A Journey to the West, Chinese Silk Route - 11 - 28 October 2009
This tour follows the Northern Chinese Silk Route beginning in Xian (Chang'An), a former capital of China, where you will find the Terracotta Warriors before travelling West via Tianshui to see the hanging temple at Maijishan, Lanzhou and the Buddhist grottoes of BinglingSi, Jiayuguan located at the western end of the Great Wall, Dunhuang to see the Buddhist frescoes in the Mogao caves before ending in the fabled city of Kashgar where you will experience the sites, sounds and smells of the famous Sunday Market.
The tour will be accompanied by Peter Mackinnon Peter led our Great Game tour through Central Asia, along the Karakoram Highway to Peshawar in 2001 and The Chinese Silk Route tour in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Born in Melbourne, Australia in 1938, Peter has divided his life between Australia, Thailand and Europe, having worked for an Australian Stockbroker in Melbourne, Sydney and London and latterly, for a Dutch bank. He is now retired with houses in Oxfordshire and Northern Thailand.
Peter has travelled extensively in Australia, Europe and South-East Asia and has trekked in the Himalayas (Kashmir), Andes (Patagonia) and Atlas Mountains (Morocco). Apart from mountains and photography, Peter's great passion has been cricket; he has managed cricket teams on tour in England and in South-East Asia.
He has also been Vice Consul for Brazil in Melbourne, been on the Membership Committee of the MCC at Lord's and been on the Council of Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust. He belongs to the Royal Society for Asian Affairs.
OUTLINE ITINERARY
11/10/2009 Fly London Heathrow / Beijing (overnight)
12/10/2009 Beijing
13/10/2009 Fly Beijing / Xian
14/10/2009 Xian
15/10/2009 Drive Xian / Tianshui
16/10/2009 Tianshui
17/10/2009 Drive Tianshui / Lanzhou
18/10/2009 Train Lanzhou / Jiayuguan (overnight)
19/10/2009 Arrive Jiayuguan
20/10/2009 Drive Jiayuguan / Dunhuang
21/10/2009 Train Dunhuang / Turpan (overnight)
22/10/2009 Arrive Turpan
23/10/2009 Train Turpan / Kashgar (overnight)
24/10/2009 Arrive Kashgar
25/10/2009 Kashgar
26/10/2009 Kashgar
27/10/2009 Fly Kashgar / Beijing (via Urumqi)
28/10/2009 Fly Beijing / London Heathrow
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE* The large & miniature Terracotta Warriors, only opened in 2006
* Walking along the boardwalks at Maijishan
* A cruise on the Yellow River to the Buddhist caves at BinglingSi
* Marvelling at the Buddhist Frescoes at the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang
* Visiting the Oasis of Turpan
*Strolling through the Sunday Market at Kashgar
Travel by coach, train and plane
Price £3,385.00 per person
£380.00 single supplement
The price is based on a minimum of 10 paying clients.
* Please note that the single supplement applies to hotel rooms only. It may be possible to have a 4 berth train compartment for exclusive use but you will need to pay for the other 3 berths. Please do ask for further details.
Please also note the price is subject to currency fluctuations and fuel surcharges.
Please contact Paul Craven on 01285 651010 or e.mail
paul@steppestravel.co.uk to register your interest and for a detailed itinerary.
