Orient Silk Road Express Train

Unravel the very best of Silk Road's cultural sites in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the comfort of your train. End off by basking in the natural beauty of Almaty Province with turquoise lakes and rugged canyon. Exact itinerary may slightly differ depending on your departure dates.

1. Days 1-13: Uzbekistan

   Start your journey in the eccentric Turkmenistan, full of modern boulevards, golden domes and white marble buildings. Make a side trip to the ancient ruins of Nisa. Your train then draws into the iconic ancient city of Merv, once renowned as the world's most populated city.

   Bid farewell to Turkmenistan and say hello to Uzbekistan, undoubtedly the jewel of Central Asia with legendary cities such as Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand echoing the long-lost romance of towering minarets, dizzying labryinths and bustling markets. You will also visit Shahrisabz, the birthplace of Timur empire, as well as Uzbek's capital city of Tashkent studded with caravanserais and ancient monuments.

   Journey to the lesser-visited Silk Road sites as you venture out to Kazakhstan, home to Turkestan's magnificent Mausoleum of Khawaja Ahmed Yasawi. The glorious steppe lulls you to sleep as your train whooshes into Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan.

   Accommodation: Orient Silk Road Express (12 nights)

2. Days 13-15: Almaty

   Our representative will pick you up once you disembark in Almaty. Enjoy a city tour of Almaty's historical centre including the Panfilov Park, the exotic Green Bazaar and goes up to Kok Tobe Hill for a panoramic view of the city.

   Drive to Charyn Canyon to enjoy the stunning view of a huge gorge with cliffs and rocks of various colorus. The canyon is a part of the Charyn National Park territory and you will have an opportunity to see the old ash-tree grove as well as the Castle Valley, one part of 154-meter canyon with cliffs resembling towers. Time permitting, you will also visit the Yellow Canyon (also known as Lunar Canyon due to its moon-like landscape). Trek to the platform site with a view of the stunning full-on yellow panorama! It is recommended you wear comfortable walking shoes.

   Next, travel to an altitude of 1,756 meters above sea level to the postcard-perfect Lake Issyk, located in the valley with the same name. Lying along the Kuldja tract, where hundreds of years ago the trade caravans passed through, the gorge is evocative and visually striking. You will also visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “ISSYK”, a complex of 80 Saks burial mounds (kurgans). This is also the burial ground of the world-famous Golden Man, a Scythian warrior prince.

   Accommodation: The Ritz-Carlton Almaty (2 nights)

Ashgabat, Nisa, Merv, Bukhara, Khiva, Samarkand, Shahrisabz, Tashkent, Turkestan & Almaty