Days 1-3. Beijing - the adventure begins
Beijing is an incredible contrast of sights, sounds and smells, explore the backstreets (Hutongs) of the old town with their food stalls and street vendors for a taste of ‘old Beijing’. Our ‘Scheduled Sightseeing’ takes in the "must see" sights: the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Temple of Heaven, while your Group Leader is on hand for some relaxed ‘City Exploring’ to the Silk Market, Summer Palace and Forbidden City. Finally our overnight train carries us south to the gateway of the great Silk Road, Xian.
Days 4-5. Xian - gateway to the Silk Road
As ancient Chang'an, Xian was one of the largest cities in the world, this was a time of trade and prosperity and for over 400 years the great caravans set forth through the city's West Gate bound for the Taklamakan Desert, the high passes of the Tien Shan Mountains and the fabled cities of Central Asia. Today the city walls, towers, pagodas and incredible Terracotta Army reveal the city's long and turbulent history.
Days 6-8. The Silk Road Railway to Turpan
Our two night journey carries us westwards to Jiayuguan, the bastion ramparts of the Great Wall's most westerly garrison, and across the Taklamakan Desert to the far-flung frontiers of Xinjiang Province. The oasis of Turpan still reflects life as it was along the Silk Road and the faces in the bazaar recall the four corners of Asia. Leaving the desert we board our train for the journey to Kashgar.
Days 9-11. Kashgar and the Irkeshtam Pass
At the crossroads of British India and Imperial Russia's Central Asian territories, this legendary Silk Road town played centre stage in the ‘Great Game’, while centuries earlier its strategic position made it one of the most important staging posts of the great Silk Road. Today the Sunday Market, with its incredible characters and riot of colour, is worthy of its reputation as one of Central Asia's best. Beyond the city lie the high passes of the Tien Shan Mountains, gateway to Kyrgyzstan and the fabled cities of Central Asia. We follow the Silk Road over the Irkeshtam Pass to Sary Tash and Osh.
Days 12-13. Through the Fergana Valley
Strategically located at the western gateway to the Fergana Valley, Osh prospered with Silk Road trade until the Mongol armies destroyed the city in the 13th century. Continuing through the valley we visit the silk producing town of Margilan with its large bazaar and the potters town of Rishton before travelling to Kokand and Tashkent.
Days 14-19. The cities of Central Asia - Samarkand & Bukhara
No city is so evocative of the ancient Silk Road than ‘golden’ Samarkand, Tamerlane's turquoise-spangled capital. We explore Central Asia's most spectacular architectural ensemble; the Registan, plus other highlights including the Shah-i-Zinda complex, Bibi Khanym Mosque and the Ulug Bek Observatory. Across the Kyzyl Kum Desert lie the mud-brick monuments of Bukhara. Once known as ‘holy’ Bukhara, it was home to more than 2000 mosques, today its monuments are some of the oldest on the Silk Road; the Ark Fortress, Samani's Mausoleum and, spared the destruction of Genghis Khan, the Kalyan Minaret - one of central Asia's tallest. Explore the old town and enjoy one of the many chaikhanas (tea-houses) in Labi-Hauz.
Days 20-24. Across the Kara Kum Desert to the Caspian Sea
Beyond Bukhara we cross the Kara Kum Desert to Mary and the ruins of Merv, one of the greatest of all the ancient Silk Road cities, before boarding the overnight train to Ashghabad. This is the first section of the trans-Caspian railway that will take us to the port of Turkmenbashi. In Ashghabad we explore the city and visit the Tolkuchka Bazaar with its red sea of traditional Turkmen carpets and beyond the city we enjoy some time in the Kopet Dag Mountains visiting the ruins of Nisa, the Parthian royal city that existed here over 2300 years ago. Finally we board the trans-Caspian Express for Turkmenbashi and our ferry across the Caspian Sea to Baku.
Days 25-31. Trans-Caucasus adventure to Turkey
Crammed between the Caspian and Black Sea is an incredible treasure trove of early Christian monuments set amongst the most incredible mountain scenery. We explore Georgia's ancient capital, Mtskheta, with its beautiful Jvari Church and Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral and the old town of Tbilisi. The Caucasus were a crossroads of trade and conquest through the centuries and we discover the best the region has to offer, with time to enjoy their legendary hospitality and fine wines!
Days 32-39. The Black Sea coast to Istanbul
Many of the caravan trade routes finished at the ports of the Black Sea where ships carried the valuable merchandise onwards to Constantinople and the Mediterranean. Our last few days follow the Black Sea coast through Trabzon, Samsun and Safronbolu to Istanbul and the end of this incredible journey along the Silk Road.