per person, double
International Airfare:
❏ Please arrange my air from ____________________ to Moscow / from UlaanBaatar and
send me a sample itinerary and price.
I/we have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the trip as described in the brochure.
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
For further details about any trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029,
or e-mail [email protected].
PROGRAM COST INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS & AIR ARRANGEMENTS: Please see reverse.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS: To reserve space, complete and return the reservation form with your deposit
($2,000 per person in either Silver Class or Gold Class). If paying by check, make payable to MIR Corporation. Mail
payment and registration form to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of
payment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be
processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid or
due in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or less
before departure, no refund. All cancellations must be made in writing to the Alumnae Association of Smith College.
Note: Neither the Alumnae Association of Smith College nor MIR Corporation, the tour operator, accepts liability for any
airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour.
INSURANCE: As a service to its travelers, the Alumnae Association of Smith College automatically provides all travelers
coverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection with
your own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additional
insurance is available and will be mailed upon receipt of your reservation.
DISCLAIMER: The Alumnae Association of Smith College (AASC) is the sponsor of the tours. As the sponsor, AASC has
engaged independent tour operators to arrange the tours. Because the AASC does not own, operate, manage, or control,
and is not in a partnership or joint venture with, either the tour operators or the various independent companies and persons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, directors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissions
of the tour operator or the various suppliers, including any acts or omissions on their part that cause, without limitations,
injury, death, theft, damage to or loss of property, delay, inconvenience, or the cancellation, substitution, overbooking or
downgrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to your
trip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association credit
card benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, voluntary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friends
contribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please make
donation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of MIR Corporation and Smith College for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to
passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release is required for
trip participation.
ELIGIBILITY: These trips are designed for alumnae of Smith College and accompanying members of their immediate
families. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about any
trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].
TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATION
Journeys to Legendary Destinations at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia since 1986. www.mircorp.com.
CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932.
©2006 MIR Corporation, photographs and all rights reserved
Sincerely,
Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deepest rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat people as the Sacred Sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Baikal has a diversity of species unparalleled in the world,
and holds over 20% of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water.
From Siberia, head south to Mongolia for the biggest
celebration of the year, Naadam. Cheer on the horses
with their school-age riders; admire the stately wrestlers
in their eagle costumes; and marvel at the long
bows wielded by male and
female archers alike.
Murmansk
RUSSIA
Archangelsk
Veliky Ustyug
St. Petersburg Vologda
Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82
Executive Director
Novgorod
Tver
Moscow
Kirov
Ekaterinburg
Saratov
Volgograd
SMITH TRAVEL
PHONE: 800-225-2029
ALUMNAE HOUSE
E-MAIL: [email protected]
33 ELM STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063
Smith Travel
Alumnae House
33 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01063
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.
Krasnodar
Sochi
Novosibirsk
Tayshet Bratsk
Taksimo
LAKE Severobaikalsk
BAIKAL
Irkutsk Listvyanka
Sukhbaatar
Astrakhan
MONGOLIA
Kara Korum
Bayanzag
GOB
I
Join us for a remarkable ride on the
Trans-Siberian Railway all the way from
Moscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capital
city, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,
SIBERIA
Ulan Ude Chita
UlaanBaatar
Yolyn Am
RT
SE
DE
(cabin configuration may vary)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature as it appears on credit card
The Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia has been a vital artery carrying
goods and passengers from Moscow to the hinterlands since the late
19th century. During the railway’s early years the long journey was
fraught with difficulties, delays and discomfort, but today Smith alumnae
and friends have the opportunity to board a private train that makes the
trip in style and comfort.
Admire 850-year-old Moscow’s Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral before
boarding the train to Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing almost 20 percent of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water. Here a branch of
the railroad heads south into Mongolia, whose high-altitude grasslands
have supported nomadic pastoralists for thousands of years. Attend the
annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a
glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic celebrations.
We invite you to join your fellow alumnae on this uncommon journey
through the cities and villages of Western Russia, Siberia and Mongolia,
seen from the vantage point of a comfortable private train on the continent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups
are advisable.
Express in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural
MOU
NTAIN
S
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
❏ Enclosed is a deposit for $ ___________ ($2,000 per person) to hold __________ place(s) on
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival.
Please make check payable to MIR Corporation. Or charge my deposit to
❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard ❏ Amex
Acct# __________________________ Exp Date _____________
Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,
URAL
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Silver Class Cabins on the
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Express are smaller than Gold
Class cabins and still have
en-suite facilities, though
with a smaller shower area.
Silver Class features the same
amenities available in Gold
Class cars, but in a smaller
space. Silver Class carriages
contain six cabins as opposed
to five in Gold Class.
Registration
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag
LAND PROGRAM RATE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,885 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,985 (Gold Class)
Per person land tour based on double occupancy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 (Gold Class)
Single availability limited.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Ch
through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the high
steppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and comfortable private train, stopping in fascinating
towns and villages along the way.
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Seattle,WA
Permit No. 744
Reservation Form
Trans-Siberian Express
Gold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle TransSiberian Express offer luxurious accommodation
that equals or surpasses the best luxury trains in
the world today. Each compartment is configured
for double, twin, or single occupancy. Every cabin
has its own en-suite shower and WC, an audio
system, a DVD system with plasma flat-screen
TV, air-conditioning with individual climate
control, a wardrobe, and luggage storage.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation) or credit card
information to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of payment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
A Legendary Rail Journey
down a taxi next to an 800-year-old building, is a wonder
of the world. World-class museums, a fabulous Metro
system, the venerable Kremlin and dazzling St. Basil’s
with its frosted domes greet the traveler to Russia’s
capital city.
Board the private Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address (no PO boxes please) ________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________________________________
Tel (Home) _________________________________ (Work) _____________________________________
Fax __________________________________________ Email _____________________________________
Please note preferences:
Class of service:
❏ Silver Class ($10,885 per person)
❏ Gold Class ($12,985 per person)
❏ I am traveling alone and prefer a single room wherever available at the single
supplement rate ($3,600 for Silver Class, $5,000 for Gold Class)
❏ I will share accommodations with ________________________________________________
❏ I would like to know about possible roommates
❏ Non Smoker ❏ Smoker (shares are not guaranteed)
Optional Post-Tour: Gobi Desert Extension, July 13-17, 2007
❏ I would like more information on the Post-Tour Extension
$1,695 per person, double
International Airfare:
❏ Please arrange my air from ____________________ to Moscow / from UlaanBaatar and
send me a sample itinerary and price.
I/we have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the trip as described in the brochure.
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
For further details about any trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029,
or e-mail [email protected].
PROGRAM COST INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS & AIR ARRANGEMENTS: Please see reverse.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS: To reserve space, complete and return the reservation form with your deposit
($2,000 per person in either Silver Class or Gold Class). If paying by check, make payable to MIR Corporation. Mail
payment and registration form to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of
payment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be
processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid or
due in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or less
before departure, no refund. All cancellations must be made in writing to the Alumnae Association of Smith College.
Note: Neither the Alumnae Association of Smith College nor MIR Corporation, the tour operator, accepts liability for any
airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour.
INSURANCE: As a service to its travelers, the Alumnae Association of Smith College automatically provides all travelers
coverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection with
your own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additional
insurance is available and will be mailed upon receipt of your reservation.
DISCLAIMER: The Alumnae Association of Smith College (AASC) is the sponsor of the tours. As the sponsor, AASC has
engaged independent tour operators to arrange the tours. Because the AASC does not own, operate, manage, or control,
and is not in a partnership or joint venture with, either the tour operators or the various independent companies and persons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, directors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissions
of the tour operator or the various suppliers, including any acts or omissions on their part that cause, without limitations,
injury, death, theft, damage to or loss of property, delay, inconvenience, or the cancellation, substitution, overbooking or
downgrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to your
trip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association credit
card benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, voluntary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friends
contribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please make
donation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of MIR Corporation and Smith College for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to
passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release is required for
trip participation.
ELIGIBILITY: These trips are designed for alumnae of Smith College and accompanying members of their immediate
families. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about any
trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].
TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATION
Journeys to Legendary Destinations at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia since 1986. www.mircorp.com.
CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932.
©2006 MIR Corporation, photographs and all rights reserved
Sincerely,
Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deepest rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat people as the Sacred Sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Baikal has a diversity of species unparalleled in the world,
and holds over 20% of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water.
From Siberia, head south to Mongolia for the biggest
celebration of the year, Naadam. Cheer on the horses
with their school-age riders; admire the stately wrestlers
in their eagle costumes; and marvel at the long
bows wielded by male and
female archers alike.
Murmansk
RUSSIA
Archangelsk
Veliky Ustyug
St. Petersburg Vologda
Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82
Executive Director
Novgorod
Tver
Moscow
Kirov
Ekaterinburg
Saratov
Volgograd
SMITH TRAVEL
PHONE: 800-225-2029
ALUMNAE HOUSE
E-MAIL: [email protected]
33 ELM STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063
Smith Travel
Alumnae House
33 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01063
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.
Krasnodar
Sochi
Novosibirsk
Tayshet Bratsk
Taksimo
LAKE Severobaikalsk
BAIKAL
Irkutsk Listvyanka
Sukhbaatar
Astrakhan
MONGOLIA
Kara Korum
Bayanzag
GOB
I
Join us for a remarkable ride on the
Trans-Siberian Railway all the way from
Moscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capital
city, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,
SIBERIA
Ulan Ude Chita
UlaanBaatar
Yolyn Am
RT
SE
DE
(cabin configuration may vary)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature as it appears on credit card
The Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia has been a vital artery carrying
goods and passengers from Moscow to the hinterlands since the late
19th century. During the railway’s early years the long journey was
fraught with difficulties, delays and discomfort, but today Smith alumnae
and friends have the opportunity to board a private train that makes the
trip in style and comfort.
Admire 850-year-old Moscow’s Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral before
boarding the train to Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing almost 20 percent of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water. Here a branch of
the railroad heads south into Mongolia, whose high-altitude grasslands
have supported nomadic pastoralists for thousands of years. Attend the
annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a
glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic celebrations.
We invite you to join your fellow alumnae on this uncommon journey
through the cities and villages of Western Russia, Siberia and Mongolia,
seen from the vantage point of a comfortable private train on the continent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups
are advisable.
Express in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural
MOU
NTAIN
S
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
❏ Enclosed is a deposit for $ ___________ ($2,000 per person) to hold __________ place(s) on
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival.
Please make check payable to MIR Corporation. Or charge my deposit to
❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard ❏ Amex
Acct# __________________________ Exp Date _____________
Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,
URAL
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Silver Class Cabins on the
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Express are smaller than Gold
Class cabins and still have
en-suite facilities, though
with a smaller shower area.
Silver Class features the same
amenities available in Gold
Class cars, but in a smaller
space. Silver Class carriages
contain six cabins as opposed
to five in Gold Class.
Registration
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag
LAND PROGRAM RATE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,885 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,985 (Gold Class)
Per person land tour based on double occupancy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 (Gold Class)
Single availability limited.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Ch
through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the high
steppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and comfortable private train, stopping in fascinating
towns and villages along the way.
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Seattle,WA
Permit No. 744
Reservation Form
Trans-Siberian Express
Gold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle TransSiberian Express offer luxurious accommodation
that equals or surpasses the best luxury trains in
the world today. Each compartment is configured
for double, twin, or single occupancy. Every cabin
has its own en-suite shower and WC, an audio
system, a DVD system with plasma flat-screen
TV, air-conditioning with individual climate
control, a wardrobe, and luggage storage.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Please mail the completed registration form with check (payable to MIR Corporation) or credit card
information to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of payment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of balance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
A Legendary Rail Journey
down a taxi next to an 800-year-old building, is a wonder
of the world. World-class museums, a fabulous Metro
system, the venerable Kremlin and dazzling St. Basil’s
with its frosted domes greet the traveler to Russia’s
capital city.
Board the private Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address (no PO boxes please) ________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________________________________
Tel (Home) _________________________________ (Work) _____________________________________
Fax __________________________________________ Email _____________________________________
Please note preferences:
Class of service:
❏ Silver Class ($10,885 per person)
❏ Gold Class ($12,985 per person)
❏ I am traveling alone and prefer a single room wherever available at the single
supplement rate ($3,600 for Silver Class, $5,000 for Gold Class)
❏ I will share accommodations with ________________________________________________
❏ I would like to know about possible roommates
❏ Non Smoker ❏ Smoker (shares are not guaranteed)
Optional Post-Tour: Gobi Desert Extension, July 13-17, 2007
❏ I would like more information on the Post-Tour Extension
$1,695 per person, double
International Airfare:
❏ Please arrange my air from ____________________ to Moscow / from UlaanBaatar and
send me a sample itinerary and price.
I/we have read and agree to the terms and conditions of the trip as described in the brochure.
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date __________________________
For further details about any trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029,
or e-mail [email protected].
PROGRAM COST INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS & AIR ARRANGEMENTS: Please see reverse.
RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS: To reserve space, complete and return the reservation form with your deposit
($2,000 per person in either Silver Class or Gold Class). If paying by check, make payable to MIR Corporation. Mail
payment and registration form to Smith Travel, Alumnae House, 33 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063. Balance of
payment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will be
processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid or
due in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or less
before departure, no refund. All cancellations must be made in writing to the Alumnae Association of Smith College.
Note: Neither the Alumnae Association of Smith College nor MIR Corporation, the tour operator, accepts liability for any
airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour.
INSURANCE: As a service to its travelers, the Alumnae Association of Smith College automatically provides all travelers
coverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection with
your own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additional
insurance is available and will be mailed upon receipt of your reservation.
DISCLAIMER: The Alumnae Association of Smith College (AASC) is the sponsor of the tours. As the sponsor, AASC has
engaged independent tour operators to arrange the tours. Because the AASC does not own, operate, manage, or control,
and is not in a partnership or joint venture with, either the tour operators or the various independent companies and persons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, directors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissions
of the tour operator or the various suppliers, including any acts or omissions on their part that cause, without limitations,
injury, death, theft, damage to or loss of property, delay, inconvenience, or the cancellation, substitution, overbooking or
downgrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to your
trip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association credit
card benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, voluntary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friends
contribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please make
donation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of MIR Corporation and Smith College for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to
passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release is required for
trip participation.
ELIGIBILITY: These trips are designed for alumnae of Smith College and accompanying members of their immediate
families. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about any
trip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].
TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATION
Journeys to Legendary Destinations at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia since 1986. www.mircorp.com.
CST #2082306-40. WST #601-099-932.
©2006 MIR Corporation, photographs and all rights reserved
Sincerely,
Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deepest rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat people as the Sacred Sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Baikal has a diversity of species unparalleled in the world,
and holds over 20% of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water.
From Siberia, head south to Mongolia for the biggest
celebration of the year, Naadam. Cheer on the horses
with their school-age riders; admire the stately wrestlers
in their eagle costumes; and marvel at the long
bows wielded by male and
female archers alike.
Murmansk
RUSSIA
Archangelsk
Veliky Ustyug
St. Petersburg Vologda
Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82
Executive Director
Novgorod
Tver
Moscow
Kirov
Ekaterinburg
Saratov
Volgograd
SMITH TRAVEL
PHONE: 800-225-2029
ALUMNAE HOUSE
E-MAIL: [email protected]
33 ELM STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063
Smith Travel
Alumnae House
33 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01063
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.
Krasnodar
Sochi
Novosibirsk
Tayshet Bratsk
Taksimo
LAKE Severobaikalsk
BAIKAL
Irkutsk Listvyanka
Sukhbaatar
Astrakhan
MONGOLIA
Kara Korum
Bayanzag
GOB
I
Join us for a remarkable ride on the
Trans-Siberian Railway all the way from
Moscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capital
city, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,
SIBERIA
Ulan Ude Chita
UlaanBaatar
Yolyn Am
RT
SE
DE
(cabin configuration may vary)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature as it appears on credit card
The Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia has been a vital artery carrying
goods and passengers from Moscow to the hinterlands since the late
19th century. During the railway’s early years the long journey was
fraught with difficulties, delays and discomfort, but today Smith alumnae
and friends have the opportunity to board a private train that makes the
trip in style and comfort.
Admire 850-year-old Moscow’s Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral before
boarding the train to Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing almost 20 percent of the earth’s unfrozen fresh water. Here a branch of
the railroad heads south into Mongolia, whose high-altitude grasslands
have supported nomadic pastoralists for thousands of years. Attend the
annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a
glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic celebrations.
We invite you to join your fellow alumnae on this uncommon journey
through the cities and villages of Western Russia, Siberia and Mongolia,
seen from the vantage point of a comfortable private train on the continent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups
are advisable.
Express in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural
MOU
NTAIN
S
Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________
❏ Enclosed is a deposit for $ ___________ ($2,000 per person) to hold __________ place(s) on
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival.
Please make check payable to MIR Corporation. Or charge my deposit to
❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard ❏ Amex
Acct# __________________________ Exp Date _____________
Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,
URAL
Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________
Silver Class Cabins on the
Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian
Express are smaller than Gold
Class cabins and still have
en-suite facilities, though
with a smaller shower area.
Silver Class features the same
amenities available in Gold
Class cars, but in a smaller
space. Silver Class carriages
contain six cabins as opposed
to five in Gold Class.
Registration
Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival
June 29 – July 13, 2007
Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag
LAND PROGRAM RATE: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,885 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,985 (Gold Class)
Per person land tour based on double occupancy.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,600 (Silver Class)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 (Gold Class)
Single availability limited.
The Trans-Siberian by Private Train
Ch
through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the high
steppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and comfortable private train, stopping in fascinating
towns and villages along the way.