We will experience the present

WEST CHINA

Day 07  Wednesday    Fly from Ulaan Batoor via Beijing to Urumchi  CHINA AUG 20, 2008  After breakfast transfer to the Air Port .flight is 0725 in the morning.  We will arrive in Beijing at 09:30 AM .After completing the formalities which might take an hour, we will drive to down town Beijing. Be prepared for crowds and humid heat at the Forbidden city and the Tienmann square. After lunch those who care to go shopping we will have short time before we return to Beijing air port . Catch the plane to Urumchi. 3,5 hours flight to Urumchi. Overnight in Urumchi

 

Day 08 Thursday   Overnight in Turpan AUG 21, 2008THE INCREDIBLE "MUMMIES" OF URUMCHI  We will  visit Xinjiang Regional Museum which is split into 2 sections - one devoted to archeological treasures from the Silk Road and the other showcases the province minority cultures. The famous mummies of Urumchi will stun even the one who has no interest in human history. We will take a 3-hour ride in an air-conditioned bus to Turpan. Lying 154 meters (505 ft) below sea level, the Turpan Basin not only sits in the second largest depression in the world, but it is one of the hottest places in China. Despite its desert location, Turpan boasts fertile land producing cotton and grapes, thanks to the karez, an ancient irrigation system. Upon arrival, by the sun set, we will have an excursion to the ruins of Jiaohe, YARGOL,  a Han Dynasty garrison that was destroyed by Genghis Khan,. In the evening we will enjoy an Uygur dance show. Overnight in Turpan.

Day 09 Friday    Turpan to Urumqi (BUS)  AUG 22 2008

We will start the day visiting Emin Minaret, one of the architectural gems of the Silk Road. Along the way to the ancient sites we will stop and visit vineyard where excellent grapes are growing.Visit Karez that is the attractions of the area and the irrigation system devised by the Uygurs ,.An wonderful  will be provided in the evening. This hotel is a delightful local hotel. you will find your self surrounded with the treasures of this region. You will appreciate having an umbrella today because we will be in the heat of the desert Today you will visit  Gaochang,Idikut , one of  China's best  preserved  ancient cities due to the dry, hot climate. Walls of sun dried brick are  40 feet  thick at the  base, surrounding the ruins. Continue on to The Baiziklik  Caves (one Thousand Buddha Caves )show the  extent to which Buddhism spread in  this area .We will stop  at the ancient Astana Tombes. And the Flaming Mountains that seem on fire in the mid-day sun;  Return to Turpan after lunch, we drive back to Urumchi. Urumchi is a growing metropolis inhabited mainly by Han Chinese and serves as a transport hub for those crossing to Tibet, Pakistan and Central Asia. Here you can visit the lively market at Erdaoqiao, where anything from Uygur handicrafts, silk carpets to fruits and kebabs are sold. We will also visit the Old Town area, where we will see how Uygurs live in today's modern capital. 

Day  10  Saturday    Overnight in Kashgar AUG 23, 2008

Fly to Kashgar enjoy the view of the Tienshan mountains from the air plane. Continue to the Taklamakan desert. A camel ride in the desert which means "those who go in will not return" is very exciting. Along the way we will see the Uygurs on their donkey carts and bicycles speeding from one town to another. We will stay overnight in Kashgar at the hotel which was built in the garden of the British Consulate, Chini Bag Hotel.

Day 11  Sunday   Kashgar  Overnight in Kashgar AUG 24, 2008

Visit to Abakhoja Mausoleum, the Abakh Hoja Tomb, built in 1640, it is reminiscent of the Central Asian artistic style of Samarqand and Isfahan. The site is also known as the Xiang Fei (Fragrant Concubine) tomb in memory of Abakh Khoja's granddaughter, Iparhan, who was the Fragrant Concubine of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty. Roam through the colorful street full of rich and verity of workshop of Uygur’s handcrafts. Our next stop will be the Animal Market of Kashgar where thousands of people will be making deals on thousands of animals.  We will have lunch at a house of an Uygur Family in order to learn more about the Uygur Cultural. Today you will need a scarf and have your shoulders closed because we will visit the biggest mosque of China. Situated at the foot of the impressive Pamir mountains, Kashgar was once the key trading post bridging the East and the West. Largely inhabited by the Uygurs, this ancient city is dotted with Muslim architecture and still retains the exotic feel of the Silk Road era. We'll spend most of the day there immersing ourselves in the activities. It's a photographers paradise as food, animals, cloth goods, and metalwork are bought and sold in this vast open-air market. We'll learn about the Uygur people and bargain with them for their handiwork. Here you will encounter some of the many different nationalities who bring their wares into town for trade; Uygurs, Han Chinese, Kazaks, Kyrgyzs, Tadjiks, Pakistanis, maybe an Afghanistani or two and the occasional western tourist. Every Sunday, around 100,000 people gather in the enormous Kashgar Bazaar area where you can buy anything from goat’s heads and hoofs to colorful painted wooden saddles. The traditional costumes and food give it an almost medieval feel and bring alive the legends of this epic overland journey along the Silk Road.

  
Day 12  Monday   Kashgar AUG 25, 2008

Drive to Karakul lake (200kms single) along the Krakorum highway to enjoy the natural beauty of Pamir plateau. Today’s ride is one day in your life when you can celebrate the generosity of the Creator and understand that he must have created this part of the world while he had no other thing to do on that day. The long ride up to the Karakol Lake will be well worthed when we see the unbelievable view of Muzata Dag and the nomads who are living around the lake. Back to hotel  before sun set. Dinner will be served at the closest restaurant. We will leave early in the morning tomorrow. At the entrance of the hotel grounds there is a little shop run by a father and son team. They sometimes have wonderful things for sale, mainly jewelery

Day 13 Tuesday ,  overnight in Naryn.  AUG 26, 2008   

Drive to Tourugart Pass(167kms) to exit to Kyrgyzstan end of China. Along the way we will make a home stop to see what life is like at this Western most end of China. Border Crossing is pretty easy and fast if you have the right receipts for all of your purchases. Even if you buy a little item from where ever you might have purchased them, please do get a little paper telling what it is and the price on it. Please buy no antiques. If you do it will be confiscated at the border.  The paper does not have to look like an official one.

END OF CHINA TOUR

Meeting with the children, the men and the women of these countries will make our experiences personable.

KIRGYZISTAN

Day 13 Tuesday Aug 26,  overnight in Naryn. 
TORUGART –NARYN (190 km, 5 hrs)

Meet the Kyrgyz at China-Kyrgyz “Tourugart” border and after all formalities drive to Naryn with lunch boxes en route. Tourugart pass is normally snow-free from May through September but it will be pretty cold at this altitude. The Arc de Triumph (China) it is about 7 km to the Kyrgyzstan customs and immigration. Distance is 60 km from Tourugart to outer checkpoint and a further 130-km to Naryn. Naryn’s one real claim to fame is that the best quality shyrdaks (traditional, brightly colored felt-appliqué rugs) in Kyrgyzstan are said to be made here. The drive to Naryn is long but you will be in a heaven of nature. Dinner and overnight in Naryn at a guest house very clean and there is internet available at the 1^st floor. The biggest shock will be the way the food is served. It is very Russian Style and quite different from what we have been experiencing in China..

Day 14 Wednesday ,Issyk Kul AUG 27, 2008   

NARYN – ISSYK KUL (300 km, 5-6 hrs) After breakfast drive to Issyk-Kul Lake through Dolon Pass of 3030 m, the highest point on the Naryn-Issyk Kul road. Usually this season (May-September) the local people "chabans" are putting their yurts on the valleys of Sary-Bulak & Dolon Passes. So you will see the wild life and the local people living in their most colorful felt yurts. Lunch en route. Today we will have chance to stop at a little village and look at the women’s cooperative for hand crafts. Some times there are wonderful things to buy sometimes they got hardly any thing but it is still worth stopping. Upon arrival at Issyk-Kul, transfer to resort for dinner and overnight. This hotel has been and still is being used by the Russians as a spa and the have excellent massage service. If any one is interested, we need to make an appointment as we leave Naryn. Make sure you walk through the excellent garden and dip your feet in this cold lake which is actually called, “THE HOT LAKE”

Day 15 Thursday ,   BISHKEK AUG 28, 2008    

(295 km, 4-5 hrs)AM. Drive to Bishkek via Burana Tower, Krasnaja Rechka. Burana was the site of Balasagun. It was founded in the middle of the 10 century on the site of an old settlement. The minaret (Burana from Turkish “munara”-minaret), one of the oldest of its kind in Central Asia, was built in 11 century and was originally 45 m tall. Visit Krasnaja Rechka - ruins of ancient city " Nevaket" of VI-XII centuries. We will take lunch before we enter Bishkek. Before we arrive at the hotel in Bishkek, we will have a city site seeing. If any body wants to be left at the city, we will drop you off. You can take a taxi back to the hotel. If you choose to swim at the pool or get a massage or use the sauna you can come back to the hotel on the bus. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

The elderly will teach us the traditions of the ancient 
SILK ROAD