Day 1 Beijing (CHINA)

Arrival in Beijing. You will be met at the Airport and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 Beijing

We will start our China tour by visiting the Great Wall, one of the seven wonders of the world, then explore Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world. Afternoon visit to the Imperial Palace, also known as the "Forbidden City," the symbol of Imperial China.

Day 3 Beijing – Xian

Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Xian. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.
Full day sightseeing in Xian: Visit the Terracotta Warriors, created by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang Di. This amazing but megalomaniac man conquered and united China from a collection of warring states to become its First Emperor, building the Great Wall and amassing treasure troves of art. Obsessed with a quest for the secret of immortality, 70,000 workers built his tomb, said to be filled with legendary treasures. His 3000 wives and concubines followed him to the grave. Later, visit the Horses Museum. In the afternoon you will see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda; this well-preserved symbol of old Xian is a holy place for Buddhists. Evening visit to the Moslem Mosque and nearby local bazaar.

Day 4 Xian – Dunhuang

Continue sightseeing around Xian. Visit the Provincial History Museum, with a collection of more than 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi. It is situated in the southern suburb of Xian City, northwest of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Since it was opened to the public in 1991, its architectural buildings, internal apparatus, and exhibits have made it famous as a world-class museum. Discover Xian's City Wall. Later, transfer to the airport to take a flight to Dunhuang. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Day 5 Dunhuang – Urumchi

Full day sightseeing in Dunhuang: Day trip to the Mogao Caves – the world's richest treasure-trove of Buddhist manuscripts, wall paintings, and statuary dating from the 4th through 14th centuries, they mark the height of Buddhist art.
Later, visit the nearby Mingsha (Singing) Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake. Enjoy fabulous desert landscapes at one of the best viewpoints along the entire length of the Silk Road.
Afternoon transfer to the airport for flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.

Day 6 Urumchi

Full day sightseeing in Urumchi:
Excursion to Xinjiang regional museum to see archaeological treasures from the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures including a display of well-preserved 3000 year old mummies, excavated from Loulan in the Takla Makan desert. Afternoon visit to picturesque Hong Shan Park where you can enjoy a panorama of Urumqi city, visit Red Hill Pagoda, the Grand Bazaar or Erdao Qiao Market to buy some traditional Uygur silk and Chinese cotton, and see the mountains of different nuts and dry fruits, herbs, aromatic oils on display.

Day 7 Urumchi – Kashgar

Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Kashgar.
On arrival full day sightseeing including the Idkah mosque (1442) the largest in China, Apak Khoja's Tomb (the holiest place in Xinjiang for Sufis), handicraft street, and the older sections of town. Visit the world famous Sunday Bazaar, its numerous areas for silk and cotton, knives, hats, pots and pans, fresh vegetables and fruits, carpets and jewelry, and even a separate livestock and horse section several km down the road.

Day 8 Kashgar

Full day sightseeing in Kashgar. Explore the Mor Stupa (3BC) the remnant of a big Buddhist temple 30 km northeast of Kashgar. Stop at the nearby picturesque Atush village.
Evening transfer to the airport for flight to Urumchi.

Day 9 Urumchi – Turpan – 200km

Sightseeing day drive to Turpan, one of the most ancient cities of the Great Silk Road.
Upon arrival, a half day of sightseeing in Turpan: visit picturesque Tuyoq village to see the oldest Buddhist caves in the Turpan area, dating back to the 4th c. Visit local Uygur families and enjoy beautiful mountain scenery. You will also see the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves on the Flaming Mountains. The 67 caves date from 317 to 1368, Bezeklik was an important center for Buddhist worship. In the evening, visit the famous Grape Valley, a pleasant park with vineyards and fruit trees, with plenty of places to relax and sample the local grapes and melons. Grapes were introduced to Turpan over 2000 years ago.

Day 10 Turpan – Urumchi – 200km

In the morning, visit the notable Emin Minaret, a Mosque, then see the famous ruins of the city of Jiaohe - capital of the State of South Cheshi, one of the 36 kingdoms of the Western region during the Han Dinasty. The first settlements appeared there in the 2nd century BC. Late afternoon arrival in Urumchi to take a flight to Almaty (Kazakhstan). Arrival and accommodation.

Day 11 Almaty (Kazakhstan)

Sightseeing tour around Almaty, set at the foot of the Alau-Tau Mountains: the Central State Museum, Almaty's Green Bazaar, Zenkov Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Museum of National Musical Instruments. Enjoy a spectacular view of the Chimbulak mountainous area.

Day 12 Almaty-Charyn Canyon-Almaty

Full day trip to Charyn Canyon Gorge. Enjoy the wonders of the picturesque "Valley of Castles" and often compared to the Grand Canyon in the USA. The rains and winds have carved gorgeous sculptures on the Canyon's sides forming fantastic shapes, caves, and grottoes. At the bottom of the dry gorge the Charyn River refreshes travelers and adds extra beauty to the place. Return to Almaty.

Day 13 Almaty-Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

Free time in the morning. Afternoon flight to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Arrival in Tashkent. Accommodation. Welcome Dinner.

Day 14 Tashkent –Urgench.

Leveled by an earthquake in the 60's, much of Tashkent was rebuilt Soviet style, but there is still enough of the old city to explore. Sightseeing tour to the Kukeldash medreseh, Barak Khana Seminary, Tilla Shaikh mosque, Independence Square, and Amur Temur Park. Discover the Uzbekistan bazaar. Evening flight to Urgench and then a short drive to Khiva (30 km) to discover this ancient Silk Road City.

Day 15 Khiva

Khiva is a living museum under the open sky. In the inner city of Ichan Kala is the Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark, the Rakhimkhon Medresseh, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, and the Islam Khodja minaret. Enjoy life within the adobe walls at the Friday mosque and Tashauli Palace/harem.

Day 16 Khiva – Bukhara 470km

Morning drive to Bukhara via the Kyzil Kum desert (Red sands) with its unique desert vegetation and wildlife. Stop at the banks of the Amu darya River before arriving in ancient Bukhara

Day 17 Bukhara

After breakfast, a full day sightseeing tour in Bukhara city:
Discover the central part of ancient Bukhara: the Labi khauz ensemble. This is the highlight of the Uzbekistan tour. Visit the Madrassah of Nadir Divan Begi, Khanaka, the Mogaki Attari mosque, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque, and Abdulaziz khan and Ulugbek Medressehs. In the afternoon, visit the Ark Fortress (winter residence of local rulers), Bolakhauz mosque, and the mausoleums of Ismail Samanid and Chashma Ayub.

Day 18 Bukhara – Samarkand - 268 km

A morning half-day excursion to Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of the former emir of Bukhara. There, you can see a unique mixture of traditional Russian style of architecture and local oriental traditions. The famous throne and white halls decorated with carved alabaster resemble halls in Petergof Palace in the suburb of St Petersburg. Afternoon Silk Road drive to Samarkand through the Malik Chul desert.

Day 19 Samarkand

Morning visit to Registan Square, which has been the heart of Samarkand for many centuries. Enjoy the beauty of the three madrassahs which surround the plaza: the 15th century Ulug-Bek Madrasah, the 17th century Tillya-Kori Madrasah, and Sher-Dor Madrasah. Visit Gur Emir, the mausoleum of the Great Tamerlane.
See the grandest structure of Amir Temur's time, the main Friday Mosque, called the Bibi-Khanum Mosque as well as the Silk Road bazaar and Shah i Zinda necropolis.

Day 20 Samarkand – Tashkent – 330km

Half-day of sightseeing in Samarkand:
Morning visit Afrosiab museum and archaeological site, Ulugbek's observatory located at the entrance to Samarkand, and a photo opportunity from the highest point of Samarkand.
Afternoon drive to Tashkent through the most beautiful mountains of Uzbekistan

Day 21 Tashkent.

Morning sightseeing in Tashkent:
Visit the Museum of Applied Arts and the famous Tashkent Metro decorated with local marble and granite like an underground palace. Visit Amir Temur square, and the Navoi Opera Theater. Afternoon leisure time.

Day 22 Tashkent-Istanbul

Early transfer to the Tashkent International Airport. Departure from Tashkent to Istanbul. Arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport and transfer to hotel. Breakfast.Istanbul sightseeing tour: Blue Mosque, the most famed masterpiece of Ottoman religious architecture and the Basilica of Saint Sophia that was built by Justinian the Great during the 6th century. After lunch, continue with a visit to the home of the Ottoman Sultans, the Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Covered Bazaar, with its 4,000 shops enclosed under hundreds of domes and arches. Visit the Jewish center.

Day 23 Istanbul

After breakfast, visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, a masterpiece of the architect Sinan, whose buildings are still in use after 500 years! See the Spice Bazaar from the 17th Century and enjoy the color and scent of exotic herbs, spices, and foods like Turkish Delight. Lunch. Afternooon sightseeing. Drive across the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asiatic side of the city. Drive up to Camlica Hill for a beautiful view of the city and enjoy a cup of apple tea as you admire the seven hills of Istanbul. Then visit the charming Beylerbeyi Palace from 1865, the summer palace of the Ottoman Sultans.

Day 24 Istanbul

Departure