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Tours
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THE
SILK ROAD CHINA
URUMCHI TO BEIJING (Eastbound)
A cultural tour of China
This tour between Urumchi and Beijing is a section of
GW Travel’s
main Silk Road by Private Train tour that runs for 21
days between Moscow and Beijing. You will join the main
group in Urumchi on Day 2 and travel
onwards together to Beijing.
Day
1: URUMCHI
Arrive at Urumchi Airport and transfer to the city
centre for a 1 night stay at the 5 star Sheraton
Urumchi with dinner included. The city is located
in a verdant oasis between the lofty ice capped
Bogda Peak, the vast Salt Lake, the pine covered
Southern Hill and the alternating fields and
sand dunes of the Zunggar Basin. Urumchi boasts
an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for
being the city furthest from any sea in the
world – a staggering 1,400 miles (2,500km)
from the nearest coastline.
Day 2: URUMCHI & TURPAN
Urumchi
is located in a verdant oasis between the lofty ice
capped Bogda Peak, the vast Salt Lake, the pine covered
Southern Hill and the alternating fields and sand dunes
of the Zunggar Basin. Urumchi boasts an entry in the
Guinness Book of Records for being the city furthest
from any sea in the world – a staggering 1,400
miles (2,500km) from the nearest coastline. This morning
we visit the renowned mummy exhibition at the Provincial
Museum. After lunch we travel to Turpan, where the
Flaming Mountains create a magnificent backdrop. We
then take a fascinating tour to the ancient underground
irrigation system that has successfully fed the rich
orchards and vineyards for centuries. Our final destination
is the elegantly decaying sand city of Jiaohe that
was founded in 108 BC.
Day 3: Dunhuang
Before lunch we arrive in the small oasis-city
of Dunhuang, where we will visit the fascinating
Magao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex. This impressive
site contains almost 500 grottoes, carved between
700 and 1,700 years ago. Inside we will see an
amazing collection of beautiful sculptures and
murals depicting the evolution of Buddhist religious
art over a 1,000 year period. In the afternoon
we explore the vast natural beauty of the Gobi
Desert by camel. Here we discover Crescent Lake.
Hidden amongst towering sand dunes, it has sustained
life in this region for millennia. Tonight we experience
dinner and a local folk performance in this magical
setting.
Day 4: Jiayuguan
This morning our private train arrives in Jiayuguan.
Famous for being the first pass at the most westerly
point of the Great Wall of China, it was given
the rather poetic name: ‘The first and
greatest pass under Heaven’. Our tour takes
us to the perfectly restored fortress at the
end of
the Great Wall which dates back to 1372. Considered
one of the greatest sites in northwest China,
we
spend time here and visit its excellent museum.
This afternoon we spend time in the Bar Car either
attending a lecture on the Great Wall or simply
relax as the landscape unfolds before us.
Day
5: Xian - TERRACOTA WARRIORS
Our fascinating journey of discovery
takes us to Xian. Our morning arrival gives us several
hours to explore the world famous Terracotta Warriors,
discovered by peasants only 30 years ago. The 6,000 terracotta
figures and their horses are one of the greatest archaeological
finds of the 20th Century. This evening we enjoy the
Tang Dynasty Dinner, Music and Dance Show, a wonderful
performance of ancient entertainment.
Day 6: Arrival into Beijing
Spending our last day onboard the Shangri-La
Express we wind our way northwards towards the
capital of China, Beijing. Having travelled a
mammoth 7,000 miles (11,250km) from Moscow, we
bid farewell to our train crew and transfer to
the five-star Regent Hotel, or similar, for a
three-night stay.
Day
7: Beijing
Today we visit Tiananmen Square and then explore the
magnificently restored Forbidden City. Our cultural exploration
continues at the Temple of Heaven, the grandest of the
four great temples situated in Beijing. Here we experience
enchanting displays of traditional dancing, singing and
the delicately precise ancient art of calligraphy.
Day
8: Beijing - THE GREAT WALL
We devote our final full day in Beijing to the most awe-inspiring site in the
whole of China - The Great Wall. This amazing edifice is one of the few man-made
structures visible from outer space and perhaps the most evocative symbol of
Chinese skill and precision. At Badaling we have the privilege of walking along
a portion of the wall – the perfect opportunity to take some memorable
photographs with your travelling companions. Our farewell banquet is hosted in
an authentic Peking Duck restaurant, where we say goodbye to our fellow travelling
companions.
Day
9: Beijing
Following breakfast, you will be transferred to Beijing airport for international
departures.
Departure
Dates |
2010
English Speaking Departures
Sep 30 |
Inclusions |
|
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES |
TOUR
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE |
| Accommodation
aboard our private trains (number of nights
in accordance with itinerary) |
International
airfare or surface transport to the point
of joining/leaving the tour (except where
stated otherwise) |
| Hotel
accommodation in accordance with itinerary |
Charges
of a purely personal nature (laundry, telephone,
bar account, photography at certain museums
etc.) |
| All
meals starting with dinner on day one until
breakfast on the final tour day; including
a generous allowance of wine, local beer or
soft drinks and water with all lunches and
dinners on and off the train |
Any
optional pre- or post-tour extensions |
| Arrival/departure
transfers, provided you arrive/depart on the
tour start/end dates in the tour start/end
cities |
Alcoholic
and soft drinks in the bar outside of meal
times |
| Guided
off-train tours according to itinerary |
Visa
or Excess Baggage Charges, Airport Departure
Taxes, Vaccination or Medical Costs |
| The
services of an experienced Tour Manager, with
local guides for scheduled off-train touring |
Insurance
(it is a booking condition that passengers
have adequate insurance) |
| Complimentary
tea, coffee and mineral water round the clock
from your car attendant |
|
| Gratuities
to local guides, drivers, tour management
and train staff |
|
| Detailed
route guide, itinerary and information pack |
|
| A
Doctor who will travel with the train throughout
the tour |
|
|
Tour
Price |
|
| We
accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA
$ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for
clients outside North America).
Bestway
Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection.
Once full payment has been received, and no modification
has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour
that rate.
For
complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf
Note: to read this file you must have Adobe
Acrobat. |
| Departure
|
Double
Occupancy |
Single
Rate |
| Heritage
Class |
US
$ 5995 |
US
$ 8995 |
Special Note:
Deposit
for this particular tour will be $1500
per person.
Final
tour payment is due no later than 95 days
prior. |
Estimated
International Airfare - International
airfare is NOT included in this tour |
| Canada
- West Coast |
N/A |
USA
- West Coast |
US
$ 2000 |
| Canada
- East Coast |
N/A |
USA
- East Coast |
US
$ 1800 |
|
Participants |
| Please
call for details |
Notes
|
Customised
Itinerary
If you would like to have a tour on dates other
than the above ones or with a customised itinerary,
please contact us and we will be happy to work out
an exclusive program for you.
Foreign Language Departures
Please contact us for information on French,
German,
Italian and Spanish
speaking departures.
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com
or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of
U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844. |
 |
|
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| © Copyright 1999-2009 Bestway
Tours & Safaris |
Site last updated Dec 29,
2009 |
| Photographs by Peter
Langer & Mahmood
Poonja |
Site by antoinette |
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