Orient Silk Road Express Launches 2026 Tourist Season in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s national railway subsidiary, Uzjeldorpass, launched the first 2026 tourist train of the Orient Silk Road Express on March 30, departing from Tashkent Central Station.

The train carries 82 international tourists from 11 countries, including Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, and Singapore.

The nine-day itinerary spans four countries along the historic Silk Road, with the Uzbek segment passing through Tashkent, Samarkand, Khiva, and Bukhara.

The Orient Silk Road Express operates in partnership with German tour operator Lernidee Erlebnisreisen. In 2026, 12 trips of the special train are planned.

The new season reflects the continued expansion of railway tourism in the region. In November 2024, Uzbek Railways, together with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and Kazakh Tourism, launched the international “Zhibek Zholy” train route between Almaty and Tashkent. Following its first journey, the route was extended to Samarkand, with plans for direct service between Astana and Samarkand announced.