Great Silk Road Adventure

1st Day

Beijing

Today your flight will touch down in Beijing, the capital city with a history of 3000 years. As the first stop of this trip, Beijing is a convenient transportation hub and it will show you the history, culture and development of China. Upon your arrival, we will expect you at the airport after your baggage reclaim and customs clearance, and then escort you to check in at the hotel. Relax during the rest time of the day to recover from the jet leg and prepare for your Silk Road tour.
Accommodation : In Beijing
 

 2nd Day

Beijing

Here comes another day! you will enjoy your breakfast time at the hotel restaurant and then we will accompany you to walk around the largest city square Tian’anmen Square,  there have been countless political and historical events, and witnessed the establishment of China. Next, we will transfer to visit the famous The Forbidden City, the largest imperial palace in China during the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years. It was the Chinese royal palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. After the exploration of the Forbidden City, we will head to The Temple of Heaven, which is located in the southern part of Beijing, and has been one of the most holy places for the whole country for more than five centuries. And then we will walk around the most famous commercial street Xiushui Street, also called the Silk Road Street, you will find the most ethnic goods and the delicious Chinese cuisine.
Accommodation : In Beijing

3rd Day

Beijing

In the morning, we will pick you up from the hotel lobby and head to the Badaling Great Wall with about 2 hours driving. Badaling Great Wall is one of the seven wonders of the world and the symbol of China. It is the most impressive and the most visited section of the Great Wall of China. Constructed in 1502 during the Ming Dynasty, the Badaling Great Wall once served as an important military fortification. Many leaders from China and around the world, like Richard Nixon, Margaret Thatcher, had all visited this section of the wall. you will spend a few hours to explore the Great Wall and then drive you to the next stop Ming Tomb,  Also known as the “13 Tombs”, this is a collection of mausoleums of the 13 out of 17 of the Ming Dynasty emperors. The tomb that can be visited is that of Emperor Wanli, who reigned from 1537 to 1620, and his two empresses. Unearthed in 1956, this is literally an underground palace located 27m below ground surface. thereafter, we will transfer to the Sacred road, a site which is affiliated with the Ming Tombs, it is a main road leading to all the tombs. The road, seven kilometers long, has a stone memorial arch, Great Red Gate (Dahongmen), a stele pavilion, stone statues and the Dragon and Phoenix Gate (Longfengmen) for you to visit.
Accommodation : In Beijing

4th Day

Beijing Xi'an

Today is the last day in Beijing and we will do an exploration at  the Summer Place, a former imperial summer resort. Situated in the Haidian District northwest of Beijing City, the Summer Palace is 15 kilometers from central Beijing. Being the largest and most well-preserved royal park in China, it has greatly influenced Chinese horticulture and landscape with its famous natural views and cultural interests. It has long since been recognized as 'The Museum of Royal Gardens'. enjoy the scenery while walking or you may take a boat around the Summer Palace. After the visit, your guide will escort you to explore the alleyway -"Hutong" by riding on a traditional rickshaw to catch close-up glimpses of local life.
In the afternoon, you will end your trip in Beijing and take a flight to the ancient city Xi'an, the air journey will take about 2 hours. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel check in.
Accommodation : In Xi'an
 

6th Day

Xi'an Lanzhou

This morning you will start your journey from the Shaanxi History Museum, This provincial museum is one of the major museums in China. It holds numerous unearthed cultural artifacts from within the Shaanxi province as well as the rest of China. After that, stroll around the Xian Ancient City Wall, an extension of the old Tang Dynasty structure boasting the most complete city wall that has survived through the long Chinese history. The City Wall has corner towers, ramparts, sentry towers, gate towers, battlements and a number of city defensive fortifications with very strong defense capability. finally explore the Chinese traditional Alhambresque architecture--The Grand Mosque. After that we will send you to the train station and take the express train to Lanzhou.
Accommodation : In Lanzhou
 

7th Day

Lanzhou Xiahe (260kms, 3-4hrs)

Morning we will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you to visit the Yellow Mother River Sculpture, The sculpture comprises a mother and a baby, the mother with long hair, slim figure, lying on the undulating water looking happy and kind. Resting on her breast is a small child smiling naively. The Yellow River Mother Sculpture reflects the long history and culture of Gansu Province. Thereafter, We will take a cruise by speed boat from Liujiaxia Gorge to Binglingsi to visit the Binglingsi Thousand Buddha Caves, which are on the cliff of Xiaojishi Hill. Located on a branch of Gansu part of the Silk Road, the Bingling Caves were started by Buddhist monks from as early as the West Jin Dynasty (265AD -316AD) although the official carving began in 420AD. Today there are 183 caves existing with 694 stone statues, 82 earth statues and murals of 900 square meters (9,688 square feet). Another pleasant surprise on your way to Bingling Caves is the beautiful Liujiaxia Reservoir. The crystal water lying among the yellow earth mountains is quite a sight. At the end of the Reservoir, the green water connects to the yellow water while the blue sky connects to the yellow earth. Perhaps this can only be experienced in Liujiaxia. After the visit, we will transfer to Xiahe for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation : In Xiahe

9th Day

Jiayuguan

After breakfast, Full day sightseeing in Jiayuguan. we will visit the Jiayuguan pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass, at the western end of the Great Wall – this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall Museum opened to visitor in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way. Then head to visit the The Great Wall on the Cliff, The wall here was built on the ridge with the gradient of 45 degrees. It is high in the air and it looks as if it fell down from the top of the hill. So people refer to this section of the Great Wall as the "Suspended Wall". visit the Weijin Tombs, which are ancient tombs of brick paintings dating back 265-420 AD. The wall paintings discovered are lifelike and succinct in style and cover a wide range of subjects including politics, economics, culture, military affairs, folk customs, and science and technology during the Wei and Jin periods.
Accommodation: In Jiayuguan
 

10th Day

Jiayuguan  Dunhuang (360kms, 4-5hrs)

Today we will visit Yulin Grattoes, lie 70 km to the south of Anxi County, Gansu Province. The Grottoes are chiseled into the cliffs on both the east and west sides of the Yulin River. The east cliff has 30 grottoes and the west has 11, with a distance of more than 100 meters between them. It used to be called Ten-Thousand Buddha Gorge. afterthat drive to Dunhuang. we will be visiting the Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake upon arrival, Located 5 km (about three miles) south of Dunhuang City, the Echoing-Sand Mountain, for many Chinese well known as Mingsha Mountain, is celebrated for the sound of the moving sand. In 1994 it was acclaimed as the national key scenic spot. Together with the Crescent Springand the Mogao Caves, the Echoing-Sand Mountain is most popular sitein Dunhuang travel.You may wonder why the sand makes these different sounds. There is a legend that says how, in ancient times, a general with many soldiers came here to fight in a war with their enemies.
Accommodation: In Dunhuang
 

11th Day

Dunhuang  Turpan by train

After breakfast, tour of Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and it is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which was built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. After that, transfer to the train station to take the express train to Turpan. we will meet you at the train station and bring you to downtown to check in your hotel.
Accommodation: In Turpan
 

12th Day

Turpan

Morning arrive at Turpan, visit the Tuyoq Village, constructed in eastern and western cliffs in Tuyoq valley . It is a Muslim religious pilgrimage site. The southern mouth of the valley has big Uighur mosques older than the Sugong Minaret and a cave thought by many to be described in the Koran. About a kilometer from the cave shrine is a group of grottoes that have some Buddhist and Nestorian artwork. These grottoes are said to date from the West Jin Dynasty (265AD-316AD), and are considered to be the earliest in Turpan. Most of the murals are damaged. Fortunately, 10 of the grottoes still have some of the preserved murals. These precious murals are very unique in style. thereafter, we will visit the Bezeklik Grottoes (you can enjoy the outlook of Flaming mountain around Grottoes) which is a complex of Buddhist cave grottoes dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan at the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley. Visit the local family in the vineyard.
Accommodation: In Turpan
 

13th Day

Turpan Urumqi (200kms, 2-3hrs)

Morning you will take a Turpan City Tour, visit the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. Karez Well, which is a special irrigation system in desert areas. And Jiaohe Ruins—with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, it was include in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. then drive back to Urumqi and visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine.
Accommodation: In Urumqi
 

14th Day

Urumqi  Kashgar

Morning tour at Xinjiang Region Museum,which is a large integrated museum and a centre for the collection and study of cultural relics in Xinjiang. The museum was built in 1953, featuring Uighur ethnic internal decor style and has an exhibition hall covering an area of about 7,800 square meters. After that, take the flight to Kashgar. 
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

15th Day

Kashgar

Morning we will visit the Sunday Bazaar: This is called “Sunday” bazaar but it is open daily, even though it is busiest on Sundays. Streets near this big market are jammed with farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, ute, motobike, or on foot, with their animals. Apak Hoja Tomb, which is the holiest place in Xinjiang and an architectural treasure. Visit the Idigar Mosque, It is the largest Mosque in China and most famous one in Xinjiang. visit the Handicraft street, it gathered hundreds of handicraft workshops, which has become a boutique exhibition for handicraft in Kashgar and Central Asia. Stroll around the Old Town and the People’s Square.
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

16th Day

Kashgar  Taxkorgan county ( 320kms, 6hrs driving)

Morning drive on the China and Pakistan highway to visit the Karakul Lake, White Sand Lake and enjoy the Pamir landscape. Then drive to Taxkorgan for rest.
White Sand Lake: The White Sand Lake is covered by the blown sand, and is always shining in the sunshine. This lake is on the way from Kashgar to the Karakul Lake.
Karakul Lake: At an altitude of 3600m, this is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tianshan (Heavenly Mountain), and Kunlun Mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztag Ata (7546m), Konur Tagh (7649m) and Kongur Tiube (7530m). The lake is popular among travelers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. There are two Kirgiz settlements along the shore of Karakul Lake, a number of yurts about 1 km east of the bus drop-off point and a village with stone houses located on the western shores.
Accommodation: In Taxkorgan
 

17th Day

TaxkorganKashgar

After breakfast visit Stone Fortress,and walk around the pastureland to see Local Tajiks customs.Afternoon back to Kashgar.
Stone fortress Located on a tableland northeast of the county seat of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, the covers an area of 100 thousands square meters and consists of ruins of city and temple of the Tang times and government office of the Qing Dynasty. A temple occupied the eastern part of the city. In the western and southeastern parts are found ruined houses. On the ruins of the temple the Pulitin Office of the Qing Dynasty was built. The city is oval in shape. The city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 meters in circumference outside.
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

18th Day

KashgarShipton's Arch

In the morning, we will be visiting the Shipton’s Arch, Shipton’s Arch is located at the junction of the Kunlun Mountain and the Snow Mountain, The Stone arch stands on the Pamirs Plateau. It is shaped like “∩”.  There are many stone caves at the right side of the stone arch. People can hear the echoes in front of the right side.  afternoon, driving back to Kashgar for rest.
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

19th Day

Kashgar  Urumqi  Tashkent

After breakfast we will send you to the airport to take the flight to Tashkent via Urumqi airport. We will check you into the hotel upon your arrival in Tashkent.
Accommodation: In Tashkent
 

20th Day

Tashkent  Samarkand

Registan square

In the morning (08:00) you take high speed train to Samarkand, your guide and driver will pick you up from the station, today you will take a city tour in Samarkand .
The Registan is the most spectacular architectural ensemble in Central Asia and the centre of Samarkand since the Mongol invasion.
The complex is made up of three main buildings, the Ulug Beg madrasah, the Shir Dor madrasah directly opposite and the Tilla Kori Mosque and Madrasah built between 1646-59. The inside of this mosque has been recently restored and is magnificent. Other highlights include the Shah-I-Zinda Complex of Mausoleums and the Gur Emir or “rulers tomb”, where Tamerlane was buried in 1405. Nearby is the Bibi Khanym Mosque, built between 1399 and 1404 by 500 labourers and 95 elephants brought from India, together with 200 architects, artists, and master craftsmen from the rest of Tamerlane’s empire. A 17th century earthquake destroyed more than half of it , but what remains today is still breathtakingly impressive. Visit of Observatory of Ulug Bek, grandson of Tamerlane. The best in the world at the time, the lower half of the 63 metre sextant was only uncovered in 1908.
Accommodation: In Samarkand
 

21th Day

Samarkand Sightseeing Tour

Tamerlan’s grandson

In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel, today you will take a city tour in Samarkand. You will visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. And in the afternoon drive back to Samarkand.
Konigil, a village near Samarkand has the “Meros” paper mill, founded by well-known masters the Mukhtarov brothers. Thanks to their efforts the local factory revived an ancient tradition based on old Samarkand technologies. Interestingly enough but the production is manual and the visitors can watch a papermaking process with their own eyes.
Free time in the afternoon.
Accommodation: In Samarkand
 

22th Day

Samarkand Sightseeing TourShakhrisabzBukhara

Jakhongir Mausoleum

After breakfast head to Bukhara and visit Shakhrisabz enroute. Sightseeing: ruins of Ak Saray Palace (1380-1404), Doruttilyavat Ensemble (ХIV-XV cc), Kok Gumbaz Mosque (1435), Jami Mosque (1915), Jakhongir Mausoleum (XIV c), Dorussiadat Ensemble (XIV c), Chor-su Trade dome. Transfer to Bukhara (300 km).
Accommodation: In Bukhara
 

23th Day

Bukhara Sightseeing Tour

Samanids Mausoleum

Sightseeing in Bukhara - FD. Bukhara has some of the most impressive monuments Central Asia has to offer.
Visiting: Kalyan Minaret , 47 metres high is one of the most outstanding monuments. It was known as the “tower of death”, because during emir’s time criminals were tied up in sacks and thrown from the top. It was one of the few building to survive the rule of Genghis Khan, himself so impressed that he chose not to destroy it. Chashma Ayub Mazar (graveyard) (XIV-XIX), Poi-Kalan complex (XII-XVI c.), Ulugbek madrassah (it that was built by grandson of Tamerlan – Ulugbek – distinguished mathematician and astronomer). Afternoon sightseeing in Bukhara Lyabi-Hauz complex (XVI-XVII c.); Visiting of Samanid’s Mausoleum,a beautiful example of Zoroastrian architecture dating back to the 10th century; Nadir Divanbegi Madrassah, built in 1630. Ark - ancient fortress (VI-VII c.), home to the rules until the last emir left in 1920. 
Accommodation: In Bukhara
 

25th Day

Bukhara   Khiva

Kyzyl Kum desert

Drive through Kyzyl-Kum desert to Khiva (500 km; ~ 8 hrs). En route a short stop for walking along Kyzyl-Kum desert and on a picturesque bank of Amudarya river.
Khiva is the most intact and most remote of Central Asia's Silk Road cities, the final destination of a trip back through the centuries from socialist Tashkent to medieval Slave Town. Where Samarkand leaves the imagination exhausted, Khiva's khanate romance is plain to see and where Urgench lies restricted to two dimensions
Accommodation: In Khiva
 

26th Day

Khiva Sightseeing Tour

Ichan Kala

Today the old part of Ichan-Kala is called an open-air museum and is guarded by UNESCO. The rather small territory of Ichan-Kala holds - 2 palaces, more than 60 madrassah and small-sized mosques, mausoleums, a cathedral mosque, a covered market, caravans - sheds and bath-houses, and apartment houses. then we will head to visit Mohammed-Amin Khan Madrassah and Minaret (XIX c.), Kunya Ark – Old Fortress (XVII c.), Pakhlavan Mahmud Complex (XIV-XIX cc.) with its tiled courtyard
Accommodation: In Khiva
 

27th Day

KhivaTashkent

Today you will take the morning flight(09:35-11:00) to Tashkent and meet your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman. In Khast-Imam visit Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tillya-Sheykh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al- Bukhari. 
Accommodation: In Tashkent
 

28th Day

Tashkent 

Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to city center with Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum. The rest of the day is free.
Accommodation: In Tashkent
 

29th Day