TRANSSIBERIAN TRAINS SCHEDULE

Silk Road (21 days) 2008

Eastbound

Moscow - Beijing Tour
by the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express
 & the Shangri - La Express
 
 

Duration: 21 days.

Day 1. Moscow
Flights are met at Moscow airport and guests are transferred to a five star hotel, centrally located in the heart of this vibrant city for a two-night stay. We enjoy a private welcome reception followed by dinner in a city restaurant. This is great time to get to know fellow travelers with whom we will be sharing this 21 night unforgettable journey.

Day 2-3.  Moscow
Our days here include a city tour of Moscow, visiting Red Square and the Kremlin, with its magnificent Armoury and some free time for more exploring. 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. We enjoy dinner on board the train in our beautifully designed restaurant car. 

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 battles in World War II. The Russians finally turned back the Nazi advance to the Caucasian oil fields in Baku at this city and turned the course of the Second World War. We visit the sobering Mamayev Kurgan war memorial, followed by the excellent diorama and interesting 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 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 land 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, (it is claimed that Merv was briefly the largest city in the world in the twelfth century) 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. Smaller than other cities in the country, it is perhaps just as, if not more, impressive as the larger Samarkand. 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, rulers infamous for their cruelty, and who survived into Soviet times. 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, after which we return to the train for an evening departure.

Day 11. Tashkent
We arrive in the capital city of Uzbekistan and spend the morning touring this pleasant, modern, Soviet-style city, which was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake levelled it in 1966. We re-board the train for lunch as we head towards Kazakstan and Almaty. We can spend this afternoon socialising 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. The city is set to play host to the 2011 Asian Winter Games after a failed bid to win the Winter Olympics is 2014. Beautifully set in a valley in the foothills of the Tien Shen Mountains, we have lunch in a traditional 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. We change trains and 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. Located in a green oasis between the lofty ice-capped Bogda Peak, the vast Salt Lake in the east, the rolling pine-covered Southern hill and the alternating fields and sand dunes of Zunggar Basin in the northwest. It is the largest city and one of the most spell binding in the western half of China. Urumchi has also won a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most remote city from any sea in the world at a distance of about 1,400 miles (2500 km) from the nearest coastline. After lunch 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 depicting the evolution of Buddhist religious art over a 1,000-year period. Over 2,000 statues and 45,000 murals still remain. 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 experience dinner and 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. We have time to visit both this historic fort and museum, which gives us a comprehensive overview of the history and development of the Great Wall before our lunchtime departure. 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, Drum and Bell Towers, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. If there is time we can take a stroll through the historic Muslim quarter with its winding lanes and spend some time bartering for souvenirs. This afternoon is dedicated to visiting the world famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered by peasants 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 enjoying the comfort and amenities 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.

Day 19. Beijing
Today we visit Tiananmen Square, the largest open urban square in the world and the site of several key events in China’s history, most infamously the student protests in 1989; the Temple of Heaven, the grandest of the 4 great temples situated in Beijing; and the magnificently restored Forbidden City, home to the Emperors and their numerous concubines. 

Day 20. Beijing
This morning is devoted to one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the whole of China, the Great Wall. We travel out to a section at Badaling and have the opportunity to walk along some of the restored walkways. Our tour continues to the Ming Tombs, the resting place of 13 Emperors from this Great Dynasty. Travelling back into Beijing we have free time to explore the week-end market (open every day) and purchase our last souvenirs to remind us of this epic journey. As no visit to Beijing would be complete with out one, we enjoy our farewell dinner at a famous Peking Duck restaurant and say our goodbyes.

Day 21. Beijing
After breakfast in the hotel, guests are transferred to the airport for international flight departures.

 
Included: accommodation on board the trains; hotel accommodation as per itinerary; all meals starting with dinner on the first day, arrival/ departure transfers, all guided off train programmes; services of experienced tour leaders; complimentary tea, coffee, mineral water 24 hours a day; a doctor. The tour language is English. French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese speaking guides are available on request and at a supplement. 

Not included: airfares; charges of a personal nature; any optional excursions; drinks in the bar car; visa and excess luggage charges; insurance and laundry services.

You are welcome to travel by the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express & by the Shangri-La Express along the Great Silk Road!