great silk road - bridgewebs silk road.pdf · great silk road by private train ... park,...
Post on 16-Jun-2018
221 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
GREAT SILK ROAD Visiting exotic Central Asia
China I Kazakhstan I Uzbekistan I Turkmenistan
4 - 23 October 2016
Featuring Almaty to Ashgabat by Private Train
20 Day Fully Escorted Tour with Derrick Browne
Great Silk Road
By Private Train
From Almaty to Ashgabat
20 Culturally Magnificent Days
Train Start
Train Finish
Train
Flight
From Ashgabat
•
DISTINCTIVE CAPITALS
• Ashgabat (Turkmenistan): most modern city in Central
Asia
• Tashkent (Uzbekistan): the cultural capital of Central
Asia
EVERY DAY LIFE IN CENTRAL ASIA
• Valuable cultural insights: lectures, fairy tales and
information about history and regional traditions
• Dinner and costume show in courtyard of an old
madrasah in Bukhara
• Lunch in the summer palace of an Emir in Khiva
• Lunch in a typical Uzbek house
• Siab Oriental Bazaar in Samarkand
• The making of traditional art objects: silk and carpets
PLACES THAT MADE HISTORY
• Almaty (meaning apple) - a touch of Russia
• Registan: the most beautiful square of the Orient
• Grave City complex of mausoleums in Samarkand
• Wall murals of ancient Afrosiab town in Samarkand
• Ark Fortress in Bukhara and Khiva
• Ismael Samani and Gur Emir mausoleum in Bukhara
• Ancient Ulug Bek observatory in Samarkand
• Tower of Death complex in Bukhara
HIGHLIGHTS UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE
• Turkestan: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi – first
Turkic Holy Man
• Historical Centre of Shakhrisabz – Home Town of Timur
• The inner town and historic crowded alleys of the old
Khiva oasis
• Historical Centre and the Caravansarai Markets of
Bukhara
• Samarkand and its famous Registan - an Intersection of
Cultures
• The Pearl of the East; Ancient Walls and Ruins of historic
Merv
• The old Parthian city excavations of Nisa
• World famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xian,
China
SPECTACULAR NATURE
• Karakum desert and the snow-capped Tien Shan
Mountains
Tour Highlights
Day 1 Tue 4 Oct Sydney/Melbourne-Beijing
This morning we join our China Southern flight to
Guangzhou where upon arrival we will transit through
customs, immigration and security to join up with our
domestic flight to Beijing - arriving late.
Day 2 Wed 5 Oct Beijing
A day at leisure in dynamic Beijing. Beijing has many
smaller less well-known attractions to explore - Bei Hai
Park, traditional theatre in the Lao She teahouse, visit
Mao’s mausoleum, stroll around the speciality shops of
old Chinatown, visit the beautiful Lama Buddhist Temple,
Mao’s underground city, the historical astrological
observatory, visit the Red Gate Art Gallery, the National
Art Museum, or perhaps do a walking tour of Beijing’s
best hutongs. (B)
Day 3 Thu 6 Oct Beijing-Urumqi
Urumqi-Almaty
We will be transferred to the airport for our flights to
Almaty via Urumqi, with arrival late evening. We will be
transferred to our accommodation for our first night in
Kazakhstan and the start of our fascinating journey across
Central Asia. (B,D)
Day 4 Fri 7 Oct Almaty
In the morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of this city (which
was the capital till 1997), and visit the Zenkov Russian
Cathedral. At midday you are served a Kazakh welcoming
lunch in a traditional yurt. In the afternoon board your
private train. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Sat 8 Oct Turkstan
Arrive into Turkstan. Visit the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed
Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight on the
train. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Sun 9 Oct Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent in the morning. Your guided sightseeing
includes the Madrasah Kukeldash and Amir Timur
monument before attending the famous Tashkent Navoy
Opera (depending on schedule). Overnight on the train.
(B,L,D)
Day 7 Mon 10 Oct Shakhrisabz
Discover Shaman traditions and ceremonies on an
excursion into the mountains. Continue along the Great
Silk Road to the green city of Shakhrisabz, dotted with
ruins from its Timur heyday. Enjoy Uzbek wine tasting
back on board the train. Overnight on the train. (B,L,D)
Tour Itinerary
Day 8 Tue 11 Oct Samarkand
Explore ancient Samarkand (or Samarqand in Uzbek),
the Timur capital. One of the oldest cities in the world,
Samarkand prospered from its central position on the
Silk Road and at one time was considered the most
beautiful city in the world. A city tour includes
remarkable Registan Square, Central Asia’s most
impressive architecture. Overnight in a hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 9 Wed 12 Oct Samarkand
Visit a silk carpet factory before continuing the
sightseeing of Samarkand with a tour to the ruins of the
Bibi Khanum Mosque and the palace-like Gur Emir
Mausoleum. Overnight in a hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Thu 13 Oct Samarkand
The morning is yours to explore Samarkand or spend as
you please. Your train departs for Khiva in the afternoon
and you spend the night on the train. (B,L,D)
Day 11 Fri 14 Oct Khiva
Arrive in Khiva and enter through its imposing city walls.
On a tour of the museum city we discover palaces,
mosques and mausoleums and enjoy lunch at the
former Summer Palace of the Emir. Overnight on the
train. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Sat 15 Oct Bukhara
Journey into Uzbekistan’s Kyzyl-Kum desert and arrive in
the ancient city of Bukhara for a city tour including the
Kaljan Minaret and Labi-Hauz Ensemble. Dinner and a
traditional performance are enjoyed in the courtyard of
a madrasah. Overnight in a hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 13 Sun 16 Oct Bukhara
Enjoy a full day tour of Bukhara including: the
magnificent Mire-e-Arab Madrasah; the Samanid
Mausoleum, considered the most beautiful building in
Central Asia; the massive fortress known as the Ark; and
a unique women-only mosque. Overnight on the train.
(B,L,D)
Day 14 Mon 17 Oct Merv
Arrive into the UNESCO-protected city of Merv, with its
impressive ruins including the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar
and Virgin Fortress. Enjoy lunch in the picturesque
courtyard of an artist, and late afternoon we will board our
train for our next stop – Ashgabat. (B,L,D)
Day 15 Tue 18 Oct Ashgabat-Urumqi
Our final stop in Central Asia is the city of Ashgabat, the
capital and largest city in Turkmenistan. Ashgabat lies only
a short distance from the ancient city of Nisa, the capital of
the Parthian Empire. We will tour the ruins of Nisa, a World
Heritage Site. In the late evening transfer to the airport for
flight to Urumqi. (B,L,D)
Day 16 Wed 19 Oct Urumqi
Arrive Urumqi in the early morning and check in to your
hotel. (B)
Day 17 Thu 20 Oct Urumqi-Xian
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for
your flight to Xian. Over 1000 years ago Xian was the capital
of the Tang Dynasty, at the time the biggest and most
cosmopolitan city in the world. (B,D)
Day 18 Fri 21 Oct Xian
A leisurely day today in Xian which will include a morning
visit to the renowned archaeological site of the Terracotta
Warriors, buried over 2200 years ago to guard the tomb of
the first emperor. (B,L,D)
Day 19 Sat 22 Oct Xian-Sydney/Melbourne
Today we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the
airport for our flight home, via Guangzhou and end our
fabulous Silk Road and Central Asia Tour. (B)
Day 20 Sun 23 Oct Arrive Sydney/Melbourne
Our tour concludes with an early morning arrival into
Sydney or Melbourne, clearing of customs and immigration
and time to say a quick goodbye to fellow travellers. Our
journey is complete but the amazing memories will remain.
TOUR PRICES LAND and AIR - Per Person Twin Share
Single Supplement
Category Ali Baba $9,985 $2,210
Category Aladdin $11,575 $2,715
Category Sultan $16,550 $5,920
Category Kalif $17,120 $6,110
To upgrade air travel, add per person:
Premium Economy Class $660
Business Class $2,700
Premium Economy Class upgrade applies to Sydney/Melbourne-
Guangzhou and Guangzhou-Sydney/Melbourne.
Business Class upgrade applies to Sydney/Melbourne-Beijing and
Xian-Sydney/Melbourne, via Guangzhou.
INCLUSIONS
International flights with China Southern Airlines Sydney or Melbourne-Guangzhou-Beijing-Urumqi-Almaty and Ashgabat-Urumqi-Xian-Guangzhou-Sydney or Melbourne, with taxes and surcharges of $605.00 included
8 nights on board the private train in your chosen compartment category in twin share
10 nights in centrally located hotels with breakfast daily
Meals as stated in the itinerary
An exclusive train tour director with the group
Fully escorted
Experienced English-speaking local guides
Comprehensive sightseeing and entrance fees
Transfers at airports and stations in a private coach
Bridge play or instruction, including most nights after dinner on the train
Traditional welcomes at Bukhara and Samarkand
Special Uzbek and Turkmen meals with local families
Folkloric Show and meal in a Madrassa
Visa application fees (China, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan)
VISA NOTE:
Visa for Kazakhstan not required by Australian passport
holders.
NOT INCLUDED:
Travel insurance, gratuities, personal expenses, anything not
mentioned above.
The Private Train Compartments on Orient Silk Road Express
Category: Sultan
Category: Aladdin
Category: Ali Baba
Category: Kalif
Each car has nine compartments
providing sleeping space for 2 guests
in 2 lower berths (approx. 67 x
184cm). In the middle, below the
window, you will find a table.
Combined washing room / lavatory
compartments are located at both
ends of each car.
Each car has eight compartments for
2 guests with 2 lower berths (approx.
67 x 184cm). In the middle, below the
window, you will find a table.
Combined washing room / lavatory
compartments are located at both
ends of each car. Additionally, a
shower is located at one end of each
This category has two beds, with the
upper berth measuring 80 x 174cm.
and the lower one a more generous
112 x 184cm. The compartment also
offers comfortable seating, a larger
table and a small clothes closet. Each
compartment has its own lavatory
equipped with a toilet, wash basin
and shower with full shower curtain. This category of car contains only six
compartments.
not only a washing basin, WC and shower, but also storage space for your
personal belongings. Each car has only six compartments, so a total of at
most twelve guests share the whole of the carriage.
This category has two beds, with the
upper berth measuring 80 x 174cm.
and the lower one a more generous
112 x 184cm. Furthermore, the
compartment offers a cosy seating
bench, a commodious table and a
wardrobe. The compartment’s
exclusive en suite bathroom contains
car and you will receive a bathing robe and shower utilities.
SOME OF OUR OTHER EXCITING DESTINATIONS
For further information please contact Opulent Journeys:
1300 219 885
Email: enquiries@opulentjourneys.com.au
opulentjourneys.com.au
top related