Jade Tours - Tour Package


12 Days Timeless Silk road Beijing • Luoyang • Xian • Jaiyuguan • Dunhuang • Turpan • Urumqi • Optional Kashgar extension


Day 1 Home City > Beijing Depart from your home city and fly to Beijing, China’s capital. Day 2 Arrive Beijing On arrival to Beijing, you are met and escorted to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for 2 nights. Day 3 Beijing [B] Enjoy a full day at leisure in Beijing to explore this great city on your own. Optional tours are available. Day 4 Beijing > New Oriental Express [B] Morning at leisure. Later today, transfer to the railway station where you will board the “New Oriental Express” for a fascinating adventure by rain through the ancient Silk Road. After set into your compartment, a briefing in the bar car will gives you more details about the journey while New Oriental Express heads for Luoyang, one of the four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Day 5 Luoyang > Xian [B/L/D] On arrival, disembark and enjoy your breakfast at a hotel in the city. Visit the Longmen Grottoes, one of the three most famous ancient sculptural sites in China along with Yungang and Mogao, you will visit the latter in Dunhuang. Return to the train for lunch and enjoy the view of the endless rural landscape of Central China and the Yellow River on your way to Xian. After dinner on board, you will arrive at Xian. Bring along your overnight bag for one night stay at the Xian Hotel. Day 6 Xian > Jiayuguan [B/L/SD] Xian was the start of the Silk Road and an international metropolis comparable with the city of Rome at that time. Your visit today is sure to be a memorable one as the highlights include the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Bronze Chariots, the City Wall, the Shaanxi History Museum and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Enjoy a cultural show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre before returning to the train. Continue travelling on New Oriental Express to Jiayuguan, that marks the westmost section of the Great Wall. Day 7 Oriental Express [B/L/D] Try to wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Gobi desert. A journey through the narrow but long Hexi or Gansu Corridor, and the most important access to Xinjiang and Central Asia. You will pass by many fertile oasis surrounded by vast expanse of Gobi desert, sandwiched in between snow-capped Mountains. Two lectures or forums on the Silk Road will be held in the Bar car. Day 8 Jiayuguan > Dunhuang [B/L/D] Morning arrival at Jiayuguan, home to the largest and most intact pass of the Great Wall. After a full breakfast at a city hotel, visit Jiayuguan Pass to witness this first pass on the west end of the Great Wall, thus earned the name “The First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven.” You will also stop at a small museum before returning to the train for lunch, while the train heads its way to Dunhuang. On arrival, again with an overnight bag, stay at the Dunhuang Hotel. Day 9 Dunhuang > Turpan [B/L/D] The oasis town of Dunhuang is set in one of the most arid regions of the country. It was at one time the pivotal point of interchange between China and the outside world. Your day begins with a tour of the magnificent Mogao Caves, a treasure trove of Buddhist art. Enjoy a ride on Bactrian camels through the spectacular Mingsha sand dunes to the Crescent Moon Lake. After dinner, transfer back to New Oriental Express and continue overnight journey to Turpan. Day 10 Turpan > Urumqi [B/L/SD] After breakfast on board, disembark and visit the charming oasis city Turpan. Highlights include “karez” – the ancient irrigation system introduced from Persia over 2,000 years ago, the ruins of Jiaohe, Grape Valley and a bazaar. Back onboard for the last leg of the epic journey to Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang – Uyghur Autonomous Region. Say goodbye to New Oriental Express and stay 2 nights at the Holiday Inn Urumqi. Day 11 Urumqi [B/L] Travel into the Tianshan Mountain and arrive at the Heavenly Lake surrounded by majestic snow-crowned peaks. Enjoy a captivating cruise on the lake and then a walk along the shore covered with fir trees and grazed by horses. The wild yet tranquil scene is stunning and pristine. Return to Urumqi and visit the Xinjiang Museum to view the incredible mummies. Day 12 Beijing > Home City [B] Transfer to the airport for your flight home via Beijing. ******************************** 2 DAYS/1 NIGHT KASHGAR EXTENSION ****************************** Sunday is market day in Kashgar and there is no other market like it. Famed throughout Asia as one of the “Great Bazaars,” it draws thousands of buyers and sellers who re-enact a ritual that recalls a scene from the pages of Islamic lore. Your Kashgar Extension includes return air tickets from Urumqi to Kashgar and one night stay at the Seman Hotel with breakfast. The private transfers and sightseeing tours showcase you not only the Sunday Bazaars but Kashgar's other famed sites including the elegant Tomb of Abjak Hoja, the Id Kah Mosque and the labyrinth of alleys that comprises the city's charming old town. Meals include two lunches and a traditional roast lamb banquet held in the original residence of the former British Consul to Kashgar to conclude your Kashgarian adventure. LAND ONLY RATES PER PERSON: $ 795 Based on twin (minimum 2 passengers) ****************************** NEW ORIENTAL EXPRESS ******************************** Today, when you are traveling along the Silk Road, you will no longer ride on camel-back. Highways extend in all directions and flights are frequent. A comfortable ride by a deluxe express train starting from Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Beijing or vice versa will ensure you a safe, convenient and enjoyable trip along the Silk Road. The German-made train consists 2 superior-class carriages, 4 standard-class carriages, 2 dining carriages and 1 bar carriage. It is a deluxe train of newest pattern in China. The train is equipped with a shower car and IDD and Satellite Television. Accommodation on board the New Oriental Express is in one of three grades of newly refurbished compartments: Gold Diamond, Blue Diamond and the Standard to meet all needs. Two attendants per carriage, to be at round-the-clock service. Legend: B - Breakfast L - Lunch D - Dinner SD - Special Dinner