Trans-Asia Express - 26 days

Drifters Price: £1620.00

RRP: £1705.00

Trip Code: INTTAE

Local Payment: USD$400.00

Days 1-3 Beijing

Travellers will be arriving at all times during the day and night, from all corners of the world, so there are no activities planned for Day 1. For those who arrive early, a great way to get started is by renting a bike and venturing onto the streets to get a feel for this enormous city. On Day 1 we will have a group meeting in the evening followed by dinner - check the noticeboards in the foyer of the hotel for a note from your leader detailing thet time and place to meet.

Note that your leader will collect your local payment (USD400 cash) at the group meeting on day 1. Due to the restrictions on changing money in Russia, only USD50 and USD100 notes/bills printed after 1996 and in good condition will be accepted.

We start our epic adventure in the Chinese capital of Beijing. We include a visit to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square and there's some free time to explore other city sights such as the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. From Beijing we take a day excursion out to the Great Wall, one of the must-see sights of China. An incredible piece of engineering, it ranges over 6000 km and follows the mountain ridges north of Beijing to the far west. We visit a remote section of the wall at Simatai (approx. 3 hours from Beijing) and then depart on an overnight train to Xi'an in the evening of day 3 (approx. 14 hours).

Days 4-5 Xi'an

Xi'an is the historical starting point of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Warriors. We make a day's excursion to the Terracotta Warriors (approx. 45 mins from Xi'an), an amazing sight - 6000 life-size warrior statues that were buried for over 2000 years until being discovered in 1974 by a farmer digging a well.

There are also many other attractions in Xi'an. The Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter is a wonderfully serene place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and the city walls that surround Xi'an can be climbed to gain an impressive view of the city, especially at sunset. The food market in the evening is also superb.

On the evening of day 5 we take the overnight train westwards towards Turpan (approx. 36 hours.)

Days 6-8 Turpan

Arriving at 06:00am on the morning of day 7 we transfer to a mini bus for the ride into Turpan. Turpan is a beautiful oasis town famous for its vineyards, stone fruits, melons, and the nearby Flaming Mountains. Once an important staging post on the Silk Road, Turpan is our first stop in East Turkestan or Xinjiang (New Frontiers) as the Chinese choose to call it.

The country roads are lined with poplars and lovely old mud brick dwellings of the Uygur people. We visit some of the many attractions surrounding the town. These include the beautiful Emin Minaret, the ruined city of Jiaohe, the famous Karez underground irrigation system and in season we may have the opportunity to sample some grapes in the famous Grape Valley. for sampling the grapes and wine of this region.

On day 8 we depart by train on our journey to Kashgar (approx. 22 hours).

Days 9-10 Kashgar

The trading town of Kashgar is a fabulous place to wander around. The main landmark of the town is the famous Id Kah Mosque with its surrounding square and bazaar. Here you will encounter some of the many different nationalities who bring their wares into town for trade; Uygurs, Han Chinese, Kazaks, Kirgizs, Tadjiks, Pakistanis, maybe an Afghanistani or two! ! Every Sunday, 100,000 people gather in the enormous Kashgar Bazaar area where you can buy anything from goat heads and hooves to colorful painted wooden saddles. The traditional costumes and food give it an almost medieval feel and bring alive the legends of our trip along the Silk Road.

Day 11 Tash Rabat

We depart early by bus to a beautiful and remote crossing high in the Tian Shan mountains and pass into the seldom traveled country of Kyrgyzstan. Slated as the most exciting route into Central Asia, we cross breathtaking Torugart Pass and drive down to Tash Rabat - a beautifully preserved caravan serai of the 14th century. We can have an optional stop for lunch along the shore of Chatyr Kul lake before we overnight in local yurts.

Day 12 - Naryn/Kochkor

After breakfast we continue driving through stunning scenery to the town of Naryn. On the way we can stop to visit a local family to see the process of manufacturing felt carpets before we check in to our guesthouse.

Day 13 - Kochkor

Continuing north we drive along the shore of Song kul - high alpine lake where we stop for lunch. After a short drive we arrive in Kochkor village to stay with local families and enjoy a home cooked dinner.

Day 14- Lake Issyk Kul

Beautiful Issyk kul is the world's second largest alpine lake. The slightly salty waters made this a prime spot for Russian health spas. Swim and relax on the shores where Breshnev and the cosmonauts once did.

Day 15 - Bishkek / Chichkan Valley

We drive through Bishkek - the capital of Kyrgyzstan and time permitting we may stop for some souvineer shopping. An afternoon drive along a spectacular mountain road takes to Chichkan State Zoological Reserve where we overnight at a roadside guesthouse.

Days 16 - 17 Osh / Fergana Valley

Nestled in green slopes, Osh lies on both sides of the Ak-Bura River and is one of the oldest towns in Central Asia. The age of the city can be judged from the rock drawings and inscriptions found on the northern slope of the four headed Suleiman Mountain. Tourists are attracted today to the bazaar in Osh with its distinct oriental colours and the aroma of spices and fruits.

Leaving Osh we drive across the border into the Uzbekistani Fergana Valley, a broad flat bowl where the surrounding mountain ranges seem to stand back at enormous distances. The Fergana Valley, also known as the Garden of Uzbekistan has the soil and climate most favourable for agriculture, which has prospered here for thousands of years. We overnight in the town of Fergana , where it's tree-lined avenues and pastel plastered tsarist buildings give it a mini Tashkent feeling.

Day 18 Tashkent

Tashkent is a fascinating mix of new city Russian style and old city traditional Uzbek style, blending ancient mud houses, with extravagant Islamic mosques and old Soviet architecture. From the tree-lined Timur Square we can walk to Chorsu bazaar. This extensive market is full of people in traditional dress shopping for fruit and vegetables, bread, cloth, hats and general goods. We return to the more modern and more Russian part of the city to visit the delightful Romanov palace and the massive Independence Square. In the centre of the Russian part of the city is Broadway, the restaurant and entertainment centre of Tashkent and the perfect place to spend the evening.

Days 19-20 Samarkand

Originally the capital of Uzbekistan, Samarkand was a beautiful city in its prime, and remains so today despite a turbulent history of war and earthquakes. A creation of one of Uzbekistan's greatest historical figures, the Emir Timur, a tyrannical ruler in the 14th Century who chose it for his capital. A lover of art, Timur was responsible for the colourful domes and exquisite minarets that now form the city's evocative skyline. While Samarkand fell into disrepair during its Soviet days, restoration is slowly progressing and we take a look at some of the city's most impressive works of art such as the spectacular Registan. This impressive collection of buildings is probably the most recognisable of all of Central Asia's monuments. We also visit the gold lined Guri Amir mausoleum.

Days 21-24 Bukhara

Bukhara, the most secretive of all the Silk Road cities. We stay in comfortable guesthouses whilst in Bukhara, all of which are situated in the old city and close to each other. We have a half-day guided walk around the beautifully restored mosques, medressas and covered markets that make up the old city, leaving plenty of time to explore the narrow twisting streets and alleyways with their artisan shops. A centre for pottery, cloth and the Turkamen carpets, the old city is centered around the Labi Hauz, a delightful pool of water surrounded by ancient mulberry trees, where you can sit at cafe tables and let the day drift as you watch the world go by. On day 24 we fly to Moscow to enjoy our final few days in Moscow.

Days 24-26 Moscow

The great city of Moscow has seen Russia through some of her most turbulent years. The city has survived the trauma and tribulations of centuries of revolution, from the days of the Tzars through the communist era to the growing pains of democracy. Despite the glamour and show of modern capitalism, exploring Moscow is like taking step back in time. Names of places such as the 'Kremlin' and the 'Red Square', bring forth unforgettable images of the Cold War era. We explore the streets of this evocative city and take a tour around the Kremlin.

Our epic journey concludes in Moscow and you may depart at any time on day 26.

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