The Silk Road on the Trans-Siberian

The Kara Kum desert is followed by the amazing 2,500 year-old cities of Khiva and Bukhara – considered so important by UNESCO that it supported their restoration – as well as Samarkand, the ‘Rome of the East’. In between Khiva and Bukhara we take a two-day excursion into Turkmenistan and visit the capital city of Ashgabat. We also visit the ancient city of Merv before returning to Uzbekistan. After crossing the border into China, our tour takes in the fascinating Magao Thousand Buddha cave complex (a network of almost 500 grottoes containing over 2,000 statues and 45,000 murals created up to 1,700 years ago), the Jiayuguan fortress at the end of the Great Wall (considered one of northern China’s most spectacular sights) and the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. We end our journey in Beijing, the vibrant capital of modern, confident China… where the latest architecture rubs shoulders with Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

Day 1 Moscow: Flights are met at Moscow airport and guests are transferred to a centrally located five star hotel for a one-night stay. We enjoy a private welcome reception followed by dinner. This is a great time to get to know fellow travellers with whom we will be sharing this unforgettable 21 night journey.

Days 2-3 Moscow: Our days here include a city tour of Moscow, visits to Red Square and the Kremlin, with its magnificent Armoury. In the afternoon of day 3 we board our Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train and have time to settle into our modern and stylish cabins before dinner in one of our beautifully designed restaurant cars.

Day 4 Volgograd: Situated on the banks of the Volga River, Stalingrad (as the city was known in Soviet times) was the scene of probably the most important battle in World War II. The Russians finally turned back the Nazi advance to the Caucasian oil fields in Baku at this city and changed the course of the Second World War. We visit the sobering Mamayev Kurgan war memorial, followed by the excellent diorama and museum. After dinner this evening we can listen to the resident pianist in our comfortable bar car whilst enjoying a drink with new friends.

Day 5 Kara Kum: We can enjoy a relaxing day on board our Trans-Siberian Express private train as we head through Kazakhstan’s Kara Kum desert. As well as enjoying the scenery and the remote villages we briefly stop at from time to time there is also a chance to relax in the bar car, chat to fellow passengers and maybe have our first Russian language lesson.

Day 6 Khiva: We cross into Uzbekistan for our afternoon arrival in Urgench and transfer to this 2,500-year old city. Khiva was once one of the most important trading centres at the crossroads of the routes between Mongolia, Russia, China and Persia. Its former wealth is evident in the fabulous buildings, mosques, bazaars and minarets that are within the walled city and which have been restored with the support of UNESCO since 1991 for the city’s 2,500th anniversary celebrations. Lunch and dinner are served on board the train.

Day 7 Ashgabat: We arrive in the ‘Las Vegas of the Kara Kum’, the capital city of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. A huge modern folly in the desert which is a monument to the recently deceased President Sapamurat Turkmenbashi. Situated between the Kara Kum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range the scenery that forms the backdrop to the city is one of extremes.

Day 8 Merv: We arrive into Mary in the early morning and transfer by bus to the ancient city of Merv. Once an important stop on the Silk Road, Merv was left to ‘die’ in 1794 after the Emir of Bukhara destroyed the dam which the population depended upon for water. On our tour we visit at least one of the five walled cities contained within the 50-square mile area before returning to the train for dinner.

Day 9 Bukhara: We arrive in Uzbekistan’s largest oasis city, the splendid Bukhara. Like Khiva, UNESCO funded the renovation of much of the city for its 2,500th anniversary in 1999. The highlight of our tour includes a visit to The Ark, the fortified residence of the Emirs of Bukhara. Lunch is within one of the city’s many medressehs (beautifully-tiled Islamic schools). We then travel out of the city to visit the Emir’s Palace of the Moon and Stars.

Day 10 Samarkand: Many words have been used to describe this jewel of the Islamic world, ‘the Paris of the Muslim World’, ‘Rome of the East’. The list of its admirers includes Marco Polo, Tamerlane and Alexander the Great. Founded in the 6th century BC, its architecture gives an indication of its former status as one of the most important cities in Asia. We spend the day visiting the many fabulous buildings including the Bibi Kharum Mosque, the Ulag Beg observatory and the awe-inspiring Registan Square. After dinner we visit the illuminated Registan Square, before returning to the train for an evening departure.

Day 11 Tashkent: We arrive in the capital city of Uzbekistan and spend the morning touring before re-boarding the train for lunch. This afternoon we can socialise on the train or maybe take in one of the lectures and lessons on offer to give us a greater insight into this fascinating region.

Day 12 Almaty: Just before lunch we arrive in the largest city in Kazakstan, Almaty, which is set to play host to the 2011 Asian Winter Games. Beautifully set in a valley in the foothills of the Tien Shen Mountains, we have lunch in a Kazak ‘yurt’, a traditional dwelling place of the nomadic people of this region. Tonight is our final evening on board the Golden Eagle and we mark the occasion with a farewell banquet.

Day 13 Crossing into China: We bid our Golden Eagle a final farewell as we arrive on the border of Kazakstan. Our adventure continues as we spend over five hours crossing into China. Patience is a virtue today! We board our awaiting Shangri-La Express private train and spend the rest of the day settling in to our new cabins. A welcome dinner is served and we get our first taste of authentic Chinese cuisine.

Day 14 Urumchi: Arriving in the morning, Urumchi looks like a part of Switzerland or Canada set in the midst of the Gobi desert. It is the largest city and one of the most spell binding in the western half of China. After lunch on the train we visit Turpan with the Flaming Mountains as its stunning backdrop.

Day 15 Dunhuang: We arrive after lunch in Liuyang and transfer to the small oasis city of Dunhuang to visit the fascinating Magao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex, which contains almost 500 grottoes, carved between 700 and 1,700 years ago, and filled with an amazing collection of sculptures and murals of Buddhist religious art. In the afternoon we take a camel ride to one of the natural wonders of the Gobi Desert, Crescent Lake, which has been a source of water among the incredible sand dunes for thousands of years. Tonight we dine and experience a local folk performance in this magical setting.

Day 16 Jiayuguan: This morning we arrive in Jiayuguan. Famous for being the first pass at the most westerly point of the Great Wall, it was given the name “The first & greatest pass under Heaven” and was considered a key waypoint along the ancient Silk Road. The fortress at the end of the Great Wall is situated here and dates back to 1372. Perfectly restored it is considered one of the great sights of North-western China. This afternoon we have time to relax in the bar car and learn more about this immense fortification line.

Day 17 Xian: Mid-day arrival into the ancient city of Xian. Our tour takes in the highlights of the city including the Great Mosque, the 14 km city walls and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This afternoon is dedicated to visiting the world famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered barely 30 years ago. The 6,000 Terracotta figures, arranged in row after row of warriors and horses, are one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Early evening we head back to the city for dinner and the excellent Tang Dynasty show.

Day 18 Beijing: Today we spend our last day on board the Shangri-la Express as we wind our way northwards towards Beijing, where we arrive early evening. Having travelled almost 7,000 miles (11,226km) from Moscow, we bid farewell to our train crew and transfer to the five-star Peninsula Palace hotel, (or similar) for dinner and a three night stay.

Days 19-21 Beijing: During our time here we visit Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the magnificently restored Forbidden City, home to the Emperors and their numerous concubines. We also visit one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the whole of China, the Great Wall at Badaling and the Ming Tombs. On day 21 guests are transferred to the airport for international flight departures.

*Itinerary also operates in reverse on selected dates.