(A UNIT OF NOVA GROUP OF COMPANIES)

NOVA TRAVEL

Persia & the Silk Road aboard the Golden Eagle-18 Days

Itinerary-18 Days 

Day 1: To Moscow

Transfer to the Hotel for 1 night. Welcome reception and dinner. (D)

Day 2: Moscow

Board the Golden Eagle and depart Moscow on the 14-night train journey to Tehran. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Karakum desert

Travel through the remote scenery of Kazakhstan's Karakum desert. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Baikonur

Morning arrival into Baikonur, the home of the Russian space programme. View the launch platform, from which Yuri Gagarin travelled into space in 1961. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Tashkent

Half-day tour of the capital of Uzbekistan including the old town quarter, the museums of railway and applied sciences. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Samarkand

Morning tour of Bibi Kharum mosque, the Ulugh Beg observatory and Registan Square. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Bukhara

Arrive in the oasis city of Bukhara. Visit The Ark, the fortified residence of the Emirs of Bukhara, and Emir's Palace of the Moon and Stars. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Khiva

Afternoon arrival in Urgench and transfer to the 2,500-year-old city of Khiva. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Ashgabat

Morning arrival in the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, and take a tour of the city's major sights and museums, including the National Museum and Kipchak mosque. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Merv

Arrive in Mary and transfer by bus to Merv, once an important stop on the Silk Road. View the gigantic walls, ramparts, and many ruins of this Unesco world heritage site. (B, L, D)

Day 11: Mashhad

Stop in Mashhad to visit the Imam Reza Holy Shrine, the largest mosque in the world in terms of its dimension, followed by a tour of the Nader Shah museum. After lunch, tour the tomb of Ferdowsi, the father of Persian literature. (B, L, D)

Day 12: Rayen • Mahan

Afternoon arrival into Rayen to visit the impressive castle, which has excellent views of Mount Hezar. Travel by road to Mahan to explore the Royal Palace with its Prince Garden and tomb. Rejoin the train for the journey to Yazd. (B, L, D)

Day 13: Yazd

Full-day tour to the Water Museum, the Zoroastrian fire temple and the Jame mosque. Other highlights include the Amir Chakhmaq complex. (B, L, D)

Day 14: Isfahan

Full-day tour of the city's monuments, including Naghshe Jahan Square, the Imam and Sheikh Lotfollah mosque and the beautiful Khaju bridge. Conclude with a visit to the Vank Church in the Armenia quarter. (B, L, D)

Day 15: Persepolis • Shiraz

Morning tour of Persepolis, Darius the Great's summer capital, to view the magnificent stone terrace and palace. Continue to Nagsh-e-Rostam, the site of the royal tombs and Sassanian rock reliefs. Afternoon drive to Shiraz to view the Quran Gate, the Hafez Tomb and Vakil Cathedral. Rejoin the train for the journey to Tehran. (B, L, D)

Day 16: Tehran

Afternoon arrival into Tehran. Transfer to the Hotel (or similar) for 2 nights.

Day 17: Tehran

Morning visit to the Crown Jewels Museum in the Central Bank of Iran building, with its vast array of crown jewels used by the Qajar and Pahlavi royalty. Morning visit to the Golestan Palace, a Unesco world heritage site. Farewell dinner at the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 18: Onward travel
Transfer to the airport or continue with your onward travel arrangements. (B)​