Budget for independents and backpackers - young and not so young!
Set Date Departures - Independent
Set Date Departures - escorted at all stops
Value Added
Fully Escorted Groups
Private Itinerary Planning
Exploratory Trips
Prices
Price Guarantee
Financial Security
Visa Invitations
Moscow & St Petersburg Homestay
Hotels

Prices and train timetables are correct at the time of printing but are subject to change at any time. So, please keep in touch by letter, phone, fax or the internet. Our programmes are designed to obtain the best value for money and the optimum use of time, all resulting from our client’s feedback. In other words the published programmes represent a summary of the most frequently requested routes and stopovers over the last 19 years. Variations are possible, but what you see published is what most people end up doing when they balance their time with their financial budget.

BUDGET

These programmes provide the basic requirements from which you can build your own plans. We offer the 'Depart Any Week', as well as the 'Set Dates for Independents' allowing those who wish the chance to maximise meeting other travellers.

What we provide;

• As flexible as possible travel within visa regulations
• Reserved train travel as required
• Budget accommodation providing good value and security
• With homestays you get breakfast included with the option of ordering other meals from your homestay hosts. In Moscow & St Petersburg this saves you money.
• If stopping at Ekaterinburg accommodation is an Apartment Hotel - homestays no longer available in this city.
• With hotels breakfast only is included.
• Arrival transfer is included to ensure you find your accommodation (especially homestays). Also provides opportunity to hand on any important documents and tickets.

SET DATE DEPARTURES - INDEPENDENT

For those who want a budget programme, but would like to maximise their chances of being with other people travelling on a similar itinerary, but not necessarily doing what you are doing, we have a set departure date per month.

For those who want just a bit more, we can add on the following, or more, to any trip.

• Fully escorted daily sightseeing - guide only, or car and guide
• Hotel upgrades
• Fully escorted overnight side trips

All programmes are met at each stop and be fully escorted for all sightseeing, and then transferred back to the train for the onward journey. Our committed multi-lingual guides meet you at all stops on the train journey and are with you for the entire period. They escort you back to board the train for the next rail section. The only time you are without a guide is on board the train and that is the easiest part. This way you can have all the benefits of a group escorted programme, but at a lower price, depart when you want, or on set departure date, and be more time efficient.
 

FULLY ESCORTED GROUPS

We can operate a fully escorted group programme, where we have a guide who through their own experiences, have some unique qualities which allows them to add something different to the whole trip. These guides are with you the entire journey from the start to the end. Special Group 2009
Should you have your own group we can organise it for you.
For those that want a larger private group departure on an exclusive train please see the link to, Private Trans Siberian Tour.

Our personal experiences and ‘on site connections’ allows us to provide complete individual itineraries to suit personal wishes. Itineraries can range from a desire to trace historical family roots to an art, sport, military history or engineering enthusiast who wants to pursue their interest within Russia. Family trips are possible and easy to arrange. Many of our homestays, as well as hotels, can cater for families.

Conditions for this service differ from our normal programmes - details available upon request.

These trips involve exploring an area for which we plan to operate more regular programmes in the future. These trips are not for anyone who cannot face; changes, delays, accommodation not quite living up to what was expected, or regular and functioning contact to home. They are for those with a flexible attitude, who realise the financial savings and security benefits of travelling with others and who enjoy the camaraderie of fellow travellers.

Please watch the web site for details of when and if we have such a trip operating. Special Group 2009

PRICES

We state our prices in EUR or US$ as all the ground costs are charged in EUR or US$ from all the various suppliers along the routes.
At the time of printing, prices are correct. However, due to the nature of the economy of the countries involved in these programmes, changes do happen, often without warning.

Once you pay the balance, there will be no surcharges.

FINANCIAL SECURITY

We are a licensed Travel Agent - Australia Sate of Victoria Lic No 31054. In addition we are members of the Australian Travel Compensation Fund, a requirement to be licensed and involving yearly audits of compliance. We are also IATA accredited - more financial control by external forces!

VISA INVITATIONS Russia, and Central Asia

Upon payment for your arrangements, we provide you with the required invitations and additional paperwork to secure the relevant visa. We will make these as flexible as possible and valid for the country in which you apply for your visa. You should be aware that ‘invitations’ from certain outlets in Russia have and are being refused at some Russian consulates. For flexibility and peace of mind, our invitations are a must.
More Visa information including application forms and costs .. click here..

In both Moscow and St Petersburg our homestays are centrally located. Homestay represents the best value for accommodation in Russia. You receive your own room (some can cater for up to four people although most are suitable for two) which is MUCH cleaner than any other comparative budget accommodation and you are not in a dorm with people you don’t know. In addition, breakfast is included, and other meals can be ordered from the host. In Moscow and St Petersburg this can represent a huge saving when compared to having to buy your meals in restaurants. Probably the most important aspect is the fact that you experience everyday contemporary Russian life - isn’t that one of the main reasons we all travel? Many travellers are still in regular contact with their past hosts. Using this style of accommodation puts more money into the hands of the ordinary person. And yes we can locate vegetarian hosts!

Homestays are only available for a minimum of three nights in the cities of Moscow and St Petersburg - the minimum which should really be allowed to accomplish the essential sightseeing. For shorter stays, hotels will have to be used. Other cities in Russia can have less than 3 nights for homestays.

For those who do not want homestay and prefer hotel accommodation, and service, then we offer an upgrade facility which is detailed in the Moscow & St Petersburg package. Our hotel selection has been chosen based on visits to the hotels by members of staff and feedback from clients. Some have a very obvious Russian character which only adds to the enjoyment of the whole experience of travelling across this large country. We keep to a select few who seem to remain constant in their upkeep and service levels.