Day 1Arrive Guangzhou
Beginning in the port city of Guangzhou, we’ll meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. Gather this evening for a welcome reception to meet your fellow travellers.
Day 2Guangzhou
Your day is off to an exciting start with a picturesque cruise along Pearl River. End your cruise at the Guangzhou TV Tower, where you are rewarded with sweeping panoramas of the city. Afterwards, you’re spoilt for choice with a delicious dim sum lunch. With bellies full, a relaxing stroll along the concession section of Shamian is a welcome option. During your ambling, admire the mixture of European and traditional Cantonese architecture. Dinner tonight is enjoyed at your hotel.
Day 3Guangzhou, Kashgar
After breakfast, we transfer you to the airport for your included flight onwards to Kashgar, China’s westernmost corner. Kashgar was once the centre of trade along the Silk Road for more than two millennia, and you have the opportunity to delve into the city’s history. Dinner tonight is at your hotel.
Day 4Kashgar
For a dose of authentic Kashgar culture, visit the Livestock Market, which has been in operation every Sunday for two thousand years. Continue to the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar, a lively marketplace where you can find goods such as vibrant handwoven rugs, silk, semi-precious stones and spices. After lunch, visit the Abakh Khoja Tomb, the holiest Muslim site in the region. Nestled among the poplar trees, this vibrant tomb has often been compared with the Taj Mahal. Tonight, a folk dance and music show is the perfect end to an exciting day.
Day 5Kashgar, Ürümqi
The day is spent navigating the narrow alleyways of the Old Town. After breakfast, head to the east city gate to witness the gate opening ceremony. After, wander the century-old houses of the Old Town, passing street stalls selling everything from freshly made dumplings to fabric and musical instruments. You will then visit Id Kah Mosque, the largest in China that can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers. For lunch, feast on lamb kebabs, the regional dish. Later, fly to Ürümqi.
Day 6Ürümqi
Head to the city’s outskirts, to the alpine region of Tien Shan. The name is translated to mean “Celestial Mountains”. Visit Heavenly Lake and take a small boat ride across the tranquil surface, admiring the picture-perfect scenery drift by. Get a taste for local life and visit a yurt, a traditional home for the Kazakh people. The choice is up to you for dinner tonight.
Day 7Ürümqi
The capital of the Xinjiang region in the far northwest of China is yours to discover today. Head out for lunch on your own and enjoy some time to explore independently. It’s then onwards to the Ürümqi Provincial Museum. Here you have the chance to view around 50,000 relics which have been excavated along the Silk Road. These include silk, terracotta figurines, weapons and scriptures. The main event is undoubtedly the 10 excavated mummies of the Loulan Ruins, the most famous being ‘Sleeping Beauty’, the best-preserved mummified body in China, buried underground for approximately 3,800 years. Feast tonight on a lamb hotpot with local entertainment.
Day 8Ürümqi, Liuyuan, Dunhuang
Hop on a train this morning for the journey through the breathtaking vistas of the Kunlun Mountains to Liuyuan. Disembark your train and climb into a coach for the drive to Dunhuang, once a flourishing trade centre along the Silk Road. It is here that you’ll enjoy a Signature Experience.
Day 9Dunhuang
Spend today on an exciting Signature Experience. Gather tonight for a special dinner as you farewell the silk road.
Day 10Dunhuang, Beijing
It’s time to say goodbye to the Silk Road and board your flight to China’s cosmopolitan capital. How you spend the afternoon is up to you. You might like to relax in your room, or explore the city at your own pace. Tonight, celebrate a memorable journey with a delicious farewell dinner.
Day 11Beijing
Your journey ends after breakfast with a transfer to the airport for your flight home.
