One-Off Silk Road and Tibet Combination Among New Luxury Rail Adventures for 2017

Traveling aboard firstly the Golden Eagle and then the Shangri-La Express, this one-off tour joins Russia and Tibet with a host of Central Asian adventures in between. Also new for 2017 is: a pioneering rail adventure combining China with the world’s highest railway pass and Tibet’s mystical capital; a tour of the Southern Caucasus; and a festive New Year’s journey to Vienna.

From the moment guests climb aboard their private hotels-on-wheels, they can relax in the knowledge that everything is taken care of. Expect en-suite cabins, fine dining menus, fully guided sightseeing, onboard activities such as vodka tastings and language lessons, and even a travelling doctor. And, also new for 2017, is an onboard Wellness Programme, first available on the 23 July departure of the Trans-Siberian Express tour. A variety of chair and floor-based yoga classes, suitable for all abilities, will be led by instructor Kate Kearns to contrast with the window-gazing.

NEW TOURS FOR 2017

Silk Road & Tibet:

Connecting west and east, Europe and Asia, this new, one-off 23-day journey-of-a-lifetime takes intrepid passengers from Moscow on board the luxurious Golden Eagle along the Silk Road to the Tibetan city of Lhasa. The highlights along the route are almost too innumerable to count, with each successive time zone offering travel treasures; from the expanse of the Kara Kum desert in Kazakhstan and Khiva’s majestic mosques and minarets, to Uzbekistan’s city of Samarkand, whose very name conjures up romantic images of the Silk Road. Once in China, guests will experience not only the Shangri-La Express Private Train but also join a high altitude train that will take them on a 14-hour daylight journey along the ‘Roof of the World’ line to a summit finish in Lhasa, cresting the 5,072m Tangula Pass - the world’s highest. Price: from $24,595pp including 8 nights in hotels, 10 nights aboard Golden Eagle and 4 nights on the Shangri-La Express. Departs 22 September.

Tibet & China Rail Discovery:

After three days in the Tibetan capital, home to an amazing UNESCO collection of palaces and temples, including the Dalai Lama’s Summer Palace, guests join the ‘Roof of the World’ line to Golmud. Passengers are then met by the Shangri-La Express, their base for the next eight days. The train snakes northwards across the grand wilderness of China, through stunning scenery and passed ancient cities, among them Xining, Jiayuguan (for the Great Wall of China), Dunhuang, Turpan, Kashgar and Urumqi – the final port of call on this pioneering adventure. Price: from $12,995pp including 5 nights in hotels and 6 nights aboard the Shangri-La Express. Departs 6 October.

South Caucasus Explorer:

This is a unique adventure, weaving through Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, flanked by the stunning scenery of the Caucasian Mountains. The eight night tour on board the Golden Eagle begins in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, a city rich with history and where the skyline is dominated by the snow-covered Mt Ararat in the distance. Heading north towards Tbilisi, highlights will include historic monasteries and churches and the shores of the stunning Lake Sevan. Once in Georgia, guests will not only soak up the architectural charms of the capital but also enjoy the wine-making Kakheti region, the cave city at Uplistsikhe, and visit Gori – birthplace of Joseph Stalin. The final destination is Baku, Azerbaijan, on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Price: from $12,995pp including 3 nights in hotels and 5 nights aboard the Golden Eagle. Departs 17 October.

New Year in Vienna:

Venture through the winter wonderland of Central Europe on board the Golden Eagle Danube Express en route to Vienna for a festive New Year. After two nights in Budapest, guests board the luxury train, home for the next five nights. The route heads into Austria and the city of Graz on the cusp of the Alps, for Baroque palaces and tastings of the finest local food and wine, before reaching Vienna in time for New Year. Highlights in the Austrian capital include a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride, a Viennese Waltz dancing lesson and VIP tickets for a New Year’s Eve Gala in the famous ballroom of Vienna City Hall. As the clock strikes 12 it will be possible to step out onto the grand balcony to oversee the magnificent fireworks, before dancing the night away to the Blue Danube waltz. Guests spend the first couple of days of 2018 travelling through the Czech Republic and Slovakia before returning to Budapest at the culmination of their adventure. Price: from $7,495pp including 3 nights in hotels and 5 nights aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express. Departs 28 December.

ALL PRICES ABOVE are per person, based on two sharing a Heritage/Silver Class cabin, and include all soft drinks and alcoholic drinks with meals, fully guided off-train excursions programme, porterage throughout, arrival and departure transfers, the services of a Tour Manager and all gratuities. Hotel accommodation is 5-star. Flights are extra.

For further information contact Golden Eagle Luxury Trains

goldeneagleluxurytrains.com +44 (0)161 928 9410.