Heart of the 10-Day Journey Through Round-Trip from

Heart of the Silk Road Travel through time on your private train along the Silk Road of Uzbekistan. Marvel at monuments of great empires and the modern-day nations that have replaced them.

Comfortably cross Uzbekistan by private train. Visit the most significant, historic and fascinating cities along the Central Asian Silk Road—Tashkent, , and . What Makes Your Journey Unique

• A once-in-a-lifetime Central Asian train journey, exploring 4 unforgettable UNESCO World Heritage Sites in ten days • Winding backstreets, immense city gates, glittering , and ancient city walls. The 1001 nights come to life • The desert sun in Square, one of the most beautiful squares in the world • The cool ease and simplicity of private train travel in a region usually limited to long, uncomfortable bus rides

Dates

• 25 Aug 22 - 03 Sep 22 (10 days)

Info and Booking

Susann Bridgewater E-Mail: [email protected]

Itinerary

Day 1., Arrival in Tashkent Tashkent. Once an ancient oasis, now a bustling metropolis. So much to explore. For now, you relax in your first-class hotel. Tomorrow, you’ll board the Orient Silk Road Express.

Overnight: Grand Mir Hotel (or similar)

Day 2., Tashkent, the Green Oasis Under immense blue skies, you tour vibrant Tashkent, the Uzbek capital along the ancient Silk Road. History comes to life through the city’s impressive sepia and turquoise architecture as , fortresses, museums and rise from the desert.

In the cool dusk, you visit a music hall to enjoy a performance (schedule permitting). Later amid the pillars and chandeliers of Tashkent station, you board your private train to continue your discovery of the legendary Silk Road.

Overnight: On board (BLD)

Day 3., , the Mighty Today you explore Shahrisabz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of , a fourteenth-century Mongol conqueror who filled this once mighty city with majestic testaments to his earthly power. His palaces surround you in the city's bustling markets. Later you enjoy a folklore performance and meet some local villagers. Before night closes in, you depart on your private train, joining fellow travelers for an Uzbek wine tasting in the dining car.

Overnight: On board (BLD)

Day 4., Bukhara, the Noble Beneath the impressive design of the Kalyan , you gaze at the intricate tilework of the magnificent city gates of old Bukhara. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a virtual city museum of a thousand monuments, every single one a testimony to the glory days of the legendary Silk Road. At Lyab-i Hauz you learn about the 500-year-old technology that keeps a pool from evaporating in the heat of the Kyzylkum Desert. Later in the courtyard of a , you discover the stories of Sufi poet Nasreddin Hodja, local dances, Uzbek music and dazzling national costumes.

Overnight: Hotel Asia Bukhara (or similar) (BLD)

Day 5., of the Samanid It's another glorious day in the desert devoted to the rich sights and —the magnificent design of the Mir-i Arab madrasa; the , one of the most revered buildings in ; the gigantic, 1,500-year-old ; and a unique women’s . Standing on the immense ramparts of the city wall, you take in spectacular panoramic views of Bukhara, its turquoise and yellow surfaces glimmering in the bright afternoon sun.

Overnight: On board (BLD)

Day 6., A Fairy Tale from the Thousand and One Nights Today you arrive in Khiva, an ancient walled city now a thriving, living museum. Beneath the vivid glazed blue mosaic of the Kalta Minor minaret, you set out through the sun and shade of winding streets on a dreamlike tour of the city's palaces, , and madrasas. You enjoy lunch in the old Summer Palace of the Emir.

Overnight: On board (BLD)

Day 7., Samarkand, the Ancient The stunning sites of Samarkand, one of the oldest settlements on Earth, take you through an amazing history of conquest, culture and faith. At the time of Timur, the city was considered the most beautiful in the world. It’s almost impossible to suppress your sense of wonder as you stand among the ornate marble pillars and vaults of Registan Square or the exquisite glazed mosaics of the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. Throughout the day you discover more and more, including the excavation site, where you untangle the roots of this astonishing civilization.

Overnight: Registan Plaza Hotel (or similar) (BLD)

Day 8., Crossroads of Cultures Today you observe Uzbek craftsmen skillfully weave silk into carpets and press paper from mulberry bark before visiting the magnificent Observatory, the ruins of Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Gur-e Amir mausoleum.

Overnight: Registan Plaza Hotel (or similar) (BLD)

Day 9., The Tracks to Tashkent On a last bright morning in Samarkand, you breakfast, wander the city, and board your private train by noon.

The green hills, ancient rock and distant mountains of the spectacular steppe scroll past your window. By afternoon, you arrive in Tashkent, to discover another historic Silk Road city.

Overnight: Grand Mir Hotel (or similar) (BLD)

Day 10., The Journey Home After breakfast you head to the airport via private transfer service, marking the end of your unforgettable adventure on the legendary Silk Road. On the way, you look back at the time you spent on the world’s most famous trade route. Images play in your head—civilizations rising and falling in the desert; silk, spice and other wares being traded across continents; all made unforgettable by the ease and extravagance of rail travel on the Orient Silk Road Express. (B)

Highlights of Your Journey

• Traditional welcome ceremonies in Bukhara and Samarkand • Insights into everyday life, witnessing crafts and traditions such as silk carpet weaving • Fascinating excavations at ancient Afrosiyab • 600-year-old Ulugh Beg observatory • Eating lunch in the Summer Palace of the former Emir • Spectacular nature of the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts and the mountains

Rates Include

• 4 nights on an exclusively chartered train • 5 nights in first-class hotels • Excellent service from the tour director, group and local guides, each with excellent English • Doctor on board • All excursions and sightseeing as per itinerary, including entry fees • Transfers and bus tours as per itinerary • Hugely popular catering, with local specialties prepared on board and served as per itinerary • Entertaining and enlightening lectures on local lands, people and cultures • A booklet on the region and the train itself for each booking

Not Included • International flights • Visa fees • Tips and gratuities • Personal expenses

Entry Requirements

• You may require a visa, depending on your nationality. Please check with your local embassy • No vaccinations required

Dates and Prices

25 Aug 22 - 03 Sep 22 Cat. Habibi 3,270 $ Available 770 $ Single supplement hotel 1,040 $ Supplement for use of the compartment by 3 persons Cat. Ali Baba 5,090 $ Available 2,190 $ Single use supplement in compartment + hotel Cat. Aladdin 5,970 $ Available 2,510 $ Single use supplement in compartment + hotel Cat. Kalif 10,370 $ Available 5,760 $ Single use supplement in compartment + hotel

Price and availability as of: 2021-09-29