Retracing one of the most important trading routes of ancient civilisation, this remarkable tour follows in the footsteps of such legendary figures as Alexander the Great and Marco Polo.
Crossing both Russia and China as well as some of the remotest former Soviet republics – Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – our journey will take in some of the most magnificent yet little-visited sights from the ancient world. Eastbound trips start in Russia’s capital Moscow (westbound trips end here), where we have plenty of time to explore. We travel on to Volgograd – better known as Stalingrad – where the Soviets turned the course of the Second World War, before heading to far remoter places that owe their importance to a time much further back in history.
The Kara Kum desert is followed by the amazing 2,500 year-old cities of Khiva and Bukhara – considered so important by UNESCO that it supported their restoration – as well as Samarkand, the ‘Rome of the East’. Much admired by Alexander the Great, Samarkand is home to Registan Square, a spectacular open space surrounded by beautiful Islamic buildings and considered one of the most inspirational sights in central Asia. In between Khiva and Bukhara we take a two-day excursion 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. We also visit the ancient city of Merv before returning to Uzbekistan.
After crossing the border into China, our tour takes in the fascinating Magao Thousand Buddha cave complex (a network of almost 500 grottoes containing over 2,000 statues and 45,000 murals created up to 1,700 years ago), the Jiayuguan fortress at the end of the Great Wall (considered one of northern China’s most spectacular sights) and the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, an army of almost 6,000 statues recognised as one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th Century. We end our journey in Beijing, the vibrant capital of modern, confident China… where the latest architecture rubs shoulders with Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Tour Map

Day 01 Beijing
Arrive at Beijing airport where you will transferred to the centrally located five-star Regent Hotel, or similar, for a three-night stay. We will enjoy a welcome reception dinner at a local restaurant, giving you the opportunity to meet your fellow travellers and look ahead to your 21 day voyage of a lifetime.

Day 02: Beijing
Today we visit Tiananmen Square, the largest open square in the world, and then explore the magnificently restored Forbidden City. Our cultural exploration continues at the Temple of Heaven, the grandest of the four great temples situated in Beijing.

Day 03: Beijing - The Great Wall
We devote our final full day in Beijing to the most awe-inspiring site in the whole of China - The Great Wall. This amazing edifice is one of the few manmade structures visible from outer space and perhaps the most evocative symbol of Chinese skill and precision. At Badaling we have the privilege of walking along a portion of the wall. Dinner is hosted in an authentic Peking Duck restaurant.

Day 04: On board
After a free morning, we transfer to Beijing West Station to board our private train, the Shangri-La Express. This marks the start of our epic rail journey to Moscow. There is plenty of time to settle into our comfortable cabins after enjoying lunch in one of the well appointed restaurant cars.

Day 05: Luoyang
Our morning arrival in Luoyang, situated in the middle reaches of the Yellow River Valley, gives us a full day to explore this former ancient capital. We visit the local museum which contains many relics from Luoyang's glory days, including sculpted horses and camels recovered from its ancient tombs. We travel out to Longmen Caves, one of China's most significant artistic sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This amazing network of 1,350 caves contains over 110,000 Buddhist statues.

Day 06: Xian - Terracota Warriors
Today, our fascinating journey of discovery takes us to Xian. Here we will explore the ancient city walls and the Great Mosque, one of the oldest and largest Islamic mosques in China. This afternoon we dedicate several hours to visiting the world famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered by peasants only 30 years ago. The 6,000 terracotta figures and their horses are one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th Century. This evening we enjoy the Tang Dynasty Dinner, Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of ancient entertainment.

Day 07: Lanzhou
Our morning arrival in Lanzhou, a vital city on the Silk Route, gives us ample time to explore this ancient city. Our main stop is at the Gansu Provincial museum where we can examine the types of goods transported along the Silk Route. The world famous bronze galloping horse, unearthed from a nearby tomb, is also on display inside the museum and is a stunning example of ancient sculpture from the Eastern Han period.

Day 08: Dunhuang
Before lunch we arrive in the small oasis-city of Dunhuang, where we will visit the fascinating Magoa Thousand Buddha Cave Complex. This impressive site contains almost 500 grottoes, carved between 700 and 1,700 years ago. Inside we will see an amazing collection of beautiful sculptures and murals depicting the evolution of Buddhist religious art. In the afternoon we explore the vast natural beauty of the Gobi Desert by camel. Hidden amongst towering sand dunes, it has sustained life in this region for millennia. Tonight we experience dinner and a local folk performance in this magical setting.

Day 09: Turpan and Urumchi
This morning we visit Turpan, where the Flaming Mountains create a magnificent backdrop. We then take a fascinating tour to the ancient underground irrigation system that has successfully fed the rich orchards and vineyards for centuries. Our next destination is the elegantly decaying sand city of Jiaohe that was founded in 108 BC. This afternoon we drive to Urumchi, located in a verdant oasis between the lofty ice capped Bogda Peak, the vast Salt Lake, the pine covered Southern Hill and the alternating fields and sand dunes of the Zunggar Basin where we visit the renowned mummy exhibition in the Provincial Museum. Urumchi boasts an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for being the city furthest from any sea in the world - a staggering 1,400 miles (2,500km) from the nearest coastline.

Day 10: Crossing to Kazakhstan
After a final breakfast onboard the Shangri-La Express, we pass through dramatic mountain scenery before arriving in the Chinese border station of Alashankou. The border crossing takes five hours, however our patience is rewarded as our private train, the Golden Eagle, awaits us in Druzhba, the Kazak border station.

Day 11: Almaty
Just after breakfast we arrive in Almaty - the largest city in Kazakhstan. Surrounded by the majesty of the Tien Shen Mountains, we will enjoy a traditional lunch in a Kazak 'yurt', a dwelling place of this region's nomadic people. After dinner this evening, we can soak up the relaxing atmosphere as we listen to our resident pianist and chat to friends in the Golden Eagle Bar Car.

Day 12: Tashkent
This morning gives us the opportunity to relax or listen to one of the informative lectures designed to give us a greater insight into this fascinating region. After lunch we arrive in the capital city of Uzbekistan and spend the morning touring this modern Soviet-style city which was rebuilt following the devastating earthquake of 1966. After visiting the Museum of Fine Arts we re-board the train for dinner.

Day 13: Samarkand
Founded in the 6th Century BC, Samarkand's stunning architecture hints at its former status as one of the most important cities in Asia. Today we will visit some of its most significant sites including the refined elegance of the beautifully proportioned Bibi Khanum Mosque and the Ulag Beg observatory, one of the earliest Islamic astronomical observatories built in 1428. After dinner we will visit the illuminated awe-inspiring Registan Square, before returning to our train for a late evening departure.

Day 14: Bukhara
Bukhara is quite simply outstanding. Like Khiva, UNESCO helped fund the renovation of much of the city for its 2,500th anniversary in 1999. The highlight of this wonderful tour is a visit to The Ark, a fortified residence of the Emirs of Bukhara - the despotic and ruthless leaders who ruled until Soviet times. Lunch is taken within a stunningly ornate medresseh (beautifully tiled Islamic school). We then travel out of the city to experience the Emir's enchantingly named, Palace of the Moon and Stars.

Day 15: Merv
Early morning sees us arrive in Mary, where we transfer to the ancient city of Merv. Once an important stopping point on the Silk Road, it claims to have briefly been the largest city in the world during the twelfth century. 1794 saw the demise of Merv, after the Emir of Bukhara destroyed the dam which the population depended on for its water. During our fascinating exploration, we visit at least one of its five walled cities to discover its many treasures before returning to our train for dinner.

Day 16: Ashgabat
In dramatic contrast to Khiva, we arrive in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan - the 'Las Vegas of the Kara Kum'. Situated between the Kara Kum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range, its golden domes and towering modern buildings appear strangely incongruous in this almost biblical setting.

Day 17: Khiva
Crossing back into Uzbekistan, our train travels towards Urgench, where we transfer to the ancient city of Khiva, founded 2,500 years ago. As one of the Silk Road's most important trading posts, it lies at the crossroads of the routes between Mongolia, Russia, China and Persia. A truly magnificent sight to behold, it rises out of the desert to reveal a wealth of impressive architecture. Stepping back in time, we discover the impressive restored mosques, bazaars and minarets within Khiva's ancient walls. Lunch is taken in a local restaurant, followed by dinner on our train as we continue our fascinating journey.

Day 18: Kara Kum
Today, we enjoy a relaxing day onboard as we travel across the vast expanses of the Kara Kum desert. As well as experiencing the unique landscape, we can take the opportunity to chat to fellow passengers and maybe take a Russian language lesson.

Day 19: Volgograd
Standing on the banks of the Volga, Stalingrad, as the city was know in Soviet times, was the dramatic scene of some of the most important WW2 battles. The Russians heroically turned back the Nazi advance here to alter the course of the Second World War. We visit the poignantly sobering Mamayev Kurgan war memorial, followed by the informative diorama and absorbing museum visit. Tonight is our final evening onboard the train, an occasion we mark with a farewell dinner.

Day 20: Moscow
Having travelled a mammoth 7,000 miles (11,250km) from Beijing, we transfer to the centrally located five-star Marriott Royal Aurora hotel (or similar) for a one-night stay. Our afternoon city tour of Moscow principally takes us to Red Square, an iconic symbol of Russia's former military and political might. Here we see an eclectic mix of fascinating architecture, such as the ornate St Basil's Cathedral with its magnificent onion-domed spires, the grandeur of The Kremlin and the sombre and evocative site of Lenin's tomb.

Day 21: Depart Moscow
After breakfast in your hotel, we take a morning sightseeing tour of the capital. You will then be transferred to Moscow airport for international departures.

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Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures Currently only Eastbound date is available for 2010
Inclusions
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE Accommodation aboard our private trains (number of nights in accordance with itinerary) International Airfare or surface transport to the point of joining/leaving the tour (except where stated otherwise) Hotel accommodation in accordance with itinerary Charges of a purely personal nature (laundry, telephone, bar account, photography at certain museums etc.) All meals starting with dinner on day one until breakfast on the final tour day; including a generous allowance of wine, local beer or soft drinks and water with all lunches and dinners on and off the train Any optional trips such as Bolshoi Ballet/Opera etc., pre- or post-tour extensions Arrival/departure transfers, provided you arrive/depart on the tour start/end dates in the tour start/end cities Alcoholic and soft drinks in the bar outside of meal times Guided off-train tours according to itinerary Visa or Excess Baggage Charges, Airport Departure Taxes, Vaccination or Medical Costs The services of an experienced Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring Insurance (it is a booking condition that passengers have adequate insurance) Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water round the clock from your car attendant Gratuities to local guides, drivers, tour management and train staff Detailed route guide, itinerary and information pack A Doctor who will travel with the train throughout the tour
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Rate Silver Class US $ 18495 US $ 25995 Gold Class US $ 23195 US $ 32995 Special Note: Silver Class (Twin share): Deposit for this particular tour will be $1500 per person. Gold Class   (Twin share): Deposit for this particular tour will be $2000.00 per person. Final tour payment is due no later than 95 days prior.
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast US $ 2000 Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast US $ 1800
Participants
Please call for details
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.