London to Uzbekistan Rail Adventure

Meet your tour leader at London St. Pancras and travel by Eurostar to Paris (breakfast served). Transfer to Gare de Lyon for lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant, then continue by TGV-Lyria to Zurich with dinner served at your seat. Overnight in Zurich. (BLD)

Travel by first-class Railjet from Zurich to Vienna via the spectacular Arlberg Pass and the Alpine foothills. Arrive Vienna and transfer to your luxury hotel for a two-night stay. (B)

Guided half-day walking tour of Vienna’s highlights including Belvedere gardens, Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, using public transport like locals (ticket cost payable locally). Evening dinner at Restaurant Johann followed by a Mozart & Strauss concert at the Kursalon. (BD)

Enjoy time at leisure, then lunch at Michelin-starred Steirereck in Vienna’s Stadtpark. Later transfer to the station and board the overnight sleeper train to Brașov, Romania (private sleeping compartment). (BL)

Arrive in Brașov around early afternoon and walk to the hotel near the station. Late afternoon/early evening excursion into the Transylvanian forests with a ranger to observe Carpathian brown bears (and possibly other wildlife) from a hide. (B)

Guided excursion combining a walking tour of Brașov’s atmospheric old town and a visit to iconic Bran Castle, with its royal history and Dracula legends. Afternoon at leisure back in Brașov. (B)

Scenic morning train from Brașov to Bucharest. Transfer to your centrally located 5-star hotel, then guided city tour by private vehicle including major landmarks such as the Palace of the Parliament, Revolution Square, Lipscani district and the Romanian Athenaeum. (B)

Overland transfer by road to Sofia, with a stop en route at the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo (UNESCO) to see medieval frescoes in a cliffside setting. Arrive Sofia for a two-night stay. (B)

Guided walking tour of Sofia’s historic sights including the Central Market Hall and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Evening dinner with traditional folklore music and dance. (BD)

Road transfer to ancient Plovdiv for a guided visit of its old town and historic neighbourhoods. Dinner, then board the overnight sleeper train to Istanbul, including border formalities overnight. (BD)

Arrive Istanbul early (train may terminate at Halkali). Private transfer to the iconic Pera Palace Hotel with guaranteed early check-in. Later, enjoy a private Turkish marbling (Ebru) lesson, then dinner at the hotel. (BL)

Private guided touring including the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar, a private Bosphorus cruise, lunch at a local restaurant, and a visit to Dolmabahçe Palace. (BL)

A full free day to rest or explore independently. In the evening, dine as a group at Michelin-starred Mikla with panoramic city views. (BD)

Transfer to the station and take the YHT high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara. After time to connect, board the Doğu Express for the overnight journey east toward Erzurum (food may be limited—buy provisions in Ankara). (B)

Spend the day watching eastern Turkey’s landscapes unfold—valleys, forests and rugged mountains—before arriving in Erzurum in the afternoon. Transfer to your hotel. (No meals included today)

Morning road transfer from Erzurum to Batumi, crossing into Georgia and descending from highlands to the Black Sea coast. Stop for refreshments en route (payable locally). Overnight in Batumi. (B)

Morning rail journey from Batumi to Tbilisi (around five hours), travelling through Georgia’s varied landscapes. Transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay in the capital. (B)

Full-day tour to Kakheti: winery tastings (wine, chacha and cognac), David Gareja Monastery and rainbow mountains, bread and cheese tasting, Bodbe Monastery, Sighnaghi, and an organic wine cellar visit with food and wine before returning to Tbilisi. (BL)

Day at leisure in Tbilisi before boarding the overnight train to Baku (scheduled evening departure). Note: if the Georgia–Azerbaijan border closure continues, this sector may be replaced with a flight and an extra night in Tbilisi. (B)

Arrive in Baku and transfer to your luxury hotel. Rest after the overnight journey or explore independently, including Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City. (No meals included today)

Guided day tour to key sites around Baku: Gobustan petroglyphs and museum, mud volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple, and Yanar Dag (Fire Mountain). Lunch stop payable locally; group dinner in the hotel. (BD)

Transfer to the port at Alat and board a working cargo vessel across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan. Sailing times are variable and delays are possible; facilities are basic but private en-suite cabins are provided. Overnight on the ferry. (B – meals included on ferry)

Disembark at Kurik (timing dependent on the crossing) and transfer by road to Aktau on the Caspian coast for a two-night stay. (Meals depend on ferry schedule; meals not included after disembarkation)

Full-day guided excursion into the otherworldly landscapes of Bozjira National Park, including viewpoints such as Tiramisu Canyon, Mars Panorama, Dragon Crest, and the Bozjyra Fangs. Packed lunch included. (BL)

Day at leisure, then transfer to Mangyshlak station to board the overnight sleeper train toward Uzbekistan in private 2-berth compartments, travelling through remote western Kazakhstan. (B)

Wake to the vast Kyzylkum Desert landscapes before arriving in Nukus mid-afternoon. Continue by road to Khiva for a two-night stay in this beautifully preserved Silk Road city. (No meals included today)

In-depth guided tour of Khiva, the “City of a Thousand Minarets,” exploring mosques, madrasahs, palaces and viewpoints within the UNESCO-listed historic centre. Traditional lunch included. (BL)

Drive across the dramatic landscapes of Uzbekistan—arid desert, oases and villages—towards historic Bukhara. Arrive and check in, with time to relax ahead of sightseeing tomorrow. (B)

Guided tour of Bukhara’s key sites, followed by lunch at “The Plov.” In the afternoon, board the Afrosiyob high-speed train (business class) to Tashkent and transfer to your 5-star hotel. (BL)

Morning guided street food tour including Chigatoy Bazaar, Chorsu Bazaar and Besh Qozon Osh Markazi (the city’s famous pilaf centre), with tastings and a traditional plov meal. (BL)

Your overland adventure ends today after hotel check-out. A private transfer to Tashkent International Airport will be provided to coincide with your departure.