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The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam Festival June 29 – July 13, 2007 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, through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the high steppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and com- fortable private train, stopping in fascinating towns and villages along the way.

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Page 1: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 ofpayment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will beprocessed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid ordue in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or lessbefore 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 anyairline 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 travelerscoverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection withyour own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additionalinsurance 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 hasengaged 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 per-sons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, direc-tors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissionsof 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 ordowngrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to yourtrip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association creditcard benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, vol-untary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friendscontribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please makedonation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclu-sions 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 immediatefamilies. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about anytrip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].

TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATIONJourneys 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

Reservation Form

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Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,

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 contain-

ing 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 conti-

nent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups

are advisable.

Sincerely,

Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82

Executive Director

SMITH TRAVEL PHONE: 800-225-2029

ALUMNAE HOUSE E-MAIL: [email protected]

33 ELM STREET

NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063

A Legendary Rail JourneyGold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian 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.

Silver Class Cabins on the

Golden Eagle Trans-SiberianExpress 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.

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 29 – July 13, 2007

Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag

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-SiberianExpress in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural

Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.

Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deep-

est rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat peo-

ple 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.

Sochi

Astrakhan

Bratsk

Chita

Tver

Kirov

Murmansk

Novgorod

Ulan Ude

Vologda

Listvyanka

SeverobaikalskTayshet ChEkaterinburg

Novosibirsk

Sukhbaatar

Veliky Ustyug

RUSSIA

UR

AL

MO

UNTA

INS SIBERIA

MONGOLIA

Irkutsk

Krasnodar

St. Petersburg

SaratovVolgograd

LAKE BAIKAL

Archangelsk

TaksimoMoscow

Yolyn Am

Kara KorumBayanzag

DESERT

GOBI

UlaanBaatar

Trans-Siberian Express

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 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 pay-

ment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of bal-

ance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

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.Registration❏ 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 _____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature as it appears on credit card

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________

Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

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].

Join us for a remarkable ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way fromMoscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capitalcity, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the highsteppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and com-fortable private train, stopping in fascinatingtowns and villages along the way.

(cabin configuration may vary)

Page 2: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 Trans-

Siberian 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 after-

noon, 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 educa-

tion 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 institut-

ing 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 zooplanktonfilter the water to near-

transparency.

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 barbe-

cue 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 visit-

ing 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, GenghisKhan 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. HotelUlaanBaatar, 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 orsimilar (B, L, D)

Day 15, Friday, July 13

Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia

After breakfast at the hotel, the jour-

ney 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 excur-

sions & 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 bever-

ages, 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 pro-

gram. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour oper-

ator upon confirmation.

Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert

July 13-17, 2007On 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: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 plat-

form 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 BaikalFormed 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 trans-

parent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,

and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.

Day-by-DayItinerary

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 histo-

ry, 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.

Page 3: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 ofpayment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will beprocessed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid ordue in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or lessbefore 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 anyairline 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 travelerscoverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection withyour own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additionalinsurance 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 hasengaged 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 per-sons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, direc-tors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissionsof 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 ordowngrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to yourtrip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association creditcard benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, vol-untary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friendscontribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please makedonation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclu-sions 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 immediatefamilies. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about anytrip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].

TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATIONJourneys 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

Reservation Form

Pres

orte

d St

anda

rdU

.S.P

osta

gePA

IDSe

attle

,WA

Perm

it N

o.74

4

Smith

Tra

vel

Alu

mna

e H

ouse

33 E

lm S

tree

tN

orth

ampt

on,M

A 0

1063

Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,

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 contain-

ing 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 conti-

nent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups

are advisable.

Sincerely,

Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82

Executive Director

SMITH TRAVEL PHONE: 800-225-2029

ALUMNAE HOUSE E-MAIL: [email protected]

33 ELM STREET

NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063

A Legendary Rail JourneyGold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian 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.

Silver Class Cabins on the

Golden Eagle Trans-SiberianExpress 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.

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 29 – July 13, 2007

Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag

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-SiberianExpress in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural

Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.

Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deep-

est rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat peo-

ple 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.

Sochi

Astrakhan

Bratsk

Chita

Tver

Kirov

Murmansk

Novgorod

Ulan Ude

Vologda

Listvyanka

SeverobaikalskTayshet ChEkaterinburg

Novosibirsk

Sukhbaatar

Veliky Ustyug

RUSSIA

UR

AL

MO

UNTA

INS SIBERIA

MONGOLIA

Irkutsk

Krasnodar

St. Petersburg

SaratovVolgograd

LAKE BAIKAL

Archangelsk

TaksimoMoscow

Yolyn Am

Kara KorumBayanzag

DESERT

GOBI

UlaanBaatar

Trans-Siberian Express

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 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 pay-

ment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of bal-

ance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

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.Registration❏ 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 _____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature as it appears on credit card

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________

Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

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].

Join us for a remarkable ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way fromMoscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capitalcity, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the highsteppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and com-fortable private train, stopping in fascinatingtowns and villages along the way.

(cabin configuration may vary)

Page 4: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 Trans-

Siberian 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 after-

noon, 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 educa-

tion 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 institut-

ing 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 zooplanktonfilter the water to near-

transparency.

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 barbe-

cue 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 visit-

ing 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, GenghisKhan 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. HotelUlaanBaatar, 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 orsimilar (B, L, D)

Day 15, Friday, July 13

Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia

After breakfast at the hotel, the jour-

ney 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 excur-

sions & 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 bever-

ages, 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 pro-

gram. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour oper-

ator upon confirmation.

Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert

July 13-17, 2007On 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: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 plat-

form 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 BaikalFormed 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 trans-

parent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,

and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.

Day-by-DayItinerary

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 histo-

ry, 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.

Page 5: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 Trans-

Siberian 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 after-

noon, 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 educa-

tion 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 institut-

ing 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 zooplanktonfilter the water to near-

transparency.

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 barbe-

cue 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 visit-

ing 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, GenghisKhan 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. HotelUlaanBaatar, 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 orsimilar (B, L, D)

Day 15, Friday, July 13

Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia

After breakfast at the hotel, the jour-

ney 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 excur-

sions & 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 bever-

ages, 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 pro-

gram. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour oper-

ator upon confirmation.

Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert

July 13-17, 2007On 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: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 plat-

form 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 BaikalFormed 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 trans-

parent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,

and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.

Day-by-DayItinerary

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 histo-

ry, 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.

Page 6: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 Trans-

Siberian 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 after-

noon, 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 educa-

tion 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 institut-

ing 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 zooplanktonfilter the water to near-

transparency.

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 barbe-

cue 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 visit-

ing 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, GenghisKhan 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. HotelUlaanBaatar, 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 orsimilar (B, L, D)

Day 15, Friday, July 13

Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia

After breakfast at the hotel, the jour-

ney 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 excur-

sions & 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 bever-

ages, 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 pro-

gram. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour oper-

ator upon confirmation.

Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert

July 13-17, 2007On 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: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 plat-

form 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 BaikalFormed 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 trans-

parent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,

and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.

Day-by-DayItinerary

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 histo-

ry, 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.

Page 7: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 Trans-

Siberian 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 after-

noon, 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 educa-

tion 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 institut-

ing 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 zooplanktonfilter the water to near-

transparency.

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 barbe-

cue 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 visit-

ing 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, GenghisKhan 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. HotelUlaanBaatar, 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 orsimilar (B, L, D)

Day 15, Friday, July 13

Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia

After breakfast at the hotel, the jour-

ney 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 excur-

sions & 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 bever-

ages, 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 pro-

gram. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour oper-

ator upon confirmation.

Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert

July 13-17, 2007On 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: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 plat-

form 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 BaikalFormed 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 trans-

parent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,

and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.

Day-by-DayItinerary

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 histo-

ry, 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.

Page 8: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 Trans-

Siberian 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 after-

noon, 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 educa-

tion 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 institut-

ing 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 zooplanktonfilter the water to near-

transparency.

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 barbe-

cue 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 visit-

ing 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, GenghisKhan 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. HotelUlaanBaatar, 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 orsimilar (B, L, D)

Day 15, Friday, July 13

Depart UlaanBaatar, Mongolia

After breakfast at the hotel, the jour-

ney 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 excur-

sions & 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 bever-

ages, 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 pro-

gram. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour oper-

ator upon confirmation.

Optional Post-Tour Extension to The Gobi Desert

July 13-17, 2007On 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: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 plat-

form 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 BaikalFormed 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 trans-

parent fish, the omul, a tasty salmon-like fish,

and a freshwater seal, the nerpa.

Day-by-DayItinerary

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 histo-

ry, 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.

Page 9: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 ofpayment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will beprocessed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid ordue in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or lessbefore 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 anyairline 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 travelerscoverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection withyour own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additionalinsurance 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 hasengaged 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 per-sons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, direc-tors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissionsof 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 ordowngrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to yourtrip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association creditcard benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, vol-untary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friendscontribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please makedonation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclu-sions 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 immediatefamilies. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about anytrip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].

TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATIONJourneys 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

Reservation Form

Pres

orte

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.S.P

osta

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IDSe

attle

,WA

Perm

it N

o.74

4

Smith

Tra

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Alu

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33 E

lm S

tree

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A 0

1063

Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,

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 contain-

ing 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 conti-

nent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups

are advisable.

Sincerely,

Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82

Executive Director

SMITH TRAVEL PHONE: 800-225-2029

ALUMNAE HOUSE E-MAIL: [email protected]

33 ELM STREET

NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063

A Legendary Rail JourneyGold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian 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.

Silver Class Cabins on the

Golden Eagle Trans-SiberianExpress 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.

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 29 – July 13, 2007

Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag

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-SiberianExpress in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural

Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.

Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deep-

est rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat peo-

ple 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.

Sochi

Astrakhan

Bratsk

Chita

Tver

Kirov

Murmansk

Novgorod

Ulan Ude

Vologda

Listvyanka

SeverobaikalskTayshet ChEkaterinburg

Novosibirsk

Sukhbaatar

Veliky Ustyug

RUSSIA

URAL

MOUN

TAINS SIBERIA

MONGOLIA

Irkutsk

Krasnodar

St. Petersburg

SaratovVolgograd

LAKE BAIKAL

Archangelsk

TaksimoMoscow

Yolyn Am

Kara KorumBayanzag

DESERT

GOBI

UlaanBaatar

Trans-Siberian Express

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 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 pay-

ment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of bal-

ance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

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.Registration❏ 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 _____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature as it appears on credit card

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________

Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

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].

Join us for a remarkable ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way fromMoscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capitalcity, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the highsteppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and com-fortable private train, stopping in fascinatingtowns and villages along the way.

(cabin configuration may vary)

Page 10: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 ofpayment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will beprocessed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid ordue in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or lessbefore 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 anyairline 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 travelerscoverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection withyour own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additionalinsurance 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 hasengaged 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 per-sons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, direc-tors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissionsof 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 ordowngrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to yourtrip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association creditcard benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, vol-untary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friendscontribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please makedonation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclu-sions 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 immediatefamilies. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about anytrip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].

TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATIONJourneys 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

Reservation Form

Pres

orte

d St

anda

rdU

.S.P

osta

gePA

IDSe

attle

,WA

Perm

it N

o.74

4

Smith

Tra

vel

Alu

mna

e H

ouse

33 E

lm S

tree

tN

orth

ampt

on,M

A 0

1063

Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,

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 contain-

ing 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 conti-

nent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups

are advisable.

Sincerely,

Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82

Executive Director

SMITH TRAVEL PHONE: 800-225-2029

ALUMNAE HOUSE E-MAIL: [email protected]

33 ELM STREET

NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063

A Legendary Rail JourneyGold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian 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.

Silver Class Cabins on the

Golden Eagle Trans-SiberianExpress 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.

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 29 – July 13, 2007

Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag

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-SiberianExpress in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural

Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.

Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deep-

est rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat peo-

ple 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.

Sochi

Astrakhan

Bratsk

Chita

Tver

Kirov

Murmansk

Novgorod

Ulan Ude

Vologda

Listvyanka

SeverobaikalskTayshet ChEkaterinburg

Novosibirsk

Sukhbaatar

Veliky Ustyug

RUSSIA

UR

AL

MO

UNTA

INS SIBERIA

MONGOLIA

Irkutsk

Krasnodar

St. Petersburg

SaratovVolgograd

LAKE BAIKAL

Archangelsk

TaksimoMoscow

Yolyn Am

Kara KorumBayanzag

DESERT

GOBI

UlaanBaatar

Trans-Siberian Express

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 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 pay-

ment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of bal-

ance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

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.Registration❏ 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 _____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature as it appears on credit card

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________

Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

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].

Join us for a remarkable ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way fromMoscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capitalcity, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the highsteppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and com-fortable private train, stopping in fascinatingtowns and villages along the way.

(cabin configuration may vary)

Page 11: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 ofpayment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will beprocessed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid ordue in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or lessbefore 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 anyairline 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 travelerscoverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection withyour own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additionalinsurance 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 hasengaged 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 per-sons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, direc-tors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissionsof 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 ordowngrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to yourtrip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association creditcard benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, vol-untary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friendscontribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please makedonation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclu-sions 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 immediatefamilies. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about anytrip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].

TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATIONJourneys 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

Reservation Form

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Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,

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 contain-

ing 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 conti-

nent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups

are advisable.

Sincerely,

Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82

Executive Director

SMITH TRAVEL PHONE: 800-225-2029

ALUMNAE HOUSE E-MAIL: [email protected]

33 ELM STREET

NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063

A Legendary Rail JourneyGold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian 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.

Silver Class Cabins on the

Golden Eagle Trans-SiberianExpress 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.

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 29 – July 13, 2007

Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag

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-SiberianExpress in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural

Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.

Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deep-

est rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat peo-

ple 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.

Sochi

Astrakhan

Bratsk

Chita

Tver

Kirov

Murmansk

Novgorod

Ulan Ude

Vologda

Listvyanka

SeverobaikalskTayshet ChEkaterinburg

Novosibirsk

Sukhbaatar

Veliky Ustyug

RUSSIA

UR

AL

MO

UNTA

INS SIBERIA

MONGOLIA

Irkutsk

Krasnodar

St. Petersburg

SaratovVolgograd

LAKE BAIKAL

Archangelsk

TaksimoMoscow

Yolyn Am

Kara KorumBayanzag

DESERT

GOBI

UlaanBaatar

Trans-Siberian Express

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 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 pay-

ment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of bal-

ance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

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.Registration❏ 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 _____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature as it appears on credit card

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________

Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

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].

Join us for a remarkable ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way fromMoscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capitalcity, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the highsteppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and com-fortable private train, stopping in fascinatingtowns and villages along the way.

(cabin configuration may vary)

Page 12: Reservation Form Trans-Siberian Express The Trans-Siberian ... · annual Nadaam Festival in Mongolia’s capital, UlaanBaatar, and get a glimpse of the pageantry and drama of nomadic

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 ofpayment for all land and air costs is due by check only by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Reservations will beprocessed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS: Costs of cancellation if received: 91 or more days before departure, deposit paid ordue in full of $2,000 per person • 61 days to 90 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person • 60 days or lessbefore 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 anyairline 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 travelerscoverage under a group travel insurance policy. It is highly recommended that you supplement this basic protection withyour own additional coverage, as well as trip cancellation/interruption or baggage coverage. Information on additionalinsurance 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 hasengaged 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 per-sons with which or whom the tour operator has arranged to supply services to the tour, the AASC and its officers, direc-tors, trustees, agents, servants, employees, affiliates, and assigns are not liable for any negligent or willful acts or omissionsof 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 ordowngrading of accommodations, transportation, or other services. Additional terms and conditions may apply to yourtrip and will be sent to you with your registration acknowledgement. Deposits made with the Alumnae Association creditcard benefit alumnae programs and services. Thank you for your ongoing support. Rates do not include a suggested, vol-untary, tax-deductible donation of $250 per person to the Alumnae Association. It is suggested that non-alumnae friendscontribute $300. Donations help support Alumnae Association benefits, programs, and services to alumnae. Please makedonation checks—payable to AASC—separate from payment of deposits. A detailed statement of limitations and exclu-sions 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 immediatefamilies. Space permitting, a participating alumna may bring a non-Smith friend or couple. For further details about anytrip, call Liz Bigwood, assistant director for Smith Travel, at 800-225-2029, or e-mail [email protected].

TOUR OPERATOR: MIR CORPORATIONJourneys 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

Reservation FormPr

esor

ted

Stan

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.Pos

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PAID

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tle,W

APe

rmit

No.

744

Smith

Tra

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Alu

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33 E

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1063

Dear Smith Alumnae and friends,

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 contain-

ing 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 conti-

nent-spanning Trans-Siberian line. Space is limited, so early sign-ups

are advisable.

Sincerely,

Carrie Cadwell Brown, Ed.M'82

Executive Director

SMITH TRAVEL PHONE: 800-225-2029

ALUMNAE HOUSE E-MAIL: [email protected]

33 ELM STREET

NORTHAMPTON, MA 01063

A Legendary Rail JourneyGold Class Cars on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian 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.

Silver Class Cabins on the

Golden Eagle Trans-SiberianExpress 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.

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 29 – July 13, 2007

Brilliant, booming Moscow, where a person can flag

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-SiberianExpress in Moscow and ride in comfort through the Ural

Mountains and the Siberian taiga to Lake Baikal.

Ancient Lake Baikal, whose clear waters fill the deep-

est rift on the earth’s surface, is known by the Buryat peo-

ple 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.

Sochi

Astrakhan

Bratsk

Chita

Tver

Kirov

Murmansk

Novgorod

Ulan Ude

Vologda

Listvyanka

SeverobaikalskTayshet ChEkaterinburg

Novosibirsk

Sukhbaatar

Veliky Ustyug

RUSSIA

UR

AL

MO

UNTA

INS SIBERIA

MONGOLIA

Irkutsk

Krasnodar

St. Petersburg

SaratovVolgograd

LAKE BAIKAL

Archangelsk

TaksimoMoscow

Yolyn Am

Kara KorumBayanzag

DESERT

GOBI

UlaanBaatar

Trans-Siberian Express

The Trans-Siberian by Private Train Mongolian Route with Naadam FestivalJune 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 pay-

ment for all land and air costs is due by March 31, 2007, 90 days prior to departure. Payment of bal-

ance due by check only. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability.

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.Registration❏ 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 _____________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Signature as it appears on credit card

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

Smith College Affiliation (e.g. class year) _____________________________________________________

Date of birth _____________________________________________________________________________

Full Name (as listed on passport) ____________________________________________________________

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].

Join us for a remarkable ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way fromMoscow to Mongolia. Starting in Russia’s capitalcity, roll along the base of the Ural Mountains,through Siberia’s vast taiga and onto the highsteppe of Mongolia aboard a stylish and com-fortable private train, stopping in fascinatingtowns and villages along the way.

(cabin configuration may vary)