“The Legendary Silk Road”: Beijing - Moscow 2020

Day 1: Spain – Beijing

Presentation at the airport, International Departures, and boarding the flight with stop-over in Moscow, road to Beijing. Dinner and night on board.

Day 2: Beijing

(Dinner). Upon arrival of your flight to Beijing airport, reception by our representative and transfer to the hotel located in the centre of this vibrant city. The participants of this wonderful journey that is about to begin, will arrive during the day. We will enjoy a Welcome Dinner, where we will meet those who will be our companions in this epic 21-day journey.

Day 3: Beijing

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). Today we will visit the famous Tian An Men Square and the wonderful Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace from which 24 emperors of the Qing and Ming dynasties reigned over this immense country. Our cultural visit will take us to the Temple of Heaven, one of the four great temples of Beijing. Here, we can enjoy a charming example of traditional dance and songs and the wonderful and precise art of Chinese calligraphy. Rickshaw ride through the Hutong.

Day 4: Great Wall

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). We will use our time wisely in our last day in the city to see one of the wonders of the world: the Great Wall of China. In Badaling, we will have the privilege of walking along the wall - the perfect opportunity to capture in a memorable photograph that shows that we have been in the Great Wall of China.

Day 5: Xian – Terracotta Warriors

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). We will leave Beijing on board a magnificent high-speed train (300 km/h) that covers the distance to Xian (1,144 km) in just 5 hours. Our fascinating journey now discovers us the city of Xian. Visit of the Museum that houses the world famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered only 30 years ago by farmers working their lands. The 6,000 terracotta figures, each one is different from the following, none equal, located in rows and columns with their horses and tanks. It is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. As an alternative, a visit to the Han Yangling Museum is offered. This tomb of more than 2,000 years ago, with its museum attached, is one of the best secrets that China keeps. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a dinner at Tang Dynasty, enlivened with a wonderful show of dances and music of the ancient Chinese. Night at the hotel.

Day 6: Xian

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). This morning, we will visit the ancient walls of Xian and the bustling street culture of the Muslim quarter. Visit of the Great Mosque. In the afternoon, we will board on the “Shangri-La Express”. We will have free time in the bar car, while enjoying a talk about the Great Wall or just relaxing watching the landscape that stretches before us. A Welcome Dinner gives us the opportunity to taste the authentic flavor of Chinese cuisine. Dinner and night aboard the Shangri-La Express. Imperial or Gold passengers will be settle in Diamond Class cabins en suite, while Silver passengers will be settle in Heritage cabins, which share a toilet and shower.

Day 7: Dunhuang

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). In the afternoon, we will explore the natural beauty of the Gobi desert riding a camel and see the Blue Crescent Lake. Hidden, between high sand dunes, it has sustained the life of this region for millenniums. Tonight, we will have dinner and watch a local folklore show in a magical environment. Night aboard the Shangri-La Express.

Day 8: Dunhuang

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). An impressive sunrise over the dunes before visiting the fascinating cave complex of the thousand Buddhas of Mogao. This impressive place has almost 500 caves, carved 700 to 1700 years ago. Within them, we can see a collection of beautiful sculptures and murals describing the evolution of the art of the Buddhist religion over a millennia. We will return in the afternoon to our train. Dinner and night aboard the Shangri-La Express.

Day 9: Turpan

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). We will travel to Turpan, where the Red Mountains create a wonderful backdrop. We will take a fascinating tour through the old underground irrigation system, that has fed the rich orchards and vineyards for centuries. Our final destination is the sandy city of Jiaohe, that was founded in 108 BC, until it was abandoned in the 13th century after an attack of Genghis Khan. Dinner and night aboard the Shangri-La Express.

Day 10: Crossing to Kazajstan

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). Last breakfast on board. Arrival at the Alanshankou border. Customs formalities usually last about 5 hours, but our patience will be rewarded with our new rail cruise, the Golden Eagle Express, which awaits us in Druzhba, already on the Kazakh side of the border. Once on board, we can accommodate ourselves in our comfortable cabins and observe the wonderful landscape. Dinner and night aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 11: Almaty

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). Before having lunch, we will arrive at the leafy Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. Its name comes from "soul" which means "apple." On the outskirts of the city, grow wild apples and there are large crops dedicated to apple trees. The city is nestled at the foot of the Tien Shan mountains. We will enjoy a traditional lunch in a “yurt”, a typical house where the nomads of the area live. We visit the Zenkhov Cathedral, entirely built of wood. Dinner and night aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 12: Tashkent

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). We will arrive to the capital of Uzbekistan and spend the morning seeing this Soviet-style city, which was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1966. It includes a visit to a small library, where we will have the privilege of seeing one of the most precious relics of Islam: the oldest Quran in the world. Visit of the Museum of Applied Arts. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to relax with our friends or listen to some of the talks that will take place on the train, where they will give us more information about this fascinating region. Dinner and night aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 13: Samarkand

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). Founded in the 6th century BC, Samarkand has some of the most outstanding architectural wonders of Central Asia and we will have occasion to admire them. We will see the magnificent ruins of the Bibi Khanum Mosque; the Ulugbeg Observatory, one of the first Islamic observatories built in 1428 and the reverential Registan Square. Before have dinner, we will see again the illuminated square of Registan. Come back to the train to continue our journey. Dinner and night aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 14: Bukhara

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). The UNESCO helped to renew a large part of the city's old case on the occasion of its 2500th anniversary. The most important visit of this wonderful tour, is the visit of the fortress of Ark, fortified residence of the Emirs of Bukhara, despots and cruel rulers until the arrival of the Soviet empire. We will have lunch in an ornate medresa, a Koranic school, now converted into a beautiful restaurant. On the outskirts of the city, we will visit the Palace of the Moon and the Stars, summer residence of the Emirs. Barbecue dinner (if time permits it) and overnight aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 15: Merv

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). Early in the morning, we will arrive at Mary, where we will be transferred to the ancient and almost demolished city of Merv. Important resting point along the Silk Road, Merv can boast about having been the most populous city in this part of the world during the 12th century. In 1794, the city of Merv was destroyed, after the Emir of Bukhara destroyed the dam that provided water to the population. Return to the train and continue the journey to Bukhara. Dinner and night aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 16: Ashgabat

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). In great contrast to Bukhara or Samarkanda, we will arrive in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, called “Vegas of Kara Kum”. Located between the desert of Kara Kum and the Kopet Dag mountain range, its golden domes, its spectacular fountains and towers of modern buildings, seem curiously out of place in this almost biblical environment. Our train will make a brief stop in Ichoguz, where we will have the opportunity to approach to the famous Darvaza Crater. Located in the middle of the Kara Kum desert, the crater is 70 meters in diameter and is also known as “The Gate of Hell”. This is an experience that we should not miss. Dinner and night aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 17: Khiva

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). We will enter Uzbekistan again and our train goes to Urgench. From here, we will travel by coach to the inspiring Khiva. Founded over 2500 years ago, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it was one of the most important cities of the Silk Road, which is located at the crossroads of the routes between Mongolia, Russia, China and Persia. Entering Ichan Kala, we will have the impression that we stop time and return to the past, where we discover its impressive mosques, bazaars and minarets within the walls of Khiva. Dinner aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 18: Kara Kum

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). Today, we will enjoy a relaxing day aboard our train while crossing the desert of Kara Kum. While we enjoy the scenery, we will have the opportunity to receive a lesson in Russian or to talk with the other passengers who share our adventure. Dinner and night aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 19: Volgograd

Established on the banks of the Volga river, Stalingrad was the city that, in Soviet times, was the scenary of one of the most dramatic battles of World War II. Russian forces rejected the Nazi advance, changing the course of the war. We will visit the Mamayev Kurgan, monument erected in memory of the war. After that we will visit the museum. Road to Moscow. Dinner and night aboard the Golden Eagle Express.

Day 20: Moscow

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). After having covered more than 11,250 km from Beijing to Moscow, we make the entrance to the Kazansky station, where this majestic journey ends. We say goodbye to our on-board crew, that has spoiled us for so many days. We will be staying in a luxurious hotel in the capital a few meters from the Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre.

Day 21: Moscow

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner). Breakfast buffet at the hotel. Visit of the city, where we will visit the Red Square, iconic symbol of the former military and political power of Russia. Here, we can see a fascinating mix of architectures, such as the church of St. Basil, with its multicolored onions domes, the shadowy tomb of Lenin and within the Kremlin complex, its magnificent churches and cathedrals. Or if you prefer, you can opt for an alternative visit, such as: the Tretyakov Gallery or an excursion to Serguiev Posad.

Day 22: Moscow - Spain

(Breakfast). Breakfast buffet at the hotel. At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport. Boarding the flight back to the city of origin. Arrival and end of our services.