Heart of Asia - Overland Trip
5 weeks: Day 1 to Almaty (IMT-ATHA)
Intro
The definitive tour of Central Asia. These lands were the setting of the strategic rivalry between the British Empire and Tsarist Russia in the 19th century that became known as the Great Game. We’ll also visit sites of earlier empires - the Saka, the Sogdians and the Parthians, as well as places made famous by Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. As we progress through seven countries we also get to experience the wide range of cultures here and enjoy the architecture, food and customs of each - all of them linked by a loose and indefinable bond that permeates the region.Maximum Group Size:
15Arrival Transfer:
Airport transfer to hotel day 1Fully Escorted:
By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides at major sitesTransport:
Private bus, taxi, plane, trainFlights:
Dashovuz to Ashgabat, Mashhad to Lahore, Islamabad to Urumqi, Kuqa to Urumqi, Urumqi to BishkekActivities:
Extensive walking in markets, towns and at historical sites, optional bike ride in KashgarAccommodation:
30 nights tourist class hotels, 2 nights sleeper train (soft class), 2 nights homestay with local familiesEntrance Fees:
Included for all sites visited as part of itineraryItineraries
Day 1,Day 1, ALMATYArrival day.
Day 2,ALMATY - SHYMKENTfull day tour of the city including the Medeoand History Museum of Kazakhstan. Later, overnight sleeper train to Shymkent. (BD)
Day 3,SHYMKENT (OTRAR & TURKESTAN)Today we take an excursion to Otrar, the ruins of the city that dared insult Genghis Khan and so started his campaign of conquest. Then on to Turkestan. (BD)
Day 4,TASHKENTA short morning drive to the Kazakh/Uzbek border and transfer to Tashkent. (BD)
Day 5,TASHKENTA full day city tour. (BL)
Day 6,SAMARKANDMorning train to Samarkand. We take a tour in the cool of the evening. (BD)
Day 7,SAMARKANDFull day city tour including Ulugh Beg's Observatory, the Maracanda archaeological site (the ancient Sogdian capital), and the glorious Registan. In the evening we have dinner with a local family. (BD)
Day 8,SHAKHRISABZ - BUKHARAA morning drive to Shakhrisabz, birthplace of Amir Timur (Tamerlane) where we will find his summer residence and the vault where he intended to be buried. On to Bukhara in the evening. (BD)
Day 9,BUKHARAA full day city tour of the 'holy and noble' city of Bukhara. This title dates back to the Samanid period, when the city had a reputation as a great centre of Islamic learning. We visit important tombs and madrassas, with an atmospheric dinner and folklore show in the evening. (BD)
Day 10,BUKHARA - KHIVAA free morning in Bukhara before an afternoon drive to Khiva.
Day 11,KHIVAFull day tour of the Ichon Qala, heart of this ancient city. (B)
Day 12,KONYA URGENCH - DASHOVUZWe drive to the Turkmenistan border and complete formalities before continuing to Konya Urgench, the city flattened by Tamerlane. We finish the day in Dashovuz. (BD)
Day 13,ASHGABATWe fly to Ashgabat. Later we have a chance to discover the remarkable memorials and monuments of the modern period. (B)
Day 14,ASHGABATA free day.
Day 15,MASHADWe drive to the Iranian border. Our drive from there to Mashhad takes us through the picturesque Hazar Masjed Mountains. Later we can visit the Koran Museum. (B)
Day 16,MASHADA full day tour of the city and to nearby summer resorts. (BL)
Day 17,MASHADA free day to relax or explore further. (B)
Day 18,MASHAD - LAHOREWe transfer to the airport and fly to Lahore. (B)
Day 19,LAHOREA full day tour of Lahore. We will visit the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, the Old City and Lahore Museum. (BD)
Day 20,TAXILA - ISLAMABADWe leave early to drive to Taxila, centre of the Gandharan culture and target of Alexander the Great's conquering army. Later we continue to Islamabad. (BL)
Day 21,ISLAMABAD - URUMQIWe fly over the Karakorum range to Urumqi in the far west of China. (BD)
Day 22,URUMQI - TURPANWe drive to Turpan. In the afternoon we visit the nearby Grape Valley, explore a 'karez' (underground irrigation tunnel) and enjoy the ruined city of Jiaohe at sunset. (BD)
Day 23,TURPAN - KASHGARThis morning we visit an interesting local village with Koranic connections. Later we board the overnight train for Kashgar. (BL)
Day 24,KASHGARArrive in Kashgar. Free time in the afternoon. (D)
Day 25,KASHGARWe have a full day to enjoy the wonderful Sunday Market. Watch the horse traders race their animals, and shepherds buy and sell countless sheep. (BD)
Day 26,KASHGARA free day to explore. Perhaps take a bike ride to enjoy the surrounding scenery. (B)
Day 27,KASHGAR - KUQAA free morning. We take an afternoon train, arriving in Kuqa in the evening. (B)
Day 28,KUQAA full day excursion to visit Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves and the ancient city of Subashi with its backdrop of colourful mountains. (BL)
Day 29,URUMQIWe fly back to Urumqi. In the afternoon we have an excursion to the history museum. The highlight will undoubtedly be the collection of mummies found in the Taklamakan Desert. (BL)
Day 30,BISHKEKWe fly to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, the only truly developed part of the whole country. We have a short sightseeing tour of the Victory Square sites and Osh market. (BD)
Day 31,CHOLPON ATAWe stop at the Burana Tower and learn of its significance on the way to Issyk Kul, the huge alpine lake that dominates the east of the country. (BD)
Day 32,KARAKOL (HOMESTAY)We have a morning excursion to the nearby petroglyphs where a local guide will bring the rock pictures to life. Not only are they fascinating in themselves, the location of this immense collection is of special importance. We continue on to Karakol, making a short stop at the Przewalsky Museum en route. We stay with local families. (BD)
Day 33,KARAKOL (HOMESTAY)We have a morning tour of the mosque and orthodox church before free time to explore. A feast of local delicacies for dinner. (BD)
Day 34,ALMATYAfter breakfast we set off on our last drive back to Almaty where we enjoy a farewell dinner. (BD)
Day 35,ALMATYTour ends. (B)
Last updated: 12th September 2008
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