21 days / 20 nights from £9.490 pp

The Journey retraces one of the most important trading routes of ancient civilisation and follows in the footsteps of such legendary figures as Alexander the Great and Marco Polo.

Your journey takes you across Russia and China, as well as some of the remotest former Soviet republics – Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Get acquainted with Russian history in Moscow and Volgagrad before heading to the Kara Kum desert and the ancient cities of Khiva, Bukhara, as well as Samarkand, the ‘Rome of the East’. Venture into Turkmenistan and visit the capital city of Ashgabat, a huge modern folly in the desert and a monument to the recently deceased President Sapamurat Turkmenbashi.

After crossing the border into China, your tour takes in the fascinating Magao Thousand Buddha cave complex, the Jiayuguan fortress at the end of the Great Wall and the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. Your journey in Beijing, the vibrant capital of modern China, where modern architecture stands alongside Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

The Train

Day 3 - 13 The Golden Eagle Trans Siberian Express is a brand new train that will serve as your luxurious home for the 11 day journey to China. The 12 new fully en-suite sleeping cars feature state of the art amenities. Gold Class cabins have everything from power showers and under floor heating to a DVD/CD player, LCD screen and individual air conditioning – and at 77sq ft (7 sq m) they are among the largest rail cabins anywhere in the world. Fully en-suite, the bathrooms contain a separate shower cubicle. Silver cabins are more compact at 60sq ft (5.5 sq m) and have similar facilities with a fully en-suite wet room.

The Golden Eagle features two beautifully appointed restaurant cars, where the chefs serve carefully-prepared meals using only the finest local ingredients. Whether it be the world-renowned ‘Borsch’, caviar or Omul – a fish unique to Lake Baikal – they offer a culinary experience representing the very best of Russia. Meals are complimented by wines from around the world, and naturally, vodka.

The social heart of the train is the bar car, a great place to relax and settle into the unhurried pace of life on board. Unwind in comfortable surroundings and watch the world go by as you get to know your fellow passengers… the bar stays open until the last person leaves.

Day 13 - 18 Shangri-La Express sleeping carriages offer passengers an ideal cosy environment in which to experience the many delights of the Chinese countryside. Carriages are fitted with two bunk style beds, the lower that converts to daytime sofa seating, with cabins being discreetly designed to provide optimal amenities and ample storage space. Whether it be to chat about local traditions, practice your local phrases with our bar staff, or pursue the books, games, videos and magazines available, passengers can relax and enjoy the comfort of the “bar car”.

Silk Road 2010 Departure Dates:

" Westbound route - journey starts in Beijing

The tour price includes:

• Direct flights from London to Moscow and from Beijing to London on British Airways (we can arrange connecting flights from other airports upon request).
• Airport transfers in Moscow and Beijing
• 2 nights accommodation at the five star hotel Marriott Royal Aurora, Moscow
• 10 nights accommodation onboard at the private train Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express (two people sharing silver class cabin)
• 5 nights accommodation onboard at the private train Shangri-La Express. (two people sharing 1st class cabin)
• 3 nights accommodation at the four star hotel The Peninsula, Beijing
• Full board throughout the tour, starting with dinner on the first day and ending with breakfast on the last day
• Sightseeing and excursions as per itinerary
• Route guide, itinerary and information pack
• Laundry facility
• On board doctor
• Tour managers and English speaking guides
• Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water
• Games, Books, Entertainment
• 24 hour Service Attendant
• Gratuities

Package price is based on availability and accommodation in two berth train compartments with two people sharing, and hotel accommodation in twin / double rooms:

• Heritage Class - £9,490 pp (single suplement - £3,200)
• Silver Class - £12,090 pp (single supplement - £4,600)
• Gold Class - £14,990 pp (single supplement - £6,100)

Not included in price:

Visas for Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and China 

We can assist you to arrange all visas for your tour. Please send us your passports and we will forward them to our specialised visa partner for processing. Please notice that the visa processing may take up to two months and therefore all applications should be admitted at least two months before your departure. There is a possibility of a 28 days express service, however any visas applied within 28 days cannot be guaranteed. The prices for the visa processing are:

• Standard service (2 months processing time) £350 per person
• Express Service (28 days processing time) £490 per person

Itinerary

DAY 1 MOSCOW – After arrival in Moscow airport you will be transferred to a centrally located five star hotel for a two-night stay. Moscow has become a vibrant city, comparable to Paris or Rome and full of life. Enjoy a private welcome reception followed by dinner in a city restaurant. This is great time to get to know fellow travellers with whom you will be sharing this 21 days unforgettable journey.

Accommodation: Marriott Royal Aurora Hotel is a 5 star hotel located within walking distance to Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre. This luxurious hotel pampers the most discerning travellers by offering spacious rooms with butler service for every room - the only hotel in Moscow to offer this fine service. Other amenities include in-room safe, mini-bar, wireless Internet access, and video or home theatre DVD/CD player. The Polo Club Restaurant features a wonderful selection of steaks and international wines and Aurora offers a la carte lunch and dinner and an extravagant breakfast buffet under a 5-story atrium.

DAY 2 - 3 MOSCOW - The two days in Moscow include a city tour, visiting Red Square and the Kremlin, with its magnificent Armoury and some free time for exploring the city on your own. In the afternoon of day 3 you will board our Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express private train and settle into the modern and stylish cabins. Enjoy dinner on board the train in the 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. You will visit the sobering Mamayev Kurgan war memorial, followed by the excellent diorama and interesting museum. After dinner you can listen to the resident pianist in the comfortable bar car whilst enjoying a drink with new friends. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 5 KARA KUM You can enjoy a relaxing day on board as we head through Kazakhstan’s Kara Kum desert. As well as enjoying the scenery and the remote villages we briefly stop from time to time. There is also chance to relax in the bar car, chat to fellow passengers and maybe have your first Russian language lesson. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 6 KHIVA Crossing into Uzbekistan. Arrive in Urgench in the afternoon and transfer to the 2,500-year old city, Khiva. 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. Overnight onboard.

Day 7 ASHGABAT Arrive in the ‘Las Vegas of the Kara Kum’, the capital city of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. A huge modern folly in the desert land 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. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 8 MERV You will 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 this tour you will visit at least one of the five walled cities contained within the 50-square mile area before returning to the train for dinner. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 9 BUKHARA Arrival 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 the 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). Afterwards you will travel out of the city to visit the Emir’s Palace of the Moon and Stars. Dinner and overnight onboard.

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. You will 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 you will visit the illuminated Registan Square, after which you return to the train for an evening departure. Overnight onboard.

Day 11 TASHKENT Arrival in the capital city of Uzbekistan. Spend the morning touring this pleasant, modern, Soviet-style city, which was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake levelled it in 1966. You will re-board the train for lunch as we head towards Kazakstan and Almaty. You 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. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 12 ALMATY Just before lunch you arrive in the largest city in Kazakhstan, 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, you will have lunch in a traditional Kazak ‘yurt’, a traditional dwelling place of the nomadic people of this region. Tonight is the final evening on board the Golden Eagle and a farewell banquet will be held to mark the occasion. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 13 CROSSING INTO CHINA You will bid our Golden Eagle a final farewell as you arrive on the border of Kazakhstan. You will change trains and the adventure continues as you spend over five hours crossing into China. Patience is a virtue today! You will board the awaiting Shangri-La Express private train and spend the rest of the day settling in to the new cabins. A welcome dinner is served and you will 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. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 15 DUNHUANG After lunch you will arrive 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 you will experience dinner and a local folk performance in this magical setting. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 16 JIAYUGUAN This morning you will 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. You 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 you have time to relax in the bar car and learn more about this immense fortification line. Dinner and overnight onboard.

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 you will head back to the city for dinner and the excellent Tang Dynasty show. Dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 18 BEIJING Today you will spend our last day enjoying the comfort and amenities on board the Shangri-la Express as you wind your way northwards towards Beijing, where you will arrive early evening. Having travelled almost 7,000 miles (11,226km) from Moscow, we bid farewell to the train crew and transfer to the five-star Peninsula Palace hotel, or similar for dinner and a three night stay.

Accommodation: Having opened in 1989, The Peninsula Beijing has a traditional Chinese architectural-style exterior integrated with the luxurious, modern hotel amenities and facilities. Ideally located in the centre of Beijing, The Peninsula Beijing is just a short stroll from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and is within easy access of Beijing Railway Station. The hotel offers 525 superbly appointed and spacious guest rooms and suites. Each one of the hotel's guest rooms is equipped with plasma television, wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, silent fax machine, and The Peninsula signature technology - a bedside electronic panel that controls all lighting and audio-visual equipment in the room, as well as a special control panel by the door displaying outside temperature and humidity levels.

Day 19 BEIJING Today you will 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. You will 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 you have free time to explore the week-end market (open every day) and purchase the last souvenirs to remind us of this epic journey. As no visit to Beijing would be complete with out one, you will enjoy our farewell dinner at a famous Peking Duck restaurant and say goodbye.

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