Golden Eagle: Republics of the Silk Road (Almaty to Tashkent) (Tour code: 12625)

Republics of the Silk Road

Arrive at Almaty Airport, where you are met and transferred to the stylish five-star Intercontinental Hotel.

On your first evening in Almaty, you will be invited to a champagne drinks' reception before an exclusive Welcome Dinner. Specially selected international wines are included with dinner, as with all meals during the tour.

Views of Almaty

Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and is notable for its wide tree-lined boulevards. Surrounded by the majesty of the Tien Shan Mountains, this beautiful city derives its name from ‘alma’ meaning ‘apple’. Just a short distance from the city, apple orchards thrive in abundance.

The morning city tour includes a visit to Panfilov Park to visit the Zenkhov Cathedral which was built from wood using unique ancient techniques omitting nails. 

This afternoon board the Golden Eagle and settle into your well-appointed en-suite cabins. Tonight guests will enjoy a Welcome Dinner.

Golden Eagle Attendant on the Platform

This morning, enjoy a guided tour of the open-air Museum of Petroglyphs at Lake Issyk-Kul, a sacred site used by the Saka priests for sacrifices and other rites to the sun god. Some of the petroglyphs date from the Bronze Age with later engravings dating to the 10th century.

Following this, you will be treated to a breathtaking flight demonstration of Eagle Hunting, a 4,000-year-old art. You will learn the story of eagle hunting, the characteristics of the Golden Eagle and the fascinating details of this Kyrgyz nomadic tradition.

Originally a caravan rest stop serving the travellers that came through the area along the Great Silk Road, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city, Bishkek, is the location for your afternoon of sightseeing. Here you will visit the Ala-Too Square, built 1984 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic in Kyrgyzstan and a city tour of the local parks, rich in Soviet history, including statutes of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and the Memorial for the Red Guards.

City of Bishkek

This afternoon you arrive in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. Spend time touring this modern Soviet-style city, which was rebuilt following the devastating earthquake of 1966. The tour of the city includes the Old Town, where traditional homes and religious buildings line the narrow streets.

In a small library here, you will be privileged to see one of Islam’s most sacred relics – the world’s oldest Quran. This is followed by a visit to the Railway Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Bukhara is quite simply outstanding. Like Khiva, UNESCO sponsored 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.

You then travel out of the city to experience the Emir’s enchantingly named ‘Palace of the Moon and Stars’. This evening, weather and time permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the station platform before the train departs.

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

From the city of Mary, transfer to the ancient and mainly unrestored remains 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 12th century.  The demise of Merv came in 1794, after the Emir of Bukhara destroyed the dam which the population depended on for its water.

Merv, Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, situated between the Kara Kum desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range, Ashgabat is a relatively modern city built upon the ruins of the Silk Road city of Konjikala. The Soviet city was largely rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1948.

The city’s extravagant fountains, golden domes and towering modern buildings appear strangely incongruous in this desert setting. Highlights on this visit include the National Museum and Kipchak Mosque.

The Golden Eagle makes a brief scheduled stop at Ichoguz, where you have the option to leave the train and make a short journey to Darvaza’s famous burning gas crater, a spectacular sight best seen at night. Located in the middle of the Kara Kum desert where the area is rich in natural gas, the 70-metre wide crater is known by the locals as the ‘Door to Hell’ and has been burning for over 40 years. A unique experience that is not to be missed.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Today, travel to the ancient city of Khiva, founded 2,500 years ago. As one of the Silk Road’s most important trading posts and now a World Heritage Site, it lies at the crossroads of the routes between Mongolia, Russia, China and Iran. A truly magnificent sight to behold, it rises out of the desert to reveal a wealth of impressive architecture. Stepping back in time, discover its impressive mosques, madrassas, bazaars and minarets within Khiva’s ancient walls.

Khiva, Uzbekistan

Believed to be the birthplace of Amir Timur, the military prodigy who modelled himself on Genghis Khan, today you will visit the UNESCO-honoured statue of Amir Timur and his Ak-Saray Palace. This majestic palace in Shahrizabz took over a quarter of a century to build, and was originally decorated with colourful, highly detailed mosaic but also included delicate calligraphic inscriptions from the Qur’an.

Amid the decorative facing, there is an inscription showing the date 798 (1395 – 1396 AD) which was when the building was completed.

Gur-e Amir

This morning, visit the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, situated on the Varzob River and the opulent Kohi Navruz Palace. Enjoy a guided tour with a local expert guide, who will tell the fascinating story of the teahouse-turned palace. You will explore each beautiful hall decorated with breathtaking chandeliers, while learning about each of the artists and designers that worked incredibly hard to build and decorate this majestic palace.

After the tour, enjoy tea and local delicacies in the palace before returning to the Golden Eagle to continue the journey.

Statue of Ismoli Somoni in Dashunabe

Just the mention of Samarkand instantly conjures up evocative images of the Silk Road, more so than any other town. Samarkand’s stunning architecture hints at its former status as one of the most important cities in Asia. Noted for its architectural remains from the 14th to the 17th century when it flourished as the fabled capital of the Mongol empire of Timur and his successors.

Today, visit some of its most significant sites including Registan Square, 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.

Prepare for an unforgettable evening in Samarkand that will leave an indelible mark on your memory. As the sun sets and night descends upon this ancient city, you will be whisked away to the illuminated Registan Square, where an extraordinary spectacle unfolds. From your prime front-row seats, you’ll be treated to a dazzling light show that weaves the rich tapestry of Samarkand’s history and significance.

Registan Square, Samarkand

Spend the morning continuing to explore Samarkand, with a visit the famous necropolis Shakh I Zindah, a stunning collection of mausoleums dating back to the 9^th century. From here, travel to ancient settlement of Afrasiab to visit a museum which houses ancient artefacts collected during the excavation of the city, including the famous frescoes from the Palace of Varkhuman, which date back to the 7^th century.

Return to the train for lunch and continue your journey through Uzbekistan towards the Fergana Valley.

Samarkand

This morning,  visit the ancient city of Margilan, famous for its production of silk, considered by many as the best in Central Asia. Here you will visit the Margilan Factory which is considered the best of its kind in Uzbekistan. Producing 6,000 metres of silk per month, the factory has preserved a manual and traditional method of silk production. You will explore the whole process of making silk from the mulberry trees used to feed the silkworms to the hardworking staff hand weaving the colourful ikat fabric on traditional looms.

From Margilan continue by coach onto Rishtan which is home to Uzbekistan’s world-famous ceramic industry. Here you will discover the secrets of the techniques of the ancient craft from prominent local artisan Rustam Usmanov. Witness the magic of pottery in action during a close up demonstration by a master professional at work and get a behind-the-scenes look at the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into decorating these exquisite ceramics.

Kokand is one of the most ancient cities of Uzbekistan and served as a critical trading post on the Silk Road. Highlights of your touring include the majestic Palace of Khudayar Khan (the Pearl of Kokand), and the Jami Mosque, Kokand’s most impressive Mosque.

This evening - enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board the Golden Eagle as you return to Tashkent.

Palace of Khudayar Khan

After breakfast on board the Golden Eagle, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.