PART 4 - TASHKENT TO BEIJING 23 DAYS

A memorable journey though regions that were once remote and inaccessible. Follow the ancient Silk Road from Tashkent to Beijing, discovering the gems of Central Asia and China, from dramatic mountain scenery to wonderful Islamic architecture on this unforgettable journey.

Day 1 : London - Tashkent. (UZBEKISTAN)

Depart on the Uzbekistan Airways overnight flight to Tashkent.

Day 2 : Tashkent.

Early arrival in Tashkent and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a city sightseeing tour of modern Tashkent.

Day 3 : Tashkent - Bukhara.

Fly to Bukhara, a major staging point on the Silk Road. The remainder of the day is free to explore the town and the old city walls or the Lyabi-Khaus Square surrounded by madrassahs and crowded tea houses. (B)

Day 4 : Bukhara.

Today take a guided tour visiting the most important sight of this fabulous city. See the Ark Citadel, the royal fortress palace and the Zindan prison in which two British officers were kept during the "Great Game" in the 19th century, before being executed in the Registan Square; the Bolo-Khauz Mosque with its beautiful carved wooden pillars; Kalyan Square with its great minaret, and the Ismael Samani Mausoleum dating from the 10th century. This evening you can enjoy an optional traditional Folk Song and Dance show with dinner. (B)

Day 5 : Bukhara - Shakrisabz - Samarkand.

In the morning depart for Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlaine, located in a small valley surrounded by the Pamir Mountains. Shakhrisabz is a pleasant provincial town and on your guided tour, enjoy fantastic views from the top of the enormous portal of Tamerlaine's Ak-Sarai Palace and visit his intended Mausoleum and the Kuk Gumbaz Mosque. Later on continue along the Golden Road to Samarkand, arriving in the early evening. (B)

Day 6 : Samarkand.

Samarkand is the mythical, evocative name of one of the key trading cities of the ancient Silk Road. With a history dating back 2700 years, the city became famous as the capital of the vast state created by Tamerlaine and later ruled by his grandson Ulugbek in the 14th and 15th centuries. See the exotic sights of Samarkand on a full day tour, including Tamerlaine's Tomb, Ulugbek's observatory, Shah-i-Zinda and of course Registan Square with its fantastic blue tiled madrassahs on three sides. It is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and no picture can convey the magnificence of this square. (B)

Day 7 : Samarkand - Tashkent - Bishkek. (KYRGYZSTAN)

Drive through cotton plantations to Tashkent airport for the afternoon flight to Bishkek. The capital of Kyrgyzstan is an attractive, modern city with wide avenues set against a backdrop of snow capped mountains and hasa an abundance of green spaces. (B)

Day 8 : Bishkek.

Set off with your guide for a morning sightseeing tour of Bishkek. Visit the main square called Ala Too (formerly Lenin Square), the State History Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and Frunze House Museum, the famous Bolshevik general's place of birth. In the afternoon enjoy a trip into the mountains visiting Ala Archa Canyon, part of the Ala Archa National Park. (B)

Day 9 : Bishkek - Lake Issyk Kul.

This morning drive to Lake Issy-Kul or 'warm lake' the second largest mountain lake in the world. The lake is heated from below by volcanic activity and never freezes even in the depths of winter. (B,D)

Day 10 : Lake Issyk Kul - Naryn.

Driving through the heart of Central Asia you will witness the life of the Kyrgyz nomads as you make your way to Naryn, a town founded as a fortified point on the trade route to China. (B,D)

Day 11 : Naryn - Kashgar. (CHINA)

Travelling through towering mountains arrive at the land border between Kyrgyzstan and China and cross the impressive Torugart Pass (3574m) into China. The cool mountains give way to remote desert landscapes as you approach the fabled town of Kashgar. (B,L)

Day 12 : Kashgar.

A visit to Kashgar is like going back in time, to the era of the Silk Road. Its narrow maze of alleyways and open air markets display all the myriad faces of Central Asia with Uighur, Kyrgyz, Tadjik and Kazakh merchants and locals, all busy plying their trade. The majority of the people in Kashgar are Uighurs who still wear their traditional costumes and lead a centuries-old way of life. Enjoy a sightseeing tour, including the Abakh Hoja Mausoleum, the vast Id Kah Mosque and the old town with its maze of twisting alleyways. (B)

Day 13 : Kashgar - Urumqi.

No visit to Kashgar would be complete without a visit to the famous Sunday Market. Teeming with life, 100,000 people converge to haggle for bolts of silk, knives, furs, jewellery, fruit, sheep, cows and even camels! Later in the evening take the flight to Urumqi. (B)

Day 14 : Urumqi.

This morning enjoy a city tour of Urumqi. Visits include the Red Hill Park, the impressive 18th century Pagoda and the Regional Museum with its eerie exhibition of mummies from different Xinjiang tombs, some as much as 4000 years old and over 6 feet tall. In the afternoon travel into the mountains around Urumqi and visit Heavenly Lake. (B)

Day 15 : Urumqi - Turpan.

A two-hour drive takes you to Turpan, a beautiful oasis on the edge of the vast Taklamakan desert. Once an important staging post on the Silk Road it is one of the lowest places on earth, where rain never falls and summers are scorching hot. Visit the ancient ruined city of Jiaohe, the Buddhist caves of Bezeklik, the ancient Karez underground irrigation system stretching some 3000km, and the Grape Valley. Spend the evening enjoying a drink under the famous grape trellises. (B)

Day 16 : Turpan - Liuyang.

Continue sightseeing in Turpan. See the Emin Minaret, the old ruined city of Gaochang, the Flaming Mountains and the Tombs of Astana, then transfer to the train station for the overnight train to Liuyang. (B)

Day 17 : Liuyang - Dunhuang.

Transfer from the train station and drive 2 hours to Dunhuang. Explore the highlights in and around the town. See Mingsha Hill and Crescent Moon Spring where you can take a camel ride to the top of the enormous sand dunes for amazing views of the crystal clear spring hidden amongst the sands. In the afternoon visit the Buddhist shrines, located just outside the city at the site of Mogao. It has been called an "art gallery in the desert" and is the greatest and most consummate gallery of Buddhist art in the world. Known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, the site was first carved out of the cliffs in 366 AD and there are 492 preserved caves with 2415 coloured statues and 45,000 square metres of murals.

Day 18 : Dunhuang - Xi'an.

Catch a morning flight to Xi'an and transfer to your hotel. Xi'an is a treasure trove of Chinese civilisation, a witness to the glories of 11 dynasties including the Qin, Han and Tang. Go with your guide in the afternoon for a sightseeing tour, including the City Walls enclosing the old town, the 12th century Great Mosque in the Muslim quarter, and the Shaanxi Museum, the largest and most comprehensive museum in the province. (B)

Day 19 : Xi'an.

Visit the Neolithic village of Banpo followed by the highlight of any trip to Xi'an - the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. About 8000 life-sized infantrymen, archers and horses guard the tomb of the first Emperor of Qin and date from 2200 BC. The underground battle formations of life-sized pottery warriors, archers, horses and chariots have been left in situ in 3 large excavated pits. In the afternoon return to Xi'an, where there is time to stroll around town. (B)

Day 20 : Xi'an - Beijing.

Fly to the Chinese capital and transfer to your hotel. Beijing is a city of contrasts, both modern and ancient, a huge metropolis with a population of 13 million people. In the afternoon begin discovering China's impressive capital with a visit the Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 A.D. the Ming Dynasty. (B)

Day 21 : Beijing.

A full day sightseeing tour through the history of Beijing and China, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is the largest plaza on earth, covering 100 acres. Walk through the square and enter the Forbidden City through the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its famous portrait of Chairman Mao. Built in the years 1406-1420, the Forbidden City was the residence of Ming and Qing emperors for nearly seven centuries and was so described because it was off limits to ordinary people (upon pain of death) for 500 years. In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace and enjoy a walk in the delightful gardens by Kunming Lake. (B)

Day 22 : Beijing.

Today drive out to the Mutianyu section of Great Wall for a guided tour of this fantastic structure. The Great Wall is one of the wonders of the world, begun under the Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi (3rd century BC) who established a united China and conscripted a million men to work on this fortification. This remarkable feat of engineering snakes 6000 kilometres across the mountains of northern China and there is time to walk along a section and take in the magnificent views before returning to Beijing. (B)

Day 23 : Beijing - London.

After breakfast transfer to Beijing Airport, for your Air China return flight to London. (B)