A New Luxury Train is Set To Take Travellers Across Five Silk Road Countries In 22 Days

You will now be able to travel across the Silk Road in a single transportation facility. The Grand Silk Road by Train is the latest luxury train ride, which takes you on an epic 22-day journey spanning China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, covering 2400 miles.

From the ancient caravan cities, dotted by its Islamic architecture and old bazaars, to the remote mountain landscapes and extensive steppes, the experience is a culmination of history, culture, luxury, and immersive storytelling. 

The Route From China To Uzbekistan

The journey starts from Beijing with a visit to a restored section of the Great Wall at Badaling, the Olympic Village, the CCTV Tower, and the National Museum. The next stop in China is at Xian, where you will see the terracotta warriors, a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang. The Dunhuang Caves, or the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas follow next, best known for its Chinese Buddhist grottoes. 

The final destination in China is Kashgar and its legendary Apak Khoja Tomb. Then comes Almaty, in Kazakhstan, where the traveller gets ample time to explore its highlights: the Panfilov Park, the Independence Square, and the Zenkhov Cathedral, known for being entirely made of wood. 

Kyrgyzstan is the next country on the route with its majestic mountains and Lake Issy-Kul at the heart of it. The train cuts across its high landscapes to enter the final leg of its journey in Uzbekistan. Here, after a tour of the old town, in a small library, you can see the world’s oldest Koran.

The next day, the train takes a tour across Tajikistan, where you will be stopping at Dushanbe, located across the Varzob River. Things to see here include the Museum of National Antiquities, the Kohi Navruz Palace and the Ismail Samani Monument. The final three days are spent in Uzbekistan, where the train travels across Samarkand, Margilan, Rishtan and Kokand. The trip ends with a final farewell dinner on board. 

What Is On Board

Golden Eagle, a luxury private train company, has partnered with GeoEx, an adventure travel outfitter, to provide this experience. The journey is covered by two Golden Eagle Trains, the new Golden Eagle Silk Road Express and the Golden Eagle.

The Golden Eagle Silk Road Express has en-suite cabins with Superior Cabins and Han Dynasty Suites. The Golden Eagle has three options: the Imperial, Gold Class and Silver Class, with all the cabins featuring a DVD/CD player with an LCD screen and picture windows. The meals served on the trains are especially curated to reflect the flavours of the Silk Road destinations, along with a plethora of continental options on the menu.

The journey in total includes 11 nights on board the Golden Eagle, 6 nights on board the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, along with hotel stays in the Four Seasons Beijing, Ritz-Carlton Almaty, and JW Marriott Tashkent.

The initial journey dates and estimated pricing are as follows:

• September 21, 2026, to October 12, 2026: Beijing, China, to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

• August 30, 2027, to September 22, 2027: Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to Beijing, China.

Prices start at USD 53,200 per person based on double occupancy.

(With inputs from various sources)

FAQs

Q1. What is the Grand Silk Road by Train?
The Grand Silk Road by Train is a 22-day luxury rail journey that travels across China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Q2. Which countries does the train travel through?
The route covers five Silk Road countries: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Q3. What is included in the luxury train journey?
The experience includes luxury train accommodation, guided sightseeing, premium dining, hotel stays in select cities and cultural excursions.

Q4. When does the Grand Silk Road by Train depart?
The inaugural departures are scheduled for September 21, 2026 (Beijing to Tashkent) and August 30, 2027 (Tashkent to Beijing).

Q5. Is the journey only by train?
No. While most of the itinerary is by luxury train, the experience also includes stays at premium hotels and guided excursions to major attractions along the route.