SOLAR ECLIPSE TOUR, 2008
(Tour # 3 via Central Asia)
A cultural tour of Xinjiang & Uzbekistan

Viewing a solar eclipse is an experience that lasts forever. The next Total Solar Eclipse will take place on Friday August 01, 2008 and the best viewing will be in a unique and historical part of the world. Right in the heart of the Gobi Desert in Western China, on the famous Silk Road, at 10:21 UT the Greatest Eclipse will take place. With the location being where it is, there are a few exciting ways to take advantage of seeing both the eclipse and experience the Silk Road. We are offering three possibilities. This tour #3, is ideal for those who would like to combine with the enchanting Silk Road in Central Asia’s land of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva done as a pre eclipse tour.

Day 01 Jul 22, 2008 TUE: Arrive Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Upon arrival at Tashkent airport we are welcomed and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Dedeman, Tashkent (1 night)

Day 02 Jul 23, 2008 WED: Tashkent / Ugrench (flight) / Khiva (35 km drive)
Our visit to Tashkent starts with the old part of the city, the Kafelsashi Mausoleum, the Barak Khana, the Tila Shaikh Mosque and Archives, followed by the Chorsu Bazar, Kukeldesh Madrassah, the Friendship Square and the Navoi Theatre. In the afternoon, we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Urgench. Upon arrival at Urgench we are welcomed and transferred to the historical city of Khiva.
Overnight: Asia Hotel, Khiva (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 03 Jul 24, 2008 THU: Khiva
Today we explore the World Heritage Site at Khiva, a city where time has stood still. Our visit starts with the main site of Ichan Kala followed by Kalta Minor, the Kunya Ark, the Rakhimkhon Madrassah, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, the Friday Mosque and the Tashauli Palace and Harem. (B, L, D)

Day 04 Jul 25, 2008 FRI: Khiva / Bukhara (435 km drive)
Our drive to Bukhara is through the arid setting of the Kyzyl Kum Desert. Along the way we stop for some refreshments and see how humans have survived over the centuries in this barren landscape. Prior to arrival in Bukhara, a visit will be made to Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the Summer Residence of the former Emirs of Bukhara.
Overnight: Zargaron Hotel, Bukhara (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 05 Jul 26, 2008 SAT: Bukhara
One of the grandest of Uzbek centers, Bukhara is an open museum with many mosques, madrassahs and a grand minaret. We spend the day visiting some of the finest examples of Islamic Architecture in the world, where exquisite tile and mosaic work complements the beautiful brick-work; no wonder the city is a World Heritage Site. Our visit includes the Lab-e-Khauz Complex with the Nadirkhon Devanbeg i Madrassah, the Mogak Attari Mosque and the Poi Kalon Minaret. We also visit the Madrassahs of Aziz Khan and the Ulugbek Ark Fortress, the residence cum army headquarters of the Bukharan Emirs that houses an interesting collection of objects from those days and the Mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, which features some of the best 10th century brickwork, with a marked Persian influence. (B, L, D)

Day 06 Jul 27, 2008 SUN: Bukhara / Samarkand (268 km drive)
After breakfast we take a drive to Samarkand. Enroute visit of Shakhrizabz, home town of Tamerlane. This historic centre contains a collection of exceptional monuments and ancient quarters, which bear witness to centuries worth of history, and particularly to the period of its climax in the 15th century under the empire of Tamerlane.
Overnight: Shedor Hotel, Samarkand (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 07 Jul 28, 2008 MON: Samarkand
Our tour today takes us to the major monuments and includes the Registan Mosque and the adjoining madrassas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound. We culminate the day with a visit to the Ulugbek’s Obervatory & Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane. (B, L, D)

Day 08 Jul 29, 2008 TUE: Samarkand / Tashkent (293 km drive)
After breakfast we depart for Tashkent. Rest of the day is free.
Overnight: Hotel Dedeman, Tashkent (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 09 Jul 30, 2008 WED: Tashkent / Urumqi (flight). Drive to Turpan (200 km)
After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Urumqi (China). Upon arrival at Xinjiang’s capital, we are welcomed and taken on a scenic drive to “the lowest place on earth”, Turpan. Turpan is an oasis famous for its hot and dry climate as well as for its grapes, which are grown in abundance.
Overnight: Oasis Hotel, Turpan (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 10 Jul 31, 2008 THU: Turpan / Hami drive (400 km)
Another interesting day or rural China with the drive to Hami. Enroute we visit the famous Flaming Mountain that stretches for a 100km/62m. This will be followed by the Bezkilik Thousand Buddha Caves. This evening we join other eclipse enthusiasts at Hami.
Overnight: Jiageda Hotel, Hami (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 11 Aug 01, 2008 FRI: Eclipse Viewing
Hami was one of the trading halts on the Silk Road so we take the opportunity of visiting the well managed Hami Museum followed by the Mausoleums of the Hui Kings. Afternoon we drive to Xiamaya village – the Eclipse viewing site. The first contact will be at 1809 hrs and the last and fourth contact ends around 2005 hrs – total duration of totality is around 1min 54 sec. After an exciting viewing of the eclipse we return to Hami for our overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 12 Aug 02, 2008 SAT: Hami / Urumqi (drive) / Kashgar (flight)
Early morning drive to Urumqi Airport via Turpan to catch our short flight to the historic city of Kashgar, which is located at the western end of the Taklimakan Desert. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel for a well deserved rest.
Overnight: Seman Hotel, Kashgar (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 13 Aug 03, 2008 SUN: Kashgar (Sunday Bazaar)
If one would like to see a place where time has stood still it is Kashgar (Kashi). Walking through the narrow lanes of this old town evokes a scene from the Arabian Nights. Kashgar has remained sheltered from outside influences with locals who are very friendly. Amongst the most popular professions are coppersmiths, carpenters, jewelers and cobblers, all using tools of bygone days. One of the most popular events in the town is the weekly Sunday Bazaar that draws a variety of ethnic groups like the Uyghur, Tajik, Kyrgyz and Kazakh to the streets of Kashgar. They come on foot, bike, horseback, modern motorcycles and donkey carts, all with the hope of selling merchandise ranging form scissors to camels. (B, L, D)

Day 14 Aug 04, 2008 MON: Kashgar / Urumqi (flight)
Continue touring Kashgar to include the tomb of Akbar-Hoja family, Id-Kah Mosque and the old city districts. Evening, we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Urumqi.
Overnight: Xinjiang Grand Hotel, Urumqi (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 15 Aug 05, 2008 TUE: Urumqi / Alma Ata (flight)
Day free for shopping before we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Alma Ata, the capital of Kazakhastan. For those wishing to stay behind and see this fascinating part of the world, please do let us know, otherwise you are in transit at the airport for your international flight. (B)

Departure Dates

2008 English Speaking Departures July 22, 2008

Inclusions

Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner) Ground transfers as mentioned Sightseeing with services of local English speaking guide Necessary visa supports Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary Air tickets Tashkent / Urgench, Tashkent / Urumqi / Kashgar / Urumqi / Alma Ata International airfares into Tashkent and return from Alma Ata Insurance & Visa fees Drinks/Beverages with meals Tips/Gratuities to Drivers & Guides

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 Room Supplement 2008 US $ 5030 • CA $ 5030 US $ 725 • CA $ 725

Estimated International Airfare - International Airfare is NOT Included

Canada - West Coast 1600 USA - West Coast 1400 Canada - East Coast 1400 USA - East Coast 1200

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants.

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.