Beijing, Xi'an, Lanzhou, Labrang, Dunhuang, Turpan, Kashgar, Urumchi, 　　　　　　　Shanghai
Forbidden City, Terra-cotta Warriors, Labrang Tibetan Monastery, Mogao Caves, 　　　　　 Jiaohe City, Sunday Bazaar,

Enjoy the Silk Road in China, from ancient cities to tranquil country villages. Experience venerable traditions of Labrang, Turpan and Kashgar; hidden treasures of Tibet's living and revitalized Buddhist tradition in Labrang (Xiahe region, Gansu province) , archaeological treasures of Beijing, Xi'an and Dunhuang on this 11-day journey of discovery.

11 Days / 10 Nights from $ 1,740
Begins Beijing and Ends Kashgar
May 17, 28
June 18, 28
July 05, 19, 30
Aug 09, 20
Sep 06, 10, 20
Oct 04, 08, 18
Additional departure dates may become available as these sell out or you can choose your own departure date.

Day01. Arrive Beijing (CHINA)
Hello! We are warmly greeted as we arrive at Beijing International and transferred to our hotel. Every visit to Beijing makes it evident that this city is fast growing and, like in its hay day, is becoming the capital of the world.
Day02. Beijing / Xian (Flight)
We start our journey to the origin of the Silk Route by taking a short flight to Xian, a town that was visited by Marco Polo in the medieval times. Branches of the Silk Route started flowing east, west north and south from this magical city. Our afternoon tour includes the Big & Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell and Drum Tower, the Muslim Quarter, the 12th century mosque and the Shanxi Museum.
Day03. Xian
The capital of Shanxi Province, Xian was once among the largest cities in the world and the capital for 11 dynasties. It was the starting point of the Silk Road and is now, with the exception of Beijing, the most popular tourist attraction in China. Today we tour the Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi and its terracotta figures, (over 6000 life-size warriors and horses buried along with the Qin Dynasty emperor responsible for the unification of China in 200 BC). Next stop is the traditional Banpo Neolithic Village where we visit the remains of a village inhabited between 4500 BC and 3750 BC.
Day04. Xian / Lanzhou (Flight)
A morning flight takes us to Lanzhou. In the afternoon we take an excursion to Bingilisi Caves.
Day05. Labrang
This morning we head out for Labrang, to visit the famous Labrang Lamaseries, a monastery heavily influenced by Tibetan architecture.
Day06. Labrang / Lanzhou / Dunhuang (Drive / Flight)
We return to Lanzhou for an evening flight to Dunhuang, the 2000 year old town on the edge of the Gobi Desert. It was once an important caravan stop, also here the Silk Road splits into different routes stretching 7000 km / 4350 miles all the way to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Day07. Dunhuang / Turpan (Train)
Our afternoon touring includes the amazing sand dunes and the Mogao Caves, the oldest Buddhist shrines in China. These ancient hand-carved shrines are a World Heritage Site and represent a thousand years of devotion to Buddha between the 2nd and12th Centuries. We then take an overnight train to the oasis of Turpan, the most important city of the Middle Ancient Silk Route.
Day08. Arrive Turpan
Turpan lies in one of the world's great land depressions at 154 meters / 505 feet below sea level and was the most important city of the Middle Ancient Silk Route. Today we take a full day tour to include Gaochang, the Flaming Mountain and the Bezaklik Thousand Buddha caves followed by Jiao he, the Emin Tower and the famous Karez System. In the evening we get time to visit the oasis town and meet the local folks.
Day09. Turpan / Urumchi / Kashgar (Drive / Flight) Morning we depart for Urumchi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, situated at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Our tour of Urumchi includes the Ardaoqiao Market, a covered street of food and textile stalls. Later we take our short flight to Kashgar, where we are met and transferred to the hotel.
Day10. Kashgar
If one would like to see a place where time has stood still it is Kashgar (Kashi). Walking through the narrow lanes of this old town evokes a scene from the Arabian Nights. Kashgar has remained sheltered from outside influences with locals who are very friendly. Amongst the most popular professions are coppersmiths, carpenters, jewelers and cobblers, all using tools of bygone days. Our tour of Kashgar also includes the Abak Hoja Tomb, the Id Kah Mosque and the old town where we might even take a ride on the donkey cart taxi. One of the most popular events in the town is the weekly Sunday Bazaar that draws a variety of ethnic groups like the Uighur, Tajik, Kyrgyz and Kazakh to the streets of Kashgar. They come on foot, bikes, horsebacks, modern motorcycles and donkey carts, all with the hope of selling merchandise that ranges form scissors to camels. Enjoy mingling with the locals and learn to sharpen your bargaining skills.
Day11. Kashgar / Osh (KYRGYZSTAN - Drive)
Early this morning we depart for Kyrgyzstan's newly opened frontier, the beautiful Ferghana Valley. This will be a long, but interesting day as we are traveling into the mountainous region with breath-taking views of the litter Pamirs.

2005 Prices
Land Price Per Person

Group Size
Minimum Size: 02persons
Double: $ 1740 USD
Single : $ 1980 USD

Group Size
Minimum Size: 06persons
Double: $ 1640 USD
Single : $ 1880 USD

TOUR INCLUDES
All accommodations mentioned above
All meals mentioned above
All entrance fee where applicable
English speaking guide
Travel insurance inside mainland China
Transfer from airport to hotel and private vehicles to sightseeing spots
All air fare as Beijing/Xi’an/Lanzhou/Dunhuang and Urumchi/Kashgar

TOUR EXCLUDES
All transportation fees entering Beijing
All personal expenses such as extra drinks, laundry, telephone calls, excess baggage charges
Gratuities, Tips to guides or drivers