Golden Eagle Luxury Trains
Undiscovered Horizons of China
Thirteen-day China rail journey ending on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Lhasa
13 daysfrom $19,900
69% rail
MIR Corporation · Rail Journey
Ancient China by Private Train - Beijing to Urumqi
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of ancient China, where history, culture, and natural beauty converge on an extraordinary route aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Beijing
Beijing (China) and board the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Begin with a two-night stay at a top hotel in Beijing, and connect with fellow travelers at a welcome reception. Head outside the city to take in the majestic Great Wall at Badaling, and back in the capital stroll through the vast complex of the Forbidden City. Cross Tiananmen square and appreciate the beauty of the Summer Palace. Or check out Beijing's more modern architecture including the Olympic Village and the iconic CCTV Tower. Round out the time in Beijing with a traditional Peking Duck dinner before boarding the luxurious Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, where a festive welcome dinner marks the beginning of your rail adventure in style.
- Day 2railovernight: Beijing
Beijing (China) and board the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Begin with a two-night stay at a top hotel in Beijing, and connect with fellow travelers at a welcome reception. Head outside the city to take in the majestic Great Wall at Badaling, and back in the capital stroll through the vast complex of the Forbidden City. Cross Tiananmen square and appreciate the beauty of the Summer Palace. Or check out Beijing's more modern architecture including the Olympic Village and the iconic CCTV Tower. Round out the time in Beijing with a traditional Peking Duck dinner before boarding the luxurious Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, where a festive welcome dinner marks the beginning of your rail adventure in style.
- Day 3railovernight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Beijing (China) and board the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Begin with a two-night stay at a top hotel in Beijing, and connect with fellow travelers at a welcome reception. Head outside the city to take in the majestic Great Wall at Badaling, and back in the capital stroll through the vast complex of the Forbidden City. Cross Tiananmen square and appreciate the beauty of the Summer Palace. Or check out Beijing's more modern architecture including the Olympic Village and the iconic CCTV Tower. Round out the time in Beijing with a traditional Peking Duck dinner before boarding the luxurious Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, where a festive welcome dinner marks the beginning of your rail adventure in style.
- Day 4overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
- Day 5overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
- Day 6overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
- Day 7overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
- Day 8overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
- Day 9overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Kashgar
Explore the cultural crossroads of Kashgar, a vibrant city at the heart of the Silk Road. Visit sacred sites, stroll through historic streets, and savor the distinct Uyghur cuisine.
- Day 10overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Turpan, Urumqi
Visit the ancient city of Gaochang and marvel at the ingenuity of the Karez irrigation system in Turpan. Reflect on the Silk Road's legacy with an engaging lecture before concluding your journey in Urumqi.
- Day 11overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Turpan, Urumqi
Visit the ancient city of Gaochang and marvel at the ingenuity of the Karez irrigation system in Turpan. Reflect on the Silk Road's legacy with an engaging lecture before concluding your journey in Urumqi.
- Day 12railovernight: Urumqi
Turpan, Urumqi
Visit the ancient city of Gaochang and marvel at the ingenuity of the Karez irrigation system in Turpan. Reflect on the Silk Road's legacy with an engaging lecture before concluding your journey in Urumqi. Farewell dinner aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express. Overnight stay in cosmopolitan Urumqi.
Included
- Accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express private train.
- Hotel accommodation per the itinerary (2 nights Beijing, 1 night Urumqi)
- All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 until breakfast on final tour day, including a generous, though not unlimited, allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks and water with all lunches and dinners.
- Arrival/departure transfers, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates and in the tour start/end cities.
- All guided off-train tours per itinerary.
- The services of an experienced Train Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring.
- Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water round the clock from your car attendant while on board the train.
- All gratuities.
- Baggage handling.
- Complete pre-departure electronic document that includes detailed packing suggestions, reading list links, country-specific information, maps, travel tips and more.
- Customized visa application and instruction kit (please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).
- Electronic final update bulletin, with any late news, updates and important information.
- Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements, on request.
Not included
- International airfare or surface transport to the point of joining/leaving the tour.
- Meals and drinks not specified as included in the itinerary.
- Single supplement (difference between double rate and single occupancy rate) if requested or required.
- Optional pre- or post-tour extensions.
- Expenses incurred as a result of delay, modification, or extension of a tour due to causes beyond MIR's control.
- Visa fees, excess baggage charges, airport departure taxes, vaccination and other medical costs.
- Travel insurance including cancellation, medical, and evacuation insurance.
- Items of a purely personal nature (laundry, telephone, bar account, photography at museums, etc).
