Home > Destinations > China, Tibet & Mongolia > The Silk Road
THE SILK ROAD
Day 1 London Heathrow to Beijing
Fly with British Airways to Beijing.
Day 2 Arrive Beijing
Arrive into Beijing where you will be met and transferred by car to the Grand
Hotel or upgrade to the Grand Hyatt Hotel. (N)
Day 3 Beijing
This morning visit the beautiful Temple of Heaven before continuing onto Tiananmen
Square the largest public square in the world. Walk through the square to
enter the Forbidden City, the seat of supreme power for the emperors of the
Ming and Qing Dynasties, where you will spend the remainder of the day exploring
the courtyards and buildings of this breathtaking complex. (B)
Day 4 Beijing
Travel through the countryside to Mutianyu for the cable car up to the Great
Wall. As you stand on the Wall and look at it snaking its way across the top
of the mountains it is easy to imagine ancient armies locked in battle on
the misty slopes. Afterwards, continue across the mountains and after lunch
visit the fascinating tombs of the Ming Emperors. Return to Beijing later
in the afternoon. (B/L)
Day 5 Beijing to Xi’an – by air
This morning transfer from your hotel to Beijing Airport for your flight to
Xi’an. You will be met on arrival and transferred to the Bell Tower
Hotel or upgrade to the Sofitel Metropole Hotel where you will stay for the
next two nights. (B)
Day 6 Xi’an
Today visit the remains of the Neolithic village at Ban Po, where four levels
of Neolithic society have been discovered dating from 6,080 BC To 5,600 BC.
Afterwards continue to the remarkable Qin Shi Huang, unearthed in 1974, and
the burial ground of the first Qin Emperor. Composed of inner and outer circles
there are three vaults of life sized terracotta warriors and horses, some
with chariots, all interred in battle formation – a site, acclaimed
by many, as the 8th wonder of the world. Also visit the nearby Huaqing Hot
Springs, a favourite beauty spot and place of relaxation for the Emperors.
(B/L)
Day 7 Depart Xi’an – by train
Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall and Grand Mosque. Later
depart by train to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, which has been
an important garrison town on the Silk Road since ancient times. Please note
that overnight will be spent on board the Train. (B)
Day 8 Arrive Lanzhou
Arrive into Lanzhou early in the morning where you will be met and transferred
by car to your Lanzhou Sunshine Plaza Hotel where you will stay for one night. Later
today visit the Gansu Provincial Museum, which exhibits many items of pottery
relating to the Silk Road. Also visit White Pagoda Hill on top of the hill the
White Pagoda Temple offers good views across the city. (B)
Day 9 Lanzhou to Xiahe
Today it is an interesting drive via the town of Linxia to the Tibetan town
of Xiahe – 2,920 meters above sea level – which is situated in
the beautiful valley of the Daxia River and is surrounded by mountains. Stay
overnight in the basic Labrung Tianjing Guesthouse. (B/L/D)
Day 10 Xiahe to Lanzhou
Lanzhou to Dunhuang – by train
Xiahe is an important Tibetan monastery town. This morning visit the Labrang Monastery
to see the Ser Kung Golden Temple, Institute of Medicine and Prayer Hall. In the
evening depart Lanzhou on the overnight train to Dunhuang. Please note that
overnight will be spent on board the train. (B)
Day 11 Arrive Dunhuang
You will be met on arrival and proceed by car to the Dunhuang
Legend Hotel where you will stay for the next two nights. Later visit the Crescent Moon
Lake, the Singing Hill, some of the oldest sections of the Great Wall. (B)
Day 12 Dunhuang
Today visit the Mogao Caves which are the world’s largest example of Buddhist mural
art. (B/L)
Day 13 Dunhuang to Urumqi – by air
Urumqi to Turpan
Today fly to Urumqi and then transfer by car to Turpan, the oasis desert town at
the crossroads of the Silk Road. On your arrival you will continue onto the Turpan
Petroleum Hotel where you will stay for the next two nights. (B)
Day 14 Turpan
Turpan is both the northern route to Central Asia and the southern route to Pakistan
and India. Later today visit the ruins of Gaochang, the Bozaikrick Thousand Buddha
Cave and the Flaming Mountain. (B/L)
Day 15 Turpan to Urumqi
Depart by car and travel through the Gobi desert to Urumqi via the ancient
ruins of the town of Jiaohe. Stay for two nights at the Royal International Hotel. (B/L)
Day 16 Urumqi
Today the major attraction includes a visit to the Heavenly Lake with its
snow capped forested mountains. Kazakh people who are semi nomadic and live
in yurts inhabit this area. Also visit the Xinjiang Provincial Museum. (B/L)
Day 17 Urumqi to Kashgar - by air
Today you are at leisure. In the evening transfer to Urumqi airport for the
flight to Kashgar, an important Silk Road city, and on arrival you will be
met and transferred to the Tianyuan International Hotel for your two night stay. (B/L)
Day 18 Kashgar
Today tour the city visiting the bazaars, Id Kah Mosque and the tomb of Abakh
Hoja. Please note that if possible you should time your visit to Kashgar to
coincide with the wonderful Sunday Bazaar. (B/L)
Day 19 Kashgar to Naryn
Early this morning depart Kashgar and drive to Sino-Kyrgyzstan border at the
Torugart Pass. After the border formalities you will be met in Kyrgyzstan
and continue by car to Naryn where you will stay overnight at the Celestial
Mountain Inn. (B)
Day 20 Naryn to Issyk-Kul
This morning leave Naryn and drive to Issyk-Kul Lake. Extremely deep and warmed
by thermal activity, over the centuries the lake has been something of an
oasis in this inhospitable mountain environment. With diverse flora and fauna
Issyk-Kul Lake and the surrounding environments are rightly considered to
be one of Central Asia most remarkable locations. Stay for two nights at the
Royal Beach Hotel. (B)
Day 21 Issyk-Kul
Today you are at leisure to relax and enjoy Issyk-Kul (B)
Day 22 Issyk-Kul to Bishkek
This morning drive to Bishkek. The capital and industrial centre of Kyrgyzstan,
Bishkek is a city of wide avenues, handsome buildings and Soviet heritage.
The gesturing statue of Lenin can still be seen in the city’s vast central
square, yet it is the permanently snow capped Kyrgyz Alatau mountain range
which towers over Bishkek providing a quite stunning backdrop. Stay for two
nights at your Silk Road Lodge Hotel or upgrade to the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
(B)
Day 23 Bishkek
Today enjoy a full day sightseeing in and around the city. Places of particular
interest include the blue-steepled Orthodox Church on Jibek Jolu, a well preserved
Russian wooden house and the Frunze House-Museum – the place of birth
of the Russian revolutionary who was a major player in the October revolution.
(B)
Day 24 Bishkek to Tashkent – by air
This morning transfer to Bishkek Airport in good time to catch your onward
flight to Tashkent. On your arrival you will be met and transferred to the
Miran International Hotel where you will stay for the next two nights. (B)
Day 25 Tashkent
Today enjoy a sightseeing tour of Tashkent. Places of interest include the
16th Century Kukeldash Madrassah which is being restored as a museum and the
Kaffali-Shash Mausoleum. Tashkent also houses many museums of Uzbek and pre-Uzbek
culture. These include the State Art Museum, which houses a collection of
paintings and ceramics as well as the Bukharian royal robes. The Museum of
Decorative and Applied Arts exhibits embroidered wall hangings and reproduction
antique jewellery. (B)
Day 26 Tashkent to Urgench – by air
Urgench to Khiva
This morning return to Tashkent Airport and catch your onward flight to Urgench.
On your arrival you will be met and driven to the UNESCO World Heritage city
of Khiva where you will stay at the Sheherezada Hotel or upgrade to the Asia
Hotel for two nights. (B)
Day 27 Khiva
This morning start your tour of Khiva at Ichon-Qala, the area where the majority
of the architectural monuments are located. Places of interest are the Kunya-Ark
citadel and the Tosh-Khovli Palace, residence of the Khan, which had been
preserved intact along with its ornate gates. This area prominently displays
the simplicity and monumentality of medieval architectural forms, the delicateness
of woodcarvings, and skilled interweaving of ornamentation. The silhouettes
of its towering minarets, hemmed in by clay built houses with their flat roofs
and surrounded by the fortress's powerful clay built walls, give a clear idea
of a typical Central Asian feudal city. (B)
Day 28 Khiva to Bukhara
Today leave Khiva and continue by car to Bukhara where you will stay for two
nights. The settlement of Bukhara in Uzbekistan dates back to the 8th Century
when it was, for 200 years, the centre of an expanding Islamic kingdom prospering
as the trade and intellectual centre for Central Asia. Stay for two nights
at the Asia Hotel. (B)
Day 29 Bukhara
This morning commence your sightseeing tour of Bukhara. One of the most ancient
cities of Uzbekistan Bukhara is believed to have been founded in the 13th
Century BC during the reign of Siyavushids who came to power 980 years before
Alexander the Great. There are more than 350 mosques and 100 religious colleges
in the city and sights such as the Poi-Kalon, Kos Madras, Ismail Samani Mausoleum
and Kalian Minaret are not to be missed. (B)
Day 30 Bukhara to Samarkand
via Shakrisabz
This morning leave Bukhara and drive to Samarkand stopping en-route at Shakrisabz.
Remains of Ak Saray Palace and old city walls can be found in just north of
the city centre, however, the most beautiful historical part of Shakrisabz
is the Kok Gumbaz mosque and Dorut Tilovat. Afterwards continue onto Samarkand
where you will stay for two nights at the Samarkand Plaza Hotel. (B)
Day 31 Samarkand
Today commence your sightseeing of this famous city. Samarkand is situated
in the valley of the River Zarafshan and is the second largest city of Uzbekistan
roughly the same age as the city of Babylon or Rome. The history of Samarkand
is about 2,500 years old and has witnessed the times of Alexander the Great,
the Arabic Conquest, Genghis-Khan and Tamerlane. Majestic and beautiful Samarkand
has attracted poets and historians and to this day is known as the ‘Rome
of the East’. (B)
Day 32 Samarkand to Tashkent
Tashkent to Almaty – by air
This morning, after breakfast, leave Samarkand and return to Tashkent where
you will catch your onward flight to Almaty. Stay overnight at the Ekipazh Hotel near the airport.(B)
Day 33 Almaty to London
Depart Almaty on your British Airways flight (Sunday, Tuesday and Friday only) to London Heathrow. (N)
STAYING ON
Pandas at Chengdu can easily be incorporated with direct
flights from both Lanzhou and Urumqi. From Chengdu it is also possible
to visit Lijiang, a quintessential, atmospheric and beautiful Chinese
town.
Focus solely on Central Asia spending more time in the little-visited
country of Krygysztan and its larger more famous neighbour Uzbekistan.
Shorten this tour in China in certain points along the itinerary with regular flights back to Beijing from Dunhuang, Urumqi and Kashgar. This way, even with time constraints, a section of this great journey can still be experienced.
Planning your journey: We can design a unique journey to suit you as our tours are totally tailor made. By combining your own ideas with our knowledge and experience we can help you to create your own journey tailored exactly to your requirements Once you have formulated your ideas, or if you require some general or specific advice, please call us on 01892 515966 or simply send your ideas to pettitts@btconnect.com. On receipt of your enquiry we will provide you with a full written quotation together with our suggestions and recommendations.
A Guide to Price – THE SILK ROAD
Prices vary according to selected airlines, hotels and season, however, an indication to the current cost of this itinerary is from £6,910. All prices are per person and are based on a minimum of TWO persons travelling together and sharing a twin bedded room with meals as indicated. If you wish to travel alone we will be pleased to assist you with your arrangements and can provide a proposal on request.
Note: Meal Basis (N) = No Meal; (B) = Breakfast; (L) = Lunch; (D) = Dinner
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