Group Tours: Along the Silk Route June 08

Following in the footsteps of the great traders and explorers of old, this grand tour takes you along the route of the ancient Silk Road through western China, over the high passes into Central Asia to the fabled khanates of Bukhara and Samarkand. The tour combines the worldrenowned cultural and historical sites of the Silk Route with some of the planet’s most stunning scenery. En route you’ll visit the magnificent Buddhist Grottoes at the oasis town of Dunhuang, haggle with the locals at the incredible Kashgar Sunday Market and cross the towering 3752m Torugart Pass into Kyrgyzstan, one of Asia’s hidden gems.

Commencing in Beijing, this three-week tour is timed to avoid the worst of the summer heat, and to witness the high mountains at their finest once the winter snows have melted to give way to carpets of alpine flowers. Much of the route is covered by private coach, though a few reliable domestic flights cover the great distances quickly and conveniently. Due to the remoteness of many of the regions, accommodation is often simple in nature, but always clean and comfortable. Where options are greater we have selected good quality international-style hotels for a taste of comfort along the route.

Places Visited

• Beijing
• Xian
• The Southern Silk Road
• The Karakoram Highway
• Bukhara