A once-in-a-lifetime winter rail experience

A once-in-a-lifetime winter rail experience - with highlights including frozen Lake Baikal, the frosty wilderness of Siberia, troika rides and guest speaker, BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson CBE - has been introduced by Great Rail Journeys, the UK's market leader for escorted holidays by rail.

This 17-day Trans-Siberian Express holiday - starting in London and finishing in Vladivostok - includes an epic rail journey by private charter train with 11 nights on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express and with John Simpson joining the tour between Irkutsk and Vladivostok.

At Lake Baikal - the largest freshwater lake which freezes over in winter - guests have the option of ice-fishing - and cooking the freshly caught fish in the mobile smokehouse - or taking a snowmobile or a dog troika ride.

Other highlights include sightseeing tours of cities such as Warsaw, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Ulaanbaatar as well as visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Vladimir and enjoying an open horse drawn Troika sledge ride around Suzdal.

Offering the best quality of rail travel anywhere in the world, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express features a choice of Silver or Gold Class Cabins - both with a wealth of amenities such as LCD screens, audio systems and individual air-conditioning.

The 4 February 2010 departure costs £7595 per person for Silver and £8,995 for Gold Class inclusive of rail travel, return flight from Vladivostok to London (via Moscow) and 16 nights' accommodation (11 on-board Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, three in four and five-star hotels, two on-board sleeper trains).

These twin-share prices also include all excursions as per itinerary, most meals, transfers, luggage handling and the services of a Tour Manager throughout.

The company also offers a 14-day option which includes outward air travel from London to Moscow and costs £7295 and £8695 respectively.

For more information and reservations, visit GreatRail.com.