The Orient Silk Road Express

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The Orient Silk Road Express
12 days, 11 nights from £2,195
Once-in-a-life-time journey across Central Asia

Comfortably cross Uzbekistan by private train. Visit the most significant, historic and fascinating cities along the Central Asian Silk Road—Tashkent, Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara. Choose from four comfortable cabin types: Habibi, Ali Baba, Aladdin and Kalif, with Kalif being the most luxurious with private en suite facilities in each cabin.

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The Route

TASHKENT • Shakhrisabz • Samarkand • Khiva • Bukhara • TASHKENT

Tashkent

Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, is the largest city in Central Asia. The first mention of Tashkent dates from the 7th century A.D., although it was probably founded by the 1st century B.C. It is located in an oasis near the Chirchik River in a fertile cotton- and fruit-growing region. Tashkent is a very attractive city. The roots of the rich Uzbek culture shine through the city’s architecture, museums and vibrant cultural life.

Samarkand

The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world's cultures. Founded in the 7th century B.C. as ancient Afrasiab, Samarkand had its most significant development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries. The major monuments include the Registan Mosque and madrasas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg's Observatory (UNESCO)

Bukhara

Situated in the middle of the Kyzyl Kum desert, Bukhara features about one thousand monuments, which recall the halcyon days of the Great Silk Road. Foreign spices, furs and especially silk fabrics were stored and handled in the caravansaries. The old city is an UNESCO World Culture Heritage Site which features stunning Kaljan Minaret and the Labi-Hauz Ensemble.

Merv

Once an important stopping point on the Silk Road, it claims to have briefly been the largest city in the world during the 12th century. 1794 saw the demise of Merv, after the Emir of Bukhara destroyed the dam which the population depended on for its water.

Ashgabat

The grandiose desert city of Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, is a dreamscape in white marble, an oasis of opulence on a terrain. Situated between the Kara Kum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range, Ashgabat has a population of about 400,000.

Mashhad

Iran’s second city Mashhad is one of the seven holy sites of Shiite Islam. Tour the majestic shrine of Imam Reza, an important pilgrimage site. Decorated with the finest marbles and topped with a golden dome and minarets, this complex is a wonder to behold.

Yazd

This city’s remote location has kept it an important center for Zoroastrianism. You discover more about this ancient faith at a tower of silence once used for funeral rites, and at a traditional fire temple, where one ritual flame has burned for over 1,500 years.

Isfahan

Isfahan is one of the most magnificent cities of the 17th century. Standing in the middle of the vast Imam Square, the second-largest public space on Earth and one of its most beautiful, it’s easy to understand how this UNESCO World Heritage site became known as image of the world by its many admirers. Explore the city, tempted by the charm and wares of the merchants and gold market. Be sure not to miss the Si-o-seh Pol at dusk, with this iconic bridge’s 33 arches glowing gold and spanning the Zayandeh River.

Shiraz

Head to Shiraz, the city of poets, and the lush greenery of a UNESCO World Heritage site: the Persian paradise gardens. Stroll past ornamental pools and date palms at the famous Eram Garden, or visit another of the several historic gardens, all offering their unique flavor of paradise.

Pasargadae

An ancient city of the Persian kings. Go to Pasargadae, the capital created by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC. His simple tomb watches over the remnants of this long-gone civilization.

Persepolis

Persepolis, the ceremonial center eventually ransacked by Alexander the Great. Pass huge stone gates carved with mythical creatures, stand amid palatial ruins—Apadana Palace and the Naqsh-e-Rostam necropolis—or simply wander through the streets of antiquity, taking in the immensity of this cultural wonder.

Tehran

Tehran is the capital city of Iran. A bustling metropolis of 14 million people, it is situated at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. It is a cosmopolitan city, with great museums, parks, restaurants, warm friendly people.

Sergiev Posad

Sergiev Posad, home to one of the most beautiful monasteries in Russia, is the historical and spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Vladivostok

Vladivostok, a military port located on the western shores of the Sea of Japan, is home to the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet. Due to its military importance, the city was closed to foreigners between 1930 and 1992. Vladivostok (literally translated as ‘Ruler of the East’) offers visitors an interesting opportunity to explore its principal military attractions including a visit to a preserved World War Two submarine.

Terelj National Park

Terelj National Park is arguably the most popular destination in Mongolia. Be awestuck by Turtle Rock, an amazing, unique natural rock formation, and take in the breathtaking surrounding alpine scenery.

Mausoleum of Khawaja Ahmed Yasawi

The magnificent Mausoleum of Khawaja Ahmed Yasawi is the vast, brightly tiled testament to power and beauty that UNESCO have made a World Heritage site and the Kazakhs revere as their national icon.

Darvaza

Darvaza's famous gas burning crater is a spectacular sight best seen at night. Located in the middle of the Kara Kum desert where the area is rich in natural gas, the 70 metre wide crater is known by the locals as the 'Door to Hell' and has been burning for over 40 years.

Xian

Xian, the ancient capitals of 13 dynasties, is home to numerous historical and culture sites, such as the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Street, Mount, enchanting Huaqing Hot Spring and many more.

Turpan

Turpan is the location where the Flaming Mountains create a magnificent backdrop. Among the highlights are the ancient underground irrigation system and the Museum of Turpan with its 5,000 artefacts.

Almaty

Almaty is the former capital of Kazakhstan, and is still its largest city. Being a financial and cultural center of Central Asia, Almaty offers plenty of entertainment and cultural opportunities and is a wonderful gateway to this distinctive and hospitable country.

Kara Kum

The Karakum desert is Central Asia’s hottest desert. Despite its temperatures and scarce vegetation its home to a few yurt villages. Desert's Darvaza Gas Craters, one of which is burning, is one of Turkmenistan’s most unusual sights.

Khiva

Khiva, the pearl of eastern middle age architecture, lies 25 kilometers south of present-day Urgench. According to the legends Khiva was founded by a son of Noah, Shem when he dug a well in the middle of the desert. According to the archeologists Khiva was founded in the 5th or 4th centuries B.C. and was a key trading post on the Silk Road.

Samanid Mausoleum

The Samanid mausoleum is considered to be one of the most highly esteemed work of Central Asian architecture, and was built between 892 and 943 CE as the resting-place of Ismail Samani - a powerful and influential amir of the Samanid dynasty, one of the last native Persian dynasties that ruled in Central Asia in the 9th and 10th centuries. The mausoleum also houses the remains of his father Ahmed and nephew Nasr, as well as the remains of other members of the Samanid dynasty.

Shakhrisabz

The historic centre of Shakhrisyabz contains a collection of exceptional monuments and ancient quarters which bear witness to the city's secular development, and particularly to the period of its apogee, under the rule of Amir Temur and the Temurids, in the 15th-16th century (UNESCO)

Video

TASHKENT ROUND JOURNEY

DAY 1, TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN

Tashkent—once an ancient oasis, now a bustling metropolis. So much to explore, but for now you relax in your first-class hotel. Tomorrow you board your private train, the Orient Silk Road Express. Overnight: Hotel Grand Mir (or similar)

DAY 2, TASHKENT, THE GREEN OASIS

Under immense blue skies, you tour vibrant Tashkent, seeing the city’s monumental architecture, including the Kukeldash Madrasa and the Amir Timur monuments. You witness history in earthen brick and turquoise tile. Caravanserai, fortresses, museums and madrasas—rising from the desert. In the cool air of dusk, you take a trip to a music hall and enjoy a traditional performance (depending on schedule). Later, amid the pillars and chandeliers of Tashkent station, you board your private train, which takes you to your first stop on the Silk Road, Shahrisabz. Overnight: On board (BLD)

DAY 3, SHAKHRISABZ, THE MIGHTY

Today, you explore Shahrisabz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of Timur, the fourteenth-century Mongol conqueror who filled this once mighty city with amazing testaments to his power. The ruins of his palaces surround you in the city’s bustling market. You experience a folk performance and meet some locals in a nearby village. Before night falls, you depart on your private train, joining fellow travelers for an Uzbek wine tasting in the dining car. Overnight: On board (BLD)

DAY 4, SAMARKAND: CROSSROADS OF CULTURES

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Wealth, conquest and faith intertwine among the splendors of Samarkand, one of the oldest settlements on Earth. In Timur’s time, it was known as the most beautiful city in the world. Today, as you stand among the ornate marble pillars and vaults of Registan Square and the exquisite glazed tiles of the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, it’s impossible to suppress your sense of wonder. At the Afrasiyab excavation site, you visit a museum where you learn about the ancient history of this astonishing place. It is also the site where many Uzbek women burned their veils (paranjas) in 1917 to signal their arrival in a new era. Overnight: Registan Plaza (or similar) (BLD)

DAY 5, SAMARKAND THE ANCIENT CITY

Today you observe Uzbek craftsmen skillfully weave silk into carpets and press paper from mulberry bark. Later you view the stunning Ulugh Beg Observatory, the restored ruins of Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the inside of the palatial Gur-e-Emir mausoleum. Overnight: Registan Plaza (or similar) (BLD)

DAY 6, SAMARKAND: YOURS TO EXPLORE

Today you have a free day to discover Samarkand on your own. Your train departs for Khiva in the late afternoon. Overnight: On board (BD)

DAY 7, KHIVA: A TALE FROM 1001 NIGHTS

In the morning you arrive in the oasis of Khiva, a city straight out of a tale from the Thousand and One Nights. Standing at the mighty town walls with their gates and bastions of mud brick, you feel transported into another world. In the afternoon you visit the Kunya Ark Citadel and the Kalta Minor and Islam Hodha Minarets. Dinner is served in a traditional restaurant. Overnight: Asia Khiva (or similar) (BD)

DAY 8, KHIVA: TO THE PALACE OF THE KING

On your tour of this oasis, you have many chances to take in its exotic atmosphere. Its palaces, mosques, minarets, mausoleums and madrasas (Muslim religious schools) represent one of the best preserved ensembles of medieval urban architecture in the world. You enjoy lunch in a former emir’s summer palace. Overnight: On board (BLD)

DAY 9, BUKHARA, THE NOBLE CITY

Beneath the imposing yellow brickwork of the Kalyan Minaret, you gaze at the magnificent city gates, each built with intricate mosaics. This is your first glimpse of Bukhara’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is home to a thousand monuments, each a testimony to the glory days of legendary Silk Road. At the Lyab-i Hauz architectural ensemble, you discover the 500-year-old technology that keeps a pool from evaporating in the heat of the Kyzylkum Desert. You hear about the life of Sufi poet Nasreddin Hodja, watch local dances replete with national costumes, and listen to stirring Uzbek music in the courtyard of a madrasa. Overnight: Asia Bukhara (or similar) (BLD)

DAY 10, BUKHARA, TO THE SAMANID MAUSOLEUM

Today is another glorious desert day devoted to the numerous sites of Bukhara. You view the sumptuous stylings of the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa; the historic design of the Samanid Mausoleum, one of the most important structures in Central Asia; the immense 1,500-year-old Ark of Bukhara; and a unique women’s mosque. Standing on the ramparts of the ancient city walls, you enjoy stunning panoramic views of Bukhara, its turquoise and yellow buildings glimmering in the bright afternoon light. Overnight: Asia Bukhara (or similar) (BLD)

DAY 11, BUKHARA TO TASHKENT

On your last morning in Bukhara, you enjoy breakfast and have the chance to explore the city one last time. Around noon you board your private train and watch the spectacular green hills, ancient rock formations and distant mountains of the Central Asian steppe pass by your window. By afternoon you’ve arrived in Tashkent. Overnight: Grand Mir Hotel (or similar) (BLD)

DAY 12, GOODBYE UZBEKISTAN

After breakfast, your private airport shuttle picks you up from your hotel. On the way you reflect on your 12 days on the legendary Silk Road, where ancient civilizations rose and fell; silk and spice were traded across continents; all made unforgettable by the romance of rail travel—a journey that leaves you with memories of a lifetime. (B)

(B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner

The Orient Silk Road Express

The private Orient Silk Road Express is designed to provide you with a comfortable experience as you embark on the adventure of a lifetime and offers a range of cabins to suit every budget.

Enjoy dining in the charming restaurant carriages where you are able to try the freshest local cuisine and relax with fellow passengers. Also, take the time to get involved in several lectures on board the train where you can learn about the history, people and cultures of the countries you travel through.

This compartment has sleeping berths (26.4 × 72.4 in /67 × 184cm) for up to four guests. A table near the window separates lower and upper berths on either side. Each car has nine compartments, with washroom facilities at both ends.

This compartment has two lower berths (27.5 × 74.8 in/67 × 184 cm each), as well as a table and additional storage space. Each car has nine compartments, with washroom facilities at both ends.

This category features two lower beds (27.5 × 74.8 in/67 × 184 cm each), a small table and storage space. Each car has eight compartments and a shower, together with washroom facilities at both ends. Guests in this category also receive one bathrobe per compartment.

The Orient Silk Road Express’ grandest accommodation. The Kalif category features two beds, upper and lower (31.6 × 68.5 in/80 × 174 cm and 44 × 72.4 in/112 × 184 cm). Each compartment includes a closet, safe and private bathroom with a separate shower cabin. Each car in this category is limited to four compartments and a maximum of just eight guests.

The Orient Silk Road Express 2019 is available on enquiry basis - please get in touch with our Destination Managers to secure your holiday with an Early Booking Discount.

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DEPARTURE 2019	HABIBI	ALI BABA	ALADIN	KALIF
Tashkent return, 12 days, excluding flights	from	from	from	from
18 September to 29 September	2153.55 £	3037.06 £	3732.82 £	4881.38 £

SUPPLEMENTS PER PERSON
Supplement for use of the compartment by 3 persons	364.45 £
Single use supplement for 5 hotel overnights for cat. Habibi	386.53 £
Single use supplement train and hotel for cat. Ali Baba	927.68 £
Single use supplement train and hotel for cat. Aladin	1214.82 £
Single use supplement train and hotel for cat. Kalif	1689.71 £

All Tours Include:

• Four nights on an exclusively chartered train

• Seven nights in first class hotels

• Excellent service from the tour director, group guide or local guide, each with excellent English

• An on board doctor

• All excursions and sightseeing as per itinerary, including entry fees

• All transfers / bus trips according to itinerary

• All meals according to itinerary

• Hugely popular catering, with local specialties prepared on board and served as per itinerary

• Entertaining and enlightening lectures on local lands, people and cultures

• Concise informational talks on the Trans-Siberian Railway, regional geography, culture, and history of the countries along the route

• A booklet on the region and the train itself for each reserved compartment

Not Included:

• International flights

• Visa fees paid directly to the Consulate

• Gratitutes

Please note that 15% deposit is payable on this tour

Contact us by phone or email today with any queries, to book, or for excellent rates and service on add-ons to your trip.

Call Our UK Booking/Enquiry Line On

+44(0)207 603 50 45

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The Orient Silk Road Express12 days, 11 nights from £2,195 Once-in-a-life-time journey across Central Asia

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The Orient Silk Road Express

Choose from 4 different cabin types

All Tours Include:

Not Included:

Please note that 15% deposit is payable on this tour

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The Orient Silk Road Express
12 days, 11 nights from £2,195
Once-in-a-life-time journey across Central Asia