28 days

We Visit:

China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia

Costs:

from $24,240 (details below)

Departure Dates

18 September 10; 

25 March 11; 

17 September 11; 

19 March 12; 

19 September 12

* denotes departed trips

Trip Summary:

Highlights include

• Private Train from Beijing to Moscow
• Xian & the Terracotta Warriors
• Jiayuguan Fort
• Great Wall of China
• Mogao Caves at Dunhuang
• Oasis city of Turpan
• Urumchi & beautiful Heavenly Lake
• Almaty in Kazakhstan
• Tashkent
• PLUS Shanghai & St Petersburg Options
• Ensuite facilities available on Russian train
• NEW for September 2010 tour
  - Shower car with luxurious cubicles attached to Chinese train
  - Guest Lecturer travels with group to enhance your experience of the entire region

There is little that inspires the traveller’s imagination as much as the ancient Silk Route – a 2,000 year old trail linking Asia and Europe. The route trodden by Marco Polo and numerous other legendary travellers features such wonders as Xian and the Terracotta Warriors; the Jiayuguan Fort at the end of the Great Wall of China; the extraordinary Mogao Caves at Dunhuang, with the greatest collection of Buddhist sculptures and murals from the 4th to 14th centuries; the oasis city of Turpan, with its colourful Uighur Bazaar and ancient underground irrigation system; Urumchi and the beautiful Heavenly Lake; Almaty in Kazakhstan, surrounded by the Tien Shan Mountains; and Tashkent with its fascinating Old Town. Marvel at the three incredible Muslim cities – Samarkand with its spectacular Registan Square; Bukhara featuring stunning mosques, minarets, medressahs and fortresses; and the ancient feudal city of Khiva at the crossroads to Russia, Mongolia, China and Persia. While the journey may present great difficulties to the independent traveller, The Captain’s Choice Tour provides the opportunity to travel in comfort and safety. Our Private Train comprises the finest sleeping cars available, ornate dining cars and a bar/lounge car. We stay in the best hotels in each city with daytime and, on occasions, overnight travel aboard our train.

CLICK HERE to read the welcome note from Septembers onboard lecturer

Day 1

Australia - Beijing (China)

Depart Australia with Singapore Airlines, via Singapore, to Beijing. We arrive late this evening and will be driven to the luxurious Westin Beijing, centrally located and with easy access to Beijing’s major sights.

Day 2

Beijing

Today is yours to do as you wish. You may like to join a mid morning guided rickshaw tour of Old Beijing’s narrow hutongs (streets); take a tour to the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven; or simply relax and enjoy the facilities of our hotel.

This evening we enjoy a special Peking Duck Welcome Dinner.

Day 3

Beijing

Today we take a full day tour of Beijing. We drive to the Great Wall of China and take a walk atop of the wall. Later today we experience the spine tingling feeling of walking across historic Tiananmen Square. We also visit the Forbidden City, formerly the Imperial Palace.

Choose from a selection of restaurants at our hotel for a dine-around dinner this evening.

Day 4

Join 'Shangri-la Express' - Luoyang

After breakfast we join the ‘Shangri-la Express’ to commence our 9,800km journey to Moscow. Settle into your comfortable cabin. Our ten hour daytime journey through rural China to Luoyang gives you a chance to get to know your fellow travellers and our Chinese train crew. Lunch and dinner are served in the dining cars and the bar/lounge car is the convivial social centre of the train. Complimentary wine, beer and soft drink are served with all lunches and dinners on the train. After dinner we arrive in Luoyang and transfer to the Hua Yang Plaza Hotel.

Day 5

Luoyang - Xian

Luoyang is a major provincial city but the city’s old quarter has a charm all of its own. This morning we will visit the Longmen Cave, beside the Li River. The Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, built in 680 AD, features thousands of tiny bas-relief Buddhas, a fine big Buddha and images of celestial musicians. Around midday we rejoin the ‘Shangri-la Express’ for the six hour journey to Xian, one of China’s major tourist destinations. Lunch is served onboard as we pass by several towns and close to the Yellow River. On arrival in Xian we transfer to the modern, five star Sofitel Xian for a relaxing three night stay.

Day 6

Xian

Over the last 2,000 years Xian has seen the rise and fall of numerous Chinese Dynasties. The monuments and archaeological sights of the city and surrounding plain are a reminder that once Xian was a booming metropolis, vying with Rome, and later Constantinople, for the title of the ‘Greatest City in the World’. This morning we will visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, formerly the Temple of Confucius, housing a fine collection devoted largely to the history of the Silk Route. The Forest of Steles, the heaviest collection of books in the world, comprising 2,000 large engraved stone tablets from the Han Dynasty is particularly impressive. After lunch we visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 648 AD during the Tang Dynasty. Our day of incredible sightseeing concludes with a tour of the ancient city walls surrounding Xian. These imposing walls have a circumference of 14km, are 12m high and 18m thick. This evening we will attend a special Tang Dynasty Dinner and show.

Day 7

Xian

Only a few decades ago peasants discovered the incredible collection of Terracotta Warriors outside Xian. The 6,000 Terracotta figures of rows and rows of warriors and horses are one of the great finds of recent times. We will visit this incredible site this morning. After lunch we drive on to Banpo Neolithic Village, dating from 4,500 BC. These incredible remains were discovered in 1953 on the eastern bank of the Chan River.

Enjoy a relaxing dine-around dinner this evening – choose from a selection of the hotel’s restaurants.

Day 8

Xian - Jiayuguan

After breakfast we rejoin the ‘Shangri-la Express’ for our trek west through some spectacular countryside. The train clings to the sides of gorges, crosses ravines and passes through picturesque villages and the major cities of Baoji and Lanzhou. Enjoy lunch and dinner aboard the train. This evening relax in the comfort of your sleeping cabin.

Day 9

Jiayuguan

Awake this morning close to Wuwei, formerly Liangzhou and once a major stop on the historic Silk Route trading route. Breakfast and an early lunch are served in the dining cars before our arrival in Jiayuguan. Jiayuguan marks the end of the Great Wall of China and was, in ancient times, known as the Portal of China. Travellers returning to China from the west were relieved to see the giant Jiayuguan Fort dominating the pass as they trekked towards home. We check in to the Great Wall Hotel and have time to freshen up before visiting the imposing Jiayuguan Fort. It is here we see the ‘other end’ of the Great Wall and have the opportunity to enjoy a far less crowded walk on the wall than experienced in Beijing. Later we will visit the Great Wall Museum.

Day 10

Jiayuguan - Dunhuang

After breakfast we rejoin our train for the six hour trip west through mountain ranges and across the Gobi Desert to the small city of Dunhuang – one of China’s most fascinating destinations and the setting for the Mogao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex. We stay overnight at the Dunhuang Hotel.

Day 11

Dunhuang - Turpan

Dunhuang literally means ‘blazing beacon’, dating from the time when this town was the extreme western point of the Chinese empire. This morning we visit the Mogao Caves, 492 grottos carved between the 4th and 14th centuries and filled with an amazing collection of sculptures and murals, depicting the evolution of Buddhist religious art over a 1,000 year period. Over 2,000 statues and 45,000 separate murals remain in this incredible complex.

Today we will also visit the Crescent Moon Lake and nearby sand dunes. Choose your mode of transport – join an electric tractor train or the adventurous may like to take a camel ride.

Late this afternoon we rejoin our train and travel overnight to Turpan. Enjoy dinner in the dining car.

Day 12

Turpan - Urumchi

Today we will tour Turpan, an oasis town in the world’s deepest waterless depression. We will see the centuries old underground irrigation system that feeds the rich orchards and vineyards, visit the 37m high Emin Minaret and the fascinating deserted city of Jiaohe. We will have time for shopping and sightseeing at the Uighur Bazaar, where the colourful Uighurs trade cloth, hats, embroidery, clothing and produce. Late this afternoon we rejoin our train for the two hour trip to Urumchi. Dinner is served onboard the train. On arrival in Urumchi we transfer to the five star Sheraton Hotel.

Day 13

Heavenly Lake

Urumchi (meaning ‘beautiful pastures’) is the capital of Xinjiang Province with a population of over three million. Today we will travel to the Heavenly Lake, which looks like a piece of Switzerland or Canada in the middle of the Chinese desert. The lake is 1,980m above sea level and dominated by the 5,445m high Bogda Feng (Peak of God). In April you may be able to walk on the frozen lake. In September the lake area is alive with locals enjoying the last of the warmth before the dark winter months. We have lunch in this idyllic area before returning to Urumchi. Upon returning to the city we visit the extensive Provincial Museum and its renowned mummy collection. Later you may wish to stroll the bustling streets of Urumchi.

Enjoy another dine-around evening and choose from a selection of the hotel’s restaurants before we rejoin our train for the overnight trip to Alashankou on the China/Kazakhstan border.

Day 14

Join 'Golden Eagle Express' (Kazakhstan)

After proceeding through Chinese Immigration we change to our Russian train. The formalities will take some time – patience is a virtue at this remote location. Settle into your new compartment, enjoy lunch and get to know the friendly Russian crew who will be with us for the next eleven days. Our journey continues this afternoon into the Republic of Kazakhstan. For 90km we travel along the shore of Alakul Lake. Your first dinner aboard the ‘Golden Eagle Express’ is sure to be a highlight.

Day 15

Almaty

We arrive in Almaty after breakfast and take a tour of this flourishing Kazakh city, located in the foothills of the Tien Shan Mountains. We visit the magnificent 56m high wooden Zenkov Cathedral. Built in 1907, without the use of nails, the Cathedral has now been restored as a church. Our tour also includes the War Memorial and the fascinating Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments. We taste local specialities and enjoy local entertainment whilst visiting a large Kazakh yurt in the mountains 25km from the city. Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city and our accommodation tonight is at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Day 16

Almaty - Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

Enjoy a free morning; or take a shuttle bus to the bustling Central Market, a huge complex with thousands of stalls selling a variety of produce.

Early this afternoon we board our train for the scenic trip south through mountainous Kazakhstan, enroute to Tashkent. Our journey between Almaty and Tashkent takes us through three countries. Dinner and overnight onboard our luxurious train.

Day 17

Tashkent

After breakfast we reach Tashkent and take a tour of this modern Soviet era city, which is now the Uzbek capital. Our tour of the city includes the Old Town, where handsome religious buildings date from the 15th and 16th centuries and traditional homes line narrow streets. We visit the Museum of Applied Arts, which has a superb collection. We have dinner and stay overnight at the sumptuous InterContinental Hotel.

Day 18

Tashkent - Samarkand

A pleasant six hour journey through the scenic Uzbek countryside takes us to Samarkand. Enroute we pass through fields of apple trees, wheat, rice and corn before entering a spectacular mountainous region, where eagles often soar above the train. Lunch will be served onboard. Of all Central Asian cities Samarkand most excites the imagination. Alexander the Great was moved by its beauty, Marco Polo admired it and Tamerlane made it the capital of his Empire. Samarkand instantly conjures up evocative images of the Silk Route more than any other city. We have two nights at the Afrosiab Palace Hotel.

Day 19

Samarkand

Many words have been used to describe this incredible city – ‘Pearl of the Muslim World’ and ‘Rome of the East’ are a few. Originally Maracanda, Samarkand is believed to date back to the 6th century BC, when it was capital of ancient Sogdiana. Destroyed in 329 BC by Alexander the Great, it later fell to Genghis Khan. The architecture gives the visitor an indication of its former status as one of the most important cities in Asia. Registan Square is possibly the single most inspiring sight of our tour and indeed of Central Asia, it is the heart of the city. Skirted by three medressahs and a mosque, it has a dramatic effect. We will also see the Shah-i-Zindah Necropolis, Gur Emir Mausoleum and giant Bibi Khanum Mosque.

This afternoon enjoy free time and explore the marketplace; or join a tour to Ulugh Beg’s Observatory and Shakh-I-Zinda, a necropolis on a hillside containing many major tombs.

Today will live long in your memory. Dinner this evening will be accompanied by an Uzbek Fashion Parade.

Day 20

Samarkand - Bukhara

We rejoin our familiar train for the daylight run to Bukhara, known as the Fulcrum of Islam. The city is an oasis in the Kyzylkum Desert on the Zeravshan River. The Old Town centre is very much intact and in use, with little change over the past 200 years. There are over 140 protected buildings here and it is difficult to select only one highlight! The most enjoyable aspect is to immerse oneself in the atmosphere of this unique and ancient city at the crossroads of Asia and relive some of its fascinating history. We are staying at the relatively basic Hotel Bukhara Palace.

Day 21

Bukhara

Bukhara dates from the 1st century and became a vast feudal state covering most of Central Asia. The city is filled with mosques, minarets, medressahs and fortresses. We will visit the highlights including the incredible Ark, which was the fortified residence of the Emirs who were notorious for their cruelty and corrupt ways. 3,000 people lived inside the Ark walls and floggings and executions were common in Registan Square next door. We will also visit the Bolo Khauz Mosque, Samanid Mausoleum and Zindan (jail). The incredible sights of Bukhara are certainly comparable with Samarkand and you are sure to have taken many wonderful photographs before you rejoin the train this evening for the overnight trip to Khiva.

Day 22

Khiva

After breakfast we leave our train at Urgench, a major regional city, and take the short drive to Khiva. Situated in the desert on the Oxus River, Khiva has long had a reputation for barbaric rulers. The Old Town is the official ‘City Museum’, recently restored by UNESCO for its 2,500 year anniversary. Once the proud capital of the Khanate of Khiva, an Uzbek Principality, it has a wealth of historic mosques and medressahs. We also visit the tomb of Seyyid Ala-ud-Din, the Kunya-Ark Fortress and the former Palace of the Khans. Khiva lies at the crossroads of Mongolia, Russia, China and Persia and has always been a most important trade centre. Our tour inside the feudal walls will visit many restored mosques, minarets and the covered Bazaar. Lunch will be served at the Khan’s Summer Palace. There is no quality accommodation in Khiva so we return to our train for dinner and depart for Russia this evening.

Day 23

Crossing The Kazakh Desert

We have a day to enjoy the facilities of our Private Train and the relaxed pace of life onboard whilst traversing the harsh terrain of the Kazakh Desert. Join a group over a game of cards in the bar car or relax in the privacy of your compartment. We plan to pause at some remote villages along the way. Tonight we sleep onboard our train as we continue on to Russia.

Day 24

Volgograd (Russia)

We enter Russia and arrive at the city of Volgograd, resting on the banks of Europe’s longest river, the Volga. Once Stalingrad, the casualties during World War II were horrific and we will visit the remarkable War Memorial and War Cemetery. Later this afternoon we depart for Moscow. This evening we will enjoy a festive Farewell Dinner in our dining cars before our last night onboard.

Day 25

Moscow

We arrive in Moscow and farewell our Russian train crew late this morning. We then transfer to the Kremlin and visit inside the Kremlin grounds. We also tour the magnificent Armoury Museum, with its priceless treasures, before checking into the luxurious Marriott Royal Aurora Hotel, located close to the Bolshoi Theatre, St Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin and Red Square.

Choose from either of our hotel’s fine restaurants for dinner tonight.

Day 26

Moscow

We spend the whole day visiting some of Moscow’s renowned landmarks. The most famous is Red Square, dominated by the brightly painted onion domes of St Basil’s Cathedral and the walls of the Kremlin. The former G.U.M. Department Store, now several arcades of elegant shops, lines another side of the square and the Museum of History is close by. We will take a short trip on Moscow’s famous Metro to see its ornate stations and artwork. Lunch will be served at a Moscow restaurant. Travelling to the suburbs we see the buildings of Moscow University, the Sparrow Hills, Novodevichy Convent, Gorky Park and Peace Park. This evening we will enjoy a Farewell Dinner as we relive the memories of our epic journey.

Day 27

Depart Moscow

Depart Moscow this afternoon flying Singapore Airlines, via Singapore.

Day 28

Arrive Australia

Early evening arrival into Australia.

 

Pre & Post Tour Options
A pre tour option to Shanghai and a post tour option to St Petersburg are offered on all Silk Route tours. Experience the vibrant city of Shanghai with sightseeing in Shanghai and Suzhou. Enjoy three days in beautiful St Petersburg, staying at the magnificent Grand Hotel Europe and visiting the city’s incredible sights including The Hermitage and Tsarskoe Selo Palace at Pushkin. Please enquire for a detailed itinerary.

 

Trains used on The Silk Route
The Silk Route passes through some of the most remote parts of Asia and travel by regular train, bus or air presents many problems.  The Captain’s Choice Tour by Private Train gives you the opportunity to see this truly special part of the world in comfort.  Our Russian train, The ‘Golden Eagle Express’ is a newly built luxury train with a choice of sleeping compartment, a convivial lounge/bar car and ornate dining cars.  The ‘Golden Eagle Express’, together with our Chinese train, the ‘Shangri-la Express’, offer what is undoubtedly the most comfortable way to see one of the most remote regions of the world.

The ‘Golden Eagle Express’ comprises three categories of accommodation, all air conditioned.  Genghis Khan Class features modern sleeping cards, with one lower berth and one upper berth plus a washbasin.  During the day the upper berth is stowed and the lower berth converts to a spacious seat.  A shower and toilet is located at the end of each car.  The Marco Polo Class compartments offer a three quarter sized double lower bed (approximately 4 feet wide) and a single upper bunk.  Each Marco Polo compartment features a small private shower, toilet and washbasin.  Registan Class features compartments with a wider (approximately 4 feet 5 inches wide) double bed and an upper single bunk.  Each Registan compartment is equipped with a spacious private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin.  Each compartment features a DVD player and flat plasma screen TV.  Registan Class provides the ultimate in space and facilities for your six nights aboard The ‘Golden Eagle Express’.

In China we have chartered the ‘Shangri-la Express’ (formerly ‘China Orient Express’), one of China’s only quality private trains.  The carriages were built to carry political leaders and important delegations through China in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s.  The compartments are spacious and rich Chinese carpets line the passageways.  Sleeping cabins feature two berths (upper and lower), which convert to comfortable seats during the day.  Between each cabin there is a shared washroom with washbasin and there are toilets at each end of the carriage.  There are no shower facilities on this train but we only spend three non-consecutive nights aboard.  All cars are air conditioned.  For additional comfort and space in China, Registan Class passengers have two compartments aboard the ‘Shangri-la Express’.  While comfortable the ‘Shangri-la Express’ is not luxurious and the meals served are relatively simple yet wholesome.

Two dining cars and a popular bar/lounge car become the social centre of our trains.  Complimentary wine, beer and soft drink accompany lunch and dinner aboard the trains. 

Click here to view photos and more information about the trains

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