The Silk Route, Beijing to Tashkent

This extraordinary journey follows the ancient Silk Route from its source in Xian, China, through an ever changing landscape to the fabled city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. We begin with a tour of Beijing before transferring to Xian by train to view the remarkable Terracotta Warriors.

Along the China Silk Road we will also visit Xiahe and the enormous Tibetan monastery at Labrang, the Buddhist frescos in the Mogao Caves and the serene 'Heaven Lake' deep in the Tian Shan mountains, before flying to Kashgar in time for the famous Sunday markets. We depart China over the Torugart Pass and cross into Central Asia, visiting the Kyrgystan capital of Bishkek, the tree lined streets of Tashkent and the walled city of Khiva.

Continuing to Bukhara, we savour it's rich history as we stroll through the bazaars, mosques and magnificent Summer Palace before travelling to Samarkand to view the impressive domes and minarets as we wander the 'The Registan'.27 breakfasts, 27 lunches, 27 dinners, good quality 3 and 4-star hotel accommodation on a twinshare basis except in remoter towns where best available hotels are used, local sightseeing, including entrance fees to monuments, all internal transport by train (soft sleeper) or private bus, jeep or car, national tour leader in China and Central Asia plus local specialist guides throughout, emergency medical kit, international airport transfers if arriving on group flights, assistance in arranging visas