The Orient Silk Road Express Train

Photo credit: Roland Jung

About the Train

With their combination of remote destinations and comfortable accommodations, private train journeys open a world of discovery to adventurous travelers. The Orient Silk Road Express offers a comfortable, rewarding way to experience a legendary rail route.

Orient-Silk-Road-Express-train

Our Trips

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Train & Hotel Accommodations

On the Orient Silk Road Express private train you can relax and watch the panorama rolling out before you from your window, and there are frequent opportunities to explore the territory on guided off-train tours.

Four styles of accommodation are available aboard the Orient Silk Road Express:

  • Kalif Class (en suite with shower stall)
  • Sultan Class (en suite with wet-room-type shower)
  • Aladdin Class (WC at both ends of each car, shower at one end)
  • Ali Baba Class (WC at both ends of each car, but no shower)

Please note that a variety of cabins styles may be in use aboard the train. Decor, layout, and type and number of dining and sleeping cars on your journey may differ from the examples depicted in MIR’s literature and on our website.

Kalif Class

Kalif cabins are the most comfortable option available on the Orient Silk Road Express private train. There are four cabins to a car, each with convertible upper and lower sleeping berths, window-table, wardrobe, power outlets for 110/220 volts, and a bathroom that includes a shower stall.

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  • Sample Kalif class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Kalif class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express
  • Sample Kalif class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Kalif class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express
  • Sample Kalif class layout - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Kalif class layout - Orient Silk Road Express

Sultan Class

Sultan cabins, with six to a car, are slightly smaller than Kalif cabins. Each has convertible upper and lower berths, window-table, wardrobe, and a bathroom with a wet-room-style shower.

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  • Sample Sultan class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Sultan class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express
  • Sample Sultan class layout - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Sultan class layout - Orient Silk Road Express

Aladdin Class

Aladdin cabins have two lower berths that convert to comfortable sofas for daytime use, with storage space under the berths and above the door in each cabin. Each car has WCs at both ends and a shower compartment at one end. There are eight Aladdin Class cabins per car.

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  • Sample Aladdin class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Aladdin class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express
  • Sample Aladdin class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Aladdin class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express
  • Sample Aladdin class layout - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Aladdin class layout - Orient Silk Road Express

Ali Baba Class

Ali Baba cabins are the best-value cabin option. They are slightly smaller than the Aladdin cabins, with the same configuration and WCs at both ends of each car, but no shower. There are nine Ali Baba Class cabins per car.

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  • Sample Ali Baba class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Ali Baba class cabin - Orient Silk Road Express
  • Sample Ali Baba class layout - Orient Silk Road Express Sample Ali Baba class layout - Orient Silk Road Express

Hotel Accommodations

Hotel nights in four-star properties are commonly interspersed throughout journeys. Please review the detailed itinerary for specifics. Additional nights before and after any tour can be arranged on request.

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  • Sample hotel room - Orient Silk Road Express Sample hotel room.

Life Aboard the Train

The Orient Silk Road Express is a comfortable, though not luxurious, private train that accommodates up to 140 passengers. Average group sizes commonly range from 100 to 120 passengers, and off-train excursion groups have a maximum of 26 passengers per coach. Join travelers from around the world in the relaxed, casual environment onboard, with no need to wear formal attire on excursions or while dining. The dining car transforms into a lounge after meals.

Dining Cars

The dining car serves freshly prepared regional dishes and operates as a lounge after dinner. Water, tea, and coffee are included with your meals. A selection of soft drinks, wine, beer, and spirits is available for purchase.

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  • Orient Silk Road Express private train dining car Orient Silk Road Express private train dining car

Off-Train Tours

Rail journeys feature an extensive lineup of tours at the various stops on the routes. Private coaches and local guides whisk you away from your train for fascinating half- or full-day forays into the principal towns and cities, sometimes including an in-city dining opportunity. Your tour’s itinerary includes all the details.

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  • The Registan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo credit: Julia Schonewald Glasel The Registan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Julia Schonewald Glasel
The Orient Silk Road Express private train
Aladdin Class cabin daytime layout on the Orient Silk Road Express private train
Dinner at a Mongolian ger camp. Photo credit: Ross Hillier
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Dining car on the Orient Silk Road Express private train
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  • The Orient Silk Road Express private train The Orient Silk Road Express private train.
  • Aladdin Class cabin daytime layout on the Orient Silk Road Express private train Aladdin Class cabin daytime layout on the Orient Silk Road Express private train.
  • Dinner at a Mongolian ger camp. Photo credit: Ross Hillier Dinner at a Mongolian ger camp. Ross Hillier
  • Bukhara, Uzbekistan Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
  • Dining car on the Orient Silk Road Express private train Dining car on the Orient Silk Road Express private train.
  • The Orient Silk Road Express private train The Orient Silk Road Express private train.
  • Corridor on the Orient Silk Road Express private train Corridor on the Orient Silk Road Express private train.
  • Regional specialties on the Orient Silk Road Express private train Regional specialties on the Orient Silk Road Express private train.
  • Breakfast on the Orient Silk Road Express private train Breakfast on the Orient Silk Road Express private train.
  • Dinner on the Orient Silk Road Express private train Dinner on the Orient Silk Road Express private train.

Traveler Reviews

  • "Uzbekistan is a fascinating country to visit. Warm, welcoming people. Tremendous photography opportunities – magnificent architecture."

    D. & L. Fate

    Puyallup, WA

  • "Turkmenistan was an absolute eye-opener. The trip was very educational and overall it was great!"

    P. Scanlon

    Bisbee, AZ

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