Istanbul to Uzbekistan Flight-Free Rail Adventure
Small Group Tour
From Istanbul to Uzbekistan via the Caspian Sea
Flight-free rail journey from Europe into the heart of Central Asia with immersive cultural, culinary, and scenic highlights.
This 21-day flight-free rail adventure travels from Istanbul through Turkey, the Caucasus, and Central Asia to Uzbekistan, blending first-class train journeys, a rare sea crossing, and private road transfers with guided cultural experiences in each destination. Starting in Istanbul, the trip traverses eastern Turkey aboard the legendary Doğu Express before discovering the wine regions of Georgia and the ancient streets of Baku. The route continues across the Caspian Sea by cargo ferry to the deserts of Kazakhstan, then follows the historic Silk Road to the UNESCO-listed cities of Khiva and Bukhara. In Uzbekistan, travellers explore majestic madrasahs and vibrant bazaars, staying in carefully chosen hotels—from the iconic Pera Palace to 5-star properties in Tashkent—with expert guides providing insights into cuisine, history, and local life. The journey is fully escorted, suited for experienced travellers comfortable carrying their own luggage, and capped at 12 participants for a personalised experience.
Map + Tour Itinerary
Explore the itinerary in detail to get a sense of where you’ll be on each day of the adventure.
Arrive in Istanbul and check into the iconic Pera Palace Hotel. Immerse yourself in Turkish culture with a private marbling workshop, a Bosphorus cruise, and visits to the Spice Market and Dolmabahçe Palace. Conclude your stay with a day at leisure followed by dinner at the Michelin-starred Mikla restaurant.
Travel by high-speed train to Ankara to board the legendary Doğu Express. Enjoy a scenic 20-hour journey through eastern Turkey’s rugged highlands to Erzurum. Continue by road through mountain passes to cross the border into Georgia, arriving at the Black Sea city of Batumi.
Take a scenic train ride through lush valleys to Tbilisi for a two-night stay. Explore the Kakheti wine region with tastings at local vineyards and a visit to the David Gareja Monastery. Spend a day at leisure in the capital before boarding the overnight sleeper train to Azerbaijan.
Arrive in Baku and explore its UNESCO-listed Old City. Discover the ancient petroglyphs of Gobustan, bubbling mud volcanoes, and the eternal flames of the Fire Temple and Yanar Dag. Embark on a unique cargo ferry voyage across the Caspian Sea, settling into a private cabin.
Dock at the Kazakh port of Kurik and transfer to Aktau. Venture by 4×4 into the Ustyurt Plateau to witness the surreal rock formations of Bozjira National Park. Enjoy a free day by the sea before boarding an overnight sleeper train bound for the deserts of Uzbekistan.
Cross the vast Kyzylkum Desert by rail, arriving in Nukus before transferring to the ancient walled city of Khiva. Explore Khiva’s minarets and madrasahs on a guided walking tour. Afterwards, travel by road across the desert sands to the historic city of Bukhara.
Tour Bukhara’s architectural treasures, including the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, before catching the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Tashkent. Discover the flavours of the capital on a guided street food tour through its bustling bazaars. The tour concludes with a transfer to the airport for your onward journey.
| Destination | Tour Code | Start | End | Trip Status | Pricing Per person |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul to Uzbekistan - Rail Adventure | ITU/240327 |
Mar 24, 2027
Wednesday |
Apr 13, 2027
Tuesday |
Guaranteed |
£9,950.00
Single Room Supplement: £1,950.00
|
Contact us |
Tour Inclusions
- The services of an Undiscovered Destinations’ tour leader
- All accommodation
- Daily breakfast (B), plus lunch (L) and dinner (D) where shown in the itinerary
- Rail travel based on first class seats for daytime journeys and private sleeping compartments for overnight journeys
- Ferry crossing with private cabin accommodation from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan
- Complimentary laundry service at selected hotels (up to $100 per person, per stay)
- Guided sightseeing tours as per itinerary, with the services of a private English-speaking guide or driver/guide
- Transfers as per itinerary with a private car or minibus
- Unless stated otherwise, entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary
Tour Exclusions
- Travel Insurance
- Visas – when required
- Meals and drinks not stated in the itinerary
- Tips (Discretionary)
Feedback from our Travellers
See what other adventurers have to say about our small group experiences.
We spent one day in Helsinki before taking the ferry to Tallin. The tour over two weeks took us throught Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It was so well organised with only 4 participants. Our guides were nationals of all the countries that we visited and very professional, well informed and enthusiastic, proud of their countries. We learned so much about the history, culture and caracter of the areas we visited.
We went with a private guide/driver who was a fount of knowledge about his country. We loved the beautiful scenery. Albania has everything: mountains, lakes, and stunning beaches. Prices for accommodation and food are reasonable, and best of all it is not crowded - yet!
An amazing two weeks exploring some of the lesser-known areas of the Balkans many of which have, not only recovered from the break up of Yugoslavia, but are shining examples of enthusiasm and resilience. Macedonia and Kosovo are generally off the beaten track - but deserve to be discovered by more travellers, whilst Montenegro is simply stunning
Fill the form below to receive a tour information pack including a detailed day by day itinerary.
Essential Info
Before booking your tour, please familiarise yourself with the country specific information provided by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. This includes important information such as latest immigration requirements, and details of any travel advisories.
We constantly monitor the advice posted by the FCDO. In particular we will always advise clients of any travel warnings. At the time of writing the there are no warnings for travel to any of the countries visited on this tour.
It should be noted that this information applies to British citizens. Other nationals are asked to check the current position of their respective government.
UK, US, and Australian passport holders do not require a visa for travel to Georgia, Kazakhstan, or Uzbekistan. British Citizens can enter Turkey without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. However, UK, US, and Australian passport holders will require a visa for travel to Azerbaijan.
British Nationals – www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
US Nationals – travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html
Australian Nationals – www.smartraveller.gov.au
Other nationals should check the latest requirements with the authorities in their home country, or with the destination’s nearest embassy or consulate.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, valid for at least six months after the date of return to your country.
We strongly advise that your passport contains a minimum of two blank pages, as this may be a requirement of the local immigration authorities. In addition, certain countries will stipulate that the two blank pages are opposite each other. If you are unable to meet these requirements, you may be refused boarding by your airline or denied entry by the immigration authorities.
For specific information about the requirements for your destination please check with the country’s embassy or consulate. Alternatively, UK citizens can visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
We strongly recommend contacting your doctor or a travel clinic for up-to-date advice. Immunisations often advised for this route include Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Meningitis.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in your home country can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines. For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you will need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.
It is a condition of booking with Undiscovered Destinations that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses (including cover for Covid-19 conditions) and emergency repatriation to your home country and be valid for the entire duration of your holiday.
The itinerary has been carefully planned based on the latest train schedules, but timings can change at short notice, or the days of the week that a particular train normally operates can also change. This will potentially require amending our itinerary and the number of nights that we stay in each city. Before you are asked to accept any changes our experienced travel consultants will of course discuss the options with you. These may well be limited, so it is important that you can be flexible.
This journey will be best suited to experienced travellers and to those who are comfortable in carrying their own luggage unassisted. This is important as trains in Europe do not provide an airline style checked-in baggage service. Each passenger is responsible for their own luggage, which they will keep with them on each leg of the trip. On occasions this will mean storing luggage in the racks provided above the seats. Although the group, a maximum of 12 travellers, will be escorted throughout by a tour leader from Undiscovered Destinations, their role is primarily one of managing the logistics and liaising with the locally based guides who will be responsible for providing guided tours and excursions along the way.
In addition to the need to carry your own luggage on and off the trains, it should be noted that in most locations it will be necessary to walk from the railway station to our hotel and back. Where possible the hotels will be located just a short stroll from the station, but in some cities, it might be a longer walk of 15 minutes or so. Please see the itinerary below for further details and do get in touch before booking if you have any concerns.
Luggage must not exceed 20kg (44lbs) and should consist of one large suitcase or rucksack plus one small piece of hand luggage. As porters are not available and trains do not offer checked baggage, you must be comfortable lifting and carrying your own luggage at all times.