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The Silk Road
19 Days/18 Nights - Gateway: Beijing
Standard Tour: from £1955pp
Prices valid for 2008
Grade: Adventurous
Deluxe upgrade available
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| The Silk Road is one of the most amazing journeys in Asia. From the imperial metropolis of Xian and its famed Army of Terracotta Warriors to the vibrant oasis towns of Kashgar and Turpan, witness windswept desert fortresses, endless mirages, snow-capped peaks and lively night markets. Explore medieval Tibetan monasteries and caves sheltering thousands of ancient Buddha images. Experience the rich convergence of cultures and religions and embrace the warm Uighur hospitality as we travel one of the world’s greatest ancient trade routes. |
Day 1-3: Beijing
Start your journey to China with its most formidable city, Beijing, the historical and cultural heart of the Middle Kingdom. On arrival, transfer to your hotel for welcome drinks and a tour briefing with your tour leader. In Beijing we visit famous sights such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the awesome Great Wall - China’s most famous historic landmark. Explore the alleyways and hutongs of Beijing’s backstreets by rickshaw, feast on Peking Duck and watch an amazing display of acrobatic skill. On day 3 we board our train for an overnight journey to Xian.
Stay 2 nights at the Novotel Xinqiao plus overnight train to Xian |
Day 4-5: Xian
Xian is the starting point of our Silk Road journey. We visit the amazing Terracotta Army, the Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian’s Great Mosque. Admire the view from the Ming city walls and explore the bustling Muslim quarter before boarding the overnight train to Lanzhou.
Stay 1 night at the Bell Tower Hotel plus overnight train to Lanzhou |
Day 6: Lanzhou
Lanzhou, capital of the vast Gansu province and nestled strategically into a narrow valley, was once a major transportation hub and garrison on the Silk Road and is today a sprawling yet fascinating chinese city with a large muslim (Hui) population. We explore the local action along the banks of the Yellow River climb up to the peak of White Pagoda Hill for incredible views over this vast city.
Stay 1 night at the Lanzhou Legend |
Day 7-9: Xiahe
We depart Lanzhou early for our long journey to the spectacular Bingling Si, the Thousand Buddha Caves carved into the cliffs above Liujiaxia Lake. We take time to admire these amazing Qin dynasty carvings before continuing our journey on to the Tibetan town of Xiahe in the remote south-west of Gansu province. Xiahe is a stunning town surrounded by soaring mountains and bustling with pilgrims circumambulating the town in colourful dress. We visit the famous Labrang Monastery – the most important monastery outside of Tibet - and visit a local family in the Sangke grasslands. The rest of the day is free for further exploration before returning to Lanzhou via Linxia to board the overnight sleeper train to Jiayuguan.
Stay 2 nights at the Overseas Tibetan Hotel plus overnight train to Jiayuguan |
Day 10: Jiayuguan
The Jiayuguan region formed China’s western boundary during the Ming Dynasty period. This area’s vast desert landscape provides a stunning contrast to the backdrop of snow capped peaks. We visit an ancient frontier fortress, and head out to remote remnants of the Great Wall where we take a short climb for some spectacular views over this wild and beautiful region.
Stay 1 night at the Huayuan Hotel |
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Day 11-14: Dunhuang & Turpan
Travelling by road we continue to the oasis town of Dunhuang, set amidst rolling sand dunes. The great attraction of this region is the spectacular Mogao Caves – home to some of the most stunning ancient Buddhist cave art in existence and the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism. The area’s dry desert climate has ensured that many of the images remain well preserved over the centuries. We connect with the overnight train to Turpan in Xinjiang province - an oasis town set amidst a huge expanse of desert inhabited mainly by Uighur people of Turkic origin. We visit the bustling bazaar, the Emin Minaret and the ancient ruins of the town of Jiaohe. We have opportunities to lunch with a Uigher family and visit local vineyards famous for the wines they produce. We travel through the Flaming Mountains and stop at Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves for an amazing visit before returning to town.
Stay 1 night at the International Hotel, Dunhuang, overnight train to Turpan and 2 nights at the Oasis Hotel, Turpan |
Day 15-19: Urumqi & Kashgar
Today we drive through the famous Gobi Desert to Urumqi where we see the ancient antiquities in the Provincial Museum before flying to Kashgar. This fascinating frontier town is still evocative of its long period as a key port of call on the Silk Road. We arrive in time for the fascinating Sunday Bazaar and animal trading market to experience the magic of colours and cultures, trading as they have done for centuries. Our visit to Id Kah Mosque and our backstreet walking tour through the old city takes us back to the medieval era and a melting pot of nationalities. We fly back to Urumqi and take a day trip to Lake Tianchi (Lake of Heaven), surrounded by mountains and rich green forests and an amazing contrast to the nearby desert landscapes. We bid farewell to this incredible part of the world and our fascinating journey end on Day 19 with an airport transfer.
Stay 2 nights at the Xinjiang Hotel, and 2 nights at the Taxinan Barony, Kashgar |
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18 night tour includes all breakfasts, two lunches, a ll road transport by modern air-conditioned vehicles, flights within China, 4 overnight trains, 30 minute camel trek, English speaking guide and transfers if arriving and departing on day of tour. Entrance fees of approx. US140 to pay locally. An above average level of fitness and a keen sense of adventure are required. Price based on twin share (excluding flights). |
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