ORIENT SILK ROAD EXPRESS INFORMATION DIRECTORY 1
ADAPTORS The sockets in the train are standard two-pole European plug sockets, as are those in most of the hotels. If you want to be absolutely sure, however, you should bring along an Eastern European plug adaptor. ORIENT SILK ROAD EXPRESS INFORMATION DIRECTORY We are delighted to be working in association with our German associates at Lernidee and the Orient Silk Road Express Private Train tour which will acquaint you with the many highlights and different cultures along the Silk Road. With our comfortable rail journey you will discover places that are either absent from other itineraries or that can only be reached otherwise with much greater difficulty. During the journey you will be accommodated on board in your comfortable compartment as well as in selected 3- and 4-star hotels. An experienced tour director will accompany you throughout the journey and be joined by knowledgeable local travel guides and a physician aboard the train. There will be entertaining talks on the region and its people aboard the train. Some of the train s wagons, including several sleeping cars and a dining car, were completely refurbished in 2013. The comfortable dining cars remain open with bar service into the evening and the train is air-conditioned while the train is underway. AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING The whole train is equipped with air-conditioning. However, this only works when the train is moving and the windows are closed. Once the train sets off, it takes about half an hour before the desired temperature is reached. If necessary, when the train is stationary, the guard can open a window in the corridor. CLOTHING Casual clothing is appropriate on the train, also at mealtimes. Please make sure you wear comfortable shoes for the excursions, and particularly for the city sightseeing tours. Although the Central Asian countries are much less strict about clothing than some other countries in Asia, it is inappropriate to wear shorts or skirts above the knee. As well as light clothing and headgear you should bring along warmer jackets and trousers for the cooler evenings and colder days and sturdy, comfortable shoes (without heels) for the gentle hikes. DAILY PROGRAMME A Daily Programme, detailing the following day s arrangements as well as any specific information about the day s activities is produced on board and displayed in every car. DIETARY REQUIREMENTS If you have any dietary requirements such as vegetarian, low salt, gluten free or low cholesterol, please notify the Reservations Department. We regret that these, and any other special dietary needs, cannot be guaranteed. If you have any specific or special foods that you require we recommend that you take some with you although we will endeavour to accommodate your needs. Once on board, please speak to your tour guide on the first night to reconfirm your needs. DISABLED FACILITIES The train does not have facilities for disabled or wheelchair dependent passengers. Additionally, most excursions involve some walking and some excursions are walking tours only. 2 +44 (0)20 7752 0000 3
DOCTOR A doctor will be travelling on the train throughout the entire trip. The doctor will be on call 24 hours a day in case of emergency. If additional, specialist medical treatment is required, the onboard staff will contact other doctors via radio. ELECTRICITY Onboard electricity is 110 volt DC and 220 volt AC. Please check the markings on the sockets as the use of 110 volt sockets can damage electrical equipment such as chargers and razors. Capacity overloads can cause the electricity to cut out and so we request you to recharge batteries / mobile phones in the hotels. Sockets at the ends of the carriages and in the conductor s section are usually reliable, but are sometimes subject to voltage fluctuations so usage is at your own risk. END OF TOUR QUESTIONNAIRE Your comments are important to us therefore before your tour ends, you will receive a questionnaire. We are always looking for ways to improve your holiday and in order to do this we need some feedback from our guests. Kindly return your questionnaire to Noble Caledonia. HAIRDRYERS Hairdryers are available in Kalif compartments only. HOTELS Please leave larger items of luggage on board the train during overnight stays at hotels. Simply take everything you need for the day and night in a small travel bag. Keep your passport at hand as it is needed for check in at the hotel. Your tour guide will collect passports and return them to you after registration (possibly the next morning). Please keep your hotel registration slips safe, as these are sometimes needed at border crossings. (They are usually put loosely inside your passport.) LAUNDRY SERVICE Laundry service is not available. LOST PROPERTY Before you disembark the train, please check your cabin to ensure you do not leave anything behind. If you discover you have left any items behind, please contact Noble Caledonia. If we are able to recover your item(s) we will contact you to arrange delivery or collection, and any costs incurred will be at your own expense. LUGGAGE Instead of bringing one large suitcase, we recommend using a travel bag or soft suitcase, as it is easier to store on board the train. You will also need a small bag or suitcase for the overnight stays in hotels for hand luggage, when you will probably want to leave the larger portion of your luggage on the train. The luggage will be loaded on board by porters at the station in Almaty/Ashgabat. Please make sure you attach a Lernidee label bearing your carriage and compartment number to all your bags. If you need new labels, please contact your tour guide. MEALS On board the train you will be provided with varied and nutritious meals. Mineral water and tea/ coffee are included. You will have to pay in cash for all other drinks. Because of the limited seating capacity, meals may sometimes have to be served in two sittings. In this case, sittings will be switched around halfway through the trip. If you are part of the first group to eat, please make your seat available to others 45 minutes after breakfast, and one hour after lunch and dinner. This way we can guarantee a smooth meal service for passengers in the second group. MEDICATION You should bring along a small first-aid kit and any medicines you need as the products you are familiar with will most probably not be available (although there will be alternatives). It is also advisable to bring anti-diarrhea drugs in case your stomach reacts to exotic food, the climate and time zone differences. MOBILE PHONES Ask your provider whether and where your mobile phone will work during the trip and make sure that international roaming is activated. Please remember that roaming costs will be relatively high both for making and receiving calls. MONEY & PRICES The accepted currencies on board the Private Train are Euros and US dollars. You can purchase Kazakh Tenges at the bureau de change in your hotel in Astana, and get Turkmen Manats at your hotel in Ashgabat. When arriving at your hotel in Samarkand or Bukhara you can change some of your money into the Uzbek currency Sum. Make sure you are given a good amount of change. We recommend exchanging an initial amount of 50 per person. As fees are high, it is not advisable to exchange foreign currency back to Euros or US dollars. At the hotels, in international restaurants and good department stores you will often be able to pay with major credit cards. 4 +44 (0)20 7752 0000 5
ONBOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS The onboard announcement system provides you with important information and commentary on the regions. In your compartment you will find a knob that allows you to control the volume. Please keep this turned up between 8am and 9pm. RESTAURANT CAR At the beginning of your journey you will get a Beverage Pass. All your ordered drinks will be noted down and you must settle your account in Euros or US dollars at the end of the tour. SAFES Safes are available in Kalif compartments only. WATER Never drink the tap water. You can buy half a litre of mineral water from the guard for 1.20. The water provided in carafes at mealtimes is clean and pure still mineral water from plastic containers. The ice cubes are also made from this water. WAKE-UP CALL Every morning on the train you will be woken by your tour guide knocking on the door of your compartment. In the hotels we will order a general wake-up call, but you are also welcome to order your own. In any case, we recommend you bring along a travel alarm clock or use the alarm function on your mobile phone to ensure you wake up at a time you prefer throughout the trip. SAFETY & SECURITY Guards are on duty 24 hours a day. We are in constant contact with control via the radio in the train manager s compartment (on regular trains, the only radio set is in the locomotive) and will ask them for help in emergencies (including medical emergencies). SMOKING Smoking is not permitted on board the train as well as at stations. In Turkmenistan smoking in public (in the streets) is not permitted. Please ask your guide for smoking facilities. STAMPS The tour guides are happy to help you to purchase stamps. Unfortunately, hotels often sell stamps at very inflated prices. Please be aware that it can sometimes take a few weeks for the post cards to arrive at their destination. TIPPING Not included in the official price of the trip are tips for the many helpful people both those you see regularly and those behind the scenes whose work is essential to the smooth running of the trip. We would like to stress that how much you tip is entirely up to you and you will be provided with suggested guidelines. TOWELS Towels and sheets are provided on the train and in the hotels and will be changed regularly. However, it is advisable to bring along one additional small hand towel and washcloths. PLEASE BE ADVISED: These details should be used as a guideline only. Information is subject to change. 6 +44 (0)20 7752 0000 7
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2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0)20 7752 0000 info@noble-caledonia.co.uk V.1 FEBRUARY 2017