Silk Road Cities
Explore the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage towns of Bukhara, Khiva and Merv.
Golden Eagle – The Silk Route by Train
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Single Supplement | Tour Expert | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/09/25 | 10/10/25 | 14 days | £20,695 pp | £10,200 | Local Guides | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
| 14/04/26 | 27/04/26 | 14 days | £21,700 pp | £10,700 | Local Guides | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
| 29/09/26 | 12/10/26 | 14 days | £21,700 pp | £10,700 | Local Guides | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
For centuries the domain of adventurers and merchants trading their wares, the ancient Silk Route covers some 4,000 miles. Board the luxurious Golden Eagle train and cross five countries, following in the footsteps of Alexander the Great on a journey across Central Asia.
This journey by train is perfect for those with an adventurous spirit who don’t wish to forgo comfort and don’t wish to be packing and unpacking every few days. Service, guides and accommodation on this Silk Road journey are second to none and as well as the unmissable, historical sites, the itinerary also includes other charming experiences. See the worlds oldest Koran in Tashkent and enjoy a barbecue on the station platform in Bukhara.
Join as a standalone adventure, or begin in Beijing nine days earlier to travel by train through ancient China to the desert outpost of Kashgar, making this a 22 day Silk Road odyssey – only available on the 29 September 2026 departure.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Kyrgyz Traditions
Witness a flight demonstration of Eagle Hunting and learn this history of this 4,000 year old art.
Darvaza Crater
Visit the Darvaza burning gas crater, a 70-metre cavity in the Kara Kum desert that has been burning for over 40 years.
Registan Square
An evening drinks reception against the beautifully lit backdrop of Registan Square in Samarkand.
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Day 1
Arrive Almaty (Kazakhstan)
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Day 2
Almaty (Kazakhstan)
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Day 3
Lake Issy-Kul & Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
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Day 4
Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
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Day 5
Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
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Day 6
Merv (Turkmenistan)
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Day 7
Ashgabat & Darvaza Gas Crater (Turkmenistan)
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Day 8
Khiva (Uzbekistan)
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Day 9
Shahrizabz (Uzbekistan)
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Day 10
Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
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Days 11 - 12
Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
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Day 13
Margilan, Rishtan & Kokand (Uzbekistan)
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Day 14
Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Day 1
Arrive Almaty (Kazakhstan)
Arrive at Almaty Airport, where you are met and transferred to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Join a champagne drinks’ reception and welcome dinner.
Day 2
Almaty (Kazakhstan)
Morning city tour including a visit to Panfilov Park and Zenkhov Cathedral which was built entirely of wood. This afternoon, board the Golden Eagle Train and settle into your cabin before dinner onboard.
Day 3
Lake Issy-Kul & Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
Morning tour of the open-air Museum of Petroglyphs at Lake Issyk-Kul. followed by a breath-taking flight demonstration of Eagle Hunting, a 4,000-year-old art. Onto Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city.
Day 4
Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Afternoon arrival into Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. Tour the Old Town, where traditional homes and religious buildings line the narrow streets. In a small library gain privileged access one of Islam’s most sacred relics – the world’s oldest Koran.
Day 5
Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
Visit The Ark of Bukhara, dating back to the 5th century and for centuries, home to the emirs of Bukhara. Next, discover the beautiful Kalyan mosques, bazaars, Lyabi-Hauz Square, and Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace of Bukhara on a guided city tour. Weather and time permitting, enjoy a barbecue on the station platform before the train departs.
Day 6
Merv (Turkmenistan)
From 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.
Day 7
Ashgabat & Darvaza Gas Crater (Turkmenistan)
Visit the National Museum and Kipchak Mosque in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s opulent capital city. Next stop, an optional visit to the Darvaza burning gas crater, a 70-metre cavity in the Karakum desert that has been burning for over 40 years.
Day 8
Khiva (Uzbekistan)
Discover the beautiful mosques, madrassas, bazaars and minarets of Khiva, founded 2,500 years ago. As one of the Silk Road’s most important trading posts and a World Heritage Site, it lies at the crossroads between Mongolia, Russia, China and Persia.
Day 9
Shahrizabz (Uzbekistan)
Visit the UNESCO-honoured statue of Amir Timur and his Ak-Saray Palace in Shahrizabz.
Day 10
Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
Morning visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, to explore the Museum of National Antiquities and the ornate Kohi Navruz Palace. After lunch, visit the Ismail Samani monument, Independence Square, and Mekhrgon Bazaar. This evening, unwind aboard the Golden Eagle with live piano music as we cross into Uzbekistan.
Days 11 - 12
Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
Founded in the 6th century BC, Samarkand’s stunning architecture hints at its former status as one of the most important cities in Asia. Visit Registan Square, Bibi Khanum Mosque and the Ulag Beg observatory. Before dinner return to the now illuminated Registan Square. The following day, visit the Shah I Zindah, a necropolis dating back to the 9th century, as well as the museum at the ancient settlement of Afrasiab. Return to the train for lunch before continuing through Uzbekistan to the Fergana Valley.
Day 13
Margilan, Rishtan & Kokand (Uzbekistan)
Morning visit to the ancient city of Margilan, famous for its production of silk. Onto the town of Rishtan, renowned for its ceramics and onto Kokand to see the Palace of Khudayar Khan (‘the Pearl of Kokand’). Farewell dinner onboard as the train journeys to Tashkent.
Day 14
Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
After breakfast on board the Golden Eagle, transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
27 September - 10 October 2025
Guest Speaker - Liam Halligan
Award-winning journalist, economist, and broadcaster Liam Halligan will join the Republics of the Silk Road journey from 27 September to 10 October 2025. As part of Golden Eagle’s Guest Speaker Collection, Liam will host insightful talks and informal discussions, offering his expert perspective on the economic transformation of the former Soviet Union, the future of the global economy, and the inner workings of the media.
21 September - 2 October 2025
Grand Silk Road Journey - Beijing to Tashkent
For a true Silk Route odyssey, totalling 22 days, there is the option to begin in Beijing on the inaugural Grand Silk Road journey—travelling by train over nine days to the eastern desert outpost of Kashgar before flying to Almaty to join the 29 September 2026 departure to Tashkent. Taking in iconic sites such as the Terracotta Warriors and the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves, this is an epic adventure tracing the history and stories of the ancient Silk Route.
Includes / Excludes
Important Information
Activity Level
Low Activity
Single Supplement
Travelling on your own? Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places provides security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of a Tour expert.
Flexibility
To allow flexibility, our group tours do not include international flights as standard. We can arrange international flights on your behalf, please get in touch with our travel experts for a quote. All international flights from the UK are ATOL protected.
What is included
- Five-star pre and post tour hotel accommodation *where applicable
- Private en-suite accommodation on the Golden Eagle train
- 24-hour cabin attendant service
- Experienced Tour Management team
- Services of a UK-registered Doctor and medical facilities on board
- Arrival and departure transfers
- All gratuities – on and off the train
- Luggage porterage throughout the journey
- 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches & 13 dinners
- Freshly prepared meals on board the Golden Eagle
- Authentic dining experiences in local restaurants
- Generous drinks allowance, including international wines with lunch and dinner
- Expertly guided off-train excursions as detailed in the itinerary
What is excluded
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Any visas (where applicable)
Other available dates
For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980
| Start date | End date | Days |
Prices from
ex. flights |
Tour Expert | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/09/25 | 10/10/25 | 14 days | £20,695 pp | Local Guides | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
| 14/04/26 | 27/04/26 | 14 days | £21,700 pp | Local Guides | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
| 29/09/26 | 12/10/26 | 14 days | £21,700 pp | Local Guides | AVAILABLE | Reserve place |
Reserve your place on this group tour
Our travel experts have a wealth of first-hand knowledge, so if you have any questions about this expert-led group tour, please get in touch. They would love to help. We hope you can join us on this tour.
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