Essence of the Silk Road by Private Train: Almaty to Tashkent in 14 Days

Itinerary

• Days 1-2: Almaty (Kazakhstan)
  

  Start the tour 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 have lunch in a traditional Kazakh yurt. Then board the Orient Silk Road Express to begin the rail journey.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Panfilov Park, a green oasis in the middle of Almaty where locals meet to stroll and unwind
  • Colorful Zenkov Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden structures in the world and an impressive feat of engineering that survived a massive 1911 earthquake unscathed
  • Lunch in a traditional Kazakh yurt
• Days 3-5: Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), Bishkek, Turkistan (Kazakhstan)
  

  Your first stop after Kazakhstan is the neighboring, mountainous country of Kyrgyzstan. Here spend some time at Lake Issyk-Kul, a vast, high-altitude lake ringed by mountains. After learning about nomadic traditions in the countryside you’ll head to the capital Bishkek to explore there. Before entering Uzbekistan you’ll make another stop in Kazakhstan at the historic city of Turkistan to see the revered Sufi sheikh Khoja Ahmed Yasavi’s mausoleum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Vast Lake Issyk-Kul, ringed by mountains and one of Central Asia’s iconic sights
  • The Museum of Nomadic Civilizations, a center dedicated to Kyrgyzstan’s nomadic past
  • Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s modern capital
  • Ala Archa National Park – beautiful, forested mountains located just outside of Bishkek
  • Turkistan’s UNESCO-listed Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi, commissioned by Tamerlane in the 14th century and topped with the largest dome in Central Asia
• Days 6-8: Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Shahrisabz
  

  Continue to blue-tiled 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. Tour of a silk carpet factory and visit a workshop where handcrafted paper is made using a method that dates from the 8th century. Back on board, continue to Shahrisabz, hometown of the 14th century conqueror Tamerlane, and visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of his Ak Saray (White Palace), one of Tamerlane’s most ambitious architectural undertakings.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • UNESCO-listed Samarkand’s Registan Square, bordered by three beautiful madrassahs
  • The 14th century conqueror Tamerlane’s architectural legacy in Samarkand, including Bibi Khanum Mosque, the largest of its day
  • Shah-i-Zinda, a row of mausoleums and tombs that collectively span the history of Samarkand
  • Ulug Bek Observatory, where Tamerlane’s grandson made historic advances in astronomy
  • Seeing artisans make beautifully crafted carpets and paper using age-old techniques
  • Shahrisabz’s Ak Saray, a monumental palace complex that includes the remains of a massive portal covered with brilliant blue, white, and gold tile mosaics
• Days 9-11: Bukhara
  

  Disembark 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. Take in a traditional Uzbek performance along with dinner at a former madrassah.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Bukhara’s evocative Old Town, with its ageless domed bazaars and central Labi-Hauz Plaza, adorned with a reflecting pool
  • Ark Citadel, Bukhara’s giant ancient fortress
  • A performance and dinner at a local madrassah
  • The 10th-century Samani Mausoleum, one of Central Asia’s oldest intact monuments
  • The spectacular Kalon Mosque and Minaret – a classic Central Asian scene
• Days 12-14: Khiva, Tashkent
  

  Cross the Kyzyl Kum Desert to the city of Khiva, the last great oasis on the northern Silk Road 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 head to Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital and largest city. Tour some of its most noteworthy sights  including Amir Timur Square and Kukeldash Madrassah.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Khiva’s Old Town (Ichon-Qala in Uzbek), a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Tash-Hauli Palace, built in the 19th century for the khan and his four wives
  • Juma Mosque, famous for its carved wooden pillars
  • Kunya Ark, the original residence of Khiva’s khans
  • Tashkent’s Kukeldash Madrassah, one of the largest 16th century madrassahs remaining in Central Asia, constructed of baked brick with a classic glazed tile facade
  • Amir Timur Square, dominated by an equestrian statue of the conqueror Tamerlane