The itinerary: Tehran - Isfakhan - Mari - Bukhara - Samarkand - Tashkent - Kokand - Rishtan - Osh - Pamir high road - Saritash - Kashgar - Turpan - Dunhuang - Lanzhou - Tibetan Labrang Monastery - Xi’an - Beijing - Great Chinese Wall
This truly trans Asian tour is passes through the most interesting countries of ancient Silk Road from China to Europe. You will drive more than 7000 km following the prints of ancient caravans, which were carrying invaluable for that time silk, porcelain and spices. The tour begins in Iran (ancient Persia) passes through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and ends in the capital of China Beijing. You will be engrossed in those times history, see delightful memorials of long elapsed epochs which still tell about the grace of empires and genius of ancient architectures.
No other tour includes at once almost twenty monuments acknowledged by UNESCO as masterpieces of the world heritage.
Tour program
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1
Arrival to Tehran.
Arrival to Tehran – the capital of Iran.
2
Excursion along Tehran.
Excursion along Tehran. National museum (archeological) with richest expositions, an old market, Imam Khomeyni mosque, Saad-Abad complex a former residence of Iran shakh, Freedom monument, Diamond fund.
3
Transfer to Isfakhan.
Transfer to Isfakhan (390 km), en route excursion in ancient towns of Kum and Kashan. Kashan is a flowering oasis in the desert, the splendid frescos and fountains in gardens of Fin. Kum is the second by its value Shiite saint town. Visiting the Fatima mosque. An exotic Kum market.
4
Sightseeing in Isfakhan.
Sightseeing in Isfakhan. The excursion of the city tour, Imam Khomeyni square, Imam Masjid mosque (XVIII c.), Sareban minaret (XIX c), quay with ancient bridges, Armenian orthodox Vank temple, craftsmen bazaar.
5
Transfer to Yazd.
Transfer to Yazd (280 km, 4 h.) – an ancient center of zoroastrizm. After lunch sightseeing along the ancient city, Friday mosque (XIV c), underground system of “Kanat” water supply, zoroastric Ateshkodekh temple.
6
Transfer to Shiraz.
Transfer to Shiraz – culture capital of Iran (440 km). En route sightseeing in Persepolice (VI c B.C. an ancient Persian capital of king Dariy), necropolis, the palace of Dariy, Artaxerks tomb, colonnades and stony walls decorated with a fantastic fretwork.
7
Sightseeing in Shiraz.
Sightseeing in Shiraz. Karim Khan citadel, many medieval caravan-sarays, tombs of famous Persian poets of Saodi and Khafiz, Bagram palace (XVIII c.), Arky-Karimkhani fortress.
8
Flight to Meshkhed.
Flight to Meshkhed. Sightseeing – the grand saint mosque – Imam Reza complex (IX-XIX cc.) Visiting an exotic bazaar, walking along the city.
9
Transfer to Check point “Serakhs”.
Transfer to Check point “Serakhs” (Iran-Turkmen border) and farther to Mari (260 km).
10
Excursion along ancient Merv.
Excursion along ancient Merv – ancient complex of fortresses and temples (I-XVI c) protected by UNESCO. Visiting the local historical museum.
11
Transfer to Bukhara.
Transfer to Bukhara (400km, 8 hours) through Karakum desert, Turkmenabad city, bridge across Amudarya river, Farab Check Point (Turkmen-Uzbek border).
12
Whole day Sightseeing in Bukhara.
Whole day Sightseeing in Bukhara: Ark fortress(VI-VII c.c.) – a citadel from where began ancient Bukhara, Chashma Ayub Mazar burial-vault (XIV-XIXcc.), Poi-Kalyan(XII-XVIcc.), Miri Arab madrasah (XVI c.), Lyabi – Khauz(XVI-XVIIcc.)
13
Continue of Sightseeing.
Continue of Sightseeing: Samanids mausoleum(IX – Xcc.), Nadir Divanbegi madrasah (1622 years Chor Minor minaret (XVII c)). After lunch transfer to Samarkand (300km, 4 hours).
14
Excursion in Samarkand.
Excursion in Samarkand: The “Heart” of Samarkand –Registan square(XIV-XVI cc.) with its three famous madrasahs: Sherdor, Ulugbek and Tillya-Kori, the grand cathedral Bibi – Khanum mosque(XV c.), a splendid Gur-Emir mausoleum(XV c.), where were buried Tamerlan, his sons and grandson Ulugbek; Ulugbek observatory(1420 year) – Tamerlan’s grandson, the famous ruler and scientist-astronomer; Shakhi-Zinda– Samarkand rulers and aristocracy’s necropolis (XI-XVIIIcc.) consisting of many splendidly decorated mausoleums; an exotic Siab bazaar.
15
Transfer to Tashkent.
Transfer to Tashkent (350km, 5 hours). After lunch – excursion along the city: Old city, Hazrat Imam Architecturecult complex (Barak-Khan madrasah (XVIc), Yunus-Khan mausoleum, Kafal-al-Sahashi Mazar mausoleum (XVIc.)), Kukeldash madrasah(XVIII c.), Applied Art museum, Independence square, the People’s Friendship square, subway, the building of the National theatre of opera and ballet, oriental bazaar and shopping.
16
Transfer to Osh.
Transfer to Osh (420km, ~9 hours) with excursion in Kokand: Hudoyar- Khan palace (1871 years) where are situated the local historical museum, Norbut-Biy madrasah (XVIIIc.), Modarikhan mausoleum (XIX c.) And excursion in Rishtanfamous with its dynasty of potters and ceramic masters. Here you can observe their work and buy original wares for memory.
17
Excursion in Osh.
Excursion in Osh: the famous Osh bazaar, Suleyman mountain, Asaf ibn Burkhiya mausoleum (XI-XVIII cc.) After lunch transfer along Pamir high road (150km, ~5 hours) to Saritash settlement, in famous mountain Alay valley overnight in yurts.
18
Transfer to Kashgar.
Transfer to Kashgar (250km,6 hours) through Check point “Irkeshtam” (Kyrgyz – Chinese border). On the way splendid views to surrounded mountains and Kizilsu river.
19
Kashgar city sightseeing.
Kashgar city sightseeing: visit the Sunday bazaar – the biggest brightest and exotic market in the world. Here sells everything from buttons till camels. The Old City, Idgar mosque (XIV c.), Apak Hoja Tomb (XVIIc.)
20
Walking along the old city.
Walking along the old city. Transfer by train to Turpan (K9788 13:16 – 11:26).
21
Excursions along the ancient city
After lunch excursions along the ancient city: Karez – an ancient irrigational system of wells and channels for gathering underground waters from Tyan-Shan mountain, Emin’s (Suleyman) minaret and mosque (XVIIIc.) In the evening you can enjoy the uygur folklore show.
22
Visiting Giao chang and Jiao he.
Visiting Giao chang and Jiao he (II c. B.C.) – one of the best saved ancient towns on the earth, Astana tombs where were founded well saved mummies and unique wall paintings (II c.), the famous grape valley-the large shady park with grape plantations, ponds and museum of wine- making; a picturesque mountain village Tuyugou (highlights), Bezklik buddhistic cave monastery (1000 budda) in “Flaming mountain” spurs especially beautiful in sunset. After dinner transfer by evening train to Liuyuan (Dunhuang) (904km, 12 hours).
23
Arriving to Dunhuang.
Arriving to Dunhuang – an important trade city on the Silk Road. This oasis is situated on the edge of Gobi desert and surrounded by sand dunes. In IVth century this town was full of traders and buddhists. Excursions: Magao caves and grottos. The quantity of the caves is about 500 and each of them is full of buddhistic manuscripts, sculptures and frescos. The total area is 45000 km2. The complex is included by UNESCO to the list of masterpieces of the world heritage. In the evening we will visit the Echoing-Sand Mountain and romantic “Crescent” Lake Yueya yuan. To the north from Dunhuag is situated the fortress of the Great Chinese Wall Yumenguan and to the south – the ruins of the Yanguan fortress. The fortresses represent gates through which were passing the caravans of camels and horses. After lunch transfer by train to Lanzhou. (19:02 – 09:19).
24
Arrival to Lanzhou.
Arrival to Lanzhou – the capital of Gansyu province. Excursion program: the province museum with an interesting exposition “Cultural Heritage of the Silk Road”, Huan he river, White pagoda and Baytashan monastery.
25
Drive to Tibetan Labrang Monastery.
Drive to Tibetan Labrang Monastery (the beginning of XVIIIth c.) - one of the major monasteries of of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect. The Labrang Monastery is included into 6 biggest lama monasteries of China. The Institutes of esoteric buddhism, theology, Tibetan medicine and astrology are situated on its territory. Lunch in Tibetan restaurant. Return to Lanzhou.
26
Arrival to Xi’an.
Arrival to Xi’an – the city of 3000 years history, the home land of Chinese civilization. Excursions: Huazhouxian (VII-XIV cc.) with unique dragon steles, Bell and Drum Tower, Big Goose pagoda (VII c.), one of the well known buddhistic pagoda in China. In the evening visiting the biggest thematic park and a splendid theatrical show “Tang epoch”.
27
Excursion to the City Wall.
Excursion to the City Wall (XIV c.) and the Tomb of great Chinese Emperor Zing Shi Huang who ruled in IIId c. B.C. The 8th World Wonder – the famous army of terracotta warriors and chariots the scale of which will impress your imagination. After dinner transfer to the railway station and farther night train till Beijing. (Z20 20:16 – 07:17).
28
Arrival to Beijing.
Arrival to Beijing. Excursions: Tiananmen – the largest square in the world, Gugun-the imperial palace in a large “Forbidden City” with a history of 600 years. The Temple of the sky and Summer Palace.
29
The full day trip to the Great Chinese Wall.
The full day trip to the Great Chinese Wall – one of the 7 wonders in the worlds and the symbol of China. Visiting The Saint Road which leads to the Ming tombs dynasty with the stony sculptures depicting the real and mythic animals. Grave of Ming dynasty – the only underground tomb with thirteen tombs of the emperors.
