The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018 - 23

Eleanor Hardy

Eleanor Hardy

"I recommend you to
everybody. I loved those trips
we did. The Silk Road ...just
tickled me to death."
- J. Briggs, The Silk Road

Day 2: Beijing, China
Full day tour of Beijing, including Forbidden City, Tiananmen
Square and park-like Temple
of Heaven. Been here before?
Other Beijing tours are available.
Day 3: Beijing, China
Extended morning walk on
the Great Wall, a life-changing
event. Afternoon is free (we
suggest the sublime Summer
Palace).
Day 4: Beijing to Xian, China
Transfer to giant Beijing West
station to board high-speed
train, beginning the 6,835-mile
trip to Moscow. Stop in Xian to
visit famed Terracotta Warriors.
Day 5: Xian, China
Explore Xian's ancient city walls
(by bike, if you wish!), Muslim
Quarter and Great Mosque.
Afternoon rail departure.

Owen Hardy

Day 6: Dunhuang, China
Morning at leisure on board.
Arrive Dunhuang. Explore the
vast natural beauty of the Gobi
Desert by camel and gaze upon
Crescent Lake, hidden amongst
towering sand dunes. Tonight,
dinner and folk performance.
Overnight in Dunhuang hotel.
Day 7: Dunhuang, China
Awaken early this morning for
sunrise over the sand dunes.
Then visit fascinating Magao
Thousand Buddha Cave Complex, containing grottoes carved
as much as 1,700 years ago.
Inside, an amazing collection
of sculptures and murals depict
evolution of Buddhist religious
art. Later, rejoin the train for our
onward journey to Turpan.
Day 8: Turpan; Urumqi, China
The Flaming Mountains create
a stunning backdrop in Turpan.
Tour the city's ancient underground irrigation system that

has supplied water to the surrounding orchards and vineyards for centuries. Next, visit
elegantly decaying sand city of
Jiaohe, founded in 108 BC.

narrow streets. Here, we'll view
one of Islam's most sacred relics
- the world's oldest Koran. We
then visit the Railway Museum
and Museum of Applied Arts.

Day 9: China & Kazakhstan
Arrive Alashankou for border
control and transfer to Golden
Eagle. (Note: border crossing
can take hours.) Settle into your
private cabin with en-suite
facilities, and enjoy your first
dinner on the Golden Eagle train.

Day 12: Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Tour Samarkand, and find out
first-hand why Alexander the
Great admired it and why it was
nicknamed "Rome of the East."
Highlights include Bibi Khanum
Mosque, Ulug Beg observatory
and Registan Square by day and
night.

Day 10: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Arrive Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city. Visit Panfilov Park and
its beautiful Zenkhov Cathedral.
Outside the city, ride a cable car
for spectacular views of Almaty
and the mountains.
Day 11: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Today we visit Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital. Visit the Old
Town, where traditional homes
and religious buildings line the

Day 13: Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Morning arrival in oasis city
Bukhara. UNESCO funded the
city's renovation for its 2,500year anniversary in 1999. See
The Ark, fortified residence of
Emirs of Bukhara-infamous
for their cruelty. Enjoy traditional lunch in the city, then visit
Emir's Palace of Moon and Stars.

Visit our website for dates, prices,FOR
moreDATES,
tours * www
PRICES:
.irtsociety.com
WWW.IRTSOCIETY.COM
* (800) 478-4881, u.s. &*canada;
(800) (502)
478-4881
897-1725,*elsewhere
TOURDESK@IRTSOCIETY.COM
* tourdesk@irtsociety.com

|| 23
https://www.irtsociety.com/journey/silk-road-beijing-moscow-private-train/
The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018
