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CENTRAL ASIA ON THE SILK ROADBeijing TashkentFR$5,49926 DAYSTRANS-MONGOLIA & THE SILK ROUTEHighlights• Wander along the Great Wall of China• Stare down the Terracotta Warriors• Bargain at Kashgar’s Sunday bazaar• Stay in a yurt in remote mountains• Community homestay in Kochkor• Hit the beach at Lake Issyk-Kul• Travel through the desert to Bukhara• Marvel at the sights of SamarkandDepartures 2015START FINISHApr 23 May 18May 14 Jun 08InclusionsSTART FINISHJun 11 Jul 06Jul 09 Aug 03START FINISHAug 06 Aug 31Sep 10 Oct 05Trip Style: Classic Service Level: StandardPhysical Grading: 2 Age Group: Any ageAccommodation: Hotels/guesthouses(19 nts), sleeper trains (3 nts), communitytourism/homestays (2 nts, shared facilities),yurt (1 nt, multishare) Transport: Train,private van/bus, plane, camel, metro Meals:22 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners Budget:Allow USD $240-360 for meals not includedGroup Leader: Chief Experience Officer (CEO),local guides Group Size: Max 16, Avg 12 TourCode: GAACKUMy Own Room Available: Fr $919You might likeMingsha Sand Dunes, DunhuangXinjiang Province, ChinaShorten Your TripSilk Road of China(18 days, Beijing to Kashgar)(GAACSR) see page 141 Fr £$2,899Since opening up to travellers, China and its neighbours don’t seem quite as exotic or ‘outthere’ as they were even just a few years ago, but you don’t have to travel far from Beijingto realise nothing could be further from the truth. This comprehensive 26-day journey isone of those experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime. Visit the Uyghur province ofXinjiang to learn about the food, culture and history of this minority group. Then, as youleave China behind, you’ll venture into Krygyzstan and Uzbekistan to retrace part of theroute that helped to build once-mighty empires; the legendary Silk Road.DAY01-0506-1112-1516-1718-2223-26ITINERARYBeijing / Xi’anArrive into Beijing and spend two days visiting the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the ForbiddenCity, plus optional kung fu or acrobat shows. The afternoon of Day 3 is yours before the overnighttrain to Xi’an. Opt to cycle round the city walls or visit the Muslim Quarter. Day 5 brings a guidedtour of the Terracotta Warriors, lunch at a farmer’s house and an overnight train to Dunhuang. (3B, L)Dunhuang / Turpan / Urumqi / KashgarTake a guided trip to the famous Mogao Grottoes and a free afternoon to explore the town. On Day7, opt for a sunrise visit to the unique Mingsha Sand Dunes where you can climb the sand formationsand enjoy a camel ride. Catch the overnight train to Turpan on Day 8, where a local guide introducesthe ancient Karez water system, the Emin minaret and city mosque. Drive to Urumqi to catch a flightto Kahsgar to visit the Sunday bazaar. (4B)Torugart Pass / Tash Rabat / Kochkor / Karakol / Cholpon Ata (Lake Issyk-Kul)Cross the border into Kyrgyzstan via the Torugart Pass for a memorable stay in a yurt at the nomadiccommunity of Tash Rabat, high in the Tian Shan Mountains. In Kochkor, enjoy a community homestayand visit to a women’s carpet-making workshop. You’ll visit the Prejevalskiy Museum in Karakol withfree time to see the Dunhan Mosque and Orthdox Church, before an afternoon at the beach on LakeIssyk-Kul with optional boat tours or visits to nearby petroglyphs. (4B, 3D)BishkekSpending a relaxing couple of days in the Kyrgyz capital with free time to shop and enjoy the city’snightlife. Day 17 offers the chance for an optional hike in Ala Archa National Park. (2B)Tashkent / Khiva / BukharaFly to Taskhkent in Uzbekistan where a local guide will give you the lowdown on the city sights. OnDay 20, fly to Urgench and drive to Khiva for a half-day tour of this ancient city. Travel through thedesert to Bukhara, one of Uzbekistan’s most charming cities where, on Day 22, there’s an insightfulcity tour followed by free time to visit a traditional hammam or pick up some souvenirs. (5B)Samarkand / TashkentAfter an orientation walk in Samarkand, opt to visit the Amir Timur Mausoleum. We’ve also lined up acooking demo and dinner with a local family, before returning to Tashkent for a last night out. (4B, D)UZBEKISTANKhivaTashkent Bishkek Issyk-Kul UrumqiTurpanKarakolBukharaTash Rabat KochkorDunhuangSamarkand KashgarTashkent, UzbekistanBeijingCHINAXi’an132 VISIT WWW.STATRAVEL.COM