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MIR Corporation · Rail Journey

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

Silk Road rail journey through five Central Asian republics on private train

Illustration of Republics of the Silk Road by Private Train - Tashkent to Almaty

MIR Corporation's Republics of the Silk Road is a 14-day private train journey aboard the Golden Eagle that departs Tashkent, Uzbekistan and arrives in Almaty, Kazakhstan, crossing four Central Asian republics. The train itself is the home base: you board on Day 2 after meeting fellow travelers over dinner in Tashkent, and remain aboard for 11 consecutive nights while traveling to legendary oasis cities. Days combine guided excursions off-train to UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Bukhara's 140-monument Old Town, Samarkand, Khiva, and Shahrisabz) with museum visits, bazaar exploration, and cultural demonstrations (silk weaving, ceramic traditions, Kyrgyz eagle hunting). A Train Tour Manager and local guides lead all activities. The pace is relaxed: most days involve one or two hours of guided touring from the train's stops, with afternoons to explore independently or rest aboard. This journey suits travelers seeking deep cultural and historical immersion with the convenience of not repacking, families comfortable with communal dining, and those who prefer guided structure over independent navigation.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement (USD 40,400 from USD 26,900 double rate) is substantial; single rooms cost 50% more than half a double occupancy.
  • International airfare to Tashkent and from Almaty is not included and must be arranged separately.
  • Visa fees are not included; however, U.S. passport holders do not require visas for this program.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Tashkent

    Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

    The journey begins 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. Join your fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner.

  2. Day 2overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

    The journey begins 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. Join your fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner.

  3. Day 3overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Kokand, Rishtan, Margilan

    Dip down into the Fergana Valley, where lush farmland stretches into three of the five 'Stans. In the town of Kokand, visit a 19th century khan's grand palace and the outstanding Jami Mosque. Continue to Rishtan - home to Uzbekistan's world-famous ceramic industry. Visit the ceramics center of a celebrated local ceramics master. Wrap up your day with a visit to a local family who have been producing silk in the ancient city of Margilan.

  4. Day 4overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Bukhara, Nukus

    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 Lyabi-Hauz Plaza at the heart of the city and the Ark Citadel, Bukhara's original fortress. Wander the local bazaar and visit the Summer Palace of the last Emir of Bukhara. Explore the remote desert Savitsky Art Museum in Nukus.

  5. Day 5overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Bukhara, Nukus

    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 Lyabi-Hauz Plaza at the heart of the city and the Ark Citadel, Bukhara's original fortress. Wander the local bazaar and visit the Summer Palace of the last Emir of Bukhara. Explore the remote desert Savitsky Art Museum in Nukus.

  6. Day 6overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Khiva, Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

    Arrive in the 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. Enter Tajikistan and make a stop at its capital, Dushanbe, to tour the opulent, modern Navruz Palace.

  7. Day 7overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Khiva, Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

    Arrive in the 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. Enter Tajikistan and make a stop at its capital, Dushanbe, to tour the opulent, modern Navruz Palace.

  8. Day 8overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Shahrisabz (Uzbekistan), Samarkand

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

  9. Day 9overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Shahrisabz (Uzbekistan), Samarkand

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

  10. Day 10overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Shahrisabz (Uzbekistan), Samarkand

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

  11. Day 11overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Lake Issyk-Kul

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

  12. Day 12overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle

    Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Lake Issyk-Kul

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

  13. Day 13overnight: Almaty

    Almaty (Kazakhstan)

    The journey ends 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, before joining your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.

  14. Day 14overnight: Almaty

    Almaty (Kazakhstan)

    The journey ends 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, before joining your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1In Tashkent's Old Town, visit a small library to see one of Islam's most sacred relics, one of the world's oldest Korans.
  • Day 3Descend into the Fergana Valley to tour Kokand's 19th-century khan's palace and Jami Mosque, then visit a local silk-producing family in Margilan.
  • Day 4Spend a day in Bukhara, Central Asia's most ancient living city, wandering the UNESCO-listed Old Town with its 140 protected monuments and the Ark Citadel.
  • Day 8Visit Shahrisabz, Tamerlane's birthplace, to see the UNESCO-listed ruins of his Ak Saray, then continue to Samarkand to tour Registan Square and Bibi Khanum Mosque.
  • Day 11In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, view Soviet-era monuments and watch a traditional Kyrgyz hunting eagle demonstration near the shores of alpine Lake Issyk-Kul.

Included

  • Accommodations, as noted in the itinerary.
  • 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 personal nature, such as phone calls, email, laundry, and alcohol.

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Accommodations aboard the Golden Eagle private train, all meals with wine and beer allowances, and the Train Tour Manager's services are included in the quoted price.
What is the Golden Eagle?
A luxury private train operated by MIR Corporation that serves as both transport and accommodation for all 13 nights on this 14-day journey.
Is the tour guided or independent?
It is escorted. A Train Tour Manager leads the group throughout, and local guides conduct all scheduled off-train excursions to museums, palaces, and historic sites.
What accommodation options are available?
Three tiers: Silver Class from USD 26,900, Gold Class from USD 34,900, and Imperial Suite Class from USD 63,400 per person, double occupancy.
When does this tour run?
Four departures are scheduled: October 2026, April 2027, August 2027, and September 2027. Prices range from USD 26,900 to USD 28,300.
What meals are included?
All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day are included, plus a generous allowance of wine, local beer, soft drinks, and water with all lunches and dinners.

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