Beijing Jade International Youth Hostel
No.5, North Zhide Alley, Beiheyan Street, Beijing (Dongcheng District)
Telephone 86-10-6525 9966 FAX 86-10-6522 6224
http://www.xihuahotel.com/eng/zhide/index.asp
2006 - 43 Day Silk Road Itinerary. subject to change
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Day/Date
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ITINERARY |
Overnight @
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Day 01 May 21
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Transfer to hotel. Check in. Arriving from Beijing, we will explore Xi'an, the center of power and capital of China through the first millennium and the eastern terminus of the traditional Silk Road. |
Xi'an Aurum International Hotel: Phone: +86-29-87672888 Fax: +86 29 8767666. No.30 Nan Xin St. |
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Day 02 May 22 Monday
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Visit Terra Cotta Army, Shaanxi Provincial museum, Grand Mosque and Bazaar, Wild Goose Pagoda Here is the tomb of the first Emperor of China , the 7000-strong Terra Cotta Warriors. The Mosque and Buddhist Temple both date from the Tang Dynasty, underlining the city’s cosmopolitan nature. |
XIAN Aurum International Hotel: |
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Day 03 May 23 Tuesday
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Fly Urumchi. We fly to Urumchi, the transit and industrial center for the region. Urumchi is located at the northern foothills of the Tian Shan. |
URUMCHI Xinjiang Grand Hotel No.168 North Xinhua Road. Tel: +86-991-2818788, Fax: +86-991-2810048, 2935313. |
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Day 04 May 24 Wednesday |
Xinjiang University Meeting in the morning Seminar one. Here we will participate in a seminar about the region with faculty of Xinjiang University. Afternoon ride to Turpan A 3-hour ride in an air-conditioned bus to Turpan. Lying 154meters (505 ft) below sea level, the Turpan Basin not only sits in the second largest depression in the world, but it is one of the hottest places in China. Despite its desert location, Turpan boasts fertile land producing cotton and grapes, thanks to the karez, an ancient irrigation system. Upon arrival, excursion to the ruins of Jiaohe, YARGOL, a Han Dynasty garrison that was destroyed by Genghiskhan. In the evening we will enjoy an Uygur dance show . |
Turpan
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Day 05 May 25
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06:00 AM Idikut (Gaochang),
Bezeklik Buddha Caves, Flaming Mountains) , Emin
Minaret, Astana tombs, Karez Wells,
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Turpan.
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Day 06 May 26
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Turpan-Urumchi-Kazak
meadows
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Urumchi Xinjiang Grand Hotel No.168 North Xinhua Road. Tel: +86-991-2818788, Fax: +86-991-2810048, 2935313. |
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Day 07 May 27
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We will visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum with its collection on local history and culture Urumchi Market Latest flight to Kashgar Lying at the foot of the Karakoram mountains, Kashgar was a focal point of Silk Road travel. |
Late Fly
Urumqi- Kashgar.
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Day 08 May 28 Sunday |
Kashgar Market Old city Walking tour Visit to Abakhoja Maoseleum, Sunday Market and Mosque Eidkah. Lunch with Uygur Family in order to learn more about the Uygur Culture. Kashgar was once the key trading post bridging theEast and the West. Largely inhabited by the Uygurs, this ancient city is dottedwith Muslim architecture and still retains the exotic feel of the Silk Road era. Every Sunday, around 100,000 people gather in the enormous Kashgar Bazaar area where you can buy anything from goats heads and hoofs to colorful paintedwooden saddles. The traditional costumes and food give it an almost medieval feel and bring alive the legends of this epic overland journey along the Silk Road. |
Kashgar.
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Day 09 May 29 Monday |
Leave Kashgar at 07:00
Drive to Turgart Pass(167kms) to exit to Kirghizstan Along the way visit a home of an Uyghur family. Meet the Kirgyz but at the border of China : at China-Kyrgyz “Torugart” border and after all formalities drive to Naryn with lunch boxes en route. Torugart pass is normally snow-free from May through September. The Torugart-Naryn road is problematic from mid-November to early March. From the Arc de Triumph (China) it is about 7 km to the Kyrgyzstan customs and immigration. Distance is 60 km from Torugart to outer checkpoint and a further 130-km to Naryn. Naryn’s one real claim to fame is that the best quality shyrdaks (traditional, brightly colored felt-applique rugs) in Kyrgyzstan are said to be made here. |
Naryn KYRGYZSTAN Celestial Mountains Inn Celestial Mountains Inn Razzakov street 42, tel/fax: +996 3522 50412 |
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Day 10 May 30 Tuesday |
Ger Building, Felt making Visit the Moslem Cemeteries |
Naryn Celestial Mountains Inn
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Day 11 May 31 Wednesday |
Dolan Pass, Yurt visits, Tokoy reservoir, Balikci, Colpan Ata, NARYN – ISSYK KUL (300 km, 5-6 hrs) After breakfast drive to Issyk-Kul Lake through Dolon Pass of 3030 m, the highest point on the Naryn-Issyk Kul road. Usually this season (May-September) the local people "chabans" are putting their yurts on the valleys of Sary-Bulak & Dolon Passes. So you will see the wild life of local people. Lunch en route. Upon arrival at Issyk-Kul transfer to resort for dinner and overnight.
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Issyk Kul Aurora hotel tel. +996-3943 37215, 37389 add722315 v. Bulan-Sogotuu fax +996-3943 37211 web-site: <http://www.aurora.kg/> |
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Day 12 June 1 Thursday |
Issyk Kul
Relaxing day (optional massage, sauna) |
Issyk Kul Aurora hotel |
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Day 13 June 2 Friday |
Burana Minaret ( Gobali- Balasagun) the capital of Karahanid Kingdom.
En route to Bishkek
we visit Burana Tower (10th century
tower—originally 45m tall-- marking the site
of Balasagun, the center of the Karakhanid
whose power stretched from Samarakand to Kashgar)
(295 km, 4-5 hrs) Bishkek |
Bishkek Pinara now hotel "Ak-Keme" 93, Prospect Mira, tel:+996 312 540143/44, fax: +996-312 542408, 542404 http://www.akkemehotel.com/ |
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Day 14 June 3 Saturday |
In Bishkek, we visit Ala-Too Square, With the help of Kyrgyz parliamentarians, we will visit the "White House", the seat of the Kyrgyzstan government and parliament. Seminar three. Parliament / UNDP Consultant |
Bishkek Pinara Hotel |
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Day 15 June 4 Sunday |
Museum, Visit the artists State Historical Museum, archaeology exhibit and displays of Kyrgyz carpets, embroidery, yurts, and other applied crafts. |
Bishkek Pinara Hotel |
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Day 16 June 5 Monday |
Fly Osh.
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Osh Intourist Hotel Hotel Osh-Inturist 1, Bayalinov str, tel:+996-3222 27991, 75614, fax:+996-3222 56326 |
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Day 17 June 6 Tuesday |
Drive to Fergana via Andijan Drive to Uzbekistan through the Fergana valley, a major destination for Chinese visitors to Central Asia searching for horses around 100 BCE. Andijan was home to Babur the founder to the Indian Mughal dynasty, 1500s CE |
Ferghana. UZBEKISTAN For Uzbek hotels the best way of contacting is calling the following numbers Agency Phone: +(998) 71 120 8883 Fax: +(998) 71 120 8873 Utkir (Our Guide’s Cell Phone) + 998 71 154 6883 Asia Hotel |
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Day 18 June 7 Wednesday |
Drive to Margilan Rishtan Fergana city In Margilan, we will visit the bazaar and the Yodgorlik Silk Factory to see the industrial side of the Silk Road. |
Ferghana. Asia Hotel tel: +(998) 732 245221 fax: 248005 26, A.Navoi str., |
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Day 19 June 8 Thursday |
Drive via Kokand to Tashkent going Kokand to visit mosques and museums. |
Tashkent Grand Orzu tel +(998) 711208877 fax 1208876 27, M. Tarobiy str., 700090 |
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Day 20 June 9 Friday |
Tashkent AM : Medressa, Chorsu Bazaar PM Seminar fourWe plan a seminar at Institute of History, Academy of Science We will visit Kukeldash Medressa, Juma Mosque, and Chorsu Market in the old city. We make sure you see the country through the interpretations of the local artists. Tonight we will have the pleasure of visiting Mr. Akbar the potter at his house where we will have dinner |
Tashkent Grand Orzu |
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Day 21 June10 Saturday |
Fly to Nukus to
Karakalpakistan
Visit Karakalpakistan Amu Derya Witness the environmental disaster that Karakalpakistan is experiencing. Meet with the locals at their homes and their schools to learn more about the destiny of lake Aral. Cross over the biggest river of Central Asia, Amuderya |
Khiva Malika Hotel
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Day 22 June 11 Sunday |
Khiva Khiva Gullu Bag palace dinner? music The walled inner city has been preserved as an open air museum. We will visit the Islam Khoja Minaret and Medressa, Juma Mosque, Pahlavon Mohammed Mausoleum and the palace of the former Emir of Khiva. We will attend a performance of Attazebah folk music and dance |
Khiva Malika Hotel |
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Day 23 June 12th Monday |
Fly to Tashkent afternoon flight Ballet? Opera? Overnight in Tashkent |
Tashkent Grand Orzu tel +(998) 711208877 fax 1208876 27, M. Tarobiy str., 700090 |
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Day 24 June 13 Tuesday |
Fly to Buchara in the morning Visit Gijduvan , visit Ibn-I sina Museum our stops include the museum of Ibn Sina, the father of Medicine, and Gijduvan to see a local potter and experience village life. |
Buchara Lyabi Hauz tel: +(998) 65 2242484/ 2245947 fax: 2242177 7, Husainov street |
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Day 25 June 14 Wednesday |
Buchara in the city Eve Folk show in medressa We will visit Nasraddin Hodja Park, Lab-i Hauz Mosque, Ark Citadel, Lab-i Hauz, Ismail Samani Masouleum, Kolon Minaret, and Mir-I Arab Medressa. There is strong Persian cultural underlay, making this is good place to study performance art in the tim (covered market). |
Buchara Lyabi Hauz |
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Day 26 June 15t Thursday |
AM: Nahshi Bendi, Emir’s Palace PM free |
Buchara Lyabi Hauz |
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Day 27 June 16t Friday |
Drive Shari Sabs In Timur’s hometown we see the facade of Ak Saray, Timur’s palace, the tomb of Timur's son, Jehangir, and the Kok Kumbaz Mosque. We see the part of Uzbekistan that was not Russified and visit an Uzbek family. |
Shari Sabs Orient Shakhrisabs tel: +(998) 7552 20640 fax: 20641 Ipak yuli str., 26, 731700 |
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Day 28 June 17t Saturday |
Drive to Samarkand Samarkand was a major city during Timurid rule. The Timurid dynasty 1370-1507 conquered Central Asia, extending to modern day Iran and Iraq with campaigns to Delhi, Izmir, Ankara, and Moscow. |
Samarkand Sherdor Tel: +(998) 66 33-28-18 Fax: 33-36-33 91, Koshgariy Str |
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Day 29 June 18t Sunday |
Samarkand Sites to be visited include the Mausoleum of Timur, Registan Square and its ensemble of Medressas: Ulug Beg, Sher Dor, Tilla Kari. Finally we will visit the monument's restoration tile reproduction center and the Bibi Khanym Mosque, a 35m colossus, the final jewel in this empire’s crown. |
Samarkand Sherdor |
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Day 30 June 19t Monday |
Samarkand Seminar five Samarkand State Architectural and Engineering Institute |
Samarkand Sherdor |
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Day 31 June 20 Tuesday |
Samarakand Sites to be visited include the Observatory of Ulug Beg, the grand son of Timur, the Afrasiab Archaeological Museum, the Shahr-i Zindah complex of tombs, bazaar |
Samarkand Sherdor |
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Day 32 June 21 Wednesday |
Train to Tashkent We cross the valley of the Syr Darya, and back to Tashkent. Use Tashkent to learn about Soviet city planning, transportation, and post-Soviet economic and cultural developments. |
Tashkent Grand Orzu tel +(998) 711208877 fax 1208876 27, M. Tarobiy str., 700090 |
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Day 33 June 22 Thursday |
Tashkent Seminar 6 Visit Yog’du NGO Possible opera/ ballet As the home of one of three remaining Bolshoy ballet/opera companies, we will attend a performance at the Alisher Navoi Theater |
Tashkent Grand Orzu |
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Day 34 June 23 Friday |
Use Tashkent to learn about Soviet city planning, transportation, and post-Soviet economic and cultural developments. |
Tashkent Grand Orzu |
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Day 35 June 24 Saturday |
TURKISH AIRLINES - TK 1369 0615-0925am Fly to Istanbul, where we will see Byzantine and Ottoman sites. City tour |
Istanbul TURKEY Hotel Ayasofya tel 90 212 516 94 46 fax 90 212 518 07 00 |
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Day 36 June 25 Sunday |
Sites include the Hippodrome, St. Sophia, and Sultan Ahmet Mosque, Bazaar Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, the Turkish Islamic Art Museum, |
Istanbul Hotel Ayasofya |
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Day 37 June 26 Monday |
Ride on the Bosphoros Overnight Train Ride to Ankara |
On the train |
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Day 38 June 27 Tuesday |
Visit Ankara Museum in the morning Bilkent University in the afternoon We visit the Anatolian Civilization Museum, with its display of 26 different civilizations. All artifacts excavated from Anatolia are in this museum. Seeing it will give us a better understanding of the cultural and historic layers of the Anatolian civilization and the Silk Road in Turkey. Seminar 7 Bilkent University for a seminar on Turkey |
Ankara Elit Palace phone 90 312 424 0570 fax 90 312 424 0571 |
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Day 39 June 28 Wednesday |
Ankara - Aksaray
– Konya
Departing for Konya, stopping en route at a 12th century Caravanserai. Konya is the first capital of the Selcuks, the oldest Turkish Empire in Anatolia. It is also known for being the homeland of Rumi, a 13th century poet-philosopher and one of the earliest humanists. The ambiance of the city has not changed much for the past 800 years. 2 Karavan Sarais Sultan Han and Obruk
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Konya Hotel Baykara Istanbul Caddesi phone 90 332 353 6030 fax 90 332 353 6035 |
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Day 40 June 29 Thursday |
Konya – Egirdir By the lake Pamukkale Caravan Sarai |
Pamukkale Richmond Spa Hotel phone 90 258 271 4614 fax 90 258 271 4616 |
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Day 41 June 30 Friday |
Egirdir – Selcuk Via Ak Han The westernmost Caravanserai on the Silk Road is in Kusadasi and dates from Ottoman times. |
Kusadasi Kismet Hotel, Yat Limani Ustu Tel 90 256 618 1290 Fax 90 256 618 1295 |
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Day 42 July 01 Saturday |
Ephesus Our last big day will be in Ephesus (600BCE-430CE), the best-preserved classical city on the eastern Mediterranean and among the best places in the world to observe Roman times on this western end of the Silk Road. |
Kusadasi |
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Day 43 July 2 Sunday |
Start your journey home. Fly to Istanbul from Izmir and connect to international flight in Istanbul |
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