Tourist season 2026 has officially kicked off in Uzbekistan as the first trip of the Orient Silk Road Express departed from Tashkent Central Railway Station on March 30.

The train, operated by Uzrailpass, a subsidiary of Uzbekiston Temir Yullari, is carrying 82 international tourists from 11 countries, including Austria, Germany, France, the UK, the US, and Australia, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

The nine-day tour spans four countries along the historic Silk Road. In Uzbekistan, the route passes through iconic cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Khiva, and Bukhara.

The Orient Silk Road Express is operated in partnership with German tour operator Lernidee Erlebnisreisen, with 12 trips planned for 2026.

The launch reflects a broader push to expand rail tourism in the region. In 2024, Uzbekiston Temir Yullari teamed up with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and Kazakh Tourism to introduce the cross-border “Zhibek Zholy” train on the Almaty-Tashkent rail route. Following its debut, the route was extended to Samarkand, with plans later announced for a direct link between Astana and Samarkand.