The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018 - 20

Shangri-La Express /
Golden Eagle: The Silk Road

the irt society's best-loVed railway journeys®

Golden Eagle (see page 40) and Shangri-La Express (described
below). Passengers change trains at the Kazakhstan/China border.
Note that doubles booked in Gold or Imperial Class will get
Diamond Class compartments on the Shangri-La Express train.
Silver travelers will use Heritage cabins.

T

he private Shangri-La Express
is not a luxury train, but it
is at this writing the most
modern hotel train in China.
It far surpasses regular train
service. Those who book Gold or
Imperial Class on the Silk Road
trip between Moscow and Beijing
enjoy Diamond Class - en-suite
cabins - for their trip through
China on the Shangri-La Express.
Silk Road guests who've booked
Silver Class have two lower twin
beds in China, with shared facilities down the hall.

slEEpiNg cArs
Diamond Class Cabins are 75
square feet and have one large
double bed, a writing desk and
chair and an en-suite toilet &
shower with luggage storage
closet in bathroom. The double
beds in Diamond Class vary
in size. Bed size is first-come,
first-served in order of booking. Heritage Class Cabins are 36
square feet and have two lower
twin beds with a small nightstand
and walkway in between beds.
Cabin service on board is
cheerful. Each car has its own
attendant who cleans the cabins,
makes the bed and is on call to
serve tea and coffee 24 hours
a day. (The tour operator adds
extra cleaning staff to assure its
high standards are maintained.)
The young staff speak little
English, but they are pleasant
and, for the most part, attentive
(a translation card in the cabin
helps).

"Your team runs like a clock...
It is a pleasure to work with
IRT." - M. Platt, Queen Mary II,
London, Paris, Barge Tour

Owen Hardy

DiNiNg & louNgE cArs
Cereal, fruit, eggs and toast
are served for breakfast in the
dining car, while the Chinese
chefs offer local dishes at lunch
and dinner. (IRT Society owners
Eleanor and Owen Hardy found
the food quite tasty on their trip.)
Wine and beer are included with
lunch and dinner, along with soft
drinks, tea and coffee. Alcoholic
and nonalcoholic beverages are
served in the bar car. (Alcohol
not included outside meals.)
We recommend upgrading to
Diamond Class on the ShangriLa Express. (That's true even if
you've booked the less-spacious
Silver Class on the Golden Eagle
train for the Silk Road trip. The
Golden Eagle runs on the nonChina part of the Silk Road trip.)
Note: Don't assume the
Shangri-La is a Chinese version
of the Venice Simplon-OrientExpress. It is not. If your focus is
on the destination, adventure and
the incredible sights and sightseeing at the frequent stops, you'll be
thrilled.

Eleanor Hardy

Eleanor Hardy

20
20 || FOR
Visit our
DATES,
website
PRICES:
for dates,
WWW.IRTSOCIETY.COM
prices, more tours * www.irtsociety.com
* (800) 478-4881
* (800) 478-4881,
* TOURDESK@IRTSOCIETY.COM
u.s. & canada; (502) 897-1725, elsewhere * tourdesk@irtsociety.com
https://www.irtsociety.com/journey/silk-road-beijing-moscow-private-train/
The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018

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