MIR Corporation · Rail Journey

Republics of the Silk Road by Private Train - Almaty to Samarkand

Republics of the Silk Road by Private Train - Almaty to Samarkand, a rail journey with MIR Corporation

Discover the incredible history and diversity of the Silk Road on this epic rail journey by private train, experiencing the fabled 'Stans of Central Asia and five UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Almaty

    Almaty (Kazakhstan), board the Golden Eagle Private Train

    The journey begins in Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city and a thriving business center situated amid the majestic Tien Shan mountain range. Visit Panfilov Park, a hub of the city and home to Zenkov Cathedral, and join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. Board the Golden Eagle private train to start your railway adventure.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Almaty (Kazakhstan), board the Golden Eagle Private Train

    The journey begins in Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city and a thriving business center situated amid the majestic Tien Shan mountain range. Visit Panfilov Park, a hub of the city and home to Zenkov Cathedral, and join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. Board the Golden Eagle private train to start your railway adventure.

  3. Day 3overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), Bishkek

    Enter Kyrgyzstan and examine petroglyphs and watch a demonstration of traditional Kyrgyz hunting eagles near the shores of alpine Lake Issyk-Kul. Then tour its capital, Bishkek, which is filled with striking Soviet-era statues and monuments.

  4. Day 4overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), Bishkek

    Enter Kyrgyzstan and examine petroglyphs and watch a demonstration of traditional Kyrgyz hunting eagles near the shores of alpine Lake Issyk-Kul. Then tour its capital, Bishkek, which is filled with striking Soviet-era statues and monuments.

  5. Day 5overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Kokand, Rishtan, Margilan, Bukhara

    Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital and largest city, where a visit to a small library in the Old Town provides the opportunity to see one of Islam's most sacred relics - one of the world's oldest Korans. Visit a traditional silk-making family in the ancient city of Margilan and a family-run ceramics studio in Rishtan. In the town of Kokand, visit a 19th-century khan's grand palace. Spend a day in beautiful Bukhara, Central Asia's most ancient living city. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town encompasses more than 140 protected monuments, including the Labi-Hauz Plaza at the heart of the city and the Ark Citadel, Bukhara's original fortress.

  6. Day 6overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Kokand, Rishtan, Margilan, Bukhara

    Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital and largest city, where a visit to a small library in the Old Town provides the opportunity to see one of Islam's most sacred relics - one of the world's oldest Korans. Visit a traditional silk-making family in the ancient city of Margilan and a family-run ceramics studio in Rishtan. In the town of Kokand, visit a 19th-century khan's grand palace. Spend a day in beautiful Bukhara, Central Asia's most ancient living city. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town encompasses more than 140 protected monuments, including the Labi-Hauz Plaza at the heart of the city and the Ark Citadel, Bukhara's original fortress.

  7. Day 7overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Kokand, Rishtan, Margilan, Bukhara

    Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital and largest city, where a visit to a small library in the Old Town provides the opportunity to see one of Islam's most sacred relics - one of the world's oldest Korans. Visit a traditional silk-making family in the ancient city of Margilan and a family-run ceramics studio in Rishtan. In the town of Kokand, visit a 19th-century khan's grand palace. Spend a day in beautiful Bukhara, Central Asia's most ancient living city. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town encompasses more than 140 protected monuments, including the Labi-Hauz Plaza at the heart of the city and the Ark Citadel, Bukhara's original fortress.

  8. Day 8overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Nukus, Khiva, Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

    Arrive in Nukus and visit the wonderful Savitsky Art Museum, a remote desert museum, which houses the incredible life's work of founder, Igor Savitsky. Continue to the Uzbek city of Khiva, the last great oasis on the northern caravan route. Wander through the winding alleys of the UNESCO-listed Old Town filled with minarets, cobbled alleys, mosques, and the beautifully preserved Kunya Ark, the original residence of the ruling khans. Then enter Tajikistan and make a stop at its capital, Dushanbe, to tour the opulent, modern Navruz Palace.

  9. Day 9overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Nukus, Khiva, Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

    Arrive in Nukus and visit the wonderful Savitsky Art Museum, a remote desert museum, which houses the incredible life's work of founder, Igor Savitsky. Continue to the Uzbek city of Khiva, the last great oasis on the northern caravan route. Wander through the winding alleys of the UNESCO-listed Old Town filled with minarets, cobbled alleys, mosques, and the beautifully preserved Kunya Ark, the original residence of the ruling khans. Then enter Tajikistan and make a stop at its capital, Dushanbe, to tour the opulent, modern Navruz Palace.

  10. Day 10overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Nukus, Khiva, Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

    Arrive in Nukus and visit the wonderful Savitsky Art Museum, a remote desert museum, which houses the incredible life's work of founder, Igor Savitsky. Continue to the Uzbek city of Khiva, the last great oasis on the northern caravan route. Wander through the winding alleys of the UNESCO-listed Old Town filled with minarets, cobbled alleys, mosques, and the beautifully preserved Kunya Ark, the original residence of the ruling khans. Then enter Tajikistan and make a stop at its capital, Dushanbe, to tour the opulent, modern Navruz Palace.

  11. Day 11overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Shahrisabz (Uzbekistan), Samarkand

    Head back to Uzbekistan, make a stop at Shahrisabz, Tamerlane's birthplace and visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of his Ak Saray (White Palace). Continue to the Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand, the 14th-century conqueror Tamerlane's legendary capital, hailed by UNESCO as "the crossroad of cultures." Take in the massive Bibi Khanum Mosque, Ulug Bek's incredible observatory, and gracefully proportioned Registan Square. Your journey concludes in Samarkand with a farewell dinner.

  12. Day 12overnight: Samarkand

    Shahrisabz (Uzbekistan), Samarkand

    Head back to Uzbekistan, make a stop at Shahrisabz, Tamerlane's birthplace and visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of his Ak Saray (White Palace). Continue to the Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand, the 14th-century conqueror Tamerlane's legendary capital, hailed by UNESCO as "the crossroad of cultures." Take in the massive Bibi Khanum Mosque, Ulug Bek's incredible observatory, and gracefully proportioned Registan Square. Your journey concludes in Samarkand with a farewell dinner.

  13. Day 13overnight: Samarkand

    Shahrisabz (Uzbekistan), Samarkand

    Head back to Uzbekistan, make a stop at Shahrisabz, Tamerlane's birthplace and visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of his Ak Saray (White Palace). Continue to the Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand, the 14th-century conqueror Tamerlane's legendary capital, hailed by UNESCO as "the crossroad of cultures." Take in the massive Bibi Khanum Mosque, Ulug Bek's incredible observatory, and gracefully proportioned Registan Square. Your journey concludes in Samarkand with a farewell dinner.

  14. Day 14overnight: Samarkand

    Shahrisabz (Uzbekistan), Samarkand

    Head back to Uzbekistan, make a stop at Shahrisabz, Tamerlane's birthplace and visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of his Ak Saray (White Palace). Continue to the Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand, the 14th-century conqueror Tamerlane's legendary capital, hailed by UNESCO as "the crossroad of cultures." Take in the massive Bibi Khanum Mosque, Ulug Bek's incredible observatory, and gracefully proportioned Registan Square. Your journey concludes in Samarkand with a farewell dinner.

Included

  • Accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle private train.
  • Hotel accommodation per the itinerary (1 night Almaty, 3 nights Samarkand).
  • 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.
  • 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, if required (U.S. passport holders do not require any visas for this program).
  • 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).

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