Asia's vast western region is accessible to travelers along the classic Silk Roads / Routes, although historically the trade route was never called this way, until a German geographer used this romantic name for it in the late 1800s. Since 200 AD this transcontinental route linked the Roman Empire in the west with the imperial court of China.
The Silk Road was for Centuries the most important and busiest connection between the East and West. It experienced its last great era during the time of the Mongol Empire. This ancient trade route started in the old capitals of Luoyang and Xian (once called Chang'an) and reaching the Yellow River at Lanzhou, then skirts westward along deserts and mountains before dividing into three routes at the oasis of Dunhuang.
The great part of the Silk Road threads its way through Xinjiang Province, before entering Middle East and the Mediterranean Area through various renowned and feared Passes. These ancient travelers have left behind many historical records and invaluable relics to encounter for.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Kabul
After our long flights, we will be welcome on arrival at Kabul airport and later, after clearing immigration and customs we will be transferred to the hotel. Balance of the day is free for resting. Overnight: Hotel Inter-Continental, Kabul (1 night). Included: D.
Day 2: Kabul / Bamiyan (drive)
Today we will have an early departure from Kabul, so that we can reach Bamiyan by noontime. It will be a long drive, which will be a bit on paved road and later on gravel. We will drive via Unai (3300m) and Hajigak Pass (3700m) with en route stop at view point of Shahr-e-Zohak (Red City). On arrival at Bamiyan we’re first taken to our hotel.
In the afternoon we will visit the site of the famous Buddhas (53m & 35m high), which were shamelessly destroyed during the Taliban regime. It will be more of an exploratory tour to see the remaining sites and possible traces of frescoes. Overnight: Roof of Bamiyan Hotel (2 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 3: Bamiyan
This morning we’ll have first a short visit to Shahr-e-Gholghola (City of noise or sighs), a city destroyed by the hordes of Genghis Khan, and later have an excursion to Bande Amir Lakes. Included: B, D.
Day 4: Bamiyan / Kabul (drive)
We will drive back to Kabul today, via Shibar Pass with many photo stops en route. On arrival, we’re taken to our hotel for check-in and the balance of the day is free. Overnight: Hotel Inter-Continental (2 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 5: Kabul
We start our full day sightseeing tour of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan since 1776. Once it was a fast growing city ringed with mountains, gleaming emerald green in spring; glistening white in winter, a place of convergence for the many tourists who were journeying overland from Europe to Asia. Included: B, D.
Day 6: Kabul / Jalalabad / Peshawar (drive)
After breakfast we’ll leave Kabul and we’ll be passing through the Kabul Gorge and Mahipar Pass (which was once known for its famous waterfalls) then later passing Jalalabad, we drive to Torkham Border crossing (between Afghanistan and Pakistan).
At Jalalabad we will shortly visit the King’s Garden, the Palace and Mausoleum of Amir Habibullah, followed by a drive through the Bazaars. From here we will continue to Torkham Border. After custom & immigration formalities we’ll drive to Peshawar via the famous Khyber Pass and through the also famous Landi Kotal Bazaar. On arrival at Peshawar will drive to our hotel. Overnight: Pearl Continental Hotel (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 7: Peshawar / Swat (drive)
Our morning starts with a sightseeing tour of Peshawar. First stop is at the Peshawar Museum that houses a rich treasure of art, sculpture and historical relics dating from the Gandhara period (300 BC to 300 AD) to modern times.
We’ll also visit the Yadgar Square and the Mahabat Khan Mosque, a beautiful towering structure with lofty minarets, the Qissa Khawani Bazaar (storyteller’s bazaar), the Peshawar Pottery Works, Bater Bazaar (street of partridge lovers) and Mochi Lara, famous for it’s exquisitely embroidered sandals. We will also stop later at the Shingerdara Stupa and the Galegai Caves. Overnight: Serena Hotel (2 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 8: Swat
A full day excursion we take today to Upper Swat Valley. Situated 60 km north of Saidu Sharif at an altitude of 1,320 m, Madyan lies in an enchanting setting of steep wooded hills, terraced fields, and mud houses.
Near Madyan we stop to see Miandam (1,825 m), popular for it’s scenic beauty, which is reputed to be the best in the entire Swat Valley. The next stop is Bahrain (1,375 m), only 10 km from Madyan. Later we will return for overnight to our hotel in Swat. Included: B, D.
Day 9: Swat / Besham (drive)
This morning we tour Saidu Sharif & Mingora before driving to Besham. Saidu Sharif is the capital city of the Swat Valley and it is named after the Moslem divinity, Saidu. Here we’ll visit the Swat Museum, which has a rich collection of Gandhara Art obtained from different sites in the region. Just 3 km from Saidu Sharif is Mingora, the commercial center of Swat.
After a short stop here, we drive to Maraghzar, a summer retreat at an altitude of 1,300 m. The drive takes us along a lovely winding road lined by orchards. Overnight: Besham Continental Hotel (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 10: Besham / Gilgit (drive)
We will drive today along the banks of the Indus River all the way up to the Gilgit Valley. En route we will stop shortly at Shatial & Chilas to encounter ancient rock carvings, also stop at a unique point on the hilltop from where we can observe three great mountain ranges at a time, followed by a stop at Talliche Bridge to have a fine view of Nanga Parbat (Naked) Mountain. For dinner and our overnight stay we drive to Gilgit. Overnight: Serena Hotel, Gilgit (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 11: Gilgit / Hunza (drive)
After breakfast we’ll have a city tour of Gilgit, which includes a visit to a local school, the popular polo grounds, the very typical mountain bazaar and the Suspension Bridge over the Gilgit River. Near Gilgit we visit the impressive rock carvings of the Buddha at Kargah.
In the afternoon we will drive to Hunza with en route stop at Rakaposhi View point, which offers a superb view of Rakaposhi Peak. For dinner and our overnight stay we drive to Hunza. Overnight: Hunza View Hotel (3 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 12: Hunza
Today we’ll have a full day sightseeing tour of Hunza and its surroundings. Our morning session will include a jeep excursion to the Nagar Valley to see the glacial formations at Hoper. Hoper also offers a fantastic view of the mountain peaks of the Hunza Valley.
After we return to Hunza we will visit the Baltit Fort Museum followed by the Ganesh Watch Tower and a walk through the Karimabad Bazaar, the ‘downtown’ of Hunza. Included: B, D.
Day 13: Hunza
Another excursion day ahead, this time to Upper Hunza Valley, where we will first walk along the Passu and the Gulkin Glaciers. From here we’ll go to visit the Gulmit Village, which will offer a nice experience while walking through the streets and between its traditional homes, a real image representing the old and traditional culture of this area.
Later drive back to Karimabad. Rest of the day it’s free at leisure. Our Pakistani farewell dinner will be served in a local restaurant. Included: B, D.
Day 14: Hunza / Taskhurgan (China) (drive via Sost)
On this morning, we’ll drive to Sost Border station, between Pakistan and China. After clearing custom & immigration formalities on the Pakistani side, we will say goodbye to our guide and driver as we board the Government’s transportation vehicle to continue our ‘border-crossing’ via Khunjerab Pass - the world’s highest border crossing - into China. Overnight: Pamir Hotel, Taskhurgan (1 night). Included: B, L, D.
Day 15: Taskhurgan / Kashgar (drive)
An exciting day ahead as we start with a three-hour drive to the enchanting Karakul Lake with breathtaking views of the Muztagh Ata (the father of the ice mountains) reflected on the still waters. There is never enough time to take in its beauty before we head off for the historic city of Kashgar located at the western end of the Taklimakan Desert.
In the evening we take a walking tour of the old town and see the traditional teahouses, donkey carts used as taxis, local restaurants, places of dwelling and various smiths at work. Overnight: Golden Silk Road Hotel, Kashgar (2 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 16: Kashgar
Kashgar it is an important hub on the Old Silk Road, also a vibrant Islamic centre within China. It is the largest oasis city in the Chinese Central Asia, at the western end of the Taklimakan Desert (meaning: ‘Those going in never return’) and ninety per cent of its populations are Uyghur. Included: B, D.
Day 17: Kashgar / Urumqi (flight)
Kashgar. Miles from nowhere, mid-way between Rome and Beijing, this exotic oasis used to be the last outfitting station on the centuries-old Silk Road. Trade remains timeless still, at least on Sundays, when the entire community gathers at the world's liveliest market.
The most popular event in the town it’s the weekly Sunday Bazaar that draws a variety of ethnic groups like the Uyghur, Tajik, Kyrgyz and Kazakh to the streets of Kashgar. Overnight: Xinjiang Grand Hotel, Urumqi (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 18: Urumqi / Turpan (drive)
Urumchi is the capital of the Uyghur Autonomous Region. Situated in a fertile belt of oases along the northern face of the Tengri Tagh Mountains, the City commands the northern end of a gap, leading from the Tarim Basin into the Dzungarian Basin. Overnight: Oasis Hotel, Turpan (2 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 19: Turpan
Located in a depression, approximately 80 meters below sea level, Turpan is a dry and extremely hot city. Nicknamed the "Oven", temperatures in the summer soar to 40 degrees C. In contrast, winters are bitterly cold with temperatures dropping to -15 degrees C. Turpan is synonymous with grapes and wine, which is the area's most famous product. Included: B, D.
Day 20: Turpan / Dunhuang (train)
This morning will enjoy the visit & the grapes (and wine) in the Grape Valley. Here we’ll have the chance to see the famous Karez irrigation System. The structure of the Karez basically consists of wells, underground channels, ground canals and small reservoirs.
In Spring and Summer, a great amount of melting snow and rainfall flow down from the Bogda and Karawuquntag Mountains north and west of the Turpan Depression into the valleys and then seep into the Gobi Desert. Taking advantage of the mountain slopes, the local people ingeniously created the Karez, to draw the underground water to irrigate the farmland.
The water in Karez will not evaporate in large quantities even under the scorching heat and fierce wind, hence ensuring a stable water flow and gravity irrigation. There are in the Turpan area nearly one thousand Karez totaling 5,000 kilometers in length. Afternoon we'll depart for Daheyan and take an overnight train to Liuyuan and onto Dunhuang. It is a comfortable, soft-bedded cabin train. Overnight: onboard train (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 21: Dunhuang
After the morning arrival to Liuyuan, we’ll be meeting our guide, then continuing by car to Dunhuang. The oasis town of Dunhuang lay at a crucial junction of the Silk Road, that ancient braid of caravan trails, which served as a highway not just for merchandise, but also for ideas - religious, cultural and artistic.
By the 4th Century AD, the Silk Road had brought Dunhuang both commercial prosperity and a growing Buddhist community. Here will visit the Mogao Grottoes and the Marvelous Crescent Spring. The Mogao Cave Temples, at the edge of the Gobi Desert, are filled with one of the most extensive and exquisite collections of Buddhist paintings and sculptures in the world.
Every surface of the walls and ceilings is covered with painted clay stucco, which gave the site its popular name of the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas. The Dunhuang caves remain one of the most perfectly preserved of the world's great religious sanctuaries. In the afternoon we’ll also visit the Rattling Sand Hill. Overnight: Dunhuang Hotel, Dunhuang (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 22: Dunhuang / Xian (flight)
This morning we'll take a domestic flight to Xian where the Silk Trade first started. Xian, the eternal city, is the capital of Shaanxi province, located in the southern part of the Guanzhong Plain. With the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Weihe River to the north, it is in a favorable geographical location surrounded by waters and hills.
Called Chang'an in ancient times, Xian is one of the birthplaces of the ancient civilization in the Yellow River Basin area. The cultural and historical significance of the area, as well as the abundant relics and sites, helped Xian enjoy the laudatory title of 'Natural History Museum'.
The Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses is praised as 'the eighth major miracle of the world', the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is listed on the World's Heritage List, and the City Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) is the largest and most intact Ming Dynasty castle in the world. Afternoon is for us to visit the Shaanxi History Museum and if time permitting still we will 'climb' to the City Walls. Overnight: Garden Hotel, Xian (2 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 23: Xian
Today we’ll have a full day excursion to the Banpo Village, to see the famous Terracotta Warrior Museum. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th Century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum.
Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. They are replicas of what the imperial guard should look like in those days of pomp and vigor. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses are sensational archeological finds of all times.
Has been listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world’s cultural heritages. Afternoon we’ll go to another “must to see” place: the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Included: B, D.
Day 24: Xian / Lhasa (flights via Chengdu) / Tsedang (drive)
After breakfast we are taken to the airport for our flight to Lhasa (via Chengdu). As we arrive at Gonggar airport in Tibet, we are met by our guide & driver and taken to our hotel in Tsedang for rest and acclimatization. The drive to Tsedang on asphalt road, which snakes through Yarlung Tsangpo canyons and wind-blown mountains, takes at least four to five hours to wind-up.
Tsedang it is located in the heart of the ancient Yarlung Kingdom, where it all began… Tsedang (3550m) 183 km southeast of Lhasa is the third largest city in Tibet and it is the capital of Shannan Prefecture, also an important administrative centre and Chinese army base. It is for us the jumping board for exploration of the Yarlung Valley area. Overnight: Hotel Tsedang (2 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 25: Tsedang
Today we’ll start our Tibetan experience with full-day Sightseeing of the Tombs of Ancient Tibetan Kings, of the Yambulakhang and the Trandruk Monasteries. This is a journey through the early Tibetan history. We first stop in Chongye Valley, located about 3 km southwest of Tsetang, which holds high significance in Tibetan history. Included: B, D.
Day 26: Tsedang / Lhasa (drive)
Today we drive to Lhasa, the heart and soul of Tibet. In Tibetan language, Lhasa means ‘The land of Gods’. En route we visit the Mindroling Monastery, one of the two great Nyingampa monasteries of Central Tibet, founded in 1676. Further ahead we cross the Yarlung Tsangpo River on a ferry and then visit Samye Monastery.
Samye was the first Monastery to be built in Tibet. It was probably founded during the 770's under the patronage of King Trisong Detsen, with the work being directed by Padmasambhava and Shantarakshita, the two Indian masters that the king had invited to Tibet. The monastery is designed to mirror the structure of the universe, according to Buddhist cosmology. Overnight: Dhood Gu Hotel, Lhasa (3 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 27: Lhasa
Our today’s Lhasa visit will start with the Drepung Monastery. Drepung is one of the world’s largest monasteries and was built in 1416 by Jamyang Choje a pupil of Tshong Khapa, the founder of the Gelugpa Sect. Included: B, D.
Day 28: Lhasa
Today we’ll visit the magical Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor Market in Lhasa. Potala Palace has been the focus of Buddhist travelers for centuries. It is a cardinal landmark and a structure of massive proportions. Included: B, D.
Day 29: Lhasa / Gyantse (drive)
The drive from Lhasa to Gyantse is a fulfilling experience. The road uphill meanders through stark desolate mountains, but beyond Kampa La Pass the scenery changes dramatically as we spot the turquoise-blue Yambrok Tso Lake for the first time. Overnight: Hotel Shigatse (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 31: Shigatse / Shegar (drive)
The drive from Shigatse to Shegar covers a distance of 279 km and passes through several high passes, flat farmlands, and farmsteads that dot the dusty road. We should make preparations today for the high altitude that we will be exposed to. Overnight: Chomolongma Shanghai Hotel, Tingri (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 32: Shegar / Zhangmu / Kathmandu (drive)
After an early breakfast we leave Tingri and drive to Zhangmu, the ‘border city’ between Tibet and Nepal. This journey starts with an impressive close-up, right after Tingri, of the peaks of the Mt. Everest. Overnight: Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 33: Kathmandu / Homebound
Today we leave Nepal, taking with us strong memories of what it is said to be the most ultimate cultural experience ever, an Asian overland journey along the 'Silk Route' & Tibet. Included: B.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
USD: 6,310.00 / CAD: 7,570.00 - per person in double occupancy.
Single Supplement USD: 1,165.00 / CAD: 1,395.00
Price includes:
- Hotel accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
- Meal Plan as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L= Lunch, D=dinner)
- All Sightseeing and Transfers as per itinerary by car, minivan & 4X4 vehicles
- Train tickets, as required
- Entrance fees to Palaces, Monasteries and Sites, Khunjerab Park fees
- Local English speaking guide / driver
- Road tolls and taxes, drivers overnight wages
- Visa Support as required
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Afghanistan
China
Tibet
Cultural Journey
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
