Stage 33: Kashgar to Beijing
31 May to 13 June 2009
Classics of the Silk Road
XWORLD takes a spectacular route beside the Taklamakan desert and along the Great Wall to take in classic stations on the old Silk Road. Islamic mosques, Buddhist monasteries and historic fortifications give a fascinating insight into China's varied history.
Minimum number of participants
8 people
Price of journey per person excluding flight(s):
3,999 EUR

Day 1
Individual arrival in Kashgar, organizational matters/vehicle instruction, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Kashgar
Day 2
Sightseeing in Kashgar including the Id-Kah Mosque (the most-visited mosque in the country), wander through the bazaars, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Kashgar
Day 3
Stage for the day: Kashgar – Kuqa (730 km), long day's drive beside the Taklamakan Desert on the Northern Silk Road, camp overnight near Kuqa
Day 4
Stage for the day: Kuqa – Turpan (700 km), travel past old Buddhist monasteries, visit Turpan, the oasis in the "flaming mountains" (Turpan Basin, 150 m below mean sea level), camp overnight near Turpan
Day 5
Stage for the day: Turpan – Dunhuang (800 km), travel through the Turpan Basin on the Silk Road, visit the oasis town of Dunhuang, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Dunhuang
Day 6
Off-road through the Taklamakan Desert (180 km), visit to the Mogao caves, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Dunhuang
Day 7
Stage for the day: Dunhuang – Jiayuguan (450 km), travel along the Qilian range to the "end" of the Great Wall, camp overnight near Jiayuguan
Day 8
Stage for the day: Jiayuguan – Wuwei (400 km), visit Jiayuguan fort, travel along the Qilian range, camp overnight near Wuwei
Day 9
Stage for the day: Wuwei – Wuzhong (400 km), travel through Gansu province, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Wuzhong
Day 10
Stage for the day: Wuzhong – Yulin (450 km), travel along the Great Wall, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Yulin
Day 11
Stage for the day: Yulin – Datong (550 km), long day's drive along the Great Wall, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Datong
Day 12
Stage for the day: Datong – Beijing (330 km), visit the Yungang Caves declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (Buddhist cave temples), visit the Great Wall of China at Badaling, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Beijing
Day 13
Sightseeing in Beijing, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the old city of Beijing, dinner together and <span/>overnight in hotel in Beijing
Day 14
Individual departure from Beijing