Silk Road Tour 3

Silk Road tour 3: Kyrgyzstan – China , Request

Duration: 10 days

Season: May -October

Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday): Bishkek
Arrival in Bishkek. Transfer to the hotel. Sightseeing tour: Oak Park, Ala -Too Square, Philarmonic hall, Statue of Manas, Victory Square. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 2 (Monday): Bishkek – Issyk Kul
In the morning transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake ( 260 km ). En route visit Burana tower, which marks the original site of the Karakhanid town, Balasagun. Continue driving to Issyk-Kul. Arrival to Issyk-Kul, accommodation in a hotel on the North Shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.

Day 3 (Tuesday): Issyk Kul – Karakol
Drive to Karakol. In Cholpon-Ata visit open-air art gallery of stone, said to date from 500 BC – 100 AD, they depict wolves, long-horned ibex, goats, horses, snow leopards, sacrifices and some hunting scenes.
City tour of Karakol. Visit the wooden Russian-orthodox church, Dungan Mosque and Prezhevalsky-Museum. Overnight in a guest house.

Day 4 (Wensday): Karakol – Kochkor
In the morning start driving to Kochkor village. En route visit the Salty Lake which has the same feature like Dead Sea in Israel. The minerals within the water support the weight of a person lying on the surface. Next stop in Skazka valley there sandstone cliffs have been shaped by centuries of wind and melting snow into an ensemble of columns, canyons and crag, ranging in color from deep red to bright orange. Continue driving to Kochkor. Overnight in Kochkor in a home stay.

Day 5 (Thursday): Kochkor – Tash-Rabat
In the morning transfer to Tash-Rabat towards the Chinese border. Tash Rabat, Caravan Saray 11th century, served as a fortress for travelers along the Great Silk Road. This is a carefully restored stone building. Overnight in yurts (Kyrgyz dwelling).

Day 6 (Friday): Tash-Rabat – Torugart – Kashgar
Breakfast. Transfer early in the morning to Torugart Pass. Meeting with the Chinese travel company at Kyrgyz-Chinese border. Drive to Kashgar. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 7 (Saturday): Kashgar
Today there will city tour around Kashgar: visiting Id Kah Mosque (the largest mosque in China) and the Tomb of Yusup Hazi Hajup Overnight at a hotel. As traveler Marco Polo wrote about Kashgar “It is an eastern Cairo, where there are mountains of goods, and people swarm like bees”.

Day 8 (Sunday): Kashgar
Full day visiting  Sunday Animal Bazaar. The Sunday Animal Bazaar is believed to be the largest outdoor market in the world.

Day 9 (Monday): Kashgar – Urumqi
Fly to Urumqi Visit the Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum. Overnight at a hotel. Urumqi is the main city of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. It is situated in the heart of the Eurasian continent on the northern slopes of Tian-Shan mountains, Urumchi in the ancient Mongol language “Djungar” means - “The fine pasture”.

Day 10 (Tuesday): Urumqi – airport
Transfer to the airport. Departure.

Accommodation:

Standard tour price includes:
1. Twin accommodation;
2. Meals – for the groups 1-5 people – only breakfast included; For the groups 6-10 people - full board;
3. Transportation throughout the whole trip.
4. English speaking guide;
5. Sightseeing tour program in all cities according to the program, including entrance fees to sights, museums. Camera/video fees are not included and paid separately;
6. Payment for 1 extra night in Bishkek on the Day 1 in case of early arrival;
7. Permits to cross Torugart;

Tour price does not include:
1. Hotel charges for additional services;
2. Single supplement;
3. Consular fees paid upon collection of the entrance visa to Kyrgyzstan and China;
4. Registration in Kyrgyzstan and China (if required);
5. International airfares;
6. Personal insurance and items not mentioned above.
7. Visa support;
8. Alcohol drinks;