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Silk Road Explorer
From ZAR44 290 - 28 Days, Fully Inclusive From South Africa
WENDY WU TOURS WERE THE FIRST COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA TO VENTURE ALONG THE ORIGINAL SILK ROAD, OVERLAND BETWEEN TURPAN AND KASHGAR IN 1996.
Almost two thousand years before being named ‘The Silk Road’, the great east-west trade route was first travelled by emissaries of the Han Dynasty. As the centuries passed many caravans set out from the ancient capital of Chang’an (Xian) and ventured westward along a route that took them to Kashgar and then over the Pamir Mountains to Central Asia and finally to Rome. One extremely important trade item was silk, manufactured in China and treasured in Rome. The name 'Silk Road' has become synonymous with the many amazing images, cultures and diverse people that you will encounter along this amazing journey. Starting in Beijing we travel to Xian, the ancient capital and the eastern end of the traditional Silk Road. An overnight train then takes us to Lanzhou, with a side trip to Xiahe revealing the mystical Labrang Tibetan Monastery. Continuing our journey west we reach Jiayuguan by train and then Dunhuang and Turpan by road. The next four days of true adventure take us along the original trade route to the fabled city of Kashgar, where the Sunday Bazzar and animal market will evoke the atmosphere of centuries past - a bustling crowd of people, produce, donkeys and colour. We return via Urumqi to our finishing point in Beijing. This is a truly remarkable journey – come join us and discover for yourself a completely different part of China.
TOUR ITINERARY
DAYS 1-2: SOUTH AFRICA TO BEIJING
Fly overnight with Cathay Pacific to Beijing for a two-night stay. Our welcome dinner will be a delicious banquet sampling the local delicacy, ‘Peking Duck’.
DAY 3: BEIJING
An often quoted saying in Beijing goes ‘you have not been to China until you have climbed the Great Wall’. Built over 2,000 years ago, the Great Wall stretches all the way from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast to the Gobi Desert in the west, more than 5,000km away. Walk along the wall, admiring the panoramic views, and reflect on the enormity of the material and labour required for its construction. Later we visit the 15th century Temple of Heaven. This evening enjoy a Chinese Acrobatic show.
DAY 4: BEIJING TO XIAN
Today we stroll through Tiananmen Square past Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, visit the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace before we board our overnight train to Xian.
DAY 5: XIAN
We arrive in Xian this morning where we visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda. This evening we feast on a traditional Shui Jiao Dumpling banquet, a specialty of the region, while enjoying a performance of music and dance from the Tang Dynasty.
DAY 6: XIAN
Today we visit one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century, the life-size Terracotta Warriors. We also visit the ancient City Wall, one of the best preserved in all of China.
DAY 7: XIAN TO LANZHOU
Visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, stroll through the Muslim Quarter and explore the Islamic food market. Later we board our overnight train to Lanzhou.
DAY 8: LANZHOU
Arrive in Lanzhou where we visit the Baita (White) Temple. This evening we sample the local speciality ‘Hand Stretched Noodles’.
DAY 9: LANZHOU
Today we travel by speedboat on Lioujiaxia Lake to visit the Bingling Caves.
DAY 10: LANZHOU TO XIAHE
We travel through the scenic Jishi Mountain Pass to Xiahe today. Set in a beautiful mountain valley, renowned as ‘Little Tibet’.
DAY 11: XIAHE
Today we visit the Labrang Monastery and tour the Sangke Grasslands, rolling pastures where wildflowers flourish.
DAYS 12-13: XIAHE TO JIAYUGUAN
Return to Lanzhou where we board our overnight train to Jiayuguan. The following day we visit Jiayu Fortress and take a walk along the western end of the Great Wall.
DAY 14: JIAYUGUAN TO DUNHUANG
Today we travel by road to the city of Dunhuang.
DAY 15: DUNHUANG
Enjoy a visit to the Magao Grottoes today.
DAY 16: DUNHUANG TO TURPAN
Tour the Crescent Moon Spring and the Singing Sand Dunes, before we board our overnight train to Turpan.
DAY 17: TURPAN
Arrive in Turpan this morning where we visit the ancient city ruins of Jiaohe and see the Flaming Mountains.
DAY 18: TURPAN
We see the Emin Minaret, visit local homes at Grape Valley and learn about the 2,000-yearold Kerez irrigation canals.
DAY 19: TURPAN TO KURLA
Today we travel to Kurla and visit the ruins of the Iron Fortress. Over the next four days our adventure will take us along the original Silk Road through the Xinjiang Region.
DAY 20: KURLA TO KUQA
We tour the ruins of Subashi before we ontinue on to Kuqa. Upon arrival we visit the remains of the old City Wall.
DAY 21: KUQA TO AKSU
Today we visit the Kyzil Thousand Buddha Caves and travel onwards to Aksu.
DAY 22: AKSU TO KASHGAR
This morning we leave Aksu and continue our journey travelling to the fabled city of Kashgar for the next two nights.
DAY 23: KASHGAR
Our touring today includes a visit to the elegantly tiled Abakh Hoja Tomb, which was built in 1640 to reflect the artistic style of Samarkand and the Id Kah Mosque.
DAY 24: KASHGAR TO URUMQI
Enjoy a visit to the world’s largest Sunday Bazaar before we fly to Urumqi.
DAY 25: URUMQI
Today we travel to Tian Chi (Heavenly Lake), enjoying breathtaking views of the crystal clear lake at the top of a mountain range. Tonight we enjoy a traditional meal of Uyghur lamb skewers.
DAY 26: URUMQI TO BEIJING
Visit the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum, where some 1,000-year-old mummies are housed. This afternoon we board our flight to Beijing for our final night in China.
DAY 27: DEPART BEIJING
Enjoy the morning at leisure before we transfer to Beijing airport to board our overnight flight to South Africa.
DAY 28: ARRIVE SOUTH AFRICA
Arrive home this morning.
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