Multi-Region

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

Photo credit: Abdu Samadov

Duration

14 Days

Price

From $25,695

Trip Type

Rail Journey

Group Size

Varies

Activity Level

1 2 3 4 5

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From Almaty to Tashkent Aboard the Golden Eagle

Overview

Discover the incredible history and diversity of the Silk Road on this epic rail journey by private train, experiencing the fabled five ’Stans of Central Asia and six UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way. Explore fabled oasis cities, ancient archaeological sites, and intriguing modern monuments; and witness the artistic and cultural traditions that have sustained this multifaceted region for centuries.

Travels to: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Photos and details: Discover what life is like aboard the Golden Eagle.

Independence Monument in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Photo credit: Lindsay Fincher

Map

Itinerary

Days 1-2: Almaty (Kazakhstan)
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.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Welcome Dinner in Almaty to meet the other travelers in the group
- 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
Days 3-4: Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan), Bishkek, Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
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. Later, stop 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.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Lovely Lake Issyk-Kul, the second-largest high-altitude lake in the world
- The Bronze Age petroglyphs along Lake Issyk-Kul’s shores
- The fierce grace of Kyrgyz hunting eagles
- The Soviet-era monuments of Bishkek
- Seeing the Uthman Koran, believed to be one of the world’s oldest
Day 5-7: Bukhara, Merv (Turkmenistan), Ashgabat
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. Cross into Turkmenistan and head to the to the UNESCO-listed ruins of Merv, a city of Bronze Age origin. It was such an important Silk Road stop that it grew into one of the world’s largest cities, only to be brutally sacked by the Mongols in the 13th century. Continue to modern capital of Ashgabat. Explore the flamboyant gilded architecture that has sprung from the rubble of a massive 1948 earthquake and gain insight into the country’s history and culture at the beautifully situated National Museum.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Bukhara’s evocative Old Town, with its ageless domed bazaars
- Central Labi-Hauz Plaza, adorned with a reflecting pool
- Ark Citadel, Bukhara’s giant ancient fortress
- The vast archaeological site of Merv, one of the world’s great lost cities
- The opulent modern architecture of Ashgabat, which holds a Guinness record for the highest density of white marble buildings in the world
- An optional nighttime visit to the Darvaza flaming gas crater
Days 8-10: Khiva (Uzbekistan), Shahrisabz, Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
Visit 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. Make a stop at Shahrisabz, Tamerlane’s birthplace and visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of his Ak Saray (White Palace). Then enter Tajikistan and make a stop at its capital, Dushanbe, to tour the opulent, modern Navruz Palace.

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
- Shahrisabz’s Ak Saray, a monumental palace complex that was one of Tamerlane’s most ambitious architectural undertakings
- Giant Navruz Palace in Dushanbe, originally built to be Central Asia’s largest teahouse
Days 11-14: Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Fergana Valley, Tashkent
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. Dip down into the Fergana Valley, where lush farmland stretches into three of the five ’Stans. Visit a traditional silk-making factory 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. Your journey concludes in Tashkent with a farewell dinner.

HIGHLIGHTS
- UNESCO-listed Samarkand’s Registan Square, bordered by three beautiful madrassahs
- Tamerlane’s architectural legacy in Samarkand, including Bibi Khanum Mosque, the largest mosque 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
- Yodgorlik Margilan Factory, one of Uzbekistan’s finest silk makers
- Khudayar Khan’s 113-room palace in Kokand, known in the 19th century as one of Central Asia’s most luxurious palaces, now partly restored to its former glory
- Farewell dinner back in Tashkent

Detailed Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Minimum group size: Minimums vary – call for confirmation status

Land Tour Price, Per Person.

What's Included

Activity Level

Level 2: Moderate

Gallery

1/12 The Golden Eagle train. Helge Pedersen
2/12 "Cheers" on the Golden Eagle train. Helge Pedersen
3/12 The Golden Eagle train racing through the countryside. Helge Pedersen
4/12 Musical instruments in Almaty.
5/12 Ashgabat National Museum in Turkmenistan.
6/12 Poi Kalan complex in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Donovan Wong
7/12 Mesmerising tiles. Michel Behar
8/12 At the bazaar in Khiva, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Willis Hughes Willis Hughes
9/12 Lake Issyk-Kul, the second-largest high-altitude lake in the world.
10/12 Tea with bread in Kyrgyzstan. Vlad Ushakov
11/12 Independence Monument in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Lindsay Fincher
12/12 The intricate tiles of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Lindsay Fincher

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Traveler Reviews

"Train travel has a number of distinct advantages – one doesn’t have to constantly pack and move, one can sleep, eat, visit and watch the countryside while journeying from one destination to another. We were able to see things that we wouldn’t have if we weren’t a part of this tour!"

C. Reising

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

From Almaty to Tashkent Aboard the Golden Eagle

Overview

Map

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

What's Included

Activity Level

Gallery

Want all the details in one handy package? Download the full itinerary below.

Traveler Reviews

6 Ways to Explore the Silk Road by Private Train

Enthralling Uzbekistan: Our Favorite Things to See & Do

Ashgabat: Turkmenistan’s Lavish Capital of Marble and Gold

What To Know Before You Go: Kazakhstan

Request a Detailed Itinerary

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

From Almaty to Tashkent Aboard the Golden Eagle

Overview

Map

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

What's Included

Activity Level

Gallery

Want all the details in one handy package? Download the full itinerary below.

Stay A Little Longer...

Traveler Reviews

Stories To Inspire

6 Ways to Explore the Silk Road by Private Train

Enthralling Uzbekistan: Our Favorite Things to See & Do

Ashgabat: Turkmenistan’s Lavish Capital of Marble and Gold

What To Know Before You Go: Kazakhstan

Request a Detailed Itinerary

Get Our News Straight To Your Inbox