Istanbul to Beijing overland tour
| country: | China |
| departures: | 2010: 31 Jan, 7 Feb, 21 Feb, 28 Feb, 7 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr |
| price: | From £4585 (99 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
Get ready for a massive overland adventure from the bustling streets of Istanbul to the metropolitan core of Beijing. Travel through some of the planet's most remote, wild and unique wildernesses along the legendary Silk Road into China. Pass through the mountainscapes of Iran, pitch a tent beneath the stars in the Karakum Desert and arrive at secluded sections of the snaking Great Wall. From Turkey to Turkmenistan and beyond, this adventure will introduce you to the friendly and hospitable locals who call these rugged lands home. If you're longing for an epic overland odyssey, away from the tourist crowds and through some of the world's last wild terrains, then this epic journey is just for you.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-6: | Istanbu/Western & Central Turkey. Have your fortune told in the Taksim, bargain up a storm in the Grand Bazaar or admire the imposing Aya Sofya in this fascinating city. Discover Cappadocia's Goreme Valley and underground troglodyte cities and caves. |
| Days 7-9: | Eastern Turkey/Anotolia. Overland into Eastern Turkey via ancient trade routes and visit to Ishak Pasha Palace near Dogubayazit on the Iranian Border |
| Days 10-16: | Western/Southern Iran. Explore the ancient ruins of Persepolis Persian ruins and visit the stunning Islamic Shiraz, its citadel and mosques before overlanding through the mountains of Western Iran. Trawl the souks, bazaars and beautiful squares and blue tiled Mosques of Esfahan. |
| Days 17-19: | Eastern Deserts. Wind through the old city of Yazd - reputedly one of the oldest towns in the world. Sign up for a scrub in a local hamam or sample some tasty Iranian cuisine. |
| Days 20-23: | Tehran/Northern Iran. Discover the capital of Iran - sprawling, fascinating and intoxicating. Visit the impressive Golestan Palace or get lost in one of the city's museums. |
| Days 24-25: | Ashgabat/Turkmenistan. Say goodbye to Iran and travel into Turkmenistan. Conclude the adventure among the futuristic architecture of Ashgabat. |
| Days 26-27: | Bush camp. Watch the natural gas crater ablaze with fire. |
| Days 28-29: | Khiva. From the ancient walls to the turquoise tiled Old City, Khiva is a delight. |
| Days 30-32: | Bukhara. Explore the city's thoroughly lived-in Old Town. |
| Day 33: | Yurt Stay. Spend a night with a Tajik family. |
| Days 34-36: | Samarkand. Discover the romance of this Silk Road city. |
| Days 37-39: | Tashkent. Shop for fresh produce at the Chorsu Bazaar. |
| Day 40: | Fergana Valley. Explore this desert oasis on a guided walk. |
| Day 41: | Osh. Look out over Central Asia from Solomon's Throne. |
| Days 42-44: | Tian Shan Mountains. Camp alongside the hospitable Kyrgyz people. |
| Days 45-46: | Song-Kol Lake. Spend the night in a yurt and join in a game of ulak-Tartys. |
| Day 47: | Issyk-Kul Lake. Pitch a tent on the shores of the 'warm lake'. |
| Day 48: | Karakol. Explore this picturesque town dotted with Russian gingerbread cottages. |
| Days 49-51: | Djety Oguz Valley. Hike through dramatic canyons. |
| Day 52: | Ala-Archa Canyon. See the flowering juniper bushes that paint the canyon's floor. |
| Days 53-54: | Bishkek. Chill out in an open-air cafe. |
| Day 55: | Homestay. Make Kyrgyz friends on a homestay. |
| Day 56: | Bush camp. Camp amid the untamed beauty of these rugged mountains. |
| Days 57-58: | Kashgar. Cross the legendary Torugart Pass. |
| Day 59: | Tashkurgan. Travel down the famed Karakoram Highway. |
| Days 60-61: | Kashgar. Join the 50,000-strong crowds at the Kashgar Market. |
| Day 62: | Bush camp. Follow the southern Silk Road. |
| Day 63: | Hotan. Discover the secrets of silk production. |
| Days 64-65: | Bush camp. Cross the inhospitable Taklamakan Desert. |
| Days 66-67: | Turpan. Escape the desert sands in this laidback town. |
| Day 68: | Bush camp. Camp out in the desert. |
| Days 69-70: | Dunhuang. Admire the Mogao Caves' breathtaking Buddhist art. |
| Days 71-73: | Bush camp. Discover deserted sections of the Great Wall. |
| Days 74-75: | Liujiaxia. Spot Buddhist cliff-side carvings. |
| Days 76-78: | Xiahe. Soak up the Tibetan atmosphere. |
| Day 79: | Lanzhou. Relax beside the rushing waters of the Yellow River. |
| Day 80: | Bush camp. Camp beneath the stars. |
| Days 81-84: | Xi'an. Admire the 2,000-year-old army of Terracotta Warriors. |
| Days 85-86: | Pingliang. Explore the temple-studded Kongtong Mountain. |
| Day 87: | Shapotou. Why not take an overnight camel safari. |
| Day 88: | Yinchuan. Here the sand dunes meet green riverbanks. |
| Day 89: | Bush camp. Sleep in the wilds near Mongolia. |
| Days 90-91: | Datong. Gaze at the cliff-top Hanging Monastery. |
| Days 92-94: | Chengde. Relax in China's largest regal gardens. |
| Day 95: | Huairou/Great Wall. Hike along the Great Wall. |
| Day 96: | Qingdongling/Great Wall. Tear down the mountain in a luge. |
| Days 97-99: | Beijing. Discover the mystifying Forbidden City. |
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) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
how this holiday makes a difference
|
This trip visits a local NGO in Penang who work with the physically handicapped in order to help them adjust to an independent lifestyle outside of the home. Offering a respite centre as well as training our groups are able to visit the centre and volunteer some of their time. In Laos we have a very special project that all groups have the options to visit and support. Phet the Asiatic tiger was orphaned and for sale in a local market before being sponsored by us and its passengers. Phet now lives just our side of Luang Prabang at the Kuang Sii waterfalls, where together with local authorities her environment and food is enabling her to live quite happily. All groups have the opportunity to help support Phet by purchasing buffalo meat and donating it to her keepers.
While in Mongolia you spend a night in a traditional ger (Mongolian felt tent) situated in one of the country's magnificent national parks. Our driver Mia and guide Nemo will no doubt help you to understand more about local traditions and customs of the area, such as stopping at an orvoo to ask the spirits for good luck on our journey. Here our travelers support the work of Lotus Children's Home. There is a list of needed items in our pre trip departure information if you would like to make a donation. We cross into Russia by train and disembark near Lake Baikal, one of the world's most precious ecological sites where we experience village life staying with our local friend Nikolai and his family. You'll get to try all kinds of traditional cooking and fresh produce, including fish straight from the lake. You'll definitely get to rub shoulders (literally!) with Muscovites and St Petersburgians as we explore these two great Russian cities since our prime method of getting around will be local public transport like the metro, trolley buses and trams. At the completion of your journey you can donate any unwanted toiletries or unneeded clothing to our project in St Petersburg, Nochlezhka, an organization that helps the many homeless people living in the city. |
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. |