Silk Road to Karakoram

21 days Beijing to Lahore

Unearth Beijing's ancient treasures, Walk along the Great Wall, See the Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an, Watch a desert sunrise in Dunhuang, Experience Kashgar's Sunday market, Cross the Khunjareb Pass, Admire the mountains from Karimabad, Get snap happy along the Karakoram Highway, Peek into Afghanistan at the Khyber Pass, See the giant mosques of Islamabad, Visit the palace city of Lahore

Take an extraordinary journey through modern cities, remote nomadic lands, stunning mountain rangees and desert oases. Get a feel for ancient lifestyles and traditional cultures. Traverse the width of China, following in the ancient footsteps of Silk Road traders to cross the Karakoram range into Pakistan on this classic overland journey.

Physical Rating: 3
Culture Shock Rating: 4
Accommodation: Hotels/guesthouses (17 nts), overnight trains (3 nts)
Transportation: Plane, overnight train, private bus, taxi, local bus, metro, walking
Trip Style: Intrepid Original
Group Size: Maximum of 12 travellers per group
Departure: Departure is guaranteed
Budget: Allow USD $300 for meals not included.

Call (941) 779-2050 for more information or to book today! Mention code 6068716

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

Duration

21 Days

Escorted

Escorted - Yes

Itinerary

Day	Destination	Description
Days 1-3	Beijing	Kick off the adventure in China's booming capital. Admire the Ming and Qing buildings of the Forbidden City and visit the awe-inspiring Great Wall.
Days 4-5	Xi'an	The starting point of the Silk Road, Xi'an is packed with historical sights and colourful markets. Just outside the city is the vast and ancient army of Terracotta Warriors.
Days 6-7	Dunhuang	See 4th century carvings in the Mogao Caves, some of the most extraordinary Buddhist art to be found in China. Ride a camel across the crest of a massive sand dune to witness a stunning desert sunrise.
Days 8-9	Turpan	Famous for its vineyards and stone fruits, the lush Grape Valley around Turpan is flanked by the raw beauty of the Flaming Mountains. The roads are lined with poplars and the old mud brick dwellings of the Uyghur people. Visit the attractions around town, which include the Emin Minaret and the famous Karez underground irrigation system.
Days 10-11	Kashgar	Silk Road legends come to life at Kashgar's fabled weekly market, where traders from surrounding countries gather to buy and sell their wares. Dusty though it may be, the atmosphere is lively and you're sure to get caught up in the excitement of this ancient bazaar. Don't miss the animal market on the outskirts of the city or the local craftsmen along Kashgar's narrow backstreets either!
Days 12-13	Karakoram Highway	Follow the spectacular Karakoram Highway as it cuts through the mountains. Enter Pakistan at the Khunjerab Pass, the highest border crossing in the world.
Day 14	Karimabad	Clinging to the hills above the confluence of the Hunza and Nagar Rivers sits the town of Karimabad, home to the impressive Baltit fort.
Days 15-16	Northern Pakistan	There are photo opportunities around every bend as we travel past glaciers and through gorges via Besham and on to Peshawar. This region is the confluence of the earth's three greatest mountain ranges, the Himalayas, Karakorum and Hindu Kush.
Days 17-18	Peshawar/Khyber Pass	Take a day trip up to the spectacular Khyber Pass on Afghanistan's doorstep. For centuries this was a major trade and invasion route from Central Asia.
Days 19-21	Lahore	Islamabad is home to the opulent Shah Faisal, one of the largest mosques in Asia. We stop here on the way to Lahore, our final destination and Pakistan's cultural and artistic heart.

Dates/Pricing

Disclaimer

* The prices listed are based on the costs and exchange rates current at the time of printing/posting. Intrepid reserves the right to alter these prices at any time. For trips departing between 01 January 2007 and 31 December 2007, the land price of your trip is guaranteed when you have paid in full. For trips departing beyond 31 December 2007, prices are indicative only. The itineraries and dates online and in our printed brochures are applicable from 01 January 2007 until 31 December 2007. Beyond 31 December 2007 dates and itineraries are indicative only and are subject to change. All information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at time of printing/posting, but please note that changes to our trips (which can be significant) can and do occur. Intrepid will make every effort to keep you informed of any changes, but cannot be held liable for any alterations made to the published itineraries. Please refer to our website for the most recent update to any trip. Please note that these conditions apply to Intrepid group trips only. Variations may apply for Intrepid Independent trips. Loss of monies paid applies to all cancelled reservations. The date of trip cancellation is the date on which the written cancellation is received by Intrepid. Please ask your Travel Agent about our full Booking and Cancellation Conditions.