Grand Silk Explorer
For those who have dreamt of the ancient Silk Road, this journey offers the ultimate adventure! For centuries travellers in the pursuit of trade and knowledge have crossed the deserts of Western China, scaled the mountain passes of Kyrgyzstan and marvelled at the turquoise-domed architecture of the Uzbek. From bustling Beijing to the sleepier Uzbek capital of Tashkent, we travel through lands once conquered by mighty leaders such as Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. Prepare to be swept up by colourful local hospitality, to sample life as a steppe-dwelling nomad and to be humbled by vast desert and mountain landscapes. The highlights of this journey are as diverse as the people we will meet – explore the thriving Kashgar bazaars, stay in yurts with Kyrgyz nomads, meet local families in the mountains and uncover a world little changed in centuries.
Itinerary
| Day Number(s) | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Sun) Arrive in Beijing and transfer to hotel. |
| 2-3 | Visit Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Great Wall. Overnight train to Xian. |
| 4-5 | Terracotta Warriors. Overnight train to Lanzhou. |
| 6-7 | Bingling Temple (Buddhist caves). Travel to Xiahe. Walking tour of Labrang Monastery. |
| 8-9 | Drive to Lanzhou. Overnight train to Jiayuguan. Visit Wei-jin dynasty tomb, Hanging Wall and Jiayuguan Fort. |
| 10-11 | Bus to Dunhuang. Visit Crescent Moon Lake, Singing Sands and Mogao Caves. Overnight train to Daheyan. |
| 12 | See Astana Graves, Gaocheng Ancient City and Emin Minaret. |
| 13-14 | Turpan – Jiaohe Ancient City and Karez Wells. Drive to Urumqi. Heavenly Lake. Fly to Kashgar. |
| 15 | Explore Kashgar including Old Town, Abakh Hoja’s Tomb, Id Kah Mosque and Sunday bazaar. |
| 16-17 | Cross the Torugart Pass (3752m) to Tash-Rabat Caravansarai. Light walking in local area. |
| 18-19 | Drive to nomadic settlement at Son-Kul Lake. Stay in yurts near local herders. |
| 20 | Drive to Kochkorka village. Overnight in village homestay. |
| 21-22 | Walking in area of Barskoön Gorge. Stay at Tamga village. Travel around Issyk-Kul Lake via Jeti-Öghüz Gorge to Karakol. |
| 23-24 | Drive via Cholpon Ata to Chong-Kemin Gorge, and overnight at homestay. Continue to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. Burana Tower. |
| 25-27 | Explore Bishkek. Fly to Tashkent. Visit Barak Khan Medressa, Kukeldash Medressa and Chorsu Bazaar. |
| 28-29 | Fly to Khiva. Visit Djuma Mosque, Kunya Ark and Toza Bog Palace. Drive to Ayaz Qala. Explore fortress complexes. Overnight in yurts. |
| 30-32 | Journey via the Kyzyl Kum desert to Bukhara. Ark Fortress, Poikalon Ensemble and Samanid Mausoleum. |
| 33-34 | Continue via Alexander the Great's fortress to Nurata. Overnight in Sentab village in Nurata Mountains. Optional short walks in area. |
| 35-36 | Explore Samarkand, including Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda Mausoleum and Ulugbek Observatory. |
| 37-38 | Return to Tashkent, where trip ends the following morning (Tue). |
Trip Highlights
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The Chashma beneath the fortress of Alexander the Great in Nurata
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Chorsu Bazaar of Tashkent - one of the largest and oldest farmers' markets in Central Asia
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Central Asia’s holiest city - UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bukhara
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Traditional central Asian yurt stay near the mud-walled Ayaz Kala ruins on the edge of the Kyzyl-Kum Desert
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At A Glance
Trip Length |
38 days |
Trip Code |
PCGS |
Activities |
|
| Culture (Remote), Walking (Easy) | |
| Min Altitude | Max Altitude |
| 3752m | |
Countries Visited |
|
| China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan | |
Start City |
|
| Beijing | |
End City |
|
| Tashkent | |
