CENTRAL ASIA & Great Silk Road China I Kazakhstan I Uzbekistan I Turkmenistan 4-23 October 2016 Featuring Almaty to Ashgabat by Private Train 20 Day Fully Escorted Tour with Derrick Browne
Central Asia & Great Silk Road By Private Train From Almaty to Ashgabat Train Start Train Finish Train Flight 20 Culturally Magnificent Days From Ashgabat
Tour Highlights DISTINCTIVE CAPITALS Ashgabat (Turkmenistan): most modern city in Central Asia Tashkent (Uzbekistan): the cultural capital of Central Asia EVERY DAY LIFE IN CENTRAL ASIA Valuable cultural insights: lectures, fairy tales and information about history and regional traditions Dinner and costume show in courtyard of an old madrasah in Bukhara Lunch in the summer palace of an Emir in Khiva Lunch in a typical Uzbek house Siab Oriental Bazaar in Samarkand The making of traditional art objects: silk and carpets PLACES THAT MADE HISTORY Almaty (meaning apple) - a touch of Russia Registan: the most beautiful square of the Orient Grave City complex of mausoleums in Samarkand Wall murals of ancient Afrosiab town in Samarkand Ark Fortress in Bukhara and Khiva Ismael Samani and Gur Emir mausoleum in Bukhara Ancient Ulug Bek observatory in Samarkand Tower of Death complex in Bukhara HIGHLIGHTS UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE Turkestan: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi first Turkic Holy Man Historical Centre of Shakhrisabz Home Town of Timur The inner town and historic crowded alleys of the old Khiva oasis Historical Centre and the Caravansarai Markets of Bukhara Samarkand and its famous Registan - an Intersection of Cultures The Pearl of the East; Ancient Walls and Ruins of historic Merv The old Parthian city excavations of Nisa World famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xian, China SPECTACULAR NATURE Karakum desert and the snow-capped Tien Shan Mountains
Tour Itinerary Day 1 Tue 4 Oct Sydney/Melbourne-Beijing This morning we join our China Southern flight to Guangzhou where upon arrival we will transit through customs, immigration and security to join up with our domestic flight to Beijing - arriving late. Day 2 Wed 5 Oct Beijing A day at leisure in dynamic Beijing. Beijing has many smaller less well-known attractions to explore - Bei Hai Park, traditional theatre in the Lao She teahouse, visit Mao s mausoleum, stroll around the speciality shops of old Chinatown, visit the beautiful Lama Buddhist Temple, Mao s underground city, the historical astrological observatory, visit the Red Gate Art Gallery, the National Art Museum, or perhaps do a walking tour of Beijing s best hutongs. (B) Day 3 Thu 6 Oct Beijing-Urumqi Urumqi-Almaty We will be transferred to the airport for our flights to Almaty via Urumqi, with arrival late evening. We will be transferred to our accommodation for our first night in Kazakhstan and the start of our fascinating journey across Central Asia. (B,D) Day 4 Fri 7 Oct Almaty In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of this city (which was the capital till 1997), and visit the Zenkov Russian Cathedral. At midday you are served a Kazakh welcoming lunch in a traditional yurt. In the afternoon board your private train. (B,L,D) Day 5 Sat 8 Oct Turkstan Arrive into Turkstan. Visit the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight on the train. (B,L,D) Day 6 Sun 9 Oct Tashkent Arrive in Tashkent in the morning. Your guided sightseeing includes the Madrasah Kukeldash and Amir Timur monument before attending the famous Tashkent Navoy Opera (depending on schedule). Overnight on the train. (B,L,D) Day 7 Mon 10 Oct Shakhrisabz Discover Shaman traditions and ceremonies on an excursion into the mountains. Continue along the Great Silk Road to the green city of Shakhrisabz, dotted with ruins from its Timur heyday. Enjoy Uzbek wine tasting back on board the train. Overnight on the train. (B,L,D)
Day 8 Tue 11 Oct Samarkand Explore ancient Samarkand (or Samarqand in Uzbek), the Timur capital. One of the oldest cities in the world, Samarkand prospered from its central position on the Silk Road and at one time was considered the most beautiful city in the world. A city tour includes remarkable Registan Square, Central Asia s most impressive architecture. Overnight in a hotel. (B,L,D) Day 9 Wed 12 Oct Samarkand Visit a silk carpet factory before continuing the sightseeing of Samarkand with a tour to the ruins of the Bibi Khanum Mosque and the palace-like Gur Emir Mausoleum. Overnight in a hotel. (B,L,D) Day 10 Thu 13 Oct Samarkand The morning is yours to explore Samarkand or spend as you please. Your train departs for Khiva in the afternoon and you spend the night on the train. (B,L,D) Day 11 Fri 14 Oct Khiva Arrive in Khiva and enter through its imposing city walls. On a tour of the museum city we discover palaces, mosques and mausoleums and enjoy lunch at the former Summer Palace of the Emir. Overnight on the train. (B,L,D) Day 12 Sat 15 Oct Bukhara Journey into Uzbekistan s Kyzyl-Kum desert and arrive in the ancient city of Bukhara for a city tour including the Kaljan Minaret and Labi-Hauz Ensemble. Dinner and a traditional performance are enjoyed in the courtyard of a madrasah. Overnight in a hotel. (B,L,D) Day 13 Sun 16 Oct Bukhara Enjoy a full day tour of Bukhara including: the magnificent Mire-e-Arab Madrasah; the Samanid Mausoleum, considered the most beautiful building in Central Asia; the massive fortress known as the Ark; and a unique women-only mosque. Overnight on the train. (B,L,D) Day 14 Mon 17 Oct Merv Arrive into the UNESCO-protected city of Merv, with its impressive ruins including the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar and Virgin Fortress. Enjoy lunch in the picturesque courtyard of an artist, and late afternoon we will board our train for our next stop Ashgabat. (B,L,D) Day 15 Tue 18 Oct Ashgabat-Urumqi Our final stop in Central Asia is the city of Ashgabat, the capital and largest city in Turkmenistan. Ashgabat lies only a short distance from the ancient city of Nisa, the capital of the Parthian Empire. We will tour the ruins of Nisa, a World Heritage Site. In the late evening transfer to the airport for flight to Urumqi. (B,L,D) Day 16 Wed 19 Oct Urumqi Arrive Urumqi in the early morning and check in to your hotel. (B) Day 17 Thu 20 Oct Urumqi-Xian After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Xian. Over 1000 years ago Xian was the capital of the Tang Dynasty, at the time the biggest and most cosmopolitan city in the world. (B,D) Day 18 Fri 21 Oct Xian A leisurely day today in Xian which will include a morning visit to the renowned archaeological site of the Terracotta Warriors, buried over 2200 years ago to guard the tomb of the first emperor. (B,L,D) Day 19 Sat 22 Oct Xian-Sydney/Melbourne Today we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for our flight home, via Guangzhou and end our fabulous Silk Road and Central Asia Tour. (B) Day 20 Sun 23 Oct Arrive Sydney/Melbourne Our tour concludes with an early morning arrival into Sydney or Melbourne, clearing of customs and immigration and time to say a quick goodbye to fellow travellers. Our journey is complete but the amazing memories will remain.
TOUR PRICES LAND and AIR - Per Person Twin Share Single Supplement Category Ali Baba $9,985 $2,210 Category Aladdin $11,575 $2,715 Category Sultan $16,550 $5,920 Category Kalif $17,120 $6,110 To upgrade air travel, add per person: Premium Economy Class $660 Business Class $2,700 Premium Economy Class upgrade applies to Sydney/Melbourne- Guangzhou and Guangzhou-Sydney/Melbourne. Business Class upgrade applies to Sydney/Melbourne-Beijing and Xian-Sydney/Melbourne, via Guangzhou. INCLUSIONS International flights with China Southern Airlines Sydney or Melbourne-Guangzhou-Beijing-Urumqi-Almaty and Ashgabat-Urumqi-Xian-Guangzhou-Sydney or Melbourne, with taxes and surcharges of $605.00 included 8 nights on board the private train in your chosen compartment category in twin share 10 nights in centrally located hotels with breakfast daily Meals as stated in the itinerary An exclusive train tour director with the group Fully escorted Experienced English-speaking local guides Comprehensive sightseeing and entrance fees Transfers at airports and stations in a private coach Bridge play or instruction, including most nights after dinner on the train Traditional welcomes at Bukhara and Samarkand Special Uzbek and Turkmen meals with local families Folkloric Show and meal in a Madrassa Visa application fees (China, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) VISA NOTE: Visa for Kazakhstan not required by Australian passport holders. NOT INCLUDED: Travel insurance, gratuities, personal expenses, anything not mentioned above.
Category: Ali Baba The Private Train Compartments on Orient Silk Road Express Each car has nine compartments providing sleeping space for 2 guests in 2 lower berths (approx. 67 x 184cm). In the middle, below the window, you will find a table. Combined washing room / lavatory compartments are located at both ends of each car. Category: Aladdin Each car has eight compartments for 2 guests with 2 lower berths (approx. 67 x 184cm). In the middle, below the window, you will find a table. Combined washing room / lavatory compartments are located at both ends of each car. Additionally, a shower is located at one end of each car and you will receive a bathing robe and shower utilities. Category: Sultan This category has two beds, with the upper berth measuring 80 x 174cm. and the lower one a more generous 120 x 184cm, thus offering space for two if desired. The compartment also offers comfortable seating, a larger table and a small clothes closet. Each compartment has its own lavatory equipped with a toilet, wash basin and shower with full shower curtain. This category of car contains only six compartments. Category: Kalif This category is equipped with two beds, one of which measures 112 x 184cm, providing enough space for two people if required. Furthermore, the compartment offers a cosy seating bench, a commodious table and a wardrobe. The compartment s exclusive en suite bathroom contains not only a washing basin, WC and shower, but also storage space for your personal belongings. Each car has only six compartments, so a total of at most twelve guests share the whole of the carriage.
SOME OF OUR OTHER EXCITING DESTINATIONS Opulent Journeys Phone: 1300 219 885 Email: enquiries@opulentjourneys.com.au Web: opulentjourneys.com.au Trumps Holidays Phone: (02) 9969 5959 Email: trumps@trumps.net.au Web: trumps.net.au