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Central Asia on the Silk Road
26 days, Beijing to Tashkent
Itinerary
Day 1Beijing
Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting and optional group dinner of Beijing Duck.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Beijing
Visit the spectacular Great Wall of China. Opt to take in a kung fu show or a Chinese acrobats show.
Mutianyu Great Wall Visit
Climb the rolling hills of Huairou County at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. Enjoy scenic views as the wall winds along mountain ridges, and take brag-worthy photos of the wall from any of the 22 towers. The Great wall is an incredible piece of engineering stretching 6000 km west from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from nomadic northern tribes, and even though it failed in this purpose, it's still one of the country's most remarkable achievements and an iconic destination. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is located about 80km away from the Beijing City Center. The walk is approximately 5 kilometres and will take 2 to 3 hours depending on your level of fitness.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Shaolin Monk Kung Fu Show
90-180CNY per personWatch this moving performance of choreographed martial arts, complete with a story line to follow.
Beijing Acrobatics Performance
Enjoy an evening of spectacular acrobatics performed by some of China’s most talented performers and athletes. This unforgettable spectacle features Chinese-style tricks, like plate-spinning, contortion, foot-juggling, and a host of circus-style acrobatics, too.
Beijing Opera
120-180CNY per personEnjoy this form of traditional Chinese theatre that combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics. Dating back to the late 18th century, this form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Beijing/Xi'an
Take a guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with free time in the afternoon to explore before an overnight train to Xi'an.
Enjoy a guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. In the afternoon options include shopping, taking a hutong tour or visiting some of the remaining sights in the city like the Lama Temple and the Bell and Drum towers.
In the evening board the first overnight train of the journey.
Tiananmen Square
Explore one of the world's largest public squares and the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Framed by the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its Mao portrait, Mao's Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and with elaborate flag raising and lowering ceremonies at dawn and dusk, it's a place of pilgrimage for the Chinese tourists who consider it the heart of their nation.
Forbidden City Tour
Our CEO will steer around crowds and help make the most of a visit to the Forbidden City.
Basic Overnight Train (beds)
Experience overnight travel like a local. Sit back and get some well-earned (and likely much-needed) rest en route to your next stop.
Free Time
Use this time to shop or see a few more sights.
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Hutong Cycling Tour
50-100CNY per personRoll through the ancient alleyways and lanes typical of Beijing. This old area of the city is rapidly diminishing as modernization takes over, but taking to the streets by bike is the perfect way to explore the neighbourhood. See daily life in these old lanes while cycling by.
Drum and Bell Tower Visit
30CNY per personVisit the striking Drum Tower for some incredible photo ops. Back in the Han Dynasty the towers were used to echo the time to the city with bells in the morning and drums in the evening. Today the 63-ton bell still stands in one tower and drum performances happen daily in the morning and afternoon.
Lama Temple Visit
25CNY per personTour Lama Temple, or Yonghe Temple as its formally known, to learn more about the history of Buddhism in Beijing. The temple is ornately decorated with impressive frescoes, arches, and intricately carved architecture. Admire some of the statues in the different pavilions and halls, then head to the Wànfú Pavilion to see the Maitreya Buddha.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Xi'an
Arrive to Xi'an and take an orientation walk. Opt to cycle around the city walls, visit the Muslim Quarter or the Big Goose Pagoda.
Orientation Walk
Enjoy a CEO-led orientation walk close to the Xi'an hotel to help you get the lay of the land. Learn where you can find local services (like ATMs and laundromats) and, perhaps, see some city highlights. Every CEO does something slightly different for their orientation walk to show visitors what they like best about the city.
Free Time
Get out and explore.
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Big Goose Pagoda Visit
50CNY per personHead to the outskirts of the city to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a beautiful, brick Buddhist temple.
Muslim Quarter Visit
Explore the lively Muslim Quarter and its serene Great Mosque, making time to indulge in the offerings of exotic local street food stalls. At night, head out for some of the best street food in China – the spicy beef and lamb kebabs are always a favorite.
Cycling Xi'an City Walls
45-45CNY per personRent a bike and cycle the Xi’an city walls. The walls – built for protection in the Tang Dynasty and expanded in the Ming dynasty –are a great way to absorb local history. Hop off where you like and admire the views as you pedal along the 12m (39 ft) wide wall, which takes about 2 hrs to cycle along.
Meals included:
LunchDay 5Xi'an
Take a guided tour to see the Terracotta Warriors with an included lunch at a local farmer's house.
Terracotta Warriors Guided Tour
Take a guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors where more than 8,000 clay soldiers and hundreds of replica horses and chariots stand in three pits. Learn why the Emperor Qin Shihuang commissioned the statues to serve as his army in the afterlife and how they were discovered. Spend a half-day exploring this archaeological wonder.
Free Time
Get out and explore.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 6Xi'an/Dunhuang
In the morning, hop on an overnight train to Dunhuang.
Basic Overnight Train (beds)
Experience overnight travel like a local. Sit back and get some well-earned (and likely much-needed) rest en route to your next stop.
Day 7Dunhuang
Arrive to Dunhuang and take a guided visit to the UNESCO-listed Mogao Grottoes. Enjoy a free afternoon to wander the town centre or visit sights further afield.
Enjoy a free afternoon to continue exploring the city or villages in the area. Outdoor tables in the centre of town are a great place to grab a beer and some local eats. The local delicacy here is donkey. Cover it in chilis and garlic – tastes like chicken!
Mogao Grottoes Visit
Enjoy a visit to these caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; they've inspired a whole school of study called Dunhuangology. According to the Tang Dynasty records, a monk witnessed a vision of 1,000 Buddhas with golden rays. Inspired, he started the construction of the caves, which ended up spanning ten dynasties. There are 750 caves, all filled with different types of art depicting Buddhas, Apsaras, and daily life.
Free Time
Spend some time exploring the town or nearby attractions.
Day 8Dunhuang/Turpan
Opt to visit the unique Mingsha Sand Dunes for sunrise to climb the massive dunes and enjoy a camel ride. Overnight train to Turpan.
Opt to climb the massive dunes and watch the sun come up over the "desert". Take a camel ride through the dunes in the early morning sun.
In the evening, board a sleeper train to Turpan, the first stop in the Xinjiang province. Here, the culture, food and language changes from "mainland China". The Uyghur minority people speak Uyghur, a Turkic language with an arabic script. Food is more similar to Central Asian cuisine and includes rice, kebabs and handmade noodle dishes – the original spaghetti and meatballs brought to Europe along the Silk Road.
Free Time
Soak up the last of this charming city.
Basic Overnight Train (beds)
Experience overnight travel like a local. Sit back and get some well-earned (and likely much-needed) rest en route to your next stop.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Mingsha Sand Dunes Visit
120CNY per personVisit the Mingsha Sand Dunes, at the edge of town in Dunhuang. Pay your entrance fee at the gate and get transported to an empty desert. Hike in the dark to reach the top of the dunes and watch as the sun rises, turning the dunes from black and gray to white to golden. After sunrise, opt to ride a camel further into the dunes and hike up for a sandy sled ride down.
Day 9Turpan
Arrive in Turpan, the lowest point in Asia. Enjoy a city tour with a local guide including the ancient Karez water system.
Arrive to the train station and drive by private van (about 1 hr) to Turpan.
Enjoy a city tour with a local guide and learn about this interesting desert city, the ancient Karez water system and the culture of the Uyghur minority people.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Turpan City Tour
Meet the locals and find out more about this completely unique culture on a city tour. Get a taste of the Uyghur culture and language and what life is like so far west of Beijing. Wander the streets under trellised grapevines and visit the bazaar and mosque. Learn more about the ancient Karez water system, a feat of engineering allowing this arid desert region to sustain life.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Tuyoq Village Visit
30CNY per personExplore this rustic village located near the Flaming Mountains and famed for its seedless grapes. Take in the traditional Uyghur way of life as you wander around the old houses.
Emin Minaret Visit
40CNY per personThe Emin Minaret is the tallest minaret in China at 44m (144.4 ft) tall. Built between 1777 and 1778, it showcases both traditional Islamic features and local Uyghur style and architectural traditions.
Flaming Mountains Visit
50CNY per personThe Flaming Mountains are a beautiful stop outside the city of Turpan. The red sandstone hills are part of the Tian Shan mountain range near the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. These red coloured mounds have eroded over time, forming deep gullies and trenches, which give the appearance of flames when the sun hits the mountains.
Jiaohe Ruins Visit
40CNY per personLocated in the Yarnaz Valley, the city of Jiaohe was the capital of the Jushi kingdom from 108BC to 450AD. It was built on an island in the middle of a river, surrounded by steep cliffs, using the landscape as a natural defense system. It's estimated that 7,000 people once lived here. Opt to visit the site with a local guide to learn more about its rich history.
Day 10Turpan/Kashgar
Drive to Urumqi and fly to Kashgar. Take an orientation walk of the city and head out for an optional dinner.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11Kashgar
Enjoy the Sunday markets in Kashgar, including the famous Sunday bazaar and fascinating animal market.
Spend the rest of the day exploring the old town centre or the People's Square.
Animal Market
The animal market is the highlight of a trip to Kashgar. Watch as people come from miles around to bargain and barter for animals. Men in traditional Central Asia Muslim garb negotiate for the best sheep around, boys load goats on and off trucks, and barbers cut hair and trim beards in the middle of it all. Stand back and observe the frenzy.
Sunday Bazaar Market
Sunday is the best day to visit the ancient Silk Road bazaar in Kashgar. Once an important trading spot on the route, Kashgar is famous for its bazaar. While the traditional Sunday Bazaar isn't what it once was, you get a taste of what it must have been like back in the day. Past the donkey parking lot, see traditional fabrics, nuts, spices, and normal household goods being sold in the stalls.
Free Time
Make the most of the remaining time in this Silk Road city.
Optional Activities - Day 11 HideShow
People's Square Visit
Wander around Kashgar’s main square to watch locals doing their shopping and heading to the mosque.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Kashgar/Tash Rabat
Drive to the border via the Torugart Pass. Continue to Tash Rabat, a small community of Kyrgyz nomads high in the Tian Shan mountain range. Overnight in a yurt.
Settle into this idyllic setting surrounded by bright green rolling hillsides, topped with snow, icy running rivers cut through the area and kids and animals running around. Enjoy a delicious homemade meal with the family.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Border Crossing (China - Kyrgyzstan)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in a Yurt
Spend the afternoon and evening at a nomadic campsite in the mountains. Settle into a cozy yurt in traditional Kyrgyz fashion. Enjoy the icy babbling creek and kids and animals running around the area. Head into the hills for a short hike before a tasty dinner.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 13Tash Rabat/Kochkor
Enjoy the scenic mountains in the morning then drive to Kochkor to visit women at a carpet-making workshop. Enjoy a homestay in the community-based tourism (CBT) houses.
Enjoy the morning in the scenic mountains hiking, visiting the ancient stone building called Tash Rabat, playing with the kids or horseback riding.
Continue on a typical scenic Kyrgyz drive to Kochkor to visit women at a felt carpet-making workshop. Feel free to chat with the women and learn about their traditional craft.
Spend the night at a homestay in the community-based tourism (CBT) houses. CBT is an organization that helps families offer their homes to travellers.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Carpet-Making Workshop Visit
Visit the women at a felt carpet-making workshop. Feel free to chat with the women and learn about their traditional craft.
Your Local Living Moment: CBT Homestay
Enjoy a homestay in the community-based tourism (CBT) houses. CBT is an organization that helps families offer their homes to travellers. The group may split across a few houses near each other and have different experiences at each home. The families provide comfortable places to sleep, varied washing facilities from outhouses to running hot water indoors and tasty meals, but their level of interaction will vary. Keep an eye out for homemade raspberry jam!
Tash Rabat Visit
Visit the ancient stone structure in the mountains and learn more about the theories of its origin.
Optional Activities - Day 13 HideShow
Hiking
FreeHead into the mountains and explore the area on foot.
Horseback Riding
20USD per personSaddle up to explore the area by horseback, soaking in the beautiful view.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 14Kochkor/Karakol
Travel to Karakol with a guided village tour. With free time, opt to check out the Przhevalsky Museum, the local market, Dungan Mosque or the Orthodox church.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Village Tour
Head out with a guide to learn more about the area, its history and way of life of the locals who live here.
Free Time
Use free time to further explore the town.
Optional Activities - Day 14 HideShow
Dungan Mosque
FreeVisit this colourful mosque originally built in 1910 that almost resembles a Buddhist temple. This is the only mosque in the area and definitely worth checking out. The word Dungan in the temple name is a term from the Soviet-era referring to the ethnic group of Muslims of Chinese descent. The people themselves, however, call themselves Hui.
Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral Visit
FreeStop by Karakol's cathedral to admire the unique architecture. This beautiful wooden church was built in 1895, after the old structure was destroyed by an earthquake and is still used for services on sundays.
Przhevalsky Museum
FreeTour the Przhevalsky Museum, named for Nikolai Przhevalsky, the first Euopean to study the geography and nature of Central Asia. The museum is situated in a park and offers great insight into the history of the area.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 15Karakol/Cholpon-Ata
Stay in Cholpon-Ata for the night. Enjoy a free afternoon to hang out on the beach, visit the petroglyphs or take a boat tour on the lake.
Head to the resort town of Cholpon-Ata on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul.
Hang out on the beach with snow-capped mountains in the distance, visit the Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs or take a boat tour on the lake.
This is one of those town best explored by just wandering around. If you're lucky, you might even find a spot for a traditional 'banya' (Russian bathhouse).
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
Explore this Russian resort town on the lake.
Optional Activities - Day 15 HideShow
Boat Tour
100-150USD per groupHead out on a boat to explore Lake Issyk-Kul.
Cholpon-Ata Beach Visit
FreeStretch out on the beach with the locals and view the gorgeous snow-capped mountains in the background.
Cholpon-Ata Petroglyphs Visit
Visit some of the ancient petroglyphs in the area. The rocks depict people hunting animals that are now rarely found in the region or are already extinct.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 16Cholpon-Ata/Bishkek
Travel to the capital city– Bishkek. Stop en route at the Burana Tower. Enjoy free time to shop, visit the city and enjoy the nightlife.
In Bishkek, enjoy some meals and drinks out in the city, wander the local markets and bargain for tasty snacks. Catch a mashrutka (a set-route taxi) and learn how to hop on and off like a local. Visit museums and stock up on souvenirs from the craft stores in the TsUM (mall).
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Burana Tower Visit
Visit the historical site of Burana and climb the stairs to check out the view from the top. A large miniaret about 80km from Bishkek, along with some grave markers and remnants of a castle and mausoleums, are all that remains of the 9th century city of Balasagun.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Free Time
Explore the Soviet-esque capital city.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 17Bishkek
Explore the city or opt to go further afield for a hike in Ala Archa National Park.
Free Time
Head out and start exploring.
Optional Activities - Day 17 HideShow
Ala Archa National Park
Make the 40km (25 mi) journey from Bishkek to the gorgeous Ala Archa National Park in the Tian Shan Mountains. Spend some time hiking the trails to the Broken Heart Stone and discovering more of Kyrgyzstan's raw grandeur.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 18Bishkek/Tashkent
Fly to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Take an orientation walk to get to know the city.
Enjoy an optional dinner out tonight and maybe find a place to smoke a sheesha and relax.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 19Tashkent
Take an included sightseeing tour of the city with a local guide before free time to explore.
Take the metro and wander the central markets to savour the local sights, tastes, and aromas. Visit the religious centre and Koran museum to learn about the history of the city in this diverse country.
Tashkent Guided City Tour
Visit the city's highlights with a local guide. Ride the Russian-esque metro and visit the religious centre of the city and Museum of Applied Arts. Wander the neighbourhood streets and learn about daily life and history of the city and the Uzbek people.
Free Time
Explore more of this capital city.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 20Tashkent/Khiva
Fly to Urgench and drive to UNESCO-listed Khiva. Enjoy a half-day tour of this ancient city.
Explore the old town surrounded by city walls, bargain with locals at the market and wander through the madrassas, climb up minarets, and explore the dark dungeons Khiva was infamous for back in the 10th century.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Khiva Ancient City Exploration
Khiva feels like a museum city, with well-preserved city walls and ancient monuments. Wander the city on a guided tour, learn about life here and its important place in history.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 21Khiva/Bukhara
Travel day through the desert to Bukhara, one of the most charming cities in the country.
Spend a full day driving through the desert to Bukhara— it's worth the effort. Spend the evening wandering the city and getting to know the place.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 21 HideShow
Bukhara Hammam Visit
35USD per personThere are a few hammam choices in the city and they are often gender specific - Hammam Kunjak for ladies and Bozori Kord Hammam for gentlemen. Depending on the day of the week and when you want to go, your CEO can advise you on some options.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 22Bukhara
Take an included city tour with a local guide. Use some free time to visit a local hammam (bathhouse) or pick up some souvenirs.
Bukhara City Guided Tour
Join a local guide to visit the the Samanid Mausoleum, the Ark Citadel, and the Poi-i-Kalon complex. Wander around beautifully restored mosques, madrassas, and covered markets that make up the Old City.
Free Time
This is the perfect city for shopping or settle in to enjoy tea and snacks at a chaykhana.
Optional Activities - Day 22 HideShow
Bukhara Hammam Visit
35USD per personThere are a few hammam choices in the city and they are often gender specific - Hammam Kunjak for ladies and Bozori Kord Hammam for gentlemen. Depending on the day of the week and when you want to go, your CEO can advise you on some options.
Jewish Area and Synagogue Visit
FreeBukhara has a fascinating Jewish history, with Bukharan Jews speaking a Turkic-Persian dialect with a Hebrew script. The city once was home to 40,000 Jews and now has a community of about 25-30 families. The synagogue is well worth a visit (donation expected) and houses a Torah that is roughly 1,000 years old. Please note that on Friday evenings and Saturday, the Synagogue is usually closed for Shabbat.
Carpet Museum
1USD per personThe Magok-i Attari Mosque (Museum of Carpets) offers information about the art of carpet making and some fine examples to boot. Perhaps more impressively, the building the museum is located in was once used for Jewish, Muslim, and Christian services, demonstrating the diversity and open-mindedness of this intriguing city.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 23Bukhara/Samarkand
Travel on to Samarkand. Take an orientation walk and opt to visit the Amir Timur Mausoleum.
In the evening, venture out and go for dinner at one of the many delicious restaurants in the city.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Orientation With CEO
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.
Optional Activities - Day 23 HideShow
Amir Timur Mausoleum Visit
Amir Timur, known as Tamerlane, is an important figure to the city of Samarkand. He was a conqueror in the 14th century hoping to rebuild the empire of Genghis Khan and is considered the last of the great conquerors of the Eurasian steppe. Visit his mausoleum and learn more about his life and contributions.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 24Samarkand
Enjoy a tour of the city with a local guide. In the evening, enjoy a plov-cooking demonstration and dinner with a local family.
With free time, opt to explore more of the Registan or the city itself.
Samarkand City Tour
Visit the important sights of the city with a local guide. See the Shaki Zinda complex, Samarkand bazaar, Bibi Khanum, and Registan Square.
Your Local Living Moment: Plov Cooking Demonstration and Dinner
Visit a local family and learn how to make Plov, a traditional dish found all throughout Central Asia that varies from country to country and household to household. In Uzbekistan, it's most often a combination of rice, carrots, onions and lamb cooked in a massive cast iron, wok-like pan. Enjoy the delicious results for dinner.
Free Time
Explore more of the city.
Optional Activities - Day 24 HideShow
Registan Visit
Explore the mosaic-covered medressas and open spaces of the spectacular Registan, once the heart of Uzbek learning. The city blossomed under Amir Timur, a tyrannical 14th century ruler. A lover of art, Timur was responsible for the colourful domes and exquisite minarets that now form the city's evocative skyline. The spectacular Registan, one of the city's most impressive works of art, is an impressive collection of buildings and probably the most recognizable of all of Central Asia's monuments.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 25Samarkand/Tashkent
Travel back to Tashkent for a final evening together.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 26Tashkent
Depart at any time.