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Golden Eagle Luxury Trains · Escorted tour

Caspian Odyssey

16-day escorted journey from Yerevan to Almaty combining private flights and Golden Eagle train.

Illustration of Caspian Odyssey

Golden Eagle Luxury Trains operates Caspian Odyssey, a 16-day escorted tour beginning in Yerevan, Armenia and concluding in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The journey traverses Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, blending five-star hotel stays with a five-night rail journey aboard the Golden Eagle. The first half moves through the Caucasus by private charter flight, with three nights in Tbilisi and three in Baku, incorporating visits to UNESCO sites such as Geghard Monastery, the Icherisheher Old City and Gobustan Rock Art. From Bukhara onward, travellers board the Golden Eagle for intimate rail travel through Central Asia's historic Silk Road cities, including Samarkand with its 3D light show at Registan Square and Lake Issyk-Kul, where a nomadic cultural celebration features horseback wrestling and eagle hunting. The tour includes all meals, drinks, guided excursions, transfers, gratuities and a UK-registered doctor on board. It appeals to luxury seekers, history enthusiasts and travellers seeking guided comfort combined with immersive rail travel.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement is steep: Silver Class single is 50% above the twin price (USD 46,100 vs 30,700); Gold Class single is 65% above (USD 65,400 vs 39,700); Imperial Suite single is 100% above (USD 139,200 vs 69,700).
  • All hotel names are marked 'or similar', meaning the final property depends on availability and tour tier.
  • Rail travel comprises five nights (days 10-14) on the Golden Eagle; the first half of the tour uses private jets and hotels, so the rail portion is roughly one-third of the total journey by time.
  • Departures are published only for September 2026 and September 2027; current availability should be confirmed with the operator.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Alexander Hotel, Yerevan

    Yerevan

    Transfer to the five-star Alexander Hotel for a two-night stay. Freedom of Choice: Etchmiadzin cathedral and Zvartnots Cathedral, or a guided walking tour of central Yerevan. Evening Welcome Dinner.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Alexander Hotel, Yerevan

    Yerevan & Lake Sevan

    Visit The Cascade and the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial. Drive to Lake Sevan for lunch with lake views. Optional Yerevan Ararat Brandy Factory visit. Evening dine-around dinner.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: Paragraph Freedom Square, Tbilisi

    Yerevan to Tbilisi

    Visit Geghard Monastery (UNESCO) and the Temple of Garni, or a walk through Garni Gorge. Private charter flight to Tbilisi; check in to the Paragraph Freedom Square, a Luxury Collection Hotel, for three nights. Evening dinner with traditional folk performance.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Paragraph Freedom Square, Tbilisi

    Tbilisi

    Visit Metekhi Church, Sioni Cathedral and the Old Town. Lunch and wine tasting at Chateau Mukhrani Wine Estate. Evening dine-around experience.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Paragraph Freedom Square, Tbilisi

    Tbilisi – Gori, Uplistsikhe & Mtskheta

    Choice of Gori (Stalin Museum) or the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe. Lunch with private Georgian polyphonic singing performance. Afternoon visit to Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital (UNESCO). Evening dine-around dinner.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Baku

    Tbilisi to Baku

    Visit the Janashia State Museum of Georgia. Lunch, then private jet to Baku; check in to the Four Seasons Hotel Baku for three nights.

    Meals: Lunch

  7. Day 7overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Baku

    Baku

    Coach and walking tour of Icherisheher (Inner City, UNESCO), the Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Synyk-Kala Minaret. Lunch, then afternoon at leisure. Evening private visit and gala dinner at Villa Petrolea.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Baku

    Baku

    Visit the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (UNESCO). Lunch overlooking the Caspian Sea. Afternoon at leisure, optional Ateshgah Fire Temple visit. Evening dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel Baku.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: Hotel in Khiva

    Khiva

    Private plane to Urgench, gateway to Khiva. Explore Ichan-Kala, the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Khiva, its mosques, madrassas, bazaars and minarets.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Golden Eagle (on board)

    Bukhara

    Visit the Ark of Bukhara, Poi-Kalyan Square and the Kalyan Mosque, the historic Trading Domes and Lyabi-Hauz Square. Evening barbecue on the station platform before boarding the Golden Eagle train.

    Meals: Dinner

  11. Day 11overnight: Golden Eagle (on board)

    Samarkand

    Explore Registan Square, the Bibi-Khanum Mosque and the Ulugh Beg Observatory. Evening illuminated light and sound show at Registan Square.

  12. Day 12overnight: Golden Eagle (on board)

    Tashkent

    Guided tour of Tashkent including the Khast-Imam Complex (home to the Uthman Qur'an), the Museum of Applied Arts and Independence Square.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Golden Eagle (on board)

    Bishkek

    Leisurely day of scenic rail travel across Uzbekistan into Kyrgyzstan. Late-afternoon arrival in Bishkek for an introductory city tour including Ala-Too Square.

  14. Day 14railovernight: Golden Eagle (on board)

    Lake Issyk-Kul

    Extended visit to Lake Issyk-Kul with a privately arranged nomadic cultural celebration: horseback wrestling, eagle hunting and 'Ordo'. Optional Petroglyph Museum visit before returning to the train for dinner.

    Meals: Dinner

  15. Day 15overnight: Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Almaty

    Almaty

    Arrive in Almaty and disembark the Golden Eagle. Guided tour including Panfilov Park and Zenkov Cathedral. Transfer to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Almaty.

  16. Day 16

    Almaty

    Breakfast before transfer to Almaty Airport for onward flight.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5Private Georgian polyphonic singing performance in the ancient cave city of Uplistsikhe during lunch.
  • Day 8Visit the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO site, with lunch overlooking the Caspian Sea.
  • Day 10Evening barbecue on the Bukhara station platform before boarding the Golden Eagle train.
  • Day 113D light and sound show at Registan Square, Samarkand, illuminating the mosque and madrassas.
  • Day 14Extended visit to Lake Issyk-Kul with privately arranged nomadic cultural celebration featuring horseback wrestling and eagle hunting.

Included

  • Five-star pre and post tour hotel accommodation
  • Private en-suite accommodation on the Golden Eagle train
  • 2-night hotel stay at the five-star Alexander Hotel, Yerevan (or similar)
  • 3-night hotel stay at the five-star Paragraph Freedom Square, Tbilisi (or similar)
  • 3-night hotel stay at the five-star Four Seasons, Baku (or similar)
  • 1-night hotel stay at the five-star Ritz-Carlton, Almaty (or similar)
  • 24-hour cabin attendant service
  • Experienced Tour Management team
  • Services of a UK-registered Doctor and medical facilities on board
  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • All gratuities – on and off the train
  • Luggage porterage throughout the journey
  • Expertly guided off-train excursions as detailed in the itinerary
  • Freedom of Choice touring option
  • Freshly prepared meals on board, using the finest local ingredients
  • Authentic dining experiences in local restaurants
  • Generous drinks allowance, including international wines with lunch and dinner
  • Golden Eagle Gala Caviar dinner
  • 15 Breakfasts, 14 Lunches, 15 Dinners

Questions travellers ask

Is all rail travel included in the price?
Yes. The five nights aboard the Golden Eagle train from Bukhara to Almaty (days 10-14) are fully included in the package price, along with cabin accommodation, meals on board, and a 24-hour cabin attendant service.
Which trains do I travel on?
The Golden Eagle luxury cruise train operates the rail leg from Bukhara through Samarkand, Tashkent, Bishkek and Lake Issyk-Kul to Almaty. The first portion of the journey uses private charter flights.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. Golden Eagle provides an Experienced Tour Management team throughout the 16 days, plus expertly guided off-train excursions. A UK-registered doctor and medical facilities are available on board.
What is included in the package?
Included are five-star hotel accommodation (10 nights total), private en-suite cabin on the train (5 nights), all meals on and off the train, private flights and transfers, all gratuities, luggage porterage, guided excursions, drinks allowances including wine with meals, and a Golden Eagle Gala Caviar dinner.
When does this tour run?
Departures are in September 2026 and September 2027. Pricing starts at USD 30,700 per person (Silver Class twin) to USD 69,700 per person (Imperial Suite twin).
How much walking is involved?
Days include city walking tours in Yerevan, Tbilisi, Baku and Almaty, visits to monasteries and archaeological sites, and exploration of historic squares and bazaars. A leisurely day of scenic rail travel occurs on day 13 with minimal walking.

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