Comparing Russia’s Luxury Trains: Golden Eagle vs. Imperial Russia Train - Wander Russia 2025 Guide

Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, historic cities, and cultural richness, making it a popular route for adventurous travelers. However, some opt for a more luxurious experience, booking a journey aboard one of Russia’s premier luxury trains: the Golden Eagle and the Imperial Russia Train. Both trains offer a lavish way to experience the Trans-Siberian Railway, but they have distinct features and amenities that set them apart. In this comparison, we’ll break down the differences between these two luxury trains to help you decide which experience suits your travel style and preferences.

1. Overview: The Golden Eagle vs. Imperial Russia Train

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express:

The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express is one of the most prestigious luxury trains in Russia, renowned for its sophisticated design, world-class service, and exceptional comfort. It is operated by the Golden Eagle Luxury Trains and is best known for its all-inclusive, hassle-free travel experience across the Trans-Siberian Railway.

• Route Options: The Golden Eagle offers various routes, including the classic Trans-Siberian Railway, the Trans-Mongolian Route (Moscow to Beijing via Mongolia), and the Trans-Manchurian Route (Moscow to Beijing via Manchuria).
• Duration: The journey can range from 12 days to 21 days, depending on the itinerary, with options to stop and explore significant cities such as Moscow, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, and Vladivostok.

Imperial Russia Train:

The Imperial Russia Train offers a more intimate, exclusive experience. While the Golden Eagle covers a broad range of Trans-Siberian routes, the Imperial Russia Train is known for its focus on high-end, cultural experiences and its connection to the heart of Russian heritage.

• Route Options: The Imperial Russia Train typically operates along the Trans-Siberian Railway routes, including the famous Moscow to Vladivostok journey, with additional opportunities for cultural exploration.
• Duration: Similar to the Golden Eagle, the Imperial Russia Train offers journeys ranging from 10 to 21 days, with extended stops in key cities along the way to explore Russian culture and history in-depth.

2. Accommodations: Comfort and Luxury

Both the Golden Eagle and Imperial Russia Train offer luxurious accommodations, but they differ in layout, design, and the overall experience.

Golden Eagle:

• Suites and Cabins: The Golden Eagle features elegant private suites, each designed to provide optimal comfort. The train offers several suite types:
  • Silver Class: The most affordable option, with twin cabins and en-suite bathrooms.
  • Gold Class: Larger cabins with more space, including a double bed, private bathrooms, and enhanced decor.
  • Imperial Suite: The most luxurious option, with a spacious private suite, a king-size bed, a bathroom with a shower, and expansive windows offering panoramic views.
• Interior Design: The Golden Eagle has a modern yet classic design, blending opulent finishes, plush carpeting, and elegant fixtures. The suites are designed to feel like a high-end hotel room with added privacy and comfort.

Imperial Russia Train:

• Suites and Cabins: The Imperial Russia Train offers highly exclusive suites with similar design qualities, though the focus is more on traditional Russian elegance and a sense of imperial luxury. The suites typically include:
  • Luxury Compartments: Fully equipped with comfortable beds, fine linens, en-suite facilities, and premium amenities.
  • Presidential Suites: The most luxurious options available, offering more space, deluxe furnishings, and a higher level of privacy.
• Interior Design: The design of the Imperial Russia Train evokes the grandeur of Russian imperial palaces, with ornate woodwork, classic Russian motifs, and sophisticated finishes. This train offers a more traditional Russian opulence in its decor, with intricate detailing and antique-style furniture.

Key Differences in Accommodation:

• The Golden Eagle has a more modern, contemporary luxury feel, while the Imperial Russia Train offers a more historical, royal ambiance.
• The Imperial Suite on the Golden Eagle is larger, and the suite amenities tend to be more modern and spacious, while the Presidential Suites on the Imperial Russia Train focus more on Russian heritage and regal design.

3. Dining Experience: Fine Dining and Russian Flavors

Both trains offer gourmet dining with a focus on traditional Russian cuisine, but the approach differs slightly in terms of experience and menu offerings.

Golden Eagle:

• Gourmet Dining: Meals aboard the Golden Eagle are designed to give passengers a taste of Russian and regional delicacies. Each meal is prepared with fresh, local ingredients and paired with fine wines. The dining cars have a stylish ambiance, and passengers are served three-course meals in a spacious, elegant setting.
• Specialty Menus: The Golden Eagle offers regional specialties depending on the route. For example, in Siberia, you might enjoy fresh fish from Lake Baikal, while in Moscow, there are plenty of opportunities to sample caviar and blini.
• All-Inclusive Meals: The Golden Eagle is known for its all-inclusive dining experience, where all meals, snacks, and beverages are included in the ticket price, allowing you to enjoy as much food and drink as you wish without extra costs.

Imperial Russia Train:

• Traditional Russian Cuisine: The Imperial Russia Train emphasizes traditional Russian cuisine with an added focus on imperial Russian dishes. Expect multi-course meals, often featuring delicacies like stroganina (frozen fish), pelmeni (dumplings), and borscht (beet soup).
• Luxurious Dining Cars: Dining is served in elegant, beautifully decorated cars, often with Russian-style furnishings that reflect the imperial theme. The dining experience on this train is designed to feel like a royal banquet, with highly attentive service and a refined atmosphere.
• Exclusive Service: While meals on the Imperial Russia Train are also all-inclusive, there may be fewer options in terms of variety compared to the Golden Eagle, but the focus is more on the quality and authenticity of each dish.

Key Differences in Dining:

• Both trains offer gourmet dining, but the Golden Eagle offers more modern menu options with a focus on international cuisine alongside Russian dishes.
• The Imperial Russia Train focuses more on traditional Russian and imperial dishes, with an emphasis on creating an authentically Russian royal dining experience.

4. Excursions and Onboard Activities

Both luxury trains provide exclusive excursions and onboard activities to enhance the travel experience.

Golden Eagle:

• Excursions: The Golden Eagle offers a range of curated excursions to cities like Irkutsk, Yekaterinburg, Vladivostok, and Lake Baikal, where passengers can explore local attractions, visit cultural sites, and enjoy guided tours. These excursions are often led by expert local guides.
• Onboard Activities: Passengers can enjoy onboard lectures, cultural performances, and entertainment while on the train. There’s also an opportunity to relax in the bar lounge, enjoy a cocktail, and mingle with fellow travelers.

Imperial Russia Train:

• Excursions: Like the Golden Eagle, the Imperial Russia Train also offers excursions to Russian cities and landmarks. The train’s excursions tend to focus on Russian culture, history, and imperial heritage, allowing travelers to explore the grandeur of St. Petersburg, Moscow, and beyond.
• Cultural Programs: Passengers aboard the Imperial Russia Train enjoy traditional Russian performances, including folk music and dance, ballet screenings, and literary lectures about Russian history and culture.

Key Differences in Activities:

• The Golden Eagle offers a broader range of destinations, including stops in Mongolia and China, with more international excursions.
• The Imperial Russia Train focuses on Russian culture and heritage, with more emphasis on traditional Russian entertainment.

5. Cost and Availability

Golden Eagle:

• Price Range: A trip aboard the Golden Eagle can cost between $3,000 to $10,000+ per person depending on the route and class of accommodation chosen. The all-inclusive nature of the trip makes the price reflect the luxury and convenience you receive, including meals, drinks, excursions, and entertainment.

Imperial Russia Train:

• Price Range: The Imperial Russia Train is similarly priced, with journeys costing anywhere from $2,500 to $8,000+ per person depending on the season, route, and accommodation. Prices for the Presidential Suites can be higher, reflecting the exclusivity and luxury of the experience.

Key Differences in Cost:

• The Golden Eagle tends to be slightly more expensive for certain routes, but it offers a wider range of experiences, including international destinations and diverse excursions.
• The Imperial Russia Train offers a more intimate, exclusive Russian experience, focusing on the grandeur of Russian history, which might appeal to those looking for a more culturally immersive journey.

Conclusion: Which Luxury Train Is Right for You?

Choosing between the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express and the Imperial Russia Train ultimately depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for:

• If you want more luxury, variety of routes, and international excursions, the Golden Eagle may be the better choice. It offers modern accommodations, more extensive options for cultural exploration, and a broad range of regional and international experiences.
• If you’re seeking a more traditional Russian experience, with an emphasis on imperial heritage and Russian culture, the Imperial Russia Train offers an intimate, regal journey through the heart of Russia’s historical sites and landscapes.

Both trains provide an unforgettable and exclusive journey across Russia, and either choice will ensure a luxurious and memorable experience.