The Legendary Silk Road by Private Train

Aladdin

Each car has eight compartments for two guests with two lower berths (28” x 72”). In the middle, below the window, you will find a table. Combined washing room/ lavatory compartments are located at both ends of the car. Additionally, a shower is located at one end of each car and you will receive a bathing robe and shower utilities.

Sultan

This category is equipped with two beds, one of which measures 44” x 73”, providing enough space for two people if required. The compartment also offers comfortable seating, a larger table and a small closet. Each compartment has its own lavatory equipped with toilet, washing basin and integrated shower with shower curtain. A total of twelve guests at most share the whole of the carriage.

Kalif

This category is equipped with two beds, one of which measures 44” x 73”, providing enough space for two people if required. Furthermore, the compartment offers a cosy seating bench, a commodious table and a wardrobe. The compartment’s exclusive en suite bathroom does not only contain a washing basin, WC and shower, but also storage space for your personal belongings. Each car of the Kalif category has only four compartments. A total of eight guests at most share the whole of the carriage.

 

No domestic flights • No long bus rides • Your luggage remains on board during the entire trip • All cars airconditioned while the train is in motion • Excellent food • After dinner restaurant cars operate as bars

Train Directory

Please find below further details pertaining to the train or click on the booklet to download. 

We are delighted to be working in association with our German associates at Lernidee in offering the Orient Silk Road Express Private Train tour which will acquaint you with the many highlights and different cultures along the Silk Road. With our comfortable rail journey you will discover places that are either absent from other itineraries or that can only be reached otherwise with much greater difficulty.

During the journey you will be accommodated on board in your comfortable compartment as well as in selected three and four star hotels. An experienced tour director will accompany you throughout the journey and be joined by knowledgeable local travel guides and a physician aboard the train.

There will be entertaining talks on the region and its people aboard the train. Some of the train’s wagons, including several sleeping cars and a dining car, were completely refurbished in 2013. The comfortable dining cars remain open with bar service into the evening and the train is air-conditioned while the train is underway. 

ADAPTORS

The sockets in the train are standard two-pole European plug sockets, as are those in most of the hotels. If you want to be absolutely sure, however, you should bring along an Eastern European plug adaptor.

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

The whole train is equipped with air-conditioning. However, this only works when the train is moving and the windows are closed. Once the train sets off, it takes about half an hour before the desired temperature is reached. If necessary, when the train is stationary, the guard can open a window in the corridor.

CLOTHING

Casual clothing is appropriate on the train, also at mealtimes. Please make sure you wear comfortable shoes for the excursions, and particularly for the city sightseeing tours. Although the Central Asian countries are much less strict about clothing than some other countries in Asia, it is inappropriate to wear shorts or skirts above the knee. As well as light clothing and headgear you should bring along warmer jackets and trousers for the cooler evenings and colder days and sturdy, comfortable shoes (without heels) for the gentle hikes.

DAILY PROGRAMME

A Daily Programme, detailing the following day’s arrangements as well as any specific information about the day’s activities is produced on board and displayed in every car.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

If you have any dietary requirements such as vegetarian, low salt, gluten free or low cholesterol, please notify the Reservations Department. We regret that not all dietary requests can be guaranteed. If you have any specific or special foods that you require we recommend that you take some with you although we will endeavour to accommodate your needs. Once on board, please speak to your tour guide on the first night to reconfirm your needs.

DOCTOR

A doctor will be travelling on the train throughout the entire trip. The doctor will be on call 24 hours a day in case of emergency. If additional, specialist medical treatment is required, the onboard staff will contact other doctors via radio.

ELECTRICITY

Onboard electricity is 110 volt DC and 220 volt AC. Please check the markings on the sockets as the use of 110 volt sockets can damage electrical equipment such as chargers and razors. Capacity overloads can cause the electricity to cut out and so we request you to recharge batteries / mobile phones in the hotels. Sockets at the ends of the carriages and in the conductor’s section are usually reliable, but are sometimes subject to voltage fluctuations so usage is at your own risk.

END OF TOUR QUESTIONNAIRE

We are always looking for ways to improve our holidays and the services provided and in order to do this we welcome feedback from our guests. Your comments are important to us therefore we request that you complete and return the questionnaire that will be provided to you.

GRATUITIES
Gratuities have been included in your holiday price.

HAIRDRYERS

Hairdryers are available in Kalif and Sultan compartments only.

HOTELS

Please leave larger items of luggage on board the train during overnight stays at hotels. Simply take everything you need for the day and night in a small travel bag. Keep your passport at hand as it is needed for check in at the hotel. Your tour guide will collect passports and return them to you after registration (possibly the next morning). Please keep your hotel registration slips safe, as these are sometimes needed at border crossings. (They are usually put loosely inside your passport.)

LAUNDRY SERVICE

There is no laundry service available on board the train. You may wish to make  use of the laundry service available during our hotel stays en route.

LOST PROPERTY

Before you disembark the train, please check your cabin to ensure you do not leave anything behind. If you discover you have left any items behind, please contact Noble Caledonia. If we are able to recover your item(s) we will contact you to arrange delivery or collection, and any costs incurred will be at your own expense.

LUGGAGE

Instead of bringing one large suitcase, we recommend using a travel bag or soft suitcase, as it is easier to store on board the train. You will also need a small bag or suitcase for the overnight stays in hotels for hand luggage, when you will probably want to leave the larger portion of your luggage on the train. The luggage will be loaded on board by porters at the station in Almaty/Ashgabat. Please make sure you attach a Lernidee label bearing your carriage and compartment number to all your bags. If you need new labels, please contact your tour guide.

MEALS

On board the train you will be provided with varied and nutritious meals. All drinks with meals are included on board the train and mineral water, tea & coffee are included throughout your journey. You will have to pay in cash for all other drinks. Because of the limited seating capacity, meals may sometimes have to be served in two sittings. In this case, sittings will be switched around halfway through the trip. If you are part of the first group to eat, please make your seat available to others 45 minutes after breakfast, and one hour after lunch and dinner. This way we can guarantee a smooth meal service for passengers in the second group.

MEDICATION

You should bring along a small first-aid kit and any medicines you need as the products you are familiar with will most probably not be available (although there will be alternatives). It is also advisable to bring anti-diarrhea drugs in case your stomach reacts to exotic food, the climate and time zone differences.

MOBILE PHONES

Ask your provider whether and where your mobile phone will work during the trip and make sure that international roaming is activated. Please remember that roaming costs will be relatively high – both for making and receiving calls.

MONEY & PRICES

The accepted currencies on board the Private Train are Euros and US dollars. You can purchase Turkmen Manats at your hotel in Ashgabat. When arriving at your hotel in Samarkand or Bukhara you can change some of your money into the Uzbek currency Sum. Make sure you are given a good amount of change. We recommend exchanging an initial amount of €50 per person. As fees are high, it is not advisable to exchange foreign currency back to Euros or US dollars. At the hotels, in international restaurants and good department stores you will often be able to pay with major credit cards. 

ONBOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS

The onboard announcement system provides you with important information and commentary on the regions. In your compartment you will find a knob that allows you to control the volume. Please keep this turned up between 8am and 9pm.

RESTAURANT CAR

At the beginning of your journey you will get a “Beverage Pass”. All your ordered drinks will be noted down and you must settle your account in Euros or US dollars at the end of the tour.

SAFES

Safes are available in Kalif compartments only.

SAFETY & SECURITY

Guards are on duty 24 hours a day. They are in constant contact with control via the radio in the train manager’s compartment (on regular trains, the only radio set is in the locomotive) and will ask them for help in emergencies (including medical emergencies).

SMOKING

Smoking is not permitted on board the train as well as at stations. In Turkmenistan smoking in public (in the streets) is not permitted. Please ask your guide for smoking facilities.

STAMPS

The tour guides are happy to help you to purchase stamps. Unfortunately, hotels often sell stamps at very inflated prices. Please be aware that it can sometimes take a few weeks for the post cards to arrive at their destination.

TOWELS

Towels and sheets are provided on the train and in the hotels and will be changed regularly. However, it is advisable to bring along one additional small hand towel and washcloths.

WATER

Never drink the tap water. You can buy half a litre of mineral water from the guard for €1.20. The water provided in carafes at mealtimes is clean and pure still mineral water from plastic containers. The ice cubes are also made from this water.

WAKE-UP CALL

Every morning on the train you will be woken by your tour guide knocking on the door of your compartment. In the hotels we will order a general wake-up call, but you are also welcome to order your own. In any case, we recommend you bring along a travel alarm clock or use the alarm function on your mobile phone to ensure you wake up at a time you prefer throughout the trip. 

PLEASE NOTE:

The above information is accurate and correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publishing. Noble Caledonia accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions and none of the facilities or features of the vessel described herein which are not specifically described in our advertisements and on your holiday invoice as being included in your holiday price will be deemed to be included in your holiday package. If you would like further information about the vessel or about any of your holiday arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact us.