Orient Silk Road Express:
In the Heart of the Silk Road

A day dedicated to Tashkent, a true green oasis in the middle of the steppe, full of fabulous caravanserais, fortresses, and brick- and turquoise-colored madrassas. After a traditional music show in the capital’s auditorium, board the Orient Silk Road Express. Overnight stay on a full-board basis.

Today we depart for Shahrisabz, not far from Samarkand, home to another UNESCO site, a legacy of the Mongol conqueror Timur, who filled the city with monuments to his success. Today, the ancient palaces among the stalls of the city market tell of the power of a great empire past. The afternoon is dedicated to Shahrisabz’s present, through a meeting with the locals and a traditional show. In the evening, return aboard the train for an exclusive Uzbek wine tasting in the restaurant car! Overnight stay on full board.

Arrival in Bukhara, a jewel nestled in the middle of the Kizilkum Desert with its celestial domes from the golden age of the Silk Road / strolling among the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites you will discover the Kalyan Minaret and the walls adorned with mosaics of the Lyab-i Hauz around one of the few remaining howz in Bukhara / the romantic setting of one of the city’s courtyards will host a dance show and a parade of colorful folk costumes while time is marked by the rhythm of traditional music / transfer to the hotel / overnight stay on a full-board basis

In the morning, the magical atmosphere of a thousand and one nights in Bukhara opens up between the ancient walls of the Mir-i Arab Madrasa and the Ismail Samani Mausoleum / the exploration continues with the Ark of Bukhara, the royal citadel within the city, an emblem of oriental splendor, and the mosque reserved for women / return aboard the Orient Silk Road Express / overnight stay on full board

After breakfast, the train will reach the southern part of the Zhetysu region, where the walled city of Khiva stands. The visit of this magnificent oasis begins with its centerpiece: the Kalta Minor Minaret; then you will discover the palaces, mosques, and mausoleums, among the best examples of medieval oriental architecture that have survived to the present day. Today’s lunch will be served in what was once the emir’s summer residence, an experience of local tradition in both flavors and atmosphere. Return by train. Overnight stay on full board.

Welcome to epic Samarkand! Discover the city that dominated the entire Middle East during the reign of Timur, starting with the Shah-e Zinde necropolis, passing through the Afrosiab excavations and the magnificent Registan square, with its magnificent gold and blue walls. Transfer to your hotel and overnight stay on a full-board basis.

The second day in Samarkand begins with a focus on local tradition, observing the skilled hands of Uzbek spinners bringing magnificent traditional silk carpets to life in a factory in the city. The journey through the Islamic history of Samarkand continues with a visit to the Ulugh Beg Observatory, one of the oldest in the world, the ruins of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the imposing Gur-e Amir Mausoleum. Return to the hotel and overnight stay on a full-board basis.

Enjoy your last morning exploring the streets of charming Samarkand until your train departs for Tashkent! / Back to the capital for a final day of freedom / Overnight stay in a hotel on a full-board basis

airport transfer