The gilded domes of the Church of the Savior of Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg.
As you prepare for your trip to the European Arctic by luxury train, harken back to the days of Imperial Russia on a city tour through the streets of St. Petersburg. You’ll become immersed in a storied history as you explore opulent winter palaces of Russian royalty, iconic onion-domed cathedrals and art museums filled with bejeweled Fabergé eggs, mosaics and paintings.
Arriving at the railway station, you’ll celebrate the arrival of the Golden Eagle. As you board this privately chartered train, you’ll be embarking on one of the world’s greatest rail journeys. Following the Arctic Explorer route, you’ll travel nearly a thousand miles from St. Petersburg over the Arctic Circle to the tip of Scandinavia. From there, your Nordic adventure continues as you meet indigenous reindeer herders, stay in a hotel carved from ice and snow and search for the northern lights.
The mystique of luxury train travel is alluring to many, and this exclusive experience offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to traverse the Arctic. With lavish offerings, the Golden Eagle transports you to the golden age of European railways.
Breakfast is served in the ornate dining coach each morning, complete with freshly squeezed juices, tea, coffee, omelets, and pastries hot out of the oven.
A gala dinner awaits you in the elegant dining car, complete with crystal, silver and white linens. Guests will enjoy fine wines and gourmet fare utilizing local produce expertly prepared by the executive chef and his onboard restaurant team. Enjoy a culinary experience that represents the essence of Russia as well as exceptional international cuisine.
The Bar Lounge Car provides a beautifully appointed space for travelers to unwind in the afternoon with a tray of coffee and Russian tea cakes. Evenings will be filled with enriching activities, including presentations from Nat Hab’s naturalist guides, cultural lectures and Russian language lessons. Settle in for a nightcap as you gaze out the large picture window at ever-changing snowy scenes and listen to a concert of Russian music from the resident pianist.
The sky fades from pink and lilac to inky purple as twilight descends over the tundra. With personal cabin attendants offering nightly turndown service, your sleeping coach is ready and waiting after a day of adventure. Your spacious en suite cabin has underfloor heating, a comfortable double bed and a fully equipped bathroom with a shower, L’Occitane toiletries, bathrobe, and slippers.
Your warm carriage whisks you into the night as the aurora dances overhead. The moon glows effervescent as a pearl, and the sapphire sky appears diamond-strewn as glittering stars emerge one by one. As snowflakes begin to fall, you’ll enter an enchanting realm of frost-covered boreal forests and gleaming frozen lakes. Spellbound by the Russian winter night, you’ll head into the great white beyond, ever northward towards Norway and Finnish Lapland.
