Benmo Limited - Essentially China
Price includes: international flights, internal transportation, services of local English speaking guides, overnight rail travel in 4 berth soft class compartments, meals & visits as described in the programme, twin sharing accommodation.
Price does not include: Visas, insurance, additional excursions, tips and other sundries not included, subject to a minimum group size of 15.
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Visiting Beijing – Kashgar – Turfan – Dunhuang (Buddhist Grottoes) – Xi’an
In 1936 in his famous book ‘News From Tartary’ Peter Fleming wrote ‘to most people, Kashgar, which is five or six weeks’ journey, over 15,000 foot passes, from the nearest railhead in India, must seem a place barbarously remote; but for us its outlandish name spelt Civilisation’.. He and Ella Maillart had just spent several months journeying overland from Beijing, through the desert, mostly on horseback, often in danger of ambush by rival warlord factions and on their arrival at Kashgar they were welcomed by the then British Consul and his wife.
We are proposing a rather quicker route and although Kashgar is now much more accessible by road, rail and air than it once was and modernisation creeps along, this oasis in the foothills of the Pamirs is still at the heart of Central Asia. It is an essentially Muslim city, and the majority of local people are Uighurs who gather every Sunday at its renowned market.
Kashgar stood at the crossroads of the Ancient Silk Road – itinerant merchants could travel south to India and Pakistan, or across the Heavenly Mountains in the direction of Tashkent and Bukhara. We also visit Turfan Oasis – again once an important garrison town on the Silk Road, while at Dunhuang, we find the Mogao Buddhist Grottoes. Buddhism was brought to China along the Silk Road and these marvellous works of art dating from the 4th Century were hidden until they were discovered by Abbott Wang in 1900 and fought over by archaeologists in subsequent years. Xian – the capital of China in the Tang dynasty is our caravanserai.
| Day 1 | Depart London Depart from London Heathrow on Air China flight to Beijing in the late afternoon |
| Day 2 | Arrive Beijing On arrival in Beijing in the late morning, transfer to the 4 star Xiyuan Hotel for 1 night. In the afternoon visit the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square. Dinner in local restaurant |
| Day 3 | Beijing – Urumqi - Kashgar After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Urumqi ,capital of Xinjiang AR. The flight takes about 4 hours, then connect with the afternoon flight Urumqi/ Kashgar (flight time just under 2 hours). Stay at the Kashgar Central Asia Hotel for 2 nights, dinner in the hotel. |
| Day 4 | Visit Kashgar Sunday market n Id Kah Mosque Full day visit to the Sunday Market and the Id Kah mosque, if there is time, optional visit to Cave of the 3 Immortals. |
| Day 5 | Kashgar – Urumqi - Turfan Visit the Abakhoja Tomb in the morning. Transfer to the airport for flight to Urumqi Upon arrival, transfer by road (3 hours) along the foot of the Flaming Mountains to Turfan oasis and stay at the Huozhou Hotel – Lunch en route, dinner in hotel. |
| Day 6 | Turfan Turfan is in the Tarim Basin, one of the lowest points in the world. Here visit the ancient ruins of Gaochang – once a thriving city on the silk road, the ‘Karez’ irrigation system, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Cave and Astana Tomb. Lunch and dinner in local restaurants then transfer to the railway station for the overnight train T70 departing at 21:46. |
| Day 7 | Dunhuang Arrive Liuyuan at 05.17 in the early morning. Transfer to Dunhuang hotel for breakfast. Visit Mogao Grottoes and Singing Sand Hill. All meals in Dunhuang. |
| Day 8 | Dunhuang – Xi’an Visit Dunhuang Museum in the morning. Transfer to the airport for flight to Xian. Upon arrival, transfer to Aurum International Hotel. All meals included today. |
| Day 9 | Xian - Beijing Visit the Terracotta Warriors, Great Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall with lunch. Evening transfer to the airport for flight to Beijing. Stay at Sino Swiss Hotel near the airport for 1 night. Own arrangements for dinner. |
| Day 10 | Beijing – London After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure flight to London, arriving in the afternoon. |
Please note itinerary subject to change, depending on local conditions at the time of your journey.
Longer variations on the Silk Road theme are also available – either with the History Association or as a family or small group. Please enquire for further information.