Along the wayMoscowBaikonurTashkentSamarkandBukharaKhivaAshgabatMervMashhadMahan & RayenYazdIsfahanPersepolis & ShirazTehran

Leaving from Moscow to Tehran

ExperienceGolden Eagle Persia & the Silk Road

Persia and the Silk Road – those very words conjure up images ofpioneering trading routes, magnificent monuments, sacred relics,mosques, bazaars, minarets and, of course, evocative destinationssuch as Samarkand, Bukhara and Tehran. On this rich, endlessly fascinating 18-day journey you’ll travel fromMoscow to the Iranian capital through a world that may be changingbut is one that remains steeped in history, tradition and splendour.

Tour highlightsVisit the largest and one of the mostspectacular jewels displays in theworld at the Crown Jewels Museum inTehran.

Discover the world’s largest religiousshrine complex in Iran’s holiest city,Mashhad.

Stimulating onboard lectures withspecialist tour guides in everydestination.

Explore the historic UNESCOhonoured, cities of Khiva, Merv,Bukhara and Samarkand.Enjoy an evening drinks reception onthe beautifully lit Registan Square,Samarkand.Generous drinks allowance with lunchand dinner. (alcohol not permitted inIran).

Take in the breath-taking beauty ofUsfahan’s Islamic architectureincluding the remarkable Masjed-eIman mosque.Marvel at the impressive space stationat Baikonur, famous for launching thefirst human into space in 1961.

As far as possible our tours are allinclusive with no hidden extras. Whatfollows are those elements which areincluded in the tour price. The onlyextra items you may need to budget forinclude personal expenses such asinternational and internal flights thatare not included in the itineraries, visacosts, insurance, drinks from the BarLounge Car and laundry.Experienced Tour ManagersOur experienced tour managers and theirassistants are selected for their travelknowledge and their linguistic andorganisational abilities allowing you to relaxand enjoy your rail cruise. We receiveexceptional passenger comments aboutour Tour Managers and their aim is toensure you enjoy every minute of yourholiday.Arrival and Departure TransfersArrival and departure transfers areincluded.Hotel and Onboard AccommodationAlthough you will spend much of your timesightseeing or relaxing in the train’s publicareas, you will find your hotel room orcabin a welcome retreat at the end of arewarding day. All hotels are of 5 starstandard or, in certain locations, the bestavailable. Room upgrades are available onrequest and at extra cost.Welcome and Farewell DinnersEach tour begins with a Welcome Dinner, anideal opportunity to get to know your fellowpassengers; for the Tour Manager to briefyou on the trip; and introduce you to theGolden Eagle Luxury Trains team and theTour Doctor. The Farewell Dinner is theperfect end to your adventure by privatetrain where you can relive the journey andlook ahead to future tours.

Route Guide, Itinerary and InformationPackWhen you board the train there will be abrochure in your cabin detailing moreabout your journey and the places en-route. Our Tour Manager will organise aprogramme of briefings on the cities orplaces we visit and, each evening, will issuea programme for the next day’s touringschedule.Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner DailyAll departures feature one or two uniquelydesigned restaurant cars where you canenjoy the excellent waiter-served food andwine. Several times during the tour we willalso sample authentic local cuisine off thetrain.Drinks with Meals and from the BarLounge Car.A generous drinks allowance isincluded with lunch and dinner. Forpassengers travelling in Gold Class onboardthe Golden Eagle, drinks from the StandardDrinks List in the Bar Lounge Car are alsoincluded. For Imperial Suite guests, drinksfrom both the Standard and Premium BarLists in the Bar Lounge Car are included.Onboard ServiceYou can expect service which is attentive,friendly and unintrusive 24 hours a day.Guided Off-Train ExcursionsThe history and culture of the places wevisit on our rail cruises will come alivethrough our expert local guides. All ourtours include a wide-ranging sightseeingschedule to make the most of the time youhave off the train and bring you closer tothe culture, people and history of yourdestinations. We believe it is the speciallittle touches that help create magicalmemories. Imperial Suite guests will benefit from theoption of a private car and guide in themajority of places we visit along the route.

24 Hour Service AttendantYour car attendants provide 24-hourhousekeeping and bedding turndownservices, with one attendant always on dutyto assist you and to ensure you arecomfortable in your cabin. Complimentarytea, coffee and bottled drinking water areavailable in your cabin 24 hours a day.Personal HeadsetsOn all the off–train excursions, to enhanceyour enjoyment and comprehension of theplaces you visit, you will be provided with alightweight personal headset on which tolisten to your tour guide as you take in thesights. So you do not need to worry aboutmissing any of the interesting details onyour excursions.Onboard Doctor and Medical FacilitiesTo give you peace of mind our tours areaccompanied by a doctor who travels withus for the entire journey; so you can restassured that medical assistance is alwaysavailable. On call 24 hours a day, the doctoris on hand to give primary care as required.Normally, the doctor will be Englishspeaking and be registered with theGeneral Medical Council in the UnitedKingdom.PorterageAs you only have to unpack once, yourluggage and belongings will stay with youon the train throughout the journey but,wherever necessary, porterage is includedbetween the hotel and stations.All GratuitiesYou will not have to worry about tipping onand off the train on your rail journey withGolden Eagle Luxury Trains as all gratuitiesare included in the tour price.

What’s included

ExperienceGolden Eagle Persia & the Silk Road

In the know......The word “Kremlin” isn’t Russian – it’s froma medieval Tartar word meaning “fortress”.Kazahstan is the 9th largest country by sizein the world. It’s a huge place with a verysmall population of only 16 million people.The name Turkmenistan was derived fromthe Persian language, and it simply means“Land of the Turkmen.”Tashkent - one of the few cities in theworld where you can see the starry nightsky and it’s possible because of low gascontent.The oldest cities of Uzbekistan are morethan 2750 years old, and the most famousof them - Samarkand, along with Rome,one of the oldest cities in the world.

Entry visa required for;Russia KazahstanUzbekistanTurkmenistanIran

Please contact our reservations team forassistance regarding visa requirements forthis journey.

Photocopy your passport including thevisas issued pages, airline tickets andinsurance policies.Your passport must be valid for at least sixmonths past the end of your travel dates.

Casual clothing is usually worn on thetrain, including at mealtimes. Sturdy,comfortable shoes for the excursions.Remember to bring something to coveryour head to to wear when visting placesof worship.

Meals onboard are a relaxed affair asthe restaurant cars can accommodateall of our guests in a single sitting.Throughout the journey there is aninformal dress code. With our open-seating policy you can dine wherever,and with whomever, you please.

The social heart of The Golden Eagle Express is the Bar Lounge Car, a great placeto relax and settle into the unhurried pace of life on board. Perhaps read anovel from our library to while away time or challenge a friend to a game ofbridge or backgammon? Enjoy the delights of morning or afternoon tea withdelicious cookies freshly baked by our chefs. In the evening enjoy the sounds ofthe resident pianist playing on the baby grand piano.

Climate and time – Minimum/maximum Temperatures ºCNovember

Moscow -6/+10 ºCBaikonur +26/+22 ºCTashkent/Samarkand +6/+18 ºCKhiva/Bukhara +3/+14 ºCAshabat +4/+14 ºCMerv/Mashhad +19/+7 ºCRayen & Mahan/Yazd -4/+20 ºCPersepolis & Shiraz -1/+14 ºCIsfahan/Tehran +12/+20 ºC

Visa Requirements Hints and Tips Travellers Checklist

Why not extend your stay in Moscowwith additional nights prior to the startof your journey? Explore more of thecity at your leisure or have time to takein a performance at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre? Ticketsneed to be pre-booked and are subjectto schedule and availability. DAY 01 MOSCOWArrive at Moscow Airport, where you aremet and transferred to the five-star Ritz-Carlton. Located in Moscow city centre, andwithin walking distance of Red Square andthe Bolshoi Theatre, guests will discover aclassic and sophisticated ambience withinthis luxury hotel. We enjoy a welcomereception dinner this evening, whilst youmeet our fellow travellers and anticipate theepic voyage that lies ahead. DinnerDAY 02 MOSCOWThis morning at Moscow Kazansky Stationyou will be greeted in the magnificentImperial Waiting Room with a cold glass ofRussian Champagne and canapes as you mixwith the other guests and are welcomed bythe train staff. The excitement in the waitingroom audibly mounts and, 30 minutesbefore departure, your car attendants willescort you to Platform 1 where a militarybrass band is playing and the Golden Eagleawaits.Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 03 KARA KUM DESERTToday, we enjoy a relaxing day on board aswe travel across the vast expanses of theKara Kum desert. As well as experiencing theunique landscape, you can take theopportunity to chat to fellow passengers andmaybe take part in a Russian languagelesson. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 04 BAIKONURBaikonur, formerly known as Leninsk, issituated on the right bank of the Syr DaryaRiver and was constructed to service theBaikonur Cosmodrome, which itself wasoriginally constructed by the Soviet Union inthe late 1950s as the base of operations forits space programme. This is a place filledwith so much history from the launch ofSputnik 1 in 1957 and the launch of the firsthuman, Yuri Gagarin, into space in 1961 tothe current day missions to re-supply theInternational Space Station. On our visit toBaikonur we will visit the launch station ofYuri Gagarin’s mission into space. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 05 TASHKENTTashkent is the capital city of Uzbekistanand we spend time touring this modernSoviet-style city which was rebuilt followingthe devastating earthquake of 1966. Ourtour of the city includes the Old Town,where traditional homes and religiousbuildings line the narrow streets and here ina small library we’ll be privileged to see oneof Islam’s most sacred relics – the world’soldest Koran. This is followed by a visit tothe Railway Museum and the Museum ofApplied Arts.Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 06 SAMARKANDJust the mention of Samarkand instantlyconjures up evocative images of the SilkRoad, more so than any other town.Founded in the 6th century BC, Samarkand’sstunning architecture hints at its formerstatus as one of the most important cities inAsia and is particularly noted for itsarchitectural remains from the 14th to the17th century, when it flourished as thefabled capital of the Mongol empire ofTimur and his successors.Today we will visitsome of its most significant sites includingRegistan Square, the refined elegance of thebeautifully proportioned Bibi KhanumMosque and the Ulag Beg observatory, oneof the earliest Islamic astronomicalobservatories built in 1428. Before dinnerwe will return to the now illuminated andawe-inspiring Registan Square.Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 07 BUKHARABukhara is quite simply outstanding. LikeKhiva, UNESCO sponsored the renovation ofmuch of the city for its 2,500th anniversaryin 1999. The highlight of this wonderful touris a visit to The Ark, a fortified residence ofthe Emirs of Bukhara – the despotic andruthless leaders who ruled until Soviettimes.We then travel out of the city toexperience the Emir’s enchantingly named,Palace of the Moon and Stars. This evening,weather and time permitting, we will enjoy abarbecue on the station platform before ourtrain departs.Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 08 KHIVAFrom Urgench we travel to the ancient cityof Khiva, founded 2,500 years ago. As one ofthe Silk Road’s most important trading postsand now a World Heritage Site, it lies at thecrossroads of the routes between Mongolia,Russia, China and Persia.A truly magnificentsight to behold, it rises out of the desert toreveal a wealth of impressive architecture.Stepping back in time, we discover itsimpressive mosques, madrassas, bazaarsand minarets within Khiva’s ancient walls.Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 09 ASHGABATAshgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan isknown as the ‘Las Vegas of the Kara Kum’.Situated between the Kara Kum desert andthe Kopet Dag mountain range, Ashgabat isa relatively modern city built upon the ruinsof the Silk Road city of Konjikala and theSoviet city built after the devastatingearthquake of 1948.The city’s extravagantfountains, golden domes and toweringmodern buildings appear strangelyincongruous in this desert setting. Highlightson our visit include a visit to the NationalMuseum and Kipchak Mosque.Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

These dossiers are designed to provide you with a guide to our trips, the places visited, accommodation used and to give you a flavour of your dailyitinerary. You will be travelling in parts of the world where the unanticipated and the unusual are all part of the experience and, as a result, theunexpected can happen and we may on occasions need to vary your plans. These dossiers do not form part of any contract.

Itinerary – 18 days Leaving from Moscow toTehran

ExperienceGolden Eagle Persia & the Silk Road

DAY 10 MERVFrom Mary we transfer to the ancient andmainly unrestored remains of Merv. Oncean important stopping point on the SilkRoad, it claims to have briefly been thelargest city in the world during the 12thcentury.1794 saw the demise of Merv, afterthe Emir of Bukhara destroyed the damwhich the population depended on for itswater.Early evening we arrive at the bordertown of Sarakhs and it is here we make theimportant changes to the bogies as weprepare to cross into and onto the standardgauge tracks of Iran. Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 11 MASHHADFollowing the change overnight of wheelsetswe leave Sarakhs before dawn and an earlymorning arrival provides us with the wholeday to explore the sacred city of Mashhad,which is home to the Imam Reza HolyShrine, the largest mosque in the world interms of its dimension, followed by a tour ofthe Nader Shah Museum. Following lunch inthe city, we will visit the Tomb of Ferdowsi,the father of Persian Literature who livedover 1,000 years ago.Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 12 MAHAN & RAYENAfter breakfast we alight in Mahan, wherewe visit the 19th century Royal building,Prince Garden and tomb. We later visit thesanctuary and tomb of the famous, Soufi,Shah Nematollah Vali, dating back to theMongol Era. We continue by road ontoRayen. The 20,000 square metre Rayencastle is situated beneath the snow-cappedMount Hezar in the Province of Kerman. Ahuge medieval mud brick citadel, it wasconsidered second only to Bam before the2003 earthquake. Rayen displays all thearchitectural elements of a deserted citadel(it was inhabited until 150 years ago) and isextremely well preserved. It is consideredone of the most interesting sites in Iran.Were-join the train at dusk in time for dinner aswe depart for Yazd.Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13 YAZDYazd is thought to be one of the oldest citiesin the world and a centre of Zoroastrianism,a monotheistic faith founded in Iran 3,500years ago. Our tour takes in the ZoroastrianFire Temple, Amir Chakhmagh Square andthe 14th century Friday Mosque, home toone of Persia’s finest and exquisite mosaics.Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 14 ISFAHANThis enchanting city, which served asPersia’s capital from 1598 to 1722, is 2,500years old and one of the oldest in Iran. As acrossroad of international trade anddiplomacy, Isfahan has a rich mix oflanguages, religions and customs.The city isfamous for its silver filigree and metal work,array of great historical monuments, and itslife-giving river, the Zayandeh-Rood, whichhas given the city its beauty. Isfahan ispacked with some of Iran’s best sights andtoday we spend a whole day in the city,visiting the Chehel Sotoon Palace and theVank Church in the ArmenianQarter.Following a traditional Iranian lunchwe move on to Naghshe Jahan Square, aWorld Heritage Site and the second largestman-made square in the world, where theAli Qapou Palace and Shah and SheikhLutfullah Mosques can be found. Here, thetime is yours to enjoy the huge square andpick up a bargain at the handicraft Bazaar ofQaisarieh.Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 15 PERSEPOLIS & SHIRAZFollowing breakfast on board we stop atSadat Shaha, for the home of Persepolis,another World Heritage Site. Perhaps Iran’smost important archaeological site, thisceremonial capital of the Persian Empiredates back to the 6th century. Even now, theruins are extremely impressive. We alsoview the Necropolis (Naghshe Rustam). Afterlunch we continue by bus to Shiraz.Shirazhas many strings to its bow: poetry,literature, wine, flowers and amazinggardens and fruit trees. A visit to the QuranGate, Hafez Tomb and the Vakil Citadel arethe highlights of our afternoon tour.Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 16 TEHRANAfter breakfast we reach our finaldestination, Tehran, and disembark theGolden Eagle and transfer to the five-starEspinas International Hotel for a two nightstay.Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 17 TEHRANOur first port of call on our city tour ofTehran is the Crown Jewels Museum in theCentral Bank of Iran Building, with its vastarray of crown jewels used by the Qajar andPahlavid royalty and the legendary PeacockThrone. Also we visit the Golestan Palacewith its renovated Versailles-inspiredmirror-encrusted Marble Throne Hall usedfor the coronation of the last Shah. Most ofthe remaining brick and tile buildings dateback to the 19th century Qajar dynasty.Onour final evening we will enjoy a farewelldinner and take the opportunity to reflect onour pioneering journey along the Silk Roadto the heart of Persia. Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerDAY 18 TEHRANFollowing breakfast the following morningyou will be transferred to the airport foronward departures.Breakfast

These dossiers are designed to provide you with a guide to our trips, the places visited, accommodation used and to give you a flavour of yourdaily itinerary. You will be travelling in parts of the world where the unanticipated and the unusual are all part of the experience and, as aresult, the unexpected can happen and we may on occasions need to vary your plans. These dossiers do not form part of any contract.

Itinerary – 18 days Leaving from Moscow toTehran

ExperienceGolden Eagle Persia & the Silk Road

Cabins onboard - Imperial SuitesImperial Suites are the most spaciouscabins on the Golden Eagle, and on anytrain in Russia.

ExperienceGolden Eagle Persia & the Silk RoadImperial SuitesImperial Suites are the most spaciouscabins available onboard the Golden Eaglemeasuring 120 sq ft (11.1 sq metres) andbenefiting from a large and luxuriousdouble bed as well as a lounge area withdressing table.Imperial Suite facilities include a privateen-suite bathroom with power shower andthe luxury of underfloor heating; individualair-conditioning; wardrobe; DVD/CD playerwith LCD screen; complimentary fullystocked minibar; safe; small library andtwo large picture windows to watch theworld go by. Exemplary service starts with acomplimentary bottle of Dom Perignonchampagne when you board the train totoast the start of your wonderfuladventure. Imperial Suite guests will alsobenefit from the option of a private guideand car service in most of the places wevisit along the route, the inclusion of drinksfrom the standard and premium bar list inthe Bar Lounge Car, a laundry service androom upgrades to the next availablecategory at the hotels which are featuredin the itinerary.

•Sleeps 2 in King Size bed•Sitting area•Remote controlled air-conditioning andheating•Recessed lighting and wardrobe•Dressing table•Personal safe•Private en-suite bathroom with full powershower and underfloor heating•Bathrobes, slippers, hairdryer and toiletriesprovided•Complimentary minibar•DVD/CD player with LCD screens•Towels and linens changed every secondday or daily on request•Complimentary tea, coffee and mineralwater available at all times•In-cabin dining available on request•Drinks from the Bar Lounge Car includedfrom the Standard and Premium Bar List(excluding Premium Wine List)•Private car and guide options in selected•cities for off-train excursion programme•Laundry service included

Imperial Suites StatisticsCabin Area 120 sq ft (11.1 sq m)Cabin Length 17ft 4ins (5.3m)Cabin Width 6ft 7ins (2m)Bed Width 5ft (1.5m)Bed Length 6ft 2ins (1.9m)Cabins per car 1 Imperial Suite (+ 2 GoldClass Cabins)

Imperial Suite Carriage Floorplan

Cabins onboard - Gold Class

Gold Class cabins are extremely well-proportioned and havebeen cleverly designed to maximise the available space as cabinsconvert from a sitting area by day to a comfortable sleepingaccommodation at night.

ExperienceGolden Eagle Persia & the Silk Road

Gold ClassAt 77 sq ft (7 sq metres) Gold Class cabins areextremely well-proportioned and haveeverything from a private bathroom withseparate power shower cubicle andunderfloor heating to a DVD/CD player, LCDscreen, safe, individual air-conditioning,wardrobe, large picture window as well asfeaturing a double lower bed and a singleupper bed.Guests in Gold Class benefit fromcomplimentary drinks off the Standard BarList in the Bar Lounge Car.• Sleeps 2 in either lower standard doublebed or bunk style•Remote controlled air-conditioning andheating•Recessed lighting and wardrobe•Personal safe•Private en-suite bathroom with full powershower and underfloor heating•Bathrobes, slippers and toiletries provided•DVD/CD player with LCD screens•Towels and linens changed every second day or daily on request•Complimentary tea, coffee and mineralwater in cabin available at all times•Drinks in the Bar Lounge Car included fromthe Standard Bar List•Laundry service available at an additional charge

Gold Class StatisticsCabin Area 77 sq ft (7 sqm)Cabin Length 11ft 8ins (3.6 sqm)Cabin Width 6ft 7ins (2m)Lower Bed Width 4ft 5ins (1.35m)Upper Bed Width 2ft 9ins (85cm)Bed Length 6ft 2ins (1.9m)Cabins per car 5

Gold Class Carriage Floorplan

D

Cabins onboard - Silver Class

Silver Class accommodation has been cleverly designed tomaximise the available space as cabins convert from a sittingarea by day to a comfortable sleeping accommodation at night.Silver class cabins are slightly more compact than Gold Class.

ExperienceGolden Eagle Persia & the Silk Road

Silver ClassSilver Class cabins, which are morecompact at 60 sq ft (5.5 sq metres),feature a small double lower bed and asingle upper bed as well as DVD/CDplayer, LCD screen, safe, individual air-conditioning, wardrobe and largepicture window.The Silver Class cabins have private en-suite wet room with a washbasin, toiletand shower.•Sleeps 2 in lower small double bed orbunk style•Remote controlled air-conditioning andheating•Recessed lighting and wardrobe•Personal safe•Private en-suite bathroom with wet-room' style shower and toilet•Bathrobes, slippers and toiletriesprovided•DVD/CD player with LCD screens•Towels and linens changed everysecond day or daily on request•Complimentary tea, coffee and mineralwater available at all times•Laundry service available at an additional charge

Silver Class StatisticsCabin Area 60 sq ft (5.5 sqm)Cabin Length 8ft 8ins (2.6m)Cabin Width 6ft 7ins (2m)Lower Bed Width 3ft 6ins (1.1m)Upper Bed Width 2ft 9ins (85cm)Bed Length 6ft 2ins (1.9m)Cabins per car 6

Silver Class Carriage Floorplan