Stage 12: Beijing to Kashgar
10 to 22 August 2008
Into the Middle Empire
Once we have marvelled at the treasures of Beijing, the route follows the Great Wall into the classical Middle Empire The journey leads on through Oriental cultural landscapes and the legendary towns of the old Silk Road to the 2,000 year old Islamic oasis town of Kashgar at the foot of the Pamir mountains.
Minimum number of participants
8 people
Price of journey per person excluding flight(s):
3,999 EUR
A summary of the stage
Day 1
Individual arrival in Beijing, organizational matters/vehicle instruction, sightseeing in Beijing, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, dinner together, overnight in hotel in Beijing
Day 2
Stage for the day: Beijing – Datong (330 km), visit the Great Wall of China at Badaling, visit the Yungang Caves (Buddhist cave temples; UNESCO World Heritage Site), dinner together and overnight in hotel in Datong
Day 3
Stage for the day: Datong – Yulin (550 km), long day's drive along the Great Wall, overnight in hotel in Yulin
Day 4
Stage for the day: Yulin – Wuzhong (450 km), travel through Oriental China, overnight in hotel in Wuzhong
Day 5
Stage for the day: Wuzhong – Wuwei (400 km), travel into Gansu province, camp overnight near Wuwei
Day 6
Stage for the day: Wuwei – Jiayuguan (400 km), travel along the Qilian range to the "end" of the Great Wall, visit Jiayuguan Fort, camp overnight near Jiayuguan
Day 7
Stage for the day: Jiayuguan – Dunhuang (450 km), cross the Qilian range, travel through the fertile regions of China into the desert area of Central Asia, dinner together, overnight in hotel
Day 8
Day trip with off-road event in the Taklamakan Desert (180 km), visit to the Mogao caves, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Dunhuang
Day 9
Stage for the day: Dunhuang – Turpan (800 km), long day's drive on the old Silk Road through the Turpan Basin (lowest point in China), visit Huoyan San (the "Flaming Mountains") near Turpan, camp overnight near Turpan
Day 10
Stage for the day: Turpan – Kuqa (700 km), travel on the old Silk Road along the foothills of the Taklamakan Desert, camp overnight near Kuqa
Day 11
Stage for the day: Kuqa – Kashgar (680 km), drive along the Taklamakan Desert on the Northern Silk Road, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Kashgar
Day 12
Sightseeing in Kashgar with the Id-Kah Mosque and a visit to the bazaars in the old town, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Kashgar
Day 13
Individual departures from Kashgar
