Jewels of the Silk Road Xian to Tashkent

On arrival at Xian airport you will be met by your guide and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure on your own.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Sofitel On Renmin Square
• Tourist Class: Novotel Daming Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Today we visit the exquisite Terracotta Warriors, considered the greatest archaeological discovery of the last century. The figures vary in height from 182cm to 195cm, according to their role; the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. It is estimated that 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses exist in the 3 pits on the excavation site, with the majority still buried in the pit l.
We return to the city and visit big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Great Mosque, and the Muslim quarter.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Sofitel On Renmin Square
• Tourist Class: Novotel Daming Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Morning Bullet train to Lanzhou later transfer to Xiahe. Xiahe is referred to a “Little Tibet”, a stunning town surrounded by mountains and bustling with pilgrims. It is a key passage on the ancient Silk Road between East and West. Visit the famous Labrang Monastery – one of the six leading Buddhist Lamaseries in China.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Tianzhu International Hotel
• Tourist Class: ZouGai Longzhong Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Morning more visit around Xiahe later in the afternoon return to Lanzhou for a city tour.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Sunshine Plaza
• Tourist Class: Baiyuan Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Early morning transfer to the train station for the express train to Jiayuguan. Jiayuguan is the westernmost end of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. After refreshments, we visit Jiayuguan Fortress, set between snow-capped Mountains of Qilian in the south and the Mazong Mountain in North. Take a short climb on the western end of the Great Wall for some spectacular views over this wild and magnificent region.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Far East Hualun Hotel
• Tourist Class: Bailu Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Drive to the oasis town of Dunhuang surrounded by rolling sand dunes and home to countless camels. In the afternoon visit Crescent Moon Spring and camel ride or climb one of the sand dunes to enjoy the sunset.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel
• Tourist Class: Tianrun Yibai or Lu Ye
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Morning visit the spectacular Mogao Grottos-home to the world acclaimed Buddhist murals and sculptures dating back to 386 AD. Later in the afternoon transfer to the train station for Turfan.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Hampton by Hilton or LaQuinta by Wyndham
• Tourist Class: Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Turfan is the oasis city in the province of Xinjiang. Turfan is inhabited mainly by Uighur people. We visit the ancient ruined city of Jiaohe, richly coloured Flaming Mountains and Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and Grape Valley. In the evening, enjoy the local Uighur dance.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Hampton by Hilton or LaQuinta by Wyndham
• Tourist Class: Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

In the morning, more sightseeing of Turfan. Later drive to Urumqi, visit the museum famous for their Mummies. Tour the Grand Market. Evening flight to Kashgar.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Radisson Blu, Hampton or Home2 Suites by Hilton
• Tourist Class: Kyriad Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Day trip to Karakul Lake along the famous Karakorum Highway. The scenery along the way is magnificent. We will be stopping at the Lake where you can enjoy the breath-taking views of the Muztagh-ata Mountain. After lunch, free time to enjoy the area.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Radisson Blu, Hampton or Home2 Suites by Hilton
• Tourist Class: Kyriad Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

This day is planned to coincide with the famous Sunday market in Kashgar where everything from carpets, blankets, foods, horses, donkeys, sheep and even camels are for sale! Wonderful assortments of people come from all over the region, and the population of the town swells by 100,000! This is truly one of the most incredible bazaars in Asia, and a photographer’s paradise. Later visit Ed-gah Mosque, and Apak Khoja’s tomb.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Radisson Blu, Hampton or Home2 Suites by Hilton
• Tourist Class: Kyriad Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Early in the morning transfer to Chinese Kyrgyz border crossing at Irkeshtam, after border formalities, you will be greeted by our Kyrgyz guide and continue driving to Osh, en-route short lunch stop at to Sary Tash village continue driving to Osh.
PS Note: Today is going to be quite long day due to long distance neutral border crossing between China and Kyrgyzstan, depending on the Chinese border officals mood sometime they let our guide and driver to drive you until closer to the Kyrgyz border check point in that case you don’t have to walk for too long distance with your luggage, or in some case they won’t let our Chinese guide and driver to drive further  instead they will put you on a truck to cross the neutral area to get to the Kyrgyz side. In this case please have some small change of Chinese Yuan or USD Dollar which you can pay it to the truck drivers. We recommend you to travel light as at the border there is no porters available to carry your luggage means you have to carry your luggage through the whole process.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Janat Hotel Osh
• Tourist Class: Sunrise Hotel Osh
Meals Included: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Morning city tour of Osh; a town with a 3000 years history. Sightseeing of Osh includes Oriental Bazaar – one of the biggest bazaars in Central Asia, Suleiman mountain or Solomon’s throne, the rocky hill where Bobur the Mougal king and  the ruler of India resided.
In the afternoon after border formalities transfer to Dostuck border for Ferghana valley. Upon arrival you will be met by our Uzbekistan guide and transferred to your hotel.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Asia Hotel Fergana or Voyage Hotel
• Tourist Class: Asia Hotel Fergana or Voyage Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

In the morning explore the Ferghana valley includes visit of Yodgorlik Khan Atlas Silk Factory, here you will see acquaint self with the manufacturing processes of silk, starting from unreeling cocoons till their painting. The complex Kaftarlik with a mosque and minaret, portal-dome mausoleums and original pigeon loft has been maintained.
Later drive to Tashkent via Kokand, visit includes; Museum in the Fort of the Last Ruler – Khudayor Khan and see a collection of exhibits related to the times of the Khan’s rule. Museum Norbuta – Bia madrassa and Modarikhon mausoleum.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Lotte City Tashkent Palace
• Tourist Class: Florence Boutique or Ateca Suits
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

Morning flight to Urgench and transfer to Khiva. Depending on the flight schedule, possibly half day sightseeing of Khiva city. 

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Farovon or Orient Star
• Tourist Class: Malika Khivek or Shaherezada Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

Legend has it that Khiva was founded when Shem, son of Noah, discovered a well here. The town certainly existed by the 8th Century, as a minor fort and trading post on a Silk Road branch to the Caspian Sea and the Volga. In the early 16th century, Khiva was made capital of the Timurid Empire, becoming a busy slave market and pivot of the khanate for the next three centuries. Until Russia finally wrested the region from Timurid’s grasp in the 19th century, even the boldest hearts feared encounters with these fierce tribesmen and their desert territory. Khiva is an ancient walled city and looks much like it did in centuries past. It is one of the few sites in Central Asia where one can easily imagine life during the time of the emirates. We will spend the morning wandering it’s maze of ruins and great mosques. Later, a tour of this living museum including the Ichon-Qala gates, Muhammad Amin and Rakhim Khan’s Medressas, Tosh-Khovli Palace, Islom-Huja Medressa and Minaret.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Farovon or Orient Star
• Tourist Class: Malika Khivek or Shaherezada Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

Today, we travel from Khiva to Bukhara by train, crossing the arid Kyzyl Kum Desert. Along the way we stop for some refreshments and see how humans have survived over the centuries in this unforgiving landscape. With buildings spanning 1,000 years of history and city centre that has not changed much in past two centuries, Bukhara is one of the best places in Central Asia to catch a glimpse of pre-Russian Turkestan. Most of the city centre is an architectural preserve and includes a massive royal fortress, plenty of former Madrassas, a number of ancient public baths and the remnants of a once-vast market complex. There are over 140 protected buildings in the city.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Mercure Accor, Paradise Plaza, Labi Rud Premium or Shahriston
• Tourist Class: Makon Art, Lyabi House, Nodirabegim Boutique or Rizo Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

Today we explore the old quarter on foot. Bukhara is an ancient city with bustling “trade domes”, active mosques, and the Kalyan Minaret (“tower of death”), one of Central Asia’s tallest. We’ll stroll around the streets and visit the old town centre where old men with long white beards gossip for hours over cups of tea. Bukhara has been designated a World Heritage Site; resulting in the complete restoration of some of the 11th to 15th century mosques. There are even some structures still standing that date back to Zorastrian times 2,500 years ago. We also visit the massive fortress The Ark, with the Emir’s open-air throne room and the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani, an intricate and beautiful 10th century brick structure that is nicely preserved. We’ll also venture to the outskirts of Bukhara and visit the summer palace of the last emir, built by a Russian Czar with grand halls and a harem. We will also see Char Minar, a gate of a ancient madrassa long time gone. It was built in 1809 and has more in common with Indian art styles than local.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Mercure Accor, Paradise Plaza, Labi Rud Premium or Shahriston
• Tourist Class: Makon Art, Lyabi House, Nodirabegim Boutique or Rizo Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

Full free day at leisure or optional activities can be arranged on request.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Mercure Accor, Paradise Plaza, Labi Rud Premium or Shahriston
• Tourist Class: Makon Art, Lyabi House, Nodirabegim Boutique or Rizo Boutique
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

We depart early for Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane, where we tour Ak-Saray Palace, Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, House of Meditation and the Crypt of Timur, a man who changed the course of Central Asian history. There’s little left of Timur’sAk-Saray Palace except bits of the gigantic, 40 m (98 foot) high entrance covered with gorgeous filigree like blue, white and gold mosaics, but it’s staggering to try and imagine what the rest of this glorious summer palace must have looked like. We continue later to Samarkand. For most people, Samarkand is as mythical as Atlantis or as remote and legendary as Tombouctou. The sublime larger-than-life monuments of Timur, the technicolour bazaar and the city’s long, rich history work a special kind of magic. On arrival we’ll visit the old bazaars for which this exotic city is famous.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Hilton Garden Inn, Continental, Mövenpick or Zafshon Parkside
• Tourist Class: Registan Saroy, Malika Prime, Medina, Rayyan or Registon Saroy
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

Samarkand, sometimes called the ‘Rome of the Orient’ was already flourishing when Rome and Babylon were founded. During the course of our full day tour we visit the famous Registan Square, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Mausoleum of Tamerlane, Observatory of Ulughbek, the site where Uleg Bek, grandson of Tamerlane, made some of the greatest achievements of the pre-telescope era of astronomy in the 15th century. We also visit the regal mausoleums of Shah-I Zinda, site of Central Asia’s most sacred Islamic shrine, the massive mosque of BibiKhanym, and the adjacent colourful market. You can purchase Samarkand’s famous bread which Alexander the Great unsuccessfully tried to have duplicated back home in Greece, or try some of the region’s local produce, from grapes to the world’s tastiest melons of multiple varieties. Our afternoon tour covers the Afrosiab Museum, located on the site of ancient.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Hilton Garden Inn, Continental, Mövenpick or Zafshon Parkside
• Tourist Class: Registan Saroy, Malika Prime, Medina, Rayyan or Registon Saroy
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

In the morning transfer to the train station for express train to Tashkent. Afternoon continue on a city tour of Tashkent visiting the Hazrati Imam Complex, the spiritual heart of the city. Explore the Barak-Khan Madrasah, Hazrati Imam Mosque, and Mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi, together forming one of Tashkent’s most important historic and religious landmarks.

Continue to Chorsu Bazaar, one of Tashkent’s oldest and most vibrant markets. Wander through colourful stalls filled with spices, dried fruits, fresh produce, sweets, and traditional Uzbek foods. Be sure to visit a traditional tandir bakery, where local bakers press non bread by hand against the walls of a clay oven. Try it warm from the oven for an authentic taste of everyday Uzbek life.

See another side of Tashkent aboard the city’s famous Metro, stopping at some of its most impressive stations, including Alisher Navoi, Uzbekistan, and Kosmonavtlar. Each station features its own distinctive architecture, mosaics, chandeliers, and artistic design.

Continue to the Museum of Applied Arts, housed in an elegant historic residence. Its collection of intricate embroidery, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, and wood carving offers an insight into Uzbekistan’s rich artistic and craft traditions.

The tour then continues to Independence Square, Tashkent’s principal ceremonial space and an important symbol of the country’s independence. Finish at Amir Timur Square, one of the city’s central landmarks, dominated by the monument to Amir Timur, the celebrated 14th-century ruler and statesman.

Note: The State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan is currently closed for renovation. We will add it back to the itinerary once it reopens to visitors.

Hotel Options
• Comfort Class: Lotte City Tashkent Palace
• Tourist Class: Florence Boutique or Ateca Suits
Meals Included: Breakfast-Dinner

Trip will end with airport transfer

Meals Included: Breakfast