Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road 17 Days
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Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
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Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
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Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
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Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
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Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
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Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
-
Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
-
Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
-
Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
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Travel the Footsteps of Ancient Merchant and Great Explorer's of China's Silk Road
Highlights
- Duration: 17 Days
- Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
- Language: English
- Rating: 0%
- Trip ID: 51796
- Start Location: Dearing, United States
- End Location: Beijing, China
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Guaranteed:
Yes
Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed!
- AdventureLink has carefully handpicked the tour operators in our portfolio to give you the best possible selection and experience
- AdventureLink does not pay the operator until your trip completes in order to ensure the highest possible standard of care
- Primary Activities: Local Culture & Cuisine
- Other Activities: Hiking, Caving, museum
- Days 1-2: En Route/Beijing, China
- Fly U.S. west coast to Beijing, China. Cross
the International Dateline and “lose” a day.
Overnight Hilton Beijing Capital Airport Hotel.
- Lodging
- Hilton Beijing Capital Airport Hotel
- Description
he hotel features some of the largest hotel rooms in Beijing, all offering sound-proofed floor-to-ceiling windows and high speed internet access. Step up to an Executive Room for complimentary access to a private meeting room and the Executive Lounge, or choose a Duplex Suite, spread over 2 floors, for extra space. Savor steaks and seafood in Compass Grill Restaurant, dine on authentic Chinese dishes in Yue Shang Cantonese Restaurant or sip cocktails in the Long Bar. Pamper yourself with a treatment in the Spa or enjoy a dip in the indoor swimming pool which benefits from views over Terminal 3. The hotel offers 21 contemporary function rooms and 2 large ballrooms, ideal for hosting any event.
- Day 3: Beijing/Lanzhou/Bingling Si Caves
- This morning fly to Lanzhou. Strategically located on the Silk Road’s Hexi Corridor, mountains
and desert limited caravan traffic to a narrow
stretch and fortification could control who
passed. This led to a period of great prosperity
in the city that lasted nearly 1,500 years.
Transfer to the pier and board a privately chartered, high speed boat for the one-hour journey on the Yellow River to the ancient Bingling Si Caves, located in a stunning canyon setting. Dating back to 385, the 183 caves carved into the cliff are considered among China’s most important Buddhist sites, displaying fabulous statues and frescoes, including an 80-foot Buddha cut into the canyon wall. Their inaccessibility spared them from destruction during the Cultural Revolution. Return to Lanzhou and reconvene for a welcome dinner. Overnight Lanzhou Legend Hotel (B,L,D).
- Lodging
- Lanzhou Legend Hotel
- Description
Offers 362 elegantly furnished guest rooms and suites for business travelers and vacation seekers. All rooms feature a wide array of amenities including independent air-conditioning control, international direct dial/domestic direct dial,mini bar and broadband internet port. All rooms are also decorated with original Chinese paintings inspired by the "Flying Celestials" murals found in the Dunhuang Grottoes.
- Day 4: Lanzhou/Dunhuang
- Explore Lanzhou, including the Giant Water Wheel and the Gansu Provincial Museum, which provides unparalleled insight into the history and routing of the Silk Road. See a 2nd-century B.C. silver plate depicting the Roman god of wine, Bacchus, unearthed in 1989, evidencing China’s cultural connection to ancient Rome. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon fly to Jiayuguang, and then travel overland to Dunhuang. Dinner will be on your own tonight, offering opportunities to explore or relax at the hotel. Overnight Silk Road Hotel (B,L).
- Day 5: Dunhuang/ Mogao Caves
- Today explore the famous Mogao Caves, a series of 492 carved temple-grottos. This UNESCO World Heritage site is an incredible repository of Buddhist culture (centuries of neglect and foreign absconding notwithstanding). Discover thousands of artifacts, including murals, carvings, paintings, embroidery, hand-written texts on Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, historic records, accounting books, letters and court records in Chinese, Tibetan, Sanskrit, Falu, Sute, Hetian and Huihe languages. They are of great value for the study of politics, economics, culture, military affairs and foreign relations in ancient China. This afternoon take a short camel ride in the desert sand dunes of Minsha Hills and visit Crescent Moon Lake, a small oasis amid the dunes. Tonight enjoy a traditional dance performance with dinner. Overnight Silk Road Hotel (B,L,D).
- Day 6: Dunhuang/Turpan
- Dunhuang is an oasis of brilliant emeraldcolored fields set amidst sweeping brown sand dunes with snow-white peaks towering in the distance. The tree-lined streets are picturesque thoroughfares. Drive into the desert to view the Jade Gate and the Han Dynasty Great Wall. This was where China’s border ended in the 2nd century B.C. Back in Dunhuang visit the Dunhuang Museum. This evening, fly to Urumqui and transfer to Turpan (Turfan). This delightful town sits in a basin 505 feet below sea level. Time permitting visit Jiaohe, a 3rd-century B.C. capital with a spectacular location. Dinner will be on your own tonight. Overnight Tuha Hotel (B,L).
- Days 7-8: Turpan
- Spend the next two days exploring this incredible area. Visit the ruined city of Gaochang, once the capital of the Uyghurs and an important staging post on the Silk Road. Explore the underground tombs of Atsana to view funerary objects dating from the T’ang dynasty (617-907). Drive past the legendary Flaming Cliffs, and tour the Bezeklik (Thousand Buddha) Caves. These remarkable grottoes house 77 caves carved into the rock, the walls of which are adorned with Buddhist frescoes. Some have unfortunately suffered desecration but many remain intact and some are considered masterpieces of religious art. The setting for these caves at a tiny oasis surrounded by mountainous dunes is breathtaking. Weave in a visit to a vineyard, and learn about the Kerez irrigation system used in the area, whereby ancient funnels deliver water from the surrounding mountains for drinking, plant irrigation and livestock needs. Finish the day with a visit to the Emin Minaret, one of the finest buildings on the Silk Road. Overnight Tuha Hotel (B,L,D, except dinner on your own Day 8).
- Day 9: Urumqi
- Drive to Urumqi to access a truly fascinating
area in China, with 13 distinct ethnic minorities
calling the area home. Urumqi means “beautiful pastures” in Mongolian. After lunch visit
the Regional Museum, which houses 50,000
relics relating to the many ethnic minorities who
inhabit the area. It also showcases artifacts
that reveal the daily lives of the Silk Road’s early
inhabitants, including some of their mummified
remains, unearthed from the nearby Taklamakan
Desert. The rest of the day is free for independent exploration or to relax at your leisure.
Overnight Sheraton Hotel (B,L).
- Lodging
- Sheraton Hotel
- Description
Our 398 guest rooms and suites are available with fabulous views of snow-topped mountains and the city. Rooms range in size from 40 - 256 square meters and feature our signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed, a well-appointed bathroom, rainforest shower, TV, High Speed Internet Access, ergonomic desk chair, and much more. In addition, butler service is available on the Executive Floor.
- Day 10: Urumqi/Southern Mountains
- Drive to the beautiful Southern Mountains
valley to explore its mountains, pastures and
waterfalls. We’ll visit with local Kazak families
to experience the traditional ways of life that
endure in these parts. Drive back to Urumqi for
lunch and continued exploration, including a
visit to the Grand Bazaar. Tonight enjoy a local
specialty for dinner—a whole roast lamb on
a spit, Kazak style. Overnight Sheraton Hotel
(B,L,D).
- Lodging
- Sheraton Hotel
- Description
Our 398 guest rooms and suites are available with fabulous views of snow-topped mountains and the city. Rooms range in size from 40 - 256 square meters and feature our signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed, a well-appointed bathroom, rainforest shower, TV, High Speed Internet Access, ergonomic desk chair, and much more. In addition, butler service is available on the Executive Floor.
- Day 11: Urumqi/Kashgar/Upal
- Fly to Kashgar. The quintessential exotic outpost, Kashgar was, and to some degree still is, the last frontier. Its trading heyday ceased five centuries ago, yet until quite recently the old section of Kashgar was an intoxicating, marvelous confluence of Indian, Persian, Arabian and Chinese cultures layered one on top of the other. However, recent renovations of the Old Quarter by the Han Chinese have resulted in many old mud buildings being demolished, and residents relocating to newer buildings that employ modern earthquake and fire codes. This has caused an outcry among some who fear ancient ways of life are vanishing. Some steps are being taken to preserve Kashgar’s ancient relics, but the forces of modernity march on. Drive on the famed Karakorum highway to the small village of Upal. Visit the tomb of Mahmud al-Kashgari, famed for creating the first dictionary of Turkic languages in 1072. Next we explore the 16th-century Apak Hoja Tombs, a classic example of Uyghur Islamic architecture. Next is the vast and impressive Idkah Mosque, built in the 15th century—here it becomes abundantly clear that we have left the China of the Han majority behind. The Uyghurs are one of China’s 56 distinct ethnic groups, descended from Turkic peoples that inhabited Mongolia. Stroll the city’s alleyways in what is left of the Old Quater, where scenes may be glimpsed of people engaged in all manner of ancient arts—bread making, metal forging, musical instrument manufacturing and the firing of handmade tile. Spend the rest of the day roaming through the old sections of Kashgar. Overnight Shenhang Hotel Kashgar (B,L,D).
- Day 12: Kashgar
- This morning explore the Animal Bazaar. This market teems with all manner of livestock, such as goats, sheep, cows, mules, horses and camels. After lunch enjoy some time to explore independently this afternoon. Reconvene for dinner. Overnight Shenhang Hotel Kashgar (B,L,D).
- Day 13: Kashgar/Hotan (Hetian)
- Skirting the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, today explore fabulously remote outposts of the Silk Road, with names like Karghilik and Yarkand that ring with the romance of a thousand years. Their old towns are fascinating strongholds of Uyghur culture and make for exotic wanderings. Stop at many interesting sites on this full day’s drive through the desert and its oases. Explore the Tombs of the Kings of Yarkand. Arrive in Hotan, also known as Xotan or Hetian. Overnight Hetian Hangzhouwan International Hotel Hotan (B,L,D).
- Day 14: Hotan
- Today spend the day at Hotan’s Sunday Bazaar.
The narrow streets and bustling squares pulse
with life as farmers and craftspeople hawk their
wares. Navigate past bicycles, tractors and donkey-drawn carts. Visit the fantastic jade market—most of the jade in China comes from this
area. Dodge flocks of sheep and herds of goats,
horses and camels. Sample fresh-baked bread
and steaming nutmeg tea. Feel the textiles,
copper bowls and cutlery, and smell the timber,
incense and spices. Kashgar has recently seen
tourists drawn to its famous Sunday Bazaar, and
it has moved its livestock market to the suburbs.
Hotan’s Bazaar remains largely undiscovered
and unchanged, making for a fascinating
authentic old-world experience.
This afternoon drive to the edge of Taklamakan Desert—the name literally means, “go in and you won’t come out.” Enjoy a desert sunset while riding a camel or horse to recall a way of life that reigned here for millennia. Overnight Hetian Hangzhouwan International Hotel Hotan (B,L,D).
- Day 15: Hotan/Urumqu
- This morning take a guided walking tour of the
traditional workshops in the area to uncover
the production technologies behind cooking oil,
wooden bowls, knives and mulberry-bark paper.
This afternoon depart for the local Uyghur silk
village of Jiya to see the making of traditional
tie-dye raw silk, techniques coveted since the
Han Dynasty in the 2nd century. See the farmers raising silk worms to witness, firsthand,
the secrets of silk weaving that propelled the
ancient Chinese to the economic forefront of
Asian cultures. Then visit the local museum.
Enjoy our farewell dinner in Hotan then fly back
to Urumqi. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.
Overnight Sheraton Hotel Urumqi (B,L,D).
- Lodging
- Sheraton Hotel
- Description
Our 398 guest rooms and suites are available with fabulous views of snow-topped mountains and the city. Rooms range in size from 40 - 256 square meters and feature our signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed, a well-appointed bathroom, rainforest shower, TV, High Speed Internet Access, ergonomic desk chair, and much more. In addition, butler service is available on the Executive Floor.
- Day 16: Urumqui/Beijin
- This morning fly to Beijing. Transfer to the airport hotel with dinner on your own. Overnight
Hilton Beijing Capital Airport Hotel. (B).
- Lodging
- Hilton Beijing Capital Airport Hotel
- Description
The hotel features some of the largest hotel rooms in Beijing, all offering sound-proofed floor-to-ceiling windows and high speed internet access. Step up to an Executive Room for complimentary access to a private meeting room and the Executive Lounge, or choose a Duplex Suite, spread over 2 floors, for extra space. Savor steaks and seafood in Compass Grill Restaurant, dine on authentic Chinese dishes in Yue Shang Cantonese Restaurant or sip cocktails in the Long Bar. Pamper yourself with a treatment in the Spa or enjoy a dip in the indoor swimming pool which benefits from views over Terminal 3. The hotel offers 21 contemporary function rooms and 2 large ballrooms, ideal for hosting any event.
- Day 17: Home or Extend
- After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home, or begin a private custom extension that we can arrange for you to other great destinations in Asia. (B).
Trip Includes
- Twin sharing accommodations
- Meals as designated on the itinerary
- Airport transfers for group flights
- All tips for ground staff, drivers, and hotel porter
- Entrance fees, camera fees, visa fees, domestic
- Predeparture materials
- A $75,000 Emergency Medical Evacuation policy
- A $2,500 Emergency Medical Insurance and assistance policy
Trip Excludes
- All airfare
- All snacks, extra personal beverages & bottled water
- All snacks, extra personal beverages & bottled water
- Passport, video fees, excess baggage fees, laundry
- Tips for your tour leader
- Additional insurance of any kind
- Any and all expenses resulting from delays arising beyond our direct control due to bad weather, trail, river, sea, and/or road conditions; sickness; government action
- Optional activities, free-day activities
Trip ID#: 51796
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable
Kelly Tompkins
About Kelly
Kelly is the Founder of AdventureLink and a passionate adventure traveler. He specializes in cycling and trekking tours but can help you in a wide variety of activities and destinations.
- Destination expertise All Countries
- Activity expertise All Activities
- Recommended trips
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