CLASSIC SILK ROAD BY LUXURY TRAIN
-
Overview
-
Accommodation
-
Itinerary
-
Fares
A journey overview
- Beijing
- Shangri-la Express
- Dunhuang
- Golden Eagle Luxury Train
- Tashkent
- Samarkand
- Khiva
- Moscow
22 Days Exploration
- Departing:
- 29 Sep 2021
Aboard the Shangri-La Express and Golden Eagle, travel through China, Russia and Central Asia, following the Silk Road.


Stand Atop China’s Great Wall
Bask in the relative seclusion of one of the less frequented sections of the monumental fortification, and appreciate the history of one of the wonders of the world.

Admire Khiva’s Astonishing Architecture
Golden Eagle rolls into Khiva, where a wealth of mosques, madrassas and minarets is revealed.

Enjoy Exclusive Access to the Kremlin Armoury
Prior to opening to the public, the popular museum grants us a private viewing of its vast collection of artistic and military treasures.
Residences of the Highest Standard

The Peninsula, Beijing
Admire original artworks by renowned Chinese artists, which adorn your room and the hallways of the Peninsula Hotel. Personalised in-room technology allows you to control the ambience during your stay.

Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square
A blend of elegant French style and local culture will be revealed through art, gastronomy and contemporary design at this luxury hotel in the heart of Xian.

Four Seasons, Moscow
The elegant interiors, attentive service and delectable dining of the Four Seasons Hotel are housed within a replica of the legendary 1930s-era Hotel Moskva, which once occupied the same site.

Shangri-La Express
China’s leading private train, the Shangri-La Express traverses the vast terrain of this ancient country. From your comfortable cabin, enjoy mesmerising panoramas as they become part of your daily experience.

Golden Eagle
Trace the Silk Road aboard the opulent Golden Eagle. View changing landscapes from the comfort of your air-conditioned cabin, take a Russian language lesson or sample some distinctive vodkas in the Bar Lounge Car.
Itinerary
Arrive Beijing (China)
Our journey begins in Beijing, with a stay at the luxurious Peninsula Hotel. Ride a rickshaw along one of the city’s many laneways and take part in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony or, perhaps, meander through the Temple of Heaven park and gain a sense of local life.
Beijing, Xi’an, Embark Shangri-La Express
Explorations of the historic Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City form the prelude to our visit to the Great Wall of China. The Mutianya section of the wall is less frequented than other parts and we enjoy views of rolling, green hills, while the wall itself stretches out ahead of us. A high-speed train delivers us to Xi’an, home to the Terracotta Warriors. It is here that we board the Shangri-La Express for the beginning of our rail journey.
Dunhuang, Turpan
We arrive in the small oasis city of Dunhuang. Trek the surrounding dunes of the Gobi Desert on board camels. At the fascinating Magao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex, we admire sculptures and other works of art. Approaching Turpan, we behold the Flaming Mountains, a mountain range of various shades of red which seem to scorch the horizon, before travelling to the ancient fortress city of Jiaohe.
Embark Golden Eagle, Almaty (Kazakhstan)
Having passed through dramatic mountain scenery, we reach the Chinese border station of Alashankou and disembark the Shangri-La Express. The lavish Golden Eagle awaits our arrival in Druzhba, the Kazakh border station, for the next leg of our epic journey. Arriving in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, we find ourselves surrounded by the majestic Tien Shan Mountains, before a cable car grants us spectacular views.
Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Samarkand, Bukhara
In Tashkent, we disembark and explore its Old Town. At an unassuming library, we have the privilege of viewing the world’s oldest Koran. Samarkand marks the crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures, and it is here that we explore Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Ulugh Beg Observatory and Registan Square. Bukhara’s history and grandeur reveal themselves during a visit to The Ark, the fortified residence of the Emirs of Bukhara who ruled in earlier times.
Merv (Turkmenistan), Darvaza, Ashgabat
The Golden Eagle rolls on to the outskirts of the once-mighty city of Merv which for a brief moment in history was the largest city in the world. At Ichoguz, we have the option of leaving our train and making a short journey to Darvaza’s famous burning gas crater. In Ashgabat, visits to the national museum and Kipchak Mosque prove highlights within this mesmerising city of marble, set among the sands of the Kara Kum Desert.
Khiva (Uzbekistan), Kara Kum Desert (Kazakhstan)
Our train pulls in to the city of Khiva, one of the most important trading posts along the Silk Road. During our time here an astonishing array of architecture is revealed through Khiva’s wealth of mosques, madrassas and minarets. A relaxing day on board our train then follows, as we travel across the vast expanse of the Kara Kum Desert. Gaze out at the arid landscape, or take the opportunity to participate in a Russian language lesson.
Volgograd (Russia), Moscow, Disembark Golden Eagle
On the banks of Europe’s longest river stands Volgograd. A visit to its war museum grants us a greater perspective of the city’s involvement in World War Two, when it was known as Stalingrad. In Moscow, we are granted a private viewing at the Kremlin Armoury, as well as a private performance by the choir at St Basil’s Cathedral. Theatre lovers also won’t want to pass up the chance to step behind the curtains of the Bolshoi.
Depart Moscow
Take time at your leisure and contemplate the rich experiences we have enjoyed, before departing.
CLASSIC SILK ROAD BY LUXURY TRAIN
{{tpsc.tripBadgeText}}22 Days - Departing 29 September 2021
Journey Package
Room Type
Enhancements
Price
$
Per Person USD
Enquire About This Journey
To enquire about reserving a place on this journey, please complete the form below, call 1800 622 628 or email guestrelations@captainschoice.com.au.
Journey Details
- {{tpsc.package.journeyPackageType}}
- Departing: {{tpsc.package.departureDate | date:'EEE d MMM yyyy'}}
- {{tpsc.roomType.roomConfigurationType}}
-
{{upgrade.upgradeCategoryTitle}}
{{upgrade.selectedCategory.upgradeOptionTitle}} (+{{upgrade.selectedCategory.amount | currency : '$' : 0}})
{{tpsc.price | currency : '$' : 0}}
Per Person USD
Keep Exploring

Explorations
