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GREAT
SILK ROAD TOUR ITIENARY
Day
1 Arrive Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner. (Kunlun
Hotel)
(Section A begins)
Day 2 Beijing
B/L/D (Kunlun Hotel)
Day 3 Beijing/Xian
Morning rickshaw tour of Beijing's old residential area of
twisting lanes and courtyard homes. Enjoy lunch as the guest
of one of the local families. Afternoon transfer to the airport
and fly to Xian. Transfer to hotel upon arrival. B/L/D (ANA
Grand Castle Hotel)
Day 4 Xian
Visit the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, the Wild Goose Pagoda,
Tang Art Museum and City wall. Xian is the start of your Silk
Road journey. B/L/D (ANA Grand Castle Hotel)
Day 5 Xian/Pingliang
Today is your first driving day! You will try to drive around
for sometime and learn about the traffic signs. Afternoon
drive to Pingliang and Mt. Kongtong, one of China’s
famous Taoist mountains. Overnight on top of the mountain.
B/L/D Kongdong Mountain (Top Guest House)
Day 6 Pingliang/Wuwei
A driving day. Enjoy the scenery of the Yellow Clay Plateau.
B/L/D Wuwei (Tianma Hotel)
Day 7 Wuwei/Jiayuguan
Drive to Jiayuguan. On the way, tour the Zhangye Museum. This
museum is located in the Giant Buddha Temple, which is the
largest architectural relic in Gansu Province, of the Western
Xia (1038-1227) period. China's largest reclining Buddha is
well preserved in this temple. Overnight in Jiayuguan. B/L/D
(Jiyuguan Great Wall Hotel)
Day 8 Jiayuguan/Dunhuang
Visit the Jiayuan Pass - the western end of the great Wall.
Then drive to Dunhuang. An important junction on the Silk
Route, where it split into different branches, this oasis
in Gansu province in northwest China, on the edge of the Gobi
Desert, is surrounded by sand dunes. By the 4th century AD,
the route had brought the city both commercial prosperity
and a growing Buddhist community. B/L/D (Shazhou Grand Hotel)
Day 9 Dunhuang
This morning, visit the Maogao Grottoes, a series of 500 caves
which contain the world's most valuable display of Buddhist
art - manuscripts, some 2,400 painted sculptures and 45,000
square metres of frescoes. In the late afternoon, tour the
Singing Sand Hill and Crescent Moon Lake. B/L/D (Shazhou Grand
Hotel)
Day 10 Dunhuang/Hami
Half-day drive to Hami located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region of China. Visit some villages en route. B/L/D
Day 11 Hami/Turpan
Drive to Turpan, located in the Turpan Basin at the southern
foot of the Tianshan Mountains. The city has a population
of nearly 200,000, most of whom are Uygurs, The Turpan Basin
is the lowest area in China, in which the Aiding Lake, with
its surface being 154 meters below sea level, is the second
lowest spot in the world, next only to the Dead Sea in Jordan.
En route, visit the Astana Tombs and Flaming Hill. B/L/D
Day 12 Turpan
Visit to the Kan-er Waterwell, and the ruins of Jiaohe City,
now on the list of UNESCO's historical and cultural sights,
which protects the Tang Dynasty ruins of homes, garden walls,
government offices, pottery kilns, temples and pagodas, all
of which are still easily recognisable. B/L/D
Day 13 Turpan/Korla
Drive from Turpan to Korla; visit the Bosten Lake en route.
B/L/D (Bay Inguoleng Hotel)
Day 14 Korla/Tazhong
B/L/D
Day 15 Tazhong/Minfeng
Drive from Tazhong to Minfeng crossing the Taklamakan Desert
from north to south on the longest desert highway in the world.
B/L/D (Minfeng Hotel)
Day 16 Minfeng/Khotan
Drive from Minfeng to Khotan; visit the local ethnic groups
en route. On the southern part of the Silk Road, Khotan was
an early centre for the spread of Buddhism from India into
China. It fell to the Arabs in the 8th century and grew wealthy
on the proceeds of the caravan trade that travelled the route
between China and the West. B/L/D
Day 17 Khotan/Kashgar
Drive from Khotan to Kashgar, the largest oasis city in China
and Central Asia. A city of bazaars, two-wheeled carts, dusty
streets and 4000 mosques, Kashgar reveals a strong Islamic
influence. Its narrow maze of alleyways and open air markets
display all the myriad faces of Central Asia with Uygur, Kyrgyz,
Tajik and Kazakh merchants and locals, all busy haggling over
camels and sheep, brightly coloured fabrics, fur hides and
hats, handmade carpets and knives. B/L/D (Section B begins)
Day 18 Kashgar
Sunday market. B/L/D
Day 19 Kashgar/Naryn
From Kashgar drive to the Torugart Pass, and cross the border
into Kyrgyzstan. Continue on to the Tash Rabat Caravanserai,
a carefully restored stone building that once housed an inn
on the Great Silk Road. Its date of origin is strictly unknown,
but there is archaeological evidence to suggest that the site
was occupied in the 10th century. There is evidence that it
was a place of both rest and worship and would have served
to protect caravans to and from China from both the ravages
of the weather and of bandits — from before the time
of either Tamerlane or Genghis Khan. Later, drive to Naryn
for your overnight stay. B/L/D (End of Section A – those
not continuing will depart from Kashgar today)
Day 20 Naryn/Songkol Lake
Drive from Naryn to Songkol Lake. Songkol Lake is the second
largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013
m above sea level. Surrounded by dramatic snow-covered mountain
peaks, it is hidden in a flat, plate-like valley. Your route
takes you through some of the alpine mountains and meadows
of Kyrgyzstan. Along the way to the lake you will get a chance
to meet Kyrgyz shepherds, follow their paths and experience
their nomadic life. Enjoy a Kyrgyz national game and folk
show. Overnight in a Yurt camp. B/L/D
Day 21 Songkol Lake/Chichkan Valley
Drive to Susamyr valley, a high steppe plateau that although
only some 160 kilometers from the capital Bishkek is also
one of the more remote and rarely visited regions of Kyrgyzstan.
There are signs of early settlement dating back to between
the 9th and 11th centuries. The road climbs through the spectacular
mountains and on to Chichkan valley. Accommodation in Guest
House or Yurt Camp. B/L/D
Day 22 Chichkan Valley/Osh
Drive to Osh. The road climbs through the spectacular mountains
and follows the Naryn River. At the end of mountain’s
road the Ferghana valley starts. En route, you will pass the
town of Uzgen, which has a history of over 2000 years - it
is claimed to have been the site of a number of citadels built
at various times since the 1st century BC. After lunch, drive
to Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan; reputed to
be about 3000 years old. There are several legends about the
origin of the city, including claims that it was founded by
Solomon or Alexander the Great. Even if such a grand personage
did not establish Osh, its position at a crossroads along
the ancient trading routes that became known as the Silk Road
almost guaranteed that it would become a major settlement.
B/L/D
Day 23 Osh/Ferghana
Excursion to Osh Bazaar, one of the biggest bazaars in Central
Asia, stretching for about one kilometre along the river.
Visit holy mount Suleiman-Too (Solomon’s Throne). According
to, legend this mount appeared after King Solomon rested here.
For Central Asian Muslims, “Taht-I-Suleiman” is
the 3rd most sacred place after Mecca and Medina. At the top
there is a 16th century mosque and a museum. Afternoon drive
to the Uzbekistan border. B/L/D
Day 24 Ferghana Valley
In the morning we will drive to Kokand and visit the major
sights: Khudayar Khan Palace, Jommi Mosque, Narbutabey and
Dasturkhanchi Madrassah, Royal Cemetery and Khaidarov Workshop
(museum of Kokand woodcraft). Then on the road from Kokand
to Margilan we will visit the famous Rishtan Art Ceramics
factory. The major sights in Margilan are Toron Mosque, Said
Akhmad Khoja Madrassah and famous silk factories: Yodgorlik
factory, Margilan Silk factory and Khanatlas Silk factory.
B/L/D (Club 777 Hotel)
Day 25 Ferghana Valley/Samarkand
In the early morning we will start out for Samarkand. The
road from Ferghana Valley to Samarkand is quite a long distance
and will be a challenging drive, crossing many mountain passes
on the way to Tashkent. We will stop for a rest and some lunch
in the local houses in the Jizzah region, arriving in Samarkand
in the afternoon. B/L/D (Afrosiab Palace Hotel)
Day 26 Samarkand
Today we will have a city tour of Samarkand including the
famous Registan, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Bibi Khanum Mausoleum,
Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble, Ulugbek Observatory (15th century),
Chupan Ata (1440s), Gur Emir, Ak-Serai (around 1470) and Rukhabad
Mausoleums. Later we will visit Khoja Abdi Darun, Khoja Abdi
Birun and Ishrat Khana Mausoleums, Khoja Akhrar Complex, Chorsu
and the famous Samarkand carpet factory. B/L/D (Afrosiab Palace
Hotel)
Day 27 Samarkand/Bukhara
After breakfast we will start our trip to Bukhara. Arriving
at Bukhara city in the afternoon we will have lunch and some
leisure time. In the evening we will see a folk performance
in Nadir Devanbegi Madrassah. B/L/D (Lyabi House Hotel)
Day 28 Bukhara
Today we have an excursion in Bukhara including visits to
the mausoleum of Ismail Samani, the Bolo-Hauz mosque, the
Historical Fortress - Arch, Poi Kalon Ensemble (the Kalon
Minaret, Kalon Mosque and Mir-I-Arab Madrassah), Ulugbek and
Abdulaziz khan Madrassahs, the Magoki-Attar mosque. In evening
we will have dinner in a local traditional style restaurant.
B/L/D (Lyabi House Hotel)
Day 29 Bukhara-Khiva
Drive to Khiva through KizilKum Desert. En route we stop to
see the Amudarya River, known to many western explorers as
the Oxus River. We will arrive at Khiva in the late afternoon.
B/L/D (Khorezm Palace Hotel)
Day 30 Khiva
Our tour in Khiva will include Ichan-Kala (Inner town): Mohammed
Amin Khan Madrassah, Kunya Ark, Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum,
Islam Khoja Madrassah and Minaret, Jummi Mosque, Eastern Ensemble,
Tash Hauli Palace. Atajan Tura Ensemble and functioning hamman
(bath), Chadra Hauli, Sheikh Mukhtar Vali Mausoleum, Kubla
Toza Beg Summer Palace. Also you will see desert sights such
as Toprak Kala and Koi Krylgan Kala.
B/L/D (Khorezm Palace Hotel)
Day 31 Khiva/Darvaza
Cross the border into Turkmenistan and drive to Darvaza. En
route, see the sights of Kunya-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage
site. The monuments here testify to outstanding achievements
in architecture and craftsmanship whose influence reached
Iran and Afghanistan, and later the architecture of the Mogul
Empire of 16th-century India. Later on, continue to Darvaza.
B/L/D
Day 32 Darvaza/Ashgabat
Drive to Ashgabat. En route, we will visit the colourful and
varied Tolkuchka bazaar. Arriving in Ashgabat, take a city
tour and visit the Carpet Museum. B/L/D (Section C begins)
Day 33 Ashgabat
Today we will have a full day tour around Ashgabat, visiting
the Bakharden underground lake as well as Kipchak mosque.
Later, we will tour the Old Nisa – the remains of the
Parthian kings’ residence. Continue to National museum
and return Ashgabat. This evening, enjoy a traditional dinner
with Folklore group performance. B/L/D
Day
34 Ashgabat/Mary
Drive to Mary via the medieval Anau mosque, which was built
between 1446-1456, and destroyed by earthquake in 1948. The
mosque was unique with its blue mosaic facade, depicting dragons.
We will also visit the old city of Abiverd, which was an important
trading post from the 5th to the 7th centuries. We will have
lunch upon arrival in Mary.
In the afternoon,
drive to ancient Merv, one of the oldest inhabited cities
in Central Asia. At one point in its history, Merv was called
'The Pearl of the East'. Razed by the Mongols, it was rebuilt
over the centuries and today five distinct cities covr 130
square kilometres. Later, we will return to Mary.B/L/D
(End of Section B – those not continuing will depart
from Ashgabat today)
Day 35 Mary/Mashad
After breakfast drive to the border check point at Serahs.
Continue to Iran, driving to the Holy city of Mashad. This
is the holiest city in Iran, containing the pilgrimage site
of the Shrine of Imam Reza, who was martyred
here in the 9th century. B/L/D
Day 36 Mashad
Today we have a full day to see the sights of Mashad, including
the complex of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, one of the most
comprehensive and elegant architectural complexes in the Islamic
world at the present time. We will also visit the old city
of Toos and the tomb of greatest Persian epic poet Ferdousi.
B/L/D
Day 37 Mashad/Bidokht
Drive to city of Bidokht and visit the Mosque and Mausoleum
of Saleh Ali Shah. B/L/D
Day 38 Bidokht/Tabas
Drive to Tabas visiting a caravanserai en route. Tabas is
a pretty oasis city between the Dasht-e Lut and Dasht-e Kavir
deserts. Here you will visit the Bagh-e Golshan garden with
its variety of tropical trees, pools and cascades, and the
ruined 11th century citadel of Tabas. B/L/D
Day 39 Tabas/Yazd
Drive to the city of Yazd, with its winding lanes, wind towers
and mud-brick Old Town. This relaxed city, with
Iran’s largest Zoroastrian community, is famous for
its bagdirs (or wind towers) sitting atop the roofs of the
houses, circulating even the smallest breeze to cool the homes
inside. B/L/D
Day 40 Yazd
Today we will have a full day of sightseeing in Yazd. Visit
the Zoroastrian fire temple (Ateshkadeh) – it is said
that the eternal flame here has been burning since around
AD 470. Take a tour of the old city, one of the oldest towns
in the world according to UNESCO. Enjoy seeing the courtyards,
ornate wooden doors, and pretty adobe architecture. Also visit
the Jameh (Friday) Mosque dominating the old city with its
beautiful turquoise- tiled domes. Later, take a short drive
to see the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence. B/L/D
Day 41 Yazd/Isfahan
Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Isfahan, the most
beautiful city in Iran. Isfahan is one of the finest cities
in the Islamic world; a place for savouring the high refinements
of Persian culture. En route, visit of the old city Naeen
with its Jameh Mosque, ruined fire temple and caravanserai.
Isfahan. B/L/D
Day 42 Isfahan
Full day of sightseeing in this magnificent city with its
bridges, palaces and mosques. B/L/D
Day 43 Isfahan/Tehran
Drive to Tehran, the capital city of Iran. En route visit
the cities of Ntanz, Kashan, and Qom. B/L/D
Day 44 Tehran
Full day sightseeing in Tehran. B/L/D
Day 45 Tehran/Zanjan
Leave Tehran and drive to the city of Zanjan, the capital
of Zanjan province. En route visit city of Ghazvin with its
mosque and palace, and continue on to visit the 3rd biggest
Tomb of Soltanieh (a 14 century Moughal Tomb), before arriving
in Zanjan. B/L/D
Day 46 Zanjan/Tabriz
Today, drive from Zanjan to Tabriz. B/L/D
Day 47 Tabriz/Van
We will have a short tour of the city visiting places such
as the museum and mosque before driving to the Turkish border.
Cross into Turkey, and drive on to Van. B/L/D
Day 48 Van/Diyarbakir
The day begins with the tour of Van. Van was the Urartians
capital. An imposing 9th century B.C. citadel overlooks the
town. Visit the ancient Urartians site of Austere, Hosap Castle,
and the famous Citadel of Van.Drive
to Lake Van. This lake is the largest in Turkey and lies at
an altitude of 1720 m. The first site en route is the Akdamar
church, which is built on an island in the lake. We will take
a small boat across the lake to see the church. After lunch
in Akdamar, we will continue to the walled city of Diyarbakýr.
B/L/D
Day 49 Diyarbakir/Sanliurfa
Today we visit the Ulu (Great) Mosque from the Seljuk period
and possibly the third century Aramaic Church of the Virgin
Mary. Drive to the city of Mardin, with its golden stone houses
that blend into the hills. The houses are often decorated
with intricate carvings. This is a very lively trading centre
with people coming from surrounding villages to buy and sell.
We will have a fantastic view of the Plain of Mesopotamia
and visit the Syriac-Jacobite Monastery of Deyrulzaferan.
Continue to Sanliurfa. B/L/D
Day 50 Sanliurfa/Harran/Sanliurfa
Visit to Mevlid Halil Mosque and the Cave of Prophet Abraham,
then the sacred fish pool. Drive to Harran - city of the prophet
Abraham. See the fortress, Islamic school and curious beehive-shaped
adobe houses. Return to Sanliurfa for your overnight stay.
B/L/D
Day 51 Sanliurfa/Adiyaman
Drive to Nemrut Mountain via Kahta, on the way visit the huge
Ataturk Dam and the Cendere Bridge. Nemrut Mountain is a significant
attraction, with thousands of people coming at sunrise and
sunset to see the stones in the best possible light. Drive
to Adiyaman. B/L/D
Day 52 Adiyaman/Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia via Kahramanmaras. Visit the Coppersmith’s
Bazaar in Kahraman Maras and continue to Cappadocia. B/L/D
Day 53 Cappadocia
Full day in Cappadocia. Visit to the enchanting "fairy
chimneys" (conical and unusual rock formations) in Devrent
Valley. We continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum, where we
will see the finest examples of religious rescoes in rock-cut
churches from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabag
Valley, and then continue to Avanos, centre of terra cotta
work. Afternoon visit Derin kuyu underground city. In the
evening, we shall enjoy a whirling dervishes show. B/L/D
Day 54 Cappadocia/Konya/Pamukkale
This morning, you may take an optional hot air balloon tour.
Drive to Pamukkale via Konya. On the way visit Obruk han (Lake
Obruk). Continue on to Pamukkale B/L/D
Day 55 Pamukkale/Kusadasi
Visit the ancient site of Hierapolis (nearby Pamukkale), and
its calcium terraces. This is a magical and pectacular natural
site, unique in the world; it is a fairyland of dazzling white,
petrified castles. Thermal spring waters laden with calcareous
salts running off the plateau's edge have created this fantastic
formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins. Later, drive
to Kusadasi. B/L/D
Day 56 Kusadasi
Today we shall explore the ancient city of Ephesus. First
we will visit the Temple of Artemis, and then drive to the
Ephesus Ruins and visit the Theatre, Celsius Library, Agora,
Odeon, Domitianus Temple, and Trajan Fountain. In the afternoon
visit a traditional old Ottoman Village. Return to Kusadasi.
B/L/D
Day 57 Kusadasi/Canakkale
Drive to Canakkale via Pergamum (Bergama) and Troy (Truva).
Visit the acropol at Pergamum, and after visiting Troy continue
on to Canakkale. B/L/D
Day 58 Canakkale/Istanbul
Today, we shall explore the Gallipoli peninsula on the way
to Istanbul. The Gallipoli area is known for the war cemeteries
and memorials dedicated to the Turkish and foreign soldiers
killed during the Canakkale Sea and shore battles in 1915.
There are sunken ships, trenches, castles, towers and hundreds
of remains of the war. In total, there are graves and memorials
of around 250,000 Turkish soldiers, and 250,000 from Australia,
New Zealand, England and France. Thousands of people visit
the war cemeteries every year, and it is one of the most famous
sites in Turkey. Continue to Istanbul. B/L/D
Day 59 Istanbul
In the morning visit the Blue Mosque, built in 1616 unequalled
for its mosaics, and the Haghia Sophia dedicated in 536 AD
during the reign of Justinian, we will also visit Topkapi
Palace, which was built by Mehmed the Conqueror. In the afternoon
tour the Grand Covered Bazaar. This evening we shall have
a memorable dinner on a boat in the bosphorous. B/L/D
Day 60 Istanbul
End of this fantastic tour experience.
PS.Call us
at (90) 212 527 68 59 or send us EMAIL
to request the complete itinerary and PRICE of the tour. You
can also customize your own itinerary.
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Section
B (19 days)
You can join section by section.Central Asia Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan and Turmenistan |
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Section
C (29 days)
You can join section by section. Iran and Repaublic
Of Turkiye, From the Desert to the Sea |
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