Trans Asian Express, Beijing to Tashkent
| country: | China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan |
| departures: | 2010: 7 May, 4 Jun, 18 Jun, 2 Jul, 16 Jul, 30 Jul, 13 Aug, 27 Aug 2011: 13 May, 27 May, 10 Jun, 24 Jun |
| price: | From £2035 (26 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Journey through the fascinating heart of Central Asia - an area which is only just opening up to foreign travellers. From Beijing to the heartlands of Kyrgyzstan and exotic Uzbekistan, let the legends of the Silk Road come to life as you tread the ancient trading route that linked the mighty civilisations of the East and the West.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-3: | Beijing. Visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall. |
| Days 4-5: | Xi'an. Marvel at the ancient Terracotta Warriors. |
| Day 6: | Silk Road Railway. Make friends with local Uyghurs and watch the desert unfold on this spectacular journey. |
| Days 7-8: | Turpan. Flanked by the Flaming Mountains, this lush oasis is still an important stop for travellers. |
| Days 9-10: | Kashgar. Traders spill into town every Sunday for one of Asia's largest markets |
| Day 11: | Tash Rabat. The passage into Kyrgyzstan winds over the Torugart Pass. Stay overnight in a traditional yurt. |
| Day 12: | Kochkor. Experience warm Kyrgyz hospitality at a homestay. |
| Day 13: | Bishkek. Explore the capital, stopping along the way at the Burana Tower. |
| Day 14: | Chichkan Valley. Mountains, rivers and high roads make for a spectacular day. |
| Days 15-16: | Sary Chelek National Park. Experience Kyrgyzstan's gorgeous landscape while hiking. |
| Day 17: | Osh. Explore 3,000-year-old Osh and its oriental bazaar. |
| Days 18-19: | Tashkent. Wander around the amazing sights of the multicultural capital of Uzbekistan. |
| Days 20-21: | Samarkand. The evocative skyline of Samarkand is one of Central Asia's most romantic. |
| Day 22: | Shakhrisabz. Feast on Uzbek cuisine at a homestay in leafy Shakhrisabz. |
| Days 23-24: | Bukhara. Marvel at the minarets and medressas in this bustling Silk Road destination. |
| Days 25-26: | Tashkent. Narrow lanes, extravagant mosques and Soviet architecture give the Uzbek capital an absorbing, multicultural atmosphere. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip You'll be immersed in the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia and make plenty of local friends on this overland journey from Beijing to Tashkent.
A highlight for all our travelers is the focus on meeting and staying with local people along the way. You'll stay in a yurt, the traditional Kyrgyz felt tent dwelling for the night just after you cross the border into Kyrgyzstan before continuing on to the village of Kochkor where we stay with women from the local felt making coop. Fatima and her mother will no doubt treat us to a great meal with many toasts of koumiss (mares milk) and if you are staying at Kuku's house you might even get to sleep in her backyard yurt! There are a number of community projects in Central Asia that we are involved in. In Bishkek we sponsor two babushkas (elderly ladies) through the Babushka Adoption Foundation. You'll be able to take Valentina and Valentina out for dinner, something that they rarely get to experience since they have no family left in Bishkek to take care of them. Our sponsorship gives them a supplement to their tiny monthly pensions so they can have enough for food and medicine. In Bukhara we have dinner at the home of Mavluda, the director of Bright Beam Women's Crisis Centre. She'll tell us all about the great work that they do defending and educating about women's rights, something that is quite a challenge in Uzbekistan. You'll probably have the opportunity to try her great home made plov, the country's national dish. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |