| DAILY ITINERARY
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Day 1 Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul! Arrival transfer from the airport to your hotel to rest. Late afternoon orientation meeting. This evening we shall have a memorable dinner on a boat in the bosphorous.
B/L/D Point Hotel
Day 2 Istanbul
In the morning visit the Blue Mosque, built in 1616 unequalled for its mosaics, and the Haghia Sophia dedicated in 536 AD during the reign of Justinian, we will also visit Topkapi Palace, which was built by Mehmed the Conqueror. In the afternoon tour the Grand Covered Bazaar.
B/L/D Point Hotel
Day 3 Istanbul
This morning will be dedicated to an orientation session with your 4 x 4 vehicles. The afternoon is free for stocking up on any last-minute supplies.
B/L/D Point Hotel
Day 4 Istanbul/ Canakkale (driving distance: 300 km)
Today, we shall explore the Gallipoli peninsula on the way to Canakkale. The Gallipoli area is known for the war cemeteries and memorials dedicated to the Turkish and foreign soldiers killed during the Canakkale Sea and shore battles in 1915. There are sunken ships, trenches, castles, towers and hundreds of remains of the war. In total, there are graves and memorials of around 250,000 Turkish soldiers, and 250,000 from Australia, New Zealand, England and France. Thousands of people visit the war cemeteries every year, and it is one of the most famous sites in Turkey. Afterwards continue on to Canakkale.
B/L/D Hotel Kolin
Day 5 Canakkale/ Kusadasi (driving distance: 450 km)
Drive to Kusadasi via Troy (Truva) and Pergamum (Bergama). After visiting Troy visit the acropolis at Pergamum, and continue on to Kusadasi.
B/L/D Fantasia Hotel
Day 6 Kusadasi
Today we shall explore the ancient city of Ephesus. First we will visit the Temple of Artemis, and then drive to the Ephesus Ruins and visit the Theatre, Celsius Library, Agora, Odeon, Domitianus Temple, and Trajan Fountain. In the afternoon visit a traditional old Ottoman Village. Return to Kusadasi.
B/L/D Fantasia Hotel
Day 7 Kusadasi/Pamukkale (driving distance: 200 km)
Today drive to the ancient site of Hierapolis (nearby Pamukkale), and its calcium terraces. This is a magical and spectacular natural site, unique in the world; it is a fairyland of dazzling white, petrified castles. Thermal spring waters laden with calcareous salts running off the plateau's edge have created this fantastic formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins.
B/L/D Hotel Colossae
Day 8 Pamukkale/Konya/Cappadocia (driving distance: 630 km)
Drive to Cappadocia via Konya. On the way visit Obruk han (Lake Obruk). Continue on to Cappadocia.
B/L/D Dedeman Hotel
Day 9 Cappadocia
Full day in Cappadocia. Visit to the enchanting "fairy chimneys" (conical and unusual rock formations) in Devrent Valley. We continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum, where we will see the finest examples of religious frescoes in rock-cut churches from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabag Valley, and then continue to Avanos, centre of terra cotta work. Afternoon visit Derin kuyu underground city. In the evening, we shall enjoy a whirling dervishes show.
B/L/D Dedeman Hotel
Day 10 Cappadocia/Adiyaman (driving distance: 450 km)
This morning, you may take an optional hot air balloon tour. Drive to Adiyaman via Kahraman Maras. Visit the Coppersmith’s Bazaar in Kahraman Maras and continue to Adiyaman.
B/L/D Grand Hotel Gaziantep
Day 11 Adiyaman/Sanliurfa (driving distance: 110 km)
Drive to Nemrut Mountain via Kahta, on the way visit the huge Ataturk Dam and the Cendere Bridge. Nemrut Mountain is a significant attraction, with thousands of people coming at sunrise and sunset to see the stones in the best possible light. Drive to Adiyaman.
B/L/D Hotel Nezirhan
Day 12 Sanliurfa/Harran/Sanliurfa
Visit to Mevlid Halil Mosque and the Cave of Prophet Abraham, then the sacred fish pool. Drive to Harran - city of the prophet Abraham. See the fortress, Islamic school and curious beehive-shaped adobe houses. Return to Sanliurfa for your overnight stay.
B/L/D Hotel Nezirhan
Day 13 Sanliurfa/Diyarbakir (driving distance: 350 km)
Drive to the city of Mardin, with its golden stone houses that blend into the hills. The houses are often decorated with intricate carvings. This is a very lively trading centre with people coming from surrounding villages to buy and sell. We will have a fantastic view of the Plain of Mesopotamia and visit the Syriac-Jacobite Monastery of Deyrulzaferan. Continue to Diyarbakir.
B/L/D Hotel Dedeman
Day 14 Diyarbakir/Van (driving distance: 457 km)
Today we visit the Ulu (Great) Mosque from the Seljuk period and possibly the third century Aramaic Church of the Virgin Mary. Afterwards drive to Lake Van. This lake is the largest in Turkey and lies at an altitude of 1720 m. Visit the Akdamar church, which is built on an island in the lake. We will take a small boat across the lake to see the church. In the afternoon continue to Van and local sightseeing. Van was the Urartians capital. An imposing 9th century B.C. citadel overlooks the town. Visit the ancient Urartians site of Austere, Hosap Castle, and the famous Citadel of Van.
B/L/D Buyuk Urartu Hotel
Day 15 Van/Tabriz (driving distance: 440 km)
Head to the Iranian border. Cross into Iran, and drive on to Tabriz.
B/L/D Gostaresh Hotel
Day 16 Tabriz/Zanjan (driving distance: 300 km)
In the morning visit the Tabriz Museum, Blue Mosque and the traditional Bazaar. Afterwards drive to Zanjan, the capital of Zanjan province.
B/L/D Park Hotel
Day 17 Zanjan/Tehran (driving distance: 315 km)
Leave Zanjan and drive to Tehran, the capital city of Iran. En route visit the third biggest Tomb of Soltanieh (a 14 century Moughal Tomb) and city of Ghazvin with its mosque and palace, before arriving in Tehran.
B/L/D Laleh Hotel
Day 18 Tehran
Full day sightseeing of Tehran including archaeological and carpet museums and Sa'ad Abad Palace (King's residence).
B/L/D Laleh Hotel
Day 19 Tehran/Isfahan (driving distance: 500 km)
Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Isfahan, the most beautiful city in Iran. Isfahan is one of the finest cities in the Islamic world; a place for savouring the high refinements of Persian culture. En route visit the cities of Qom, Kashan and Ntanz .
B/L/D Abbasi Hotel
Day 20 Isfahan
Full day of sightseeing in this magnificent city with its bridges, palaces and mosques.
B/L/D Abbasi Hotel
Day 21 Isfahan/Yazd (driving distance: 350 km)
Drive to the city of Yazd, with its winding lanes, wind towers and mud-brick Old Town. This relaxed city, with Iran’s largest Zoroastrian community, is famous for its bagdirs (or wind towers) sitting atop the roofs of the houses, circulating even the smallest breeze to cool the homes inside. En route, visit of the old city Naeen with its Jameh Mosque, ruined fire temple and caravanserai.
B/L/D Shirkuh Hotel
Day 22 Yazd
Today we will have a full day of sightseeing in Yazd. Visit the Zoroastrian fire temple (Ateshkadeh) – it is said that the eternal flame here has been burning since around AD 470. Take a tour of the old city, one of the oldest towns in the world according to UNESCO. Enjoy seeing the courtyards, ornate wooden doors, and pretty adobe architecture. Also visit the Jameh (Friday) Mosque dominating the old city with its beautiful turquoise-tiled domes. Later, take a short drive to see the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence.
B/L/D Shirkuh Hotel
Day 23 Yazd/Tabas (driving distance: 406 km)
Drive to Tabas visiting a caravanserai en route. Tabas is a pretty oasis city between the Dasht-e Lut and Dasht-e Kavir deserts. Here you will visit the Bagh-e Golshan garden with its variety of tropical trees, pools and cascades, and the ruined 11th century citadel of Tabas.
B/L/D Tabas Inn
Day 24 Tabas/Bidokht (driving distance: 250 km)
Drive to city of Bidokht and visit the Mosque and Mausoleum of Saleh Ali Shah.
B/L/D Bidokht Inn
Day 25 Bidokht/Mashad (driving distance: 300 km)
Drive to the Holy city of Mashad. This is the holiest city in Iran, containing the pilgrimage site of the Shrine of Imam Reza, who was martyred here in the 9th century.
B/L/D Homa Hotel
Day 26 Mashad
Today we have a full day to see the sights of Mashad, including the complex of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, one of the most comprehensive and elegant architectural complexes in the Islamic world at the present time. We will also visit the old city of Toos and the tomb of greatest Persian epic poet Ferdousi.
B/L/D Homa Hotel
(Those joining Section B should arrive into Ashgabat today. The next morning you will travel to Mary/Merv and meet up with the others in the group).
Day 27 Mashad/Mary (driving distance: 400 km)
After breakfast drive to the border check point at Serahs. Cross the border into Turkmenistan, and drive to Mary.
B/L/D Margush Hotel
Day 28 Mary/Ashgabat (driving distance: 420 km)
Today visit ancient Merv, one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia. At one point in its history, Merv was called 'The Pearl of the East'. Razed by the Mongols, it was rebuilt over the centuries and today five distinct cities cover 130 square kilometres. Afterwards we will return to Mary and then continue on to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan via the medieval Anau Mosque, which was built between 1446-1456, and destroyed by an earthquake in 1948. The mosque was unique with its blue mosaic facade, depicting dragons. We will also visit the old city of Abiverd, which was an important trading post from the 5th to the 7th centuries.
B/L/D President Hotel
Day 29 Ashgabat
Today we will have a full day of sightseeing in and around Ashgabat; including a city tour, a visit to the Carpet Museum, visiting the Bakharden underground lake as well as Kipchak Mosque. Later, we will tour the Old Nisa – the remains of the Parthian kings’ residence. Continue to National museum and return Ashgabat. This evening, enjoy a traditional dinner with Folklore group performance.
B/L/D President Hotel
(End of Section A – those not continuing will depart from Ashgabat today)
Day 30 Ashgabat/Darvaza (driving distance: 255 km)
Departing Ashgabat for the desert, we will first visit the colourful and varied Tolkuchka Bazaar before driving up to Darvaza for a night of camping in the Karakum Desert..
B/L/D Camping
Day 31 Darvaza/Khiva (driving distance: 420 km)
Today drive north towards the border with Uzbekistan. En route, see the sights of Kunya-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The monuments here testify to outstanding achievements in architecture and craftsmanship whose influence reached Iran and Afghanistan, and later the architecture of the Mogul Empire of 16th-century India. Later on, continue to Khiva.
B/L/D Khorezm Palace Hotel
Day 32 Khiva
Our tour in Khiva will include Ichan-Kala (Inner town): Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah, Kunya Ark, Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, Islam Khoja Madrassah and Minaret, Jummi Mosque, Eastern Ensemble, Tash Hauli Palace, Atajan Tura Ensemble and functioning hamman (bath), Chadra Hauli, Sheikh Mukhtar Vali Mausoleum, Kubla Toza Beg Summer Palace. Also you will see desert sights such as Toprak Kala and Koi Krylgan Kala.
B/L/D Khorezm Palace Hotel
Day 33 Khiva/Bukhara (driving distance: 510 km)
Drive to Bukhara through the KizilKum Desert. En route we stop to see the Amudarya River, known to many western explorers as the Oxus River. We will arrive at Bukhara in the late afternoon. In the evening we will see a folk performance in Nadir Devanbegi Madrassah.
B/L/D Lyabi House Hotel
Day 34 Bukhara
Today we have an excursion in Bukhara including visits to the mausoleum of Ismail Samani, the Bolo-Hauz mosque, the Historical Fortress - Arch, Poi Kalon Ensemble (the Kalon Minaret, Kalon Mosque and Mir-I-Arab Madrassah), Ulugbek and Abdulaziz khan Madrassahs, the Magoki-Attar mosque. In evening we will have dinner in a local traditional style restaurant.
B/L/D Lyabi House Hotel
Day 35 Bukhara/Samarkand (driving distance: 270 km)
After breakfast we will start our trip to Samarkand, arriving into Samarkand in the afternoon where we will have lunch and some leisure time.
B/L/D Afrosiab Palace Hotel
Day 36 Samarkand
Today we will have a city tour of Samarkand including the famous Registan, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Bibi Khanum Mausoleum, Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble, Ulugbek Observatory (15th century), Chupan Ata (1440s), Gur Emir, Ak-Serai (around 1470) and Rukhabad Mausoleums. Later we will visit Khoja Abdi Darun, Khoja Abdi Birun and Ishrat Khana Mausoleums, Khoja Akhrar Complex, Chorsu and the famous Samarkand carpet factory.
B/L/D Afrosiab Palace Hotel
Day 37 Samarkand/Ferghana Valley (driving distance: 620 km)
In the early morning we will start out for the Ferghana Valley. The road from Samarkand to the Ferghana Valley is quite a long distance and will be a challenging drive, crossing many mountain passes on the way to Tashkent. We will stop for a rest and some lunch in the local houses in the Jizzah region, arriving in the Ferghana Valley in the afternoon.
B/L/D Club 777 Hotel
Day 38 Ferghana Valley
In the morning we will drive to Kokand and visit the major sites: Khudayar Khan Palace, Jommi Mosque, Narbutabey and Dasturkhanchi Madrassah, Royal Cemetery and Khaidarov Workshop (museum of Kokand woodcraft). Then on the road from Kokand to Margilan we will visit the famous Rishtan Art Ceramics factory. The major sites in Margilan are Toron Mosque, Said Akhmad Khoja Madrassah and famous silk factories: Yodgorlik factory, Margilan Silk factory and Khanatlas Silk factory.
B/L/D Club 777 Hotel
Day 39 Ferghana/Osh (driving distance: 125 km)
In the morning drive to the Kyrgyz border and continue to Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan; reputed to be about 3000 years old. There are several legends about the origin of the city, including claims that it was founded by Solomon or Alexander the Great. Even if such a grand personage did not establish Osh, its position at a crossroads along the ancient trading routes that became known as the Silk Road almost guaranteed that it would become a major settlement. Excursion to Osh Bazaar, one of the biggest bazaars in Central Asia, stretching for about one kilometre along the river. Visit holy mount Suleiman-Too (Solomon’s Throne). According to, legend this mount appeared after King Solomon rested here. For Central Asian Muslims, “Taht-I-Suleiman” is the 3rd most sacred place after Mecca and Medina. At the top there is a 16th century mosque and a museum.
B/L/D Hotel Osh
Day 40 Osh/Chichkan Valley (driving distance: 430 km)
Drive to the Chichkan Valley. Following the Ferghana Valley the road climbs through spectacular mountains and follows the Naryn River. En route, you will pass the town of Uzgen, which has a history of over 2000 years - it is claimed to have been the site of a number of citadels built at various times since the 1st century BC.
B/L/D Chichkan Valley Guest House or camp
Day 41 Chichkan Valley/Songkol Lake (driving distance: 260 km)
Today the drive climbs through spectacular mountains and on to to Susamyr Valley, a high steppe plateau that although only some 160 kilometers from the capital Bishkek is also one of the more remote and rarely visited regions of Kyrgyzstan. There are signs of early settlement dating back to between the 9th and 11th centuries. Songkol Lake is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013 m above sea level. Surrounded by dramatic snow-covered mountain peaks, it is hidden in a flat, plate-like valley. Enjoy a Kyrgyz national game and folk show
B/L/D Yurt Camp
Day 42 Songkol Lake/Naryn (driving distance: 140 km)
Drive from Songkol Lake to Naryn. Your route takes you through some of the alpine mountains and meadows of Kyrgyzstan. Along the way you will get a chance to meet Kyrgyz shepherds, follow their paths and experience their nomadic life.
B/L/D Naryn Guesthouse
Day 43 Naryn/Kashgar (driving distance: 300 km)
Drive from Naryn to Kashgar via the Torugart Pass, and cross the border into China. En route stop at the Tash Rabat Caravanserai, a carefully restored stone building that once housed an inn on the Great Silk Road. Its date of origin is unknown, but there is archaeological evidence to suggest that the site was occupied in the 10th century. There is also evidence that it was a place of both rest and worship and would have served to protect caravans to and from China from both the ravages of the weather and of bandits — from before the time of either Tamerlane or Genghis Khan. Arrive into Kashgar late in the afternoon.
B/L/D Seman Hotel
(Those joining Section C should arrive into Kashgar today)
Day 44 Kashgar
Kashgar, the largest oasis city in China and Central Asia, used to be the last outfitting station on the centuries-old Silk Road. A city of bazaars, two-wheeled carts, dusty streets and 4000 mosques, Kashgar reveals a strong Islamic influence. Its narrow maze of alleyways and open air markets display all the myriad faces of Central Asia with Uygur, Kyrgyz, Tajik and Kazakh merchants and locals, all busy haggling over camels and sheep, brightly coloured fabrics, fur hides and hats, handmade carpets and knives. Trade remains timeless still, especially on Sundays, when the entire community gathers at the world's liveliest market. Leisure day in Kashgar exploring the market.
B/L/D Seman Hotel
Day 45 Kashgar/Khotan (driving distance: 520 km)
Drive from Kashgar to Khotan. On the southern part of the Silk Road, Khotan was an early centre for the spread of Buddhism from India into China. It fell to the Arabs in the 8th century and grew wealthy on the proceeds of the caravan trade that travelled the route between China and the West.
B/L/D local guesthouse
(End of Section B – those not continuing will depart from Kashgar today)
Day 46 Khotan/Minfeng (driving distance: 350 km)
Drive from Khotan to Minfeng; visit the local ethnic groups en route.
B/L/D Minfeng Hotel
Day 47 Minfeng/Tazhong (driving distance: 350 km)
Drive from Minfeng to Tazhong crossing the Taklamakan Desert from south to north on the longest desert highway in the world. Tazhong is surrounded by sand dunes.
B/L/D local guesthouse
Day 48 Tazhong/Korla (driving distance: 450 km)
Today’s driving brings you out of the Taklamakan Desert to the town of Korla.
B/L/D Bay Inguoleng Hotel
Day 49 Korla/Turpan (driving distance: 390 km)
Drive from Korla to Turpan visiting Bosten Lake en route. Turpan is located in the Turpan Basin at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. The city has a population of nearly 200,000, most of whom are Uygurs. The Turpan Basin is the lowest area in China, in which the Aiding Lake, with its surface being 154 meters below sea level, is the second lowest spot in the world, next only to the Dead Sea in Jordan.
B/L/D Solar Energy Hotel
Day 50 Turpan
Visit to the Kan-er Waterwell, and the ruins of Jiaohe City, now on the list of UNESCO's historical and cultural sites, which protects the Tang Dynasty ruins of homes, garden walls, government offices, pottery kilns, temples and pagodas, all of which are still easily recognizable.
B/L/D Solar Energy Hotel
Day 51 Turpan/Hami (driving distance: 400 km)
Depart Turpan to Hami, en route visiting the Astana Tombs and Flaming Hill.
B/L/D Hami Hotel
Day 52 Hami/Dunhuang (driving distance: 450 km)
Today we depart the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China for the half-day drive to Dunhuang located in Gansu province. Dunhuang was once an important junction on the Silk Route, where it split into different branches, this oasis in northwest China, on the edge of the Gobi Desert, is surrounded by sand dunes. By the 4th century AD, the route had brought the city both commercial prosperity and a growing Buddhist community.
B/L/D Shazhou Grand Hotel
Day 53 Dunhuang
This morning, take a bus tour to visit the Maogao Grottoes, a series of 500 caves which contain the world's most valuable display of Buddhist art - manuscripts, some 2,400 painted sculptures and 45,000 square metres of frescoes. In the late afternoon, tour the Singing Sand Hill and Crescent Moon Lake.
B/L/D Shazhou Grand Hotel
Day 54 Dunhuang/Jiayuguan (driving distance: 505 km)
Drive to Jiayuguan to visit the Jiayuan Pass - the western end of the great Wall.
B/L/D Jiyuguan Great Wall Hotel
Day 55 Jiayuguan/Wuwei (driving distance: 500 km)
Drive to Wuwei. On the way, tour the Zhangye Museum. This museum is located in the Giant Buddha Temple, which is the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province, of the Western Xia (1038-1227) period. China's largest reclining Buddha is well preserved in this temple.
B/L/D Wuwei Tianma Hotel
Day 56 Wuwei/Pingliang (driving distance: 650 km)
Enjoy the scenery of the Yellow Clay Plateau en route to Pingliang. Visit Mt Kongtong, one of China’s famous Taoist mountains. Overnight on top of the mountain.
B/L/D Kongdong Mountain Top Guest House
Day 57 Pingliang/Xian (driving distance: 380 km)
Today is your last driving day! Arrive into Xian, the ancient capital of China, and earlier known as Chang’an. Xian, once home to a diverse collection of ethnic groups trading in all types of material goods and religions was the central terminus for all trade along the eastern section of the Silk Road. Xian is end of your Silk Road driving journey. Evening banquet dinner.
B/L/D ANA Grand Castle Hotel
Day 58 Xian
Visit the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, the Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Art Museum and City wall.
B/L/D ANA Grand Castle Hotel
Day 59 Xian/Beijing
Morning transfer to the airport and fly to Beijing. Upon arrival in Beijing visit the Great Wall of China. Later transfer to your hotel and final dinner with the group.
B/L/D Kunlun Hotel
Day 60 Beijing
In the morning transfer to the airport for your departure home. End of this fantastic tour experience.
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