London to Shanghai Flight-Free Rail Adventure
Small Group Tour
From London to Shanghai via the Ancient Silk Road
An epic 42-day flight-free rail expedition from London to Shanghai, tracing historic trade routes with luxury stays, Michelin-starred dining, and immersive cultural encounters.
This 42-day flight-free rail adventure travels from London through Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia to China, blending first-class train journeys, a rare Caspian Sea crossing, and private road transfers with guided cultural experiences in each destination. Starting at London St Pancras, the trip traverses France and the Alps to Vienna before discovering the legends of Transylvania and the Ottoman splendour of Istanbul. The route continues aboard the Doğu Express to Turkey’s eastern highlands, explores the vineyards of Georgia, and crosses the Caspian Sea to the deserts and ancient Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. In China, travellers marvel at the Rainbow Mountains and Terracotta Warriors before riding high-speed rail to the futuristic skyline of Shanghai. Staying in luxury and historic hotels—from the iconic Pera Palace to the Fairmont Peace Hotel—guests enjoy Michelin-starred dining and expert insights into local history and 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.
Depart London St Pancras for Paris, enjoying a gourmet lunch at the historic Le Train Bleu before speeding through France to Zurich. Board the Austrian Railjet for a spectacular journey through the Arlberg Pass to Vienna. Your time in the Austrian capital includes a city tour, a classical concert at the Kursalon, and a lunch at the Michelin-starred Steirereck restaurant before boarding a sleeper train to Romania.
Arrive in medieval Brașov for a unique bear-watching excursion in the Carpathian forests. Explore the Saxon Old Town and the legendary Bran Castle before travelling by train to Bucharest for a guided city tour. Continue overland to Sofia, stopping to admire the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, and enjoy a traditional Bulgarian evening of folklore and dance.
Visit Plovdiv’s ancient Roman theatre and Old Town before boarding the overnight sleeper train to Istanbul. Check into the iconic Pera Palace Hotel and discover the city’s treasures, including a private Bosphorus cruise and the Spice Market. Your stay culminates with a dinner at Mikla, a Michelin-starred restaurant offering panoramic views of the city
Speed to Ankara to board the legendary Doğu Express for a scenic 20-hour journey through Turkey’s rugged eastern highlands to Erzurum. Continue by road through mountain passes to the Black Sea port of Batumi, then take a train through lush valleys to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
Explore the Kakheti wine region with tastings at local vineyards and a visit to the David Gareja Monastery. Take an overnight train (or flight if borders require) to Baku, Azerbaijan, to see the Gobustan petroglyphs and the eternal flames of Yanar Dag. Embark on a rare cargo ferry crossing of the Caspian Sea, settling into a private cabin for the voyage to Kazakhstan.
Arrive in the port of Kurik and transfer to the seaside city of Aktau. Venture by 4×4 into the Ustyurt Plateau to witness the surreal rock formations of Bozjira National Park. Board another sleeper train for the journey across the vast Kyzylkum Desert, crossing into Uzbekistan to reach the ancient city of Khiva.
Discover Khiva’s UNESCO-listed inner city before driving across the desert to the holy city of Bukhara. Explore Bukhara’s mausoleums and madrasahs, then take the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Tashkent. In the capital, dive into local culture with a guided street food tour through the city’s bustling bazaars.
Travel by train to Almaty and explore the dramatic Charyn Canyon. Journey overland across the steppe into China, catching a high-speed train to Urumqi to experience Uyghur culture at the Grand Bazaar. Continue by high-speed rail to Zhangye to witness the vibrant, multi-coloured peaks of the Zhangye Danxia Geopark.
Speed east to Xian to stand before the Terracotta Warriors and enjoy a Tang Dynasty royal banquet. The final leg takes you to Shanghai aboard a 350 km/h bullet train. Explore the Bund and Yuyuan Garden, finishing your epic expedition with a celebratory dinner at the three-Michelin-starred Taian Table.
| Destination | Tour Code | Start | End | Trip Status | Pricing Per person |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London to Shanghai - Rail Adventure | T2S/140327 |
Mar 14, 2027
Sunday |
Apr 24, 2027
Saturday |
Guaranteed |
£24,770.00
Single Room Supplement: £3,950.00
|
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 EU states, 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 and China.
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.