Great Silk Road
In the Footsteps of Marco Polo from Xi’an to Kashgar and Uzbekistan
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 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. We meet Uighurs, Tajiks, Kirghiz, and Uzbeks, their cultures and traditions deeply tied to this desert and mountain realm. We also have a chance to ride camels and watch the sun setting 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. There’s no other journey in the world quite like this adventure on the fabled road across the Far East.
Highlights
- Xi’an’s Tomb of the Terra Cotta Warriors—with a private visit to the lower level
- Buddhist caves at Mogao, legendary Sunday Market at Kashgar
Details
- 12-day trip begins and ends in Beijing
- 10 nights in hotels, 1 overnight train ride
- All meals included
- Overland travel with walking tours
Tour Costs
$5095 (13-15 members)
$5495 (9-12 members)
$5895 (6-8 members)
Single supplement: $750
Internal airfare: $1295 (subject to change)
Prices are for 2010 date
Departures & Leaders
Sep 10-21, 2010 Devendra Basnet
Suggested Reading
Reading list, click here.
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Beijing / Xi’an / Terra Cotta Warriors
In Xi’an, cradle of Chinese history, we visit the world-renowned Tomb of the Terra Cotta Warriors, with a special private entrance to the tomb’s lower level where other visitors can’t go. Already 2,200 years old when it was accidently discovered in 1974, this World Heritage-listed tomb holds the 8,000 “buried warriors” of China’s first emperor, each life-sized figure unique. We also walk (or bike) along Xi’an’s city walls, the most complete that survive in China, and visit the Forest of Stone Tablets, China’s finest collection of calligraphy.
Days 3-7
Dunhuang / Mogao Grottoes / Turfan
From Dunhuang, we head out to watch the sunrise at the Mingshashan Sands, then explore the remote Mogao Grottoes, where spectacular cliff caves are adorned with Buddhist paintings and sculptures from the 5th to 13th centuries. In the oasis of Turfan, we encounter the Uighur farmers and sample sweet melons, grapes, and apricots from orchards watered by ingenious underground channels.
Days 8-10
Urumqi / Kashgar / Sunday Market
A desert outpost with an end-of-the-world feeling, the Silk Road outpost of Kashgar is in the farthest reaches of western China. We visit the legendary Sunday Market, one of Asia’s greatest gatherings of traders, enjoying aromas of fresh-baked breads, cumin, pepper, and grilled lamb, and watch the spirited negotiations of traders bargaining over everything from camels to spices.
Days 11-12
Beijing
Return to Beijing and depart on Day 12.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure