In the Footsteps of Marco Polo from Xi’an to Kashgar

Great Silk Road

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For 2,000 years, the Silk Road was the principal artery for caravans traveling between China and Europe laden with textiles, spices, gold—and ideas, philosophies, and religions. On this fabled road across the Far East, we follow the footsteps of Marco Polo from Xi’an, home of the legendary Terra Cotta Warriors, to fabled Kashgar in China’s wild west, little changed since the silk caravans passed through a millennium ago. Along the way, we meet the Uighurs, Tajiks, Kirghiz, and Uzbeks, watch the sun set over the Gobi Desert, share tea with Uighur families, and explore epic archaeological sites including the cliff-bound Mogao Grottoes, a priceless repository of Chinese Buddhist cave art long lost in the desert.

Below is an Itinerary-in-Brief. To view a complete Detailed Itinerary, Download Full Itinerary or Email our Area Specialist

Itinerary-in-Brief

Days 1-3
Beijing / Xi’an / Terra Cotta Warriors

In Xi’an, cradle of Chinese history, we visit the world-renowned Tomb of the Terra Cotta Warriors, 2,200 years old when it was accidently discovered in 1974. This World Heritage Site holds the 8,000 “buried warriors” of China’s first emperor, each life-sized figure unique. We enjoy a walk (or bike) along Xi’an’s original city walls, the most complete that survive in China. This ancient Silk Road metropolis has witnessed the rise and fall of 14 imperial dynasties over two millennia. We also visit the Forest of Stone Tablets, which contains China’s finest collection of calligraphy by famous ancient masters.

Days 4-8
Dunhuang / Mogao Grottoes / Turfan

From Dunhuang, a major stopping point for Silk Road traders and the missionary monks and pilgrims of Buddhism, we head out to watch the sunrise at the Mingshashan Sands, a picture-perfect landscape of golden dunes nearly a thousand feet high. Marco Polo called these dunes the “rumbling sands,” for the sounds they make when the wind blows. We explore the remote Mogao Grottoes, where spectacular cliff caves are adorned with Buddhist paintings and sculptures from the 5th to 13th centuries. In Turfan, an oasis in the great Takla Makan Desert, we encounter the Uighur farmers and sample sweet melons, grapes, and apricots from orchards watered by ingenious underground channels. We also visit the ruins of Gaochan, an ancient city once sacked by Genghis Khan.

Days 9-11
Urumqi / Kashgar / Sunday Market

A desert outpost with an end-of-the-world feeling, Kashgar is in the farthest reaches of western China on the edge of the Takla Makan Desert. This famously isolated city of walled adobe compounds was the launching pad for many Tibet, Pamir, and Karakoram expeditions in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was famous as a major staging ground for the Great Game, the diplomatic jousting match between Britain and Russia for dominance over Central Asia. Within Kashgar’s marvelous maze of walled adobe compounds is the legendary Sunday Market, one of Asia’s greatest gatherings of traders. We roam amid the throngs, enjoying aromas of fresh-baked breads, cumin, pepper, and grilled lamb, and watching the spirited negotiations of traders bargaining over everything from camels and flocks of sheep to silk, spices, and fruit.

Days 12-13
Beijing

Return to Beijing and depart on Day 13, or join our Beijing Extension.

Beijing Extension Days 13-15

Walk the Great Wall, visit the Forbidden City, explore the peaceful parks and bustling streets of China’s capital.

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Tour Costs $4195 (13-15 members) $4495 (9-12 members) $4695 (6-8 members) Single supplement: $620 Internal airfare: $1095 (subject to change) Beijing extension from: $695 *Prices are for 2008 dates only **Airfare is not included in Tour Cost unless indicated

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