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21-day Silk Road Beijing to Moscow Train Tour
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Overview: This two-train tour is probably one of the most exotic and best-loved by Society of IRT members, taking in places few Western travelers have ventured.The people who take this trip are part of the adventure. The Silk Road private rail tour uses two first-class trains-the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express and the Shangri-La Express-to follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo along one of the world's oldest and most historic trade routes, through Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China. The great caravan road linking the kings of Europe with the luxuries of Asia-most significantly, its luscious silks and spices-is preserved to a remarkable degree.
Day 1: Beijing
Transfer included from airport to five-star Regent Hotel (or similar) in Beijing for a three-night stay. Welcome reception and dinner.
Day 2: Beijing
Full day tour of Beijing, including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the grand Temple of Heaven. Alternate touring of "modern" Beijing, including Olympic Village and stadiums, CCTV Tower and National Museum.
Day 3: Beijing
Morning visit to Great Wall at Badaling, with a chance to walk along a restored portion of the Wall. Free time in Beijing this afternoon. Dinner at specialty Peking Duck restaurant.
Day 4: Board the Shangri-La Express
Free morning in Beijing, then transfer to Beijing West station to board Shangri-La Express, and begin the 6,835-mile journey to Moscow. Settle into your cabin or have a drink in the bar car. Lunch and dinner served on board.
Day 5: Xian
Explore Xian's ancient city walls and Great Mosque, one of oldest and largest in China. Afternoon visit to world-famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered by peasants just 40 years ago. The 6,000 figures and their horses, buried with First Emperor of Xin in 210 BC, are one of 20th century's greatest archaeological finds. Alternate touring of Han Yangling Museum available. Enjoy Tang Dynasty dinner, music and dance show.
Day 6: Lanzhou
Morning arrival in Lanzhou, vital city on the Silk Route. Visit Gansu Provincial Museum to see the kind of goods that moved along the Silk Route, along with the famous "galloping horse" dating from the Eastern Han period. Return to the train for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Dunhuang
Arrive in small oasis city of Dunhuang to visit Mogao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex containing some 500 grottoes, carved 700 to 1,700 years ago. Lunch with local folk performance. Afternoon exploration of Gobi Desert; take a camel ride to Crescent Moon Lake.
Day 8: Turpan/Urumchi
Turpan’s Flaming Mountains create a stunning backdrop. Tour the city's ancient underground irrigation system that has successfully supplied rich orchards and vineyards for centuries. Next visit elegantly decaying sand city of Jiaohe, founded in 108 BC. Then motorcoach to Urumchi to see Xinjiang Provincial Museum’s renowned mummy exhibition. Depart for Kazakhstan.
Day 9: Arrive Kazakhstan
Arrive Alashankou for border control and transfer to Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express. (Note this border crossing can be very lengthy.) Settle into your private cabin with ensuite facilities and your first dinner on the Russian train.
Day 10: Almaty
Tour Almaty, flourishing former capital of Kazakhstan. Enjoy a traditional lunch in a Kazak "yurt," typical nomadic dwelling. Spend the evening on board the train; after dinner enjoy a drink while listening to the resident pianist in the bar car.
Day 11: Tashkent
Breakfast and lunch on board, with lectures on the region’s history. Arrive Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. Local tour includes the Old Town, Railway Museum Museum of Applied Arts.
Day 12: Samarkand
Tour Samarkand, whose appellations include “Rome of the East” and “Pearl of the Muslim World,” and whose admirers include Alexander the Great and Marco Polo. Tour includes Bibi Khanum Mosque, Ulug Beg observatory and illuminated Registan Square. Dinner near the square.
Day 13: Bukhara
Morning arrival in oasis city of Bukhara, whose renovation UNESCO funded for city’s 2,500-year anniversary in 1999. Tour includes The Ark, fortified residence of Emirs of Bukhara—rulers infamous for their cruelty. Enjoy traditional lunch in the city, then visit Emir’s Palace of Moon and Stars.
Day 14: Merv
Continue through desert to Merv, ancient Silk Road city left to perish after Emir of Bukhara destroyed the dam, which the population depended upon for water. Visit one of the five walled cities.
Day 15: Ashgabat
Arrive Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan and newly constructed "Las Vegas of the Kara Kum Desert." City's modern, multi-fountained, gold-gilded center is dedicated to former president Sapamurat Turkmenbashi.
Day 16: Khiva
Cross back into Uzbekistan and tour Khiva—one of most important trading centers at crossroads of routes between Mongolia, Russia, China and Persia. Khiva's fabulous buildings, mosques, bazaars and minarets testify to its former wealth.
Day 17: Kara Kum Desert
All-train day crossing Kazakhstan's Kara Kum Desert. Stop briefly at remote villages along way. Evening crossing into Russia.
Day 18: Volgograd (Stalingrad)
Stalingrad, as it was known in WWII, was the scene of the most historic battles in human history. Visit sobering Mamayev Kurgan war memorial at site where Russia finally turned back Nazi advance.
Day 19: Moscow
Arrive Moscow late afternoon. Transfer to five-star centrally located Marriott Royal Aurora Hotel for two-night stay. Evening at leisure.
Day 20: Moscow
Full day touring in Moscow: St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, The Kremlin and Lenin's Tomb. Alternate touring options, such as Tretyakov Gallery or Sergiev Posad excursion, are available. Farewell dinner this evening.
Day 21: Moscow
Transfers included to Moscow airport.
2014 Dates:
Sept. 20-Oct. 10 (Moscow-Beijing) (SOLD OUT)
Sept. 24-Oct. 14 (Beijing-Moscow)
Tour can also be done between Moscow and Almaty only:
Sept. 20-Oct. 2 (Moscow-Almaty) (SOLD OUT)
Oct. 2-Oct. 14 (Almaty-Moscow)
2015 Dates:
Sept. 19-Oct. 9 (Moscow-Beijing)
Sept. 23-Oct. 13 (Beijing-Moscow)
Oct. 22-Nov. 11 (Beijing-Moscow)
Tour can also be done between Moscow and Almaty only:
Sept. 19-Oct. 1 (Moscow-Almaty)
Oct. 1-Oct. 13 (Almaty-Moscow)
Oct. 30-Nov. 11 (Almaty-Moscow)
| 2014 Beijing-Moscow |
Double |
Single
|
Deposit amount
|
| Silver Class |
$23,995
|
$34,995
|
$1,500
|
| Gold Class |
$29,995
|
$43,495
|
$2,000
|
| Imperial Suite |
$42,395
|
on request
|
$5,000
|
| 2014 Almaty-Moscow |
Double |
Single
|
Deposit amount
|
| Silver Class |
$16,595
|
$23,995
|
$1,500
|
| Gold Class |
$19,995
|
$29,995
|
$2,000
|
| Imperial Suite |
$32,995
|
on request
|
$5,000
|
| 2015 Beijing-Moscow |
Double |
Single
|
Deposit amount
|
| Silver Class |
$24,595
|
$35,895
|
$1,500
|
| Gold Class |
$30,795
|
$44,595
|
$2,500
|
| Imperial Suite |
$43,995
|
on request
|
$5,000
|
| 2015 Almaty-Moscow |
Double |
Single
|
Deposit amount
|
| Silver Class |
$16,995
|
$24,995
|
$1,500
|
| Gold Class |
$20,595
|
$30,995
|
$2,500
|
| Imperial Suite |
$33,995
|
on request
|
$5,000
|
All pricing is per person.
Other:
*Tour also available Beijing-Urumchi and/or Almaty-Moscow only.
Five visas are required for this journey (for U.S. citizens); please allow two months for this process.
Kremlin museums are closed on Thursdays; in this case, Kremlin museums tour occurs morning of departure day.
Price Includes:
Transportation & Private Transfers:Transportation cost covers all the domestic airfare of economy class with airport tax, train tickets between the cities as the itinerary specified.
Transfer between airports, railway station, hotels and scenic spots for sightseeing around the cities that are specified by the itinerary with private air conditioned vehicle with driver and English-speaking guide. Separate arrivals and departures will incur extra charges.
Entrance Fees:
All entrance fees to the scenic spots listed in the itinerary. The final arrangement will be determined by private tour guides depends on the real-time local circumstances wheather are beyond the control of Access China Travel. We will adhere to the original itinerary as accurately as possible.
Normal Meals:
All normal meals as the itinerary specified: B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D = dinner in local restaurant. Breakfasts are served in hotel, breakfasts have Chinese or Western style for your option; Lunches are served in carefully selected quality local Chinese restaurants with best service, your lunches will be ordered by your guide catering to your preferences within normal standard. Dinners as the itinerary specified will be also served in local Chinese restaurants. The meal quotation is normalized. If you have any special request about meals, like vegetarian, famous rare dishes, Indian food or more, please inform us in advance. For the unspecified dinners, you will have dinner on your own. Feel free to ask your local guide for suggestions or recommendation.
Private Sightseeing Escort:
Normal sightseeing activities as the itinerary listed will be escorted with English-speaking guide. The English-speaking guide and driver in each city are with you throughout the entire itinerary around that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.
Hotel Accommodation:
Hotel service criterion: two adults share on one standard twin/double-bed room; solo traveler who want to occupy one twin/double-bed room assigned is required for extra single supplement rate. A single room is available on prior request at an additional cost; if a recommended hotel unavailable, it will be replaced by one of the same class. All hotels as the itinerary listed serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
Tour Arrangements:
The tour cost includes the planning, handling, booking, operation and communication charges.
Price Excludes:
International airfare or train tickets for entry or exit China, unless that is noted or required otherwise.Visa Fees, passport application or renewal fee.
Excess Baggage Charges.
Personal Expenses:
Expenses of a purely personal nature such as excess luggage fees, laundry, drinks, fax, telephone call, optional activities (shows) and meals, beverages...
Meals:
Any meal are not specified in the itinerary with "B", "L" or "D".
Any extra cost caused by the changes of natural disasters, fires, weather, government and local authority orders, politics, strikes, war, riots, quarantine, custom regulations; as well as tourist law violation, accident damages or injury incurred out of Access China Travel control.
Gratuities:
Tips to guides, escort, drivers bellman, etc.
