| Day 1 |
Arrive Beijing
China,
here we come! We are warmly greeted as we arrive at Beijing – one
of the largest cities in the world! |
| Day 2 |
Beijing
Full
day tour of the Imperial and Summer Palaces. |
| Day 3 |
Beijing/Xian
We
start our journey to the origin of the Silk Road by taking a short
flight to Xian. Evening we take a stroll in this town which was
visited by Marco Polo in the medieval times. |
| Day 4 |
Xian
Full
day tour of Xian including the terracotta figures and the Big Goose
Pagoda. |
| Day 5 |
Xian/Dunhuang
Short
flight to the Silk Road caravan stop of Dunhuang. Afternoon we visit
the amazing sand dunes. |
| Day 6 |
Dunhuang/Turpan
Full
day tour of the Magao Caves. Overnight train to the oasis of Turpan. |
| Day 7 |
Arrive Turpan
Full
day tour of Turpan. |
| Day 8 |
Turpan/Urumqi/Kashgar
Short
drive to Urumqi followed by a tour of the capital city of Xinjiang
before we take a short flight to Kashgar. |
| Day 9 |
Kashgar
Tour
Kashgar – a city seemingly forgotten by time. You may try a local
taxi, which is a donkey cart. |
| Day 10 |
Sunday Bazaar/Tashkurgan
Morning
visit the famous and historical Sunday Bazaar. Visit the famous
and historical Sunday Bazaar before we head for Tashkurgan. En route
we stop at Karakol showing spectacular reflection of the majestic
Muztagh Ata peak. |
| Day 11 |
Khunjerab
Pass/Hunza
Conquering
the world’s highest border crossing we descend on the last living
Shangri-La at the ‘Lost Horizon’ valley of Hunza. We arrive early
evening at Karimabad, the capital of Hunza. Evening we visit a Hunzakut
home. |
| Day
12 |
Hunza
Morning
tour of Karimabad. Afternoon is free to experience a personal serenity
that Hunza offers. Evening optional Baltit Fort tour by night with
local dances and food. |
| Day
13 |
Hunza/Gilgit/Chilas
We
take the world famous Karakorum Highway to the ancient Silk Road
town of Gilgit. Brief tour of Gilgit before continuing to Chilas. |
| Day:
14 |
Chilas/Swat
Valley –
A
spectacular drive over the most beautiful Shangla Pass gets us to
the enchanting Swat Valley. En route we stop to meet various local
folks and picturesque sites. |
| Day
15 |
Swat Valley/Peshawar
A
tour of Saidu Shariff and Mingora before we descend on the Malakand
Pass for the historic city of Peshawar. |
| Day
16 |
Peshawar
& Khyber Pass
Step
back and experience history as we visit the historical Khyber Pass
followed by an afternoon tour of the exotic city of Peshawar. |
| Day
17 |
Peshawar/Taxila/Islamabad
Via
the Grand Trunk Route, we visit Taxila before a short drive takes
us to Islamabad Airport for our departure flight back home or an
extension to Lahore. |
Meal
Plan : Breakfast
and Dinner daily.
Airfares
Beijing/Xian/Dunhuang and Urumqi/Kashgar included in Silk Route
from Xian.
Note
this is a soft adventure tour and involves some long drives. Overnight,
at certain places, is limited to basic accommodation. |