DAY 1, BEIJING
Arrive at Beijing airport where you will transferred to the centrally located five-star
Regent Hotel, or similar, for a three-night stay. We will enjoy a welcome reception
dinner at a local restaurant, giving you the opportunity to meet your fellow travellers
and look ahead to your 21 day voyage of a lifetime.
DAY 2, BEIJING
Today we visit Tiananmen Square, the largest open square in the world, and then
explore the magnificently restored Forbidden City. Our cultural exploration continues
at the Temple of Heaven, the grandest of the four great temples situated in Beijing.
DAY 3, BEIJING - THE GREAT WALL
We devote our final full day in Beijing to the most awe-inspiring site in the whole of
China - The Great Wall. This amazing edifice is one of the few manmade structures
visible from outer space and perhaps the most evocative symbol of Chinese skill and
precision. At Badaling we have the privilege of walking along a portion of the wall.
Dinner is hosted in an authentic Peking Duck restaurant.
DAY 4, ON BOARD
After a free morning, we transfer to Beijing West Station to board our private train, the Shangri-La Express. This marks the start of our epic rail journey to Moscow. There is
plenty of time to settle into our comfortable cabins after enjoying lunch in one of the
well appointed restaurant cars.
DAY 5, LUOYANG
Our morning arrival in Luoyang, situated in the middle reaches of the Yellow River
Valley, gives us a full day to explore this former ancient capital. We visit the local
museum which contains many relics from Luoyang's glory days, including sculpted
horses and camels recovered from its ancient tombs. We travel out to Longmen Caves,
one of China's most significant artistic sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This
amazing network of 1,350 caves contains over 110,000 Buddhist statues.
DAY 6, XIAN - TERRACOTA WARRIORS
Today, our fascinating journey of discovery takes us to Xian. Here we will explore the
ancient city walls and the Great Mosque, one of the oldest and largest Islamic mosques
in China. This afternoon we dedicate several hours to visiting the world famous
Terracotta Warriors, discovered by peasants only 30 years ago. The 6,000 terracotta
figures and their horses are one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th Century.
This evening we enjoy the Tang Dynasty Dinner, Music and Dance Show, a wonderful
performance of ancient entertainment.
DAY 7, LANZHOU
Our morning arrival in Lanzhou, a vital city on the Silk Route, gives us ample time to
explore this ancient city. Our main stop is at the Gansu Provincial museum where we
can examine the types of goods transported along the Silk Route. The world famous
bronze galloping horse, unearthed from a nearby tomb, is also on display inside the
museum and is a stunning example of ancient sculpture from the Eastern Han period.
DAY 8, DUNHUANG
Before lunch we arrive in the small oasis-city of Dunhuang, where we will visit the
fascinating Magao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex. This impressive site contains
almost 500 grottoes, carved between 700 and 1,700 years ago. Inside we will see an
amazing collection of beautiful sculptures and murals depicting the evolution of
Buddhist religious art. In the afternoon we explore the vast natural beauty of the Gobi
Desert by camel. Here we discover Crescent Lake. Hidden amongst towering sand
dunes, it has sustained life in this region for millennia. Tonight we experience dinner
and a local folk performance in this magical setting.
DAY 9, TURPAN AND URUMCHI
This morning we visit Turpan, where the Flaming Mountains create a magnificent
backdrop. We then take a fascinating tour to the ancient underground irrigation system
that has successfully fed the rich orchards and vineyards for centuries. Our next
destination is the elegantly decaying sand city of Jiaohe that was founded in 108 BC. This afternoon we drive to Urumchi, located in a verdant oasis between the lofty ice
capped Bogda Peak, the vast Salt Lake, the pine covered Southern Hill and the
alternating fields and sand dunes of the Zunggar Basin where we visit the renowned
mummy exhibition in the Provincial Museum. Urumchi boasts an entry in the Guinness
Book of Records for being the city furthest from any sea in the world - a staggering
1,400 miles (2,500km) from the nearest coastline.
DAY 10, CROSSING TO KAZAKHSTAN
After a final breakfast onboard the Shangri-La Express, we pass through dramatic
mountain scenery before arriving in the Chinese border station of Alashankou. The
border crossing takes five hours, however our patience is rewarded as our private train,
the Golden Eagle, awaits us in Druzhba, the Kazak border station.
DAY 11, ALMATY
Just after breakfast we arrive in Almaty - the largest city in Kazakhstan. Surrounded by
the majesty of the Tien Shen Mountains, we will enjoy a traditional lunch in a Kazak
'yurt', a dwelling place of this region's nomadic people. After dinner this evening, we
can soak up the relaxing atmosphere as we listen to our resident pianist and chat to
friends in the Golden Eagle Bar Car.
DAY 12, TASHKENT
This morning gives us the opportunity to relax or listen to one of the informative
lectures designed to give us a greater insight into this fascinating region. After lunch we
arrive in the capital city of Uzbekistan and spend the morning touring this modern
Soviet-style city which was rebuilt following the devastating earthquake of 1966. After
visiting the Museum of Fine Arts we re-board the train for dinner.
DAY 13, SAMARKAND
Founded in the 6th Century BC, Samarkand's stunning architecture hints at its former
status as one of the most important cities in Asia. Today we will visit some of its most
significant sites including the refined elegance of the beautifully proportioned Bibi
Khanum Mosque and the Ulag Beg observatory, one of the earliest Islamic astronomical
observatories built in 1428. After dinner we will visit the illuminated awe-inspiring
Registan Square, before returning to our train for a late evening departure.
DAY 14, BUKHARA
Bukhara is quite simply outstanding. Like Khiva, UNESCO helped fund the renovation
of much of the city for its 2,500th anniversary in 1999. The highlight of this wonderful
tour is a visit to The Ark, a fortified residence of the Emirs of Bukhara - the despotic
and ruthless leaders who ruled until Soviet times. Lunch is taken within a stunningly
ornate medresseh (beautifully tiled Islamic school). We then travel out of the city to
experience the Emir's enchantingly named, Palace of the Moon and Stars.
DAY 15, MERV
Early morning sees us arrive in Mary, where we transfer to the ancient city 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 twelfth century. 1794 saw the demise of Merv, after
the Emir of Bukhara destroyed the dam which the population depended on for its water.
During our fascinating exploration, we visit at least one of its five walled cities to
discover its many treasures before returning to our train for dinner.
DAY 16, ASHGABAT
In dramatic contrast to Khiva, we arrive in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan - the 'Las
Vegas of the Kara Kum'. Situated between the Kara Kum Desert and the Kopet Dag
mountain range, its golden domes and towering modern buildings appear strangely
incongruous in this almost biblical setting.
DAY 17, KHIVA
Crossing back into Uzbekistan, our train travels towards Urgench, where we transfer to
the ancient city of Khiva, founded 2,500 years ago. As one of the Silk Road's most
important trading posts, it lies at the crossroads of the routes between Mongolia, Russia,
China and Persia. A truly magnificent sight to behold, it rises out of the desert to reveal restored mosques, bazaars and minarets within Khiva's ancient walls. Lunch is taken in
a local restaurant, followed by dinner on our train as we continue our fascinating
journey.
DAY 18, KARA KUM
Today, we enjoy a relaxing day onboard as we travel across the vast expanses of the
Kara Kum desert. As well as experiencing the unique landscape, we can take the
opportunity to chat to fellow passengers and maybe take a Russian language lesson.
DAY 19, VOLGOGRAD
Standing on the banks of the Volga, Stalingrad, as the city was know in Soviet times,
was the dramatic scene of some of the most important WW2 battles. The Russians
heroically turned back the Nazi advance here to alter the course of the Second World
War. We visit the poignantly sobering Mamayev Kurgan war memorial, followed by
the informative diorama and absorbing museum visit. Tonight is our final evening
onboard the train, an occasion we mark with a farewell dinner.
DAY 20, MOSCOW
Having travelled a mammoth 7,000 miles (11,250km) from Beijing, we transfer to the
centrally located five-star Marriott Royal Aurora hotel (or similar) for a one-night stay.
Our afternoon city tour of Moscow principally takes us to Red Square, an iconic symbol
of Russia's former military and political might. Here we see an eclectic mix of
fascinating architecture, such as the ornate St Basil's Cathedral with its magnificent
onion-domed spires, the grandeur of The Kremlin and the sombre and evocative site of
Lenin's tomb.
DAY 21, MOSCOW
After breakfast in your hotel, we take a morning sightseeing tour of the capital. You will
then be transferred to Moscow airport for international departures. |
