HIGHLIGHTS: TOUR INCLUDES: +44 (0)

Transcription

1 +44 (0) Dating back to the years of the Han Dynasty, China s famous Silk Road gained its name and reputation from the lucrative trade in silk that once plied its way into the West, travelling from the ancient capital of X ian and through the Hexi Corridor towards India, Pakistan and Rome. Beginning and ending in Beijing, this remarkable journey follows in the footsteps of those original caravans, taking you from the imperial treasures of the Chinese capital and on through the remote and scorching deserts around Turpan to fabled Kashgar, arriving in time for its famous Sunday market. Along the way you will have an opportunity to visit the glorious Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall at Mutianyu, gaze upon the Summer Palace and the Terracotta Warriors and explore the fabulous Buddhist caves at Dunhuang, considered the greatest and most consummate collection of Buddhist art anywhere in the world. You ll also visit the snow-capped mountains of the Heavenly Lake, before ending the journey back in the meandering hutongs of Beijing. HIGHLIGHTS: Explore the treasures of imperial Beijing and visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu Visit the spectacular Terracotta Warriors in Xi an Discover the fabulous Buddhist caves at Dunhuang The famous Sunday market in Kashgar Enjoy the breathtaking mountain landscapes of the Heavenly Lake TOUR INCLUDES: 4 internal flights 10 nights accommodation (good three and four star hotels where available) 2 nights overnight train in sleeper berths 12 breakfasts and 1 dinner Private guided sightseeing Private driver and vehicle Sightseeing programme including all entrance fees 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

2

3 ITINERARY DAY 1: BEIJING Arrive in the Chinese capital and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour to the Temple of Heaven. DAY 2: BEIJING Today leave the capital on a full day excursion to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. This part of the wall is less-crowded and more scenic than the nearer sections that are usually visited. There is ample time to walk along the wall and admire the views before returning to Beijing. (B) DAY 3: BEIJING - XI'AN Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Beijing. Visit Tiananmen Square, the biggest square on earth and the Forbidden City, with its palaces, courtyards and gardens. In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace and transfer to the station for the overnight train to Xi'an. (B) DAY 4: XI'AN Early arrival and transfer to your hotel. Xi'an is a treasure trove of Chinese civilisation, witness to the glories of 11 dynasties including the Qin, Han and Tang. Day at leisure. You can visit the City Walls enclosing the old town, the 12th century Great Mosque in the Muslim quarter, the Shaanxi Museum and other sights. DAY 5: XI'AN Visit the Neolithic village of Banpo followed by the highlight of any trip to Xi'an, the Terracotta Warriors Museum. About 8000 life-sized infantrymen, archers and horses guard the tomb of the first Qin Emperor in the excavated site. In the afternoon return to Xi'an, where there is time to stroll around town. (B) DAY 6: XI'AN - DUNHUANG Early morning flight to Dunhuang, a desert oasis and transfer to your hotel. Visit Dunhuangs most famous monument - the Magao Grottoes popularly known as the Thousand Buddha Caves. The greatest and most consummate gallery of Buddhist art in the world, it 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. (B)

4 DAY 7: DUNHUANG - TURPAN Visit Mingsha Hill and Cresent Moon Spring. You can take a camel ride or climb to the top of the enormous sand dunes and see the crystal clear spring hidden amongst the sands. In the evening take the overnight sleeper train to Turpan. (B) DAY 8: TURPAN Arrival in Turpan, named the 'Fiery Land', one of the lowest places on earth, a remote oasis in a scorching desert. Visit the ancient city of Jiaohe, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and the Karez underground irrigation system. In theevening watch traditional Uighur dances under the famous grape trellises of Turpan. (B) DAY 9: TURPAN - URUMQI - KASHGAR A two hour drive brings you to Urumqi the modern, regional capital of Xinjiang Province and the most distant major city in the world from any sea or ocean. City sightseeing includes the Urumqi Museum and Red Hill park topped by an 18th century pagoda. In the evening we take our short flight to Kashgar. (B) DAY 10: KASHGAR Surrounded by the Great Pamir Mountains, Kashgar is the largest oasis city in Central Asi. The majority of the residents are Uyghurs who still wear traditional and colourful clothes. Enjoy a city tour, including the Abakh Hoja Mausoleum, the vast Id Kah Mosque and the old town with a maze of twisting alleyways. (B) DAY 11: KASHGAR - URUMQI No visit to Kashgar would be complete without a visit to the famous Sunday Market. Teeming with life, you can try haggling for some bolts of silk, knives, furs, jewellery, fruit, sheep, cows and even camels! Later In the evening take the flight back to Urumqi. (B) DAY 12: URUMQI - BEIJING Leaving the desert behind travel into snow-capped mountains to visit the Heavenly Lake amidst alpine scenery. Transfer to the airport for a flight back to Beijing. (B)

5 DAY 13: BEIJING This morning enjoy a charming tour of Beijings Hutongs, a maze of alleys and old courtyards, followed by a cruise on Houhai Lake. Afternoon at leisure. On your last evening in the capital you can enjoy a traditional Beijing Duck feast. (B,D) DAY 14: BEIJING Transfer to the airport where your tour ends (B)

6 ACCOMMODATION KASHGAR BARONY HOTEL Conveniently located next to the Idkah Mosque and within walking distance of the famous Kashgar market, the Barony Hotel offers some of the best accommodation in the town. This four star hotel features 108 pleasant and comfortable rooms decorated in simple European style. Facilities include a garden, lobby bar, Muslim and Chinese restaurant, health centre, massage service and sauna facilities. XI'AN XI'AN GARDEN HOTEL The four star Xi'an Garden Hotel is a modern hotel, built in Tang dynasty style around a large central courtyard. This pleasant green space includes a pond, bridges and willow trees and the hotel won the Architectural Gold Medal of Chinese Symbol Hotel in The hotel offers every modern amenity and is situated by the Wild Goose Pagoda. Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel Ltd Tel +44 (0) info@wildfrontierstravel.com Website wildfrontierstravel.com