Off-the-beaten-track Far Horizons lives up to its name with this escorted 25-day tour that starts in Istanbul and visits Bucharest, Kiev, Yalta, Sevastopol, Odessa, Kishinev, Lvov, Minsk, St Petersburg, Moscow and Samarkand.
A highlight is 7-nights on the Golden Eagle private train from Sevastopol in the Crimea to Moscow in Gold Class Cabins that feature power showers, underfloor heating, air-conditioning, DVD/CD players and LCD screens; there is also a Bar Car and two Restaurant Cars serving gourmet meals and wines.
Travelling on the train for several days will be Princess Michael of Kent who is an expert on European history, and will give a lecture on the life of Catherine the Great and her role in the history of the Crimea.
The tour departs Australia on April 22 2010. Special points of interest include a cruise on the Bosphorus, a visit to the valley in Balaclava where the Charge of the Light Brigade took place, a winery in Moldava, St Petersburg, two-days in Moscow, and returning via Tamerlane's great city of Samarkand and the Uzbek capital, Tashkent.
The escorted package is priced from $45,900pp twin-share including return Business Class air from Brisbane or Sydney, all meals, air and train travel on tour, daily guided excursions and tours, and gratuities; for a brochure and details phone 1800 083 141 or visit www.farhorizons.com.au
