Silk Road Tashkent to Beijing

Tashkent to Beijing - The Great
Silk Road
Extending for some 6,500 kilometres, the Silk Road was once the main cultural and trade highway between
East and West. Along its meandering trails and mountain passes, caravans and merchants, monks and
pilgrims all played their part in laying the foundations of some of history’s greatest civilisations.
Travelling in their footsteps, you will journey across Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China, crossing once remote
landscapes that today lie scattered with some of Central Asia and China’s most famous cultural gems. You’ll
travel from Bukhara, once a major staging post on the old Silk Route, and pass by the birthplace of
Tamerlane, to stand before the spectacular Islamic treasures of Samarkand.
From Bishkek you then cross over the mountain passes of Krygyzstan, travelling on to the fabled market town
of Kashgar and into the cultural melting pot of northern China, where you will visit Urumqi, the oasis at Turpan
and the Buddhist caves at Dunhuang, before taking in the spectacular imperial highlights of X’ian, Beijing and
the iconic and incomparable Great Wall of China.
Highlights
Travel the ancient Silk Road from Tashkent to Beijing
Visit the fabled cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Kashgar
Stay in a yurt camp close to the old caravanserai of Tash Rabat
Explore the cultural treasures of Dunhuang and Xi’an
A chance to enjoy the famous imperial wonders of Beijing
Tour Includes:
4 internal flights
18 nights three and four star hotels, 2 nights yurt camp, 1 night sleeper train
20 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
Private guided sightseeing
Private driver and vehicle
Entrance fees included as per itinerary
Private guided transfers to and from all airports
Please note the prices shown are per person and based on two persons sharing a twin or double room
Itinerary
Day 1: Tashkent
Early arrival in Tashkent and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon
enjoy a city sightseeing tour of modern Tashkent.
Day 2: Tashkent - Bukhara
Fly to Bukhara, a major staging point on the Silk Road. The remainder of
the day is free to explore the town and the old city walls. (B)
Day 3: Bukhara
Full day guided tour visiting the most important sights of this fabulous city. See the Ark Citadel, the royal
fortress palace and the Zindan prison in which two British officers were kept during the "Great Game" in the
19th century, before being executed in Registan Square; the Bolo-Khauz Mosque with its beautiful carved
wooden pillars; Kalyan Square with its great minaret, and the Ismael Samani Mausoleum dating from the 10th
century. (B)
Day 4: Bukhara - Samarkand
Day 5: Samarkand
Samarkand is the mythical, evocative name of one of the key trading
cities of the ancient Silk Road. See the exotic sights of Samarkand on a
full day tour, including Tamerlaine's Tomb, Ulugbek's observatory, Shahi-Zinda and of course Registan Square with its fantastic blue tiled
madrassahs on three sides. It is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture
and no picture can convey the magnificence of this square. (B)
Day 6: Samarkand - Tashkent
Drive through cotton plantations to Tashkent, spend the afternoon
seeing some of the capital's museums or wandering the bazaars. (B)
Day 7: Tashkent - Bishkek
An early morning flight takes you to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.Take a short sightseeing tour of
Bishkek. Visit the main square called Ala Too (formerly Lenin Square), the State History Museum and the vast
bazaar. This afternoon enjoy a visit to Ala Archa Canyon, part of the Ala Archa National Park. Walk up into the
mountains for amazing views over the park. (B)
Day 8: Bishkek - Son Kul
This morning drive via the Burana Tower, the sole remnant of the trading
city of Balasagun to Son Kul Lake, surrounded by mountains this
beautiful area is the summer home to nomads.(B,L,D)
Day 9: Son Kul - Tash Rabat
Leaving the lake head south to the ancient caravanserai of Tash Rabat,
stay in a yurt camp nearby and explore the area in the afternoon. (B, L,
D)
Day 10: Tash Rabat - Kashgar
Travelling through towering mountains arrive at the land border between
Kyrgyzstan and China and cross the impressive Torugart Pass (3574m)
into China. The cool mountains give way to remote desert landscapes
as you approach the fabled town of Kashgar. (B)
Day 11: Kashgar
A visit to Kashgar is like going back in time, to the era of the Silk Road. The majority of the people in Kashgar
are Uighurs who still wear their traditional costumes and lead a centuries-old way of life. Enjoy a sightseeing
tour, including the Abakh Hoja Mausoleum, the vast Id Kah Mosque and the old town with its maze of twisting
alleyways. (B)
Day 12: Kashgar - Urumqi
No visit to Kashgar would be complete without a visit to the famous
Sunday Market. Teeming with life, 100,000 people converge to haggle
for bolts of silk, knives, furs, jewellery, fruit, sheep and even camels!
Later in the evening take the flight to Urumqi. (B)
Day 13: Urumqi
This morning enjoy a city tour of Urumqi. Visits include the Red Hill Park, the impressive 18th century Pagoda
and the Regional Museum with its eerie exhibition of mummies from different Xinjiang tombs. In the afternoon
visit Heavenly Lake. (B)
Day 14: Urumqi - Turpan
A two-hour drive takes you to Turpan, a beautiful oasis on the edge of
the vast Taklamakan desert. Visit the ancient ruined city of Jiaohe, the
Buddhist caves of Bezeklik, the ancient Karez underground irrigation
system stretching some 3000km, and the Grape Valley. (B)
Day 15: Turpan - Dunhuang
Continue sightseeing in Turpan. See the Emin Minaret, the old ruined
city of Gaochang, the Flaming Mountains and the Tombs of Astana,
then transfer to the train station for the overnight train to Dunhuang. (B)
Day 16: Dunhuang
Arrive in Dunhuang. Visit the Mingsha Hill and Crescent Moon Spring where you can take a camel ride to the
top of the enormous sand dunes for amazing views of the crystal clear spring. Then spend most of the day at
Mogoa the Buddhist shrines. Known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, the site was first carved out of the cliffs
in 366 AD and there are 492 preserved caves with 2415 coloured statues and 45,000 square metres of
murals.
Day 17: Dunhuang - Xi'an
Fly to Xi'an and transfer to your hotel. Xi'an is a treasure trove of
Chinese civilisation, a witness to the glories of 11 dynasties including
the Qin, Han and Tang. Go with your guide in the afternoon for a
sightseeing tour, including the City Walls enclosing the old town, the
12th century Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter, and the Shaanxi
Museum. (B)
Day 18: Xi'an
Visit the Neolithic village of Banpo followed by the highlight of any trip to Xi'an - the Terracotta Warriors and
Horses of the Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. About 8000 life-sized infantrymen, archers and horses guard the
tomb of the first Emperor of Qin and date from 2200 BC. (B)
Day 19: Xi'an - Beijing
Take a fast train to the capital in just 5 hours. Beijing is a city of
contrasts, both modern and ancient, a huge metropolis with a population
of 13 million people. In the afternoon visit the Temple of Heaven, built in
1420 A.D. the Ming Dynasty. (B)
Day 20: Beijing
A full day sightseeing tour through the history of Beijing and China, including Tiananmen Square and the
Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is the largest plaza on earth, covering 100 acres. Walk through the square
and enter the Forbidden City through the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its famous portrait of Chairman Mao.
In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace and enjoy a walk in the delightful gardens by Kunming Lake. (B)
Day 21: Beijing
Today drive out to the Mutianyu section of Great Wall for a guided tour of this fantastic structure. The Great
Wall is one of the wonders of the world, begun under the Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi (3rd century BC) who
established a united China and this remarkable feat of engineering snakes 6000 kilometres across the
mountains of northern China. (B)
Day 22: Beijing
After breakfast transfer to the airport, where your tour will end. (B)
Accommodation
Bukhara
Minzifa Hotel
Xi'an
Xi'an Garden Hotel
Bishkek
Silk Road Lodge
Tashkent
Lotte City Hotel
Kashgar
Barony Hotel
Samarkand
Malika Prime Hotel
Beijing
Duge Hotel