DAYS 1 – 3

Arrive in Beijing on Day 2. Renowned for its ancient temples, opulent palaces and massive stone walls and gates, there’s scarcely a building standing in Beijing that doesn’t have some facet of Chinese history associated with it. Enjoy a full-day tour of the city with your private guide. Begin with a visit to the fascinating City Planning Museum, followed by an exploration of the Olympic Park, including an exclusive tour of the famous Bird’s Nest stadium. Explore the hutongs — narrow streets of the old city — on a special private tour by rickshaw.

St. Regis Hotel, Beijing

DAYS 4 & 5

Fly to Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province and the Silk Road’s eastern terminus. Enjoy a special tour of the excavation site of the Terra Cotta Warriors, a subterranean army more than 7,000 strong. Then visit the Wild Goose Pagoda and explore Xi’an’s buried past at the Shaanxi Historical Museum.

Shangri-La Hotel, Xi’an

DAYS 6 & 7

Explore the Buddhist caves of Lanzhou with your private guide. Then discover the ancient oasis city of Dunhuang, which sits at the northern edge of the immense Gobi Desert. Stroll through the lively night market in search of antiques, jade and silk carpets. Visit the renowned Mogao Grottoes. This honeycomb of caves was constructed beginning in the 4th century and still houses the world’s richest treasure trove of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures.

Legend Hotel, Lanzhou & Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel, Dunhuang

DAYS 8 & 9

Fly to Urumqi and visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum, then continue by road to the small oasis city of Turpan located in one of the deepest waterless depressions on earth. Take an excursion to the ancient city of Jiaoh which was sacked by the Mongols in the 13th century, but still retains fascinating architecture and a Buddhist monastery complex. Then visit a living city to learn more about the daily lives of its desert inhabitants. Finally, the Thousand Buddha Caves offer rich murals depicting sacred subjects as well as the Huigu people who lived here.

Tuha Petroleum Hotel, Turpan

DAYS 10 & 11

Explore Urumqi’s Grand Bazaar where members of China’s ethnic minorities gather to sell clothing, hats and handicrafts. Then fly to Kashgar (known as “The Pearl on the Ancient Silk Road”) to experience the bustling Sunday market, which attracts traders from all over Central Asia.

International Hotel, Kashgar

DAYS 12 & 13

A beautiful city situated in the southern mountains, Almaty is Kazakhstan’s former capital and still the heart of the country’s cultural life. While here, see the sights and enjoy a special guided tour of the fascinating Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments. Then take a short drive to see 22,950-foot-high Khan Tenghri, the highest mountain in Kazakhstan.

Hotel Otrar, Almaty

DAYS 14 –16

Enjoy a private guided tour of Tashkent, the cultural heart of Central Asia. Then enter a city few westerners could reach until the 19th century — the forbidden inner sanctum of Khiva, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the city with your private guide, all the while learning about its history and importance in the Great Game — the imperial rivalry betwen Victorian Britain’s and Czarist Russia’s expansionist policies.

InterContinental Hotel, Tashkent & Hotel Malika, Khiva

DAYS 17 & 18

The old Silk Road outpost of Bukhara resembles an open-air museum with famous landmarks and monuments documenting the city’s glorious history at every turn. Explore this fascinating town with your expert guide; be sure to take some time to sip a cup of tea in a welcoming café, or stroll through one of Bukhara’s many parks.

Zargaron Hotel, Bukhara

DAYS 19 – 22

Journey to Samarkand, the crown jewel of Uzbekistan. Founded more than 2,700 years ago, it still bears all the hallmarks of one of the great cities of the Silk Road. Visit the renowned mosques, madrasas, palaces and mausoleums, and then spend some time searching for fine carpets and other treasures in the covered bazaar. Return to Tashkent on Day 21 where you’ll celebrate your journey with a festive farewell dinner. On Day 22 you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home or on to your next destination.

Hotel Samarkand Plaza, Samarkand & InterContinental Hotel, Tashkent

Package price is per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies. Intra-tour air pricing is subject to change. International airfare is additional. Other restrictions may apply. Contact us for complete journey details.

St. Regis Hotel
Beijing, China

The St. Regis, Beijing is the hallmark of luxurious accommodations in China, with a rich tradition of exceptional service and hospitality. It is a deluxe boutique hotel and all guests have Executive Floor benefits and 24-hour butler service. Located just a few minutes away from Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Silk Market, the hotel was named in Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List.

Services include complimentary light pressing of garments on arrival, coffee and tea facilities in your room, and complimentary evening cocktail in the Executive lounge, fresh fruit daily, unlimited bottled water and complimentary local telephone calls. All guestrooms are beautifully furnished with a warm and inviting color scheme. Rooms are equipped with large TV screen, telephone, optional internet access, mini bar, private in-room safe and individually controlled air-conditioning.

Shangri-La Hotel, Xi’an
Xi’an, China

This new 397-room hotel is located in Xian’s prestigious GaoXin hi-tech development zone, on the doorstep to the city’s finest shopping and entertainment. The hotel’s facilities include a business center and fully-equipped health club with indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms. Services include laundry service, beauty salon, gift & retail shops, and complimentary shoe shine. There are a tempting array of dining options, including a lobby lounge and specialty and Chinese restaurants. In-room dining is also available around the clock.

The Shangri-La’s spacious guest rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of the city or the gardens, along with internet access, 24-hour room service, coffee/tea facilities, a mini bar and electronic safe. Travcoa’s Horizon Club rooms offer an enhanced level of service and amenities including the services of a personal concierge and use of the Horizon Club lounge with soft beverage available throughout the day.

Legend Hotel
Lanzhou, China

The function rooms and the grand ballroom can accommodate guests numbering between 15 and 450, with the latest audiovisual equipment. The business center provides fax, translation, photocopying and typing services. Other facilities include baby sitting, foreign exchange, a flower shop; a ticket reservation desk and limousine hire facilities. For recreation, there are a health center, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a steam bath, massage, snooker table and a beauty salon. Guest can also spend their evening in the hotel's Silkroad Karaoke and Disco room, in the Oasis bar or enjoy the live entertainment in the Sky Lounge. The Hotel's restaurants offer a variety of international and provincial cuisine to suit the taste of the most discerning diner. The Tiffany Restaurant specializes in continental and western style food and serves buffet breakfast and buffet dinner. The Zen Chinese Restaurant serves the very best of Cantonese cuisine with the freshest of seafood. The Korean Restaurant serves ethnic Korean and Japanese food.

Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel
Dunhuang, China

Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel is situated against the backdrop of the picturesque Mingsha Sand Dunes. The hotel captures the spirit of the Tang Dynasty with its unique architectural design - the large rooftops and long corridors of the Han and Tang dynasties; the typical enclosed courtyard style design and mud walls of the northwestern part of China; and the replica of the late Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties furniture. All these work together to recapture the flavour of a bygone era with their simplicity and use of natural building materials.

Tuha Petroleum Hotel
Turpan, China

This Turpan hotel has various rooms and suites equipped with internet access, international/domestic dial phones, safes, air-conditioners and mini bars. The restaurants serve all kinds of Chinese cuisines and western foods as well as local dishes.

International Hotel Kashgar
Kashgar, China

Tianyuan International Hotel is 4 star hotel located in the city center of Kashi. It enjoy a good environment, both the business center and the scenery spot are near the hotel. It has totally 168 well- decorated rooms, guest can enjoy free two bottles of mineral water, free internet access, free Chinese and English newspapers in the room. Modern equipment are available in the room, such as, IDD, DDD, mini bar with hard and soft drink, writing desk and chair, tea table, closet with clothes hangers, bathroom with private shower or bath tub, etc. There is 1 meeting room in hotel, with max carrying capacity 200 persons. Both lobby bar and coffee bar can provide excellent wine and gourmet coffee for the guest. In the recreation center there are hairdresser, massage, sauna, chess, KTV, night club, etc.

Hotel Otrar
Almaty, Kazakhstan

The hotel is located in the very center of Almaty, opposite the wonderful Central Park, shopping area and government offices. It is a 5-minute walk from “Akbota” Park which contains an amusement Park & City Zoo,20 minutes to International airport and 5 minutes to railway terminal. Our rooms offer a breathtaking view of The Zailiski Alatau Mountains and a bird-eye view of the Museum of Musical Instruments & The Gold Domed City Church. The hotel has 163 comfortable rooms ready to accommodate up to 200 people. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioners, en-suite bathrooms, IDD telephones, satellite TV, refrigerators and mini-bars, hair dryer.

InterContinental Hotel Tashkent
Tashkent, Kazakhstan

A GEM IN A CLASS BY ITSELF! InterContinental Tashkent sparkles like a gem amid the capital city’s modern office buildings, remarkable museums, lively bazaars and historic theatres. Near the hotel are must-see sites including the Hast-Imam Mosque, the TV Tower, the Navoi State Opera-Ballet Theatre and the Chorsu Bazaar. The chandelier-lit subway provides comfortable transportation.

Hotel Malika
Khiva, Uzbekistan

Malika Hotel Khiva opened in May, 2004. It is situated directly opposite the main Ata Darvaza gates of the Ichan Kala. It has the indisputably best view in all of Khiva! The decor of the hotel is classic Uzbek and cozy. The authentic Uzbek and European cuisine is unforgettable.

Zargaron Hotel
Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Hotel Zargaron has a great location right in the center of ancient Bukhara and next to the architectural monuments. The hotel has 2 yards, which are called outer and inner yards. In the past, the outer yards were used to be a reception for guests and the inner yard was used by the family only. There is a magnificent view from the hotel's inner yard and the summer bar to the old architecture buildings around. You can relax at the summer bar sipping a cold beer or green tea and admire perfect view of Kalyan Minaret. There are luxury and standard rooms at the hotel some of which have balconies facing the architectural ensemble of Poi Kalyan. The hotel a is nice place to stay to feel the atmosphere of the middle ages with a help of the experienced staff who will be very happy to welcome you at the hotel and make your stay unforgettable.

Hotel Samarkand Plaza
Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Luxuriously designed rooms and suites, that come together with combination of many services aimed at making your stay enjoyable. Rest in quite and comfortably furnished rooms.

John Wootton

After years spent aboard ships and traveling in South Africa, John joined the Travcoa family. He has been leading our journeys for 30 years, in which time he has traveled on most itineraries, covering all seven continents.

Travel Dates: September 06, 2012