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Istanbul to Beijing Overview

    • 96
    • KDOZC
    • Trip Price tool tip
      USD $8,410
      CAD $8,465
      AUD $8,180
      EUR €6,555
      GBP £5,100
      NZD $10,485
      ZAR R65,400
      CHF FR7,590
    • Kitty tool tip
      USD $3,160
      ‡
    • Total price tool tip
      USD $8,410
      CAD $8,465
      AUD $8,180
      EUR €6,555
      GBP £5,100
      NZD $10,485
      ZAR R65,400
      CHF FR7,590
      *
    •  
       
       
       
       
    •  
       
       
       
       
    • Overland
    • Basix
Book
‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to view the kitty amount for your departure date.

Trip Validity

  • 2013-01-01 - 2013-12-31

See Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as you travel from Istanbul to Beijing

Unravel the complex, curious and cultured kingdoms of the Middle East and Central Asia on a gigantic overland expedition through some of the most remote regions on the planet. Shuffle down the cobblestone streets of Istanbul before embarking on a voyage through windswept deserts and across jagged mountain ranges - stopping to visit thriving cities and tiny towns along the way. Follow the legendary Silk Road across Georgia’s remote landscapes to culture-rich Azerbaijan, pass through narrow valleys into Uzbekistan, eyeball the intriguing Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an and explore secluded sections of the colossal Great Wall. From Turkey to China, this overland odyssey leaves the tourist crowds behind and forges a path through some of the world’s most captivating destinations.

  • Visit Istanbul and tour the Blue Mosque
  • Wander through Beijing’s’ Forbidden City
  • Discover the romance of the Silk Road in Samarkand
  • Walk through Uzbekistan’s historic city of Bukhara
  • Visit Kyrgyzstan’s epic Song Kol Lake
  • Cross the infamous Torugart Pass from Kyrgyzstan to China
  • Climb deserted sections of the Great Wall of China
  • See the army of Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an

Trip Map


Istanbul to Beijing Summary

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Day 47 Kochkor

Mingle with friendly locals and relish Kyrgyz hospitality while enjoying a homestay in Kochkor.

Days 48-49 Djety Oguz Valley

Admire the lofty sandstone cliffs in Djety Oguz Valley.

Day 50 Karakol

Discover the remote, picturesque town of Karakol, complete with quaint tree-lined streets and colonial houses.

Days 51-52 Chong Kemin National Park

Set off on a leisurely hike along Chong Kemin River - or if feeling adventurous, perhaps tackle one of the tough 4000 m passes.

Days 53-54 Bishkek

Stroll through Bishkek's markets and haggle for bargains or relax in an Oak Park cafe and reflect on the adventure.

Day 55 Kochkor

Make Kyrgyz friends on an authentic homestay experience in Kochkor.

Day 56 Bush Camp

Take a good book as today's lengthy border crossing meanders through the Torugart pass and into Kyrgyzstan, past rugged mountains and wild terrain.

Day 57 Kashgar

The striking atmosphere of Kashgar provides a refreshing contrast to the past two days' travel. Soak up the exotic sights, sounds and smells of this unique destination.

Day 58 Karakol

Set off early to get to stunning Lake Karakol. Spend the day wallowing in the surrounds of this magnificent setting before spending the night in traditional yurts.

Days 59-61 Kashgar

Traditionally an important trading city along the Silk Road, Kashgar is still at the crossroads of trade due to its location in the heart of Central Asia.

Days 62-63 Bush Camp

The Taklamakan Desert covers an immense area of northwest China and while a treacherous part of the Silk Road journey, stunning sunsets and sunrises have long enthralled travellers.

Days 64-65 Heavenly Lake

With the bluest of blue waters, tiered mountains of green and white, and soft, billowy clouds moving across the sky, no wonder this is called Heavenly Lake.

Days 66-67 Turpan

Once an important staging post on the Silk Road, Turpan is an attractive town famous for its vineyards, stone fruits, melons and the nearby Flaming Mountains.

Day 68 Bush Camp

Continue the Overland adventure towards the ancient Silk Road town of Dunhuang. Spend the night wild camping beneath the desert stars.

Days 69-70 Dunhuang

Once an important stop on the Silk Road and a city of incredible historical and cultural riches, Dunhuang is a spectacular desert oasis.

Days 71-72 Bush Camp/Great Wall

Home to a 14th-century fort and a well-preserved part of the Great Wall, Jiayuguan is a legendary part of the Silk Road marking the line between China and barbarity.

Days 73-74 Liujiaxia

Liujiaxia lies along the Yellow River and is known for its hydroelectric power station and close proximity to the intriguing Bingling Si Caves.

Days 75-76 Xiahe

The colours of Tibet can be seen on the streets of Xiahe, a celebrated town for Tibetans due to the Labrang Monastery and its stunning surrounding landscapes.

Day 77 Lanzhou

With the Yellow River running through the city, Lanzhou has a number of interesting mosques, temples, parks and museums to visit.

Day 78 Pingliang

Pingliang is a city in China's Gansu Province that is overlooked by the beautiful and sacred Kongtong Mountains.

Days 79-81 Xi'an

As the start of the ancient trading route the Silk Road and an imperial centre for 2,000 years, Xi'an has a fascinating history and rich cultural sites to discover.

Days 82-83 Yan'An

Yan'An was where Mao's Long March ended in 1935, and was the Communist Party's base until 1948 - it's also filled with cultural sites and nature to enjoy.

Day 84 Lijiashan

With cave dwellings adorning the hills around Lijiashan, this fascinating town is a definite highlight of any trip to China.

Days 85-86 Pingyao

Walking through the beautifully preserved streets of Pingyao is like stepping back into Imperial China with red lanterns lighting streets, imposing city walls and traditional buildings at every turn.

Days 87-88 Wutai Shan

Wutai Shan is also called 'Five Plateau Mountain', and is home to the Bodhisattva of wisdom and harbours some of China's most sacred monasteries and temples.

Days 89-90 Datong

Bordering Inner Mongolia, Datong is a coal rich city that founded in 200BC and is the gateway to the incredible Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery.

Day 91 Jinshanling

Jinshanling is a mountainous area with an attractive section of the Great Wall, which zigzags up the steep terrain and straddles peaks like a suspension bridge.

Days 92-93 Chengde

Sitting pretty in the mountains, Chengde is a breath of fresh air, especially the enchanting Mountain Resort which is a former royal summer residence.

Days 94-96 Beijing

Beijing has a long and colourful history and this rapidly modernising city is an amazing whirl of ancient sites, modern buildings, bicycles, people, shops and eateries.
View full itinerary

What's included in this trip

  • Start:

    Istanbul, Turkey

  • Finish:

    Beijing, China

  • Group size:

    Min 4 , Max 19

  • Ages:

    Min 18

  • Meals:

    All meals when camping

  • Accommodation:

    Bush camp (no facilities) (16 nts), Camping (with facilities) (5 nts), Cave house (1 nt), Guesthouse (2 nts), Homestay (4 nts), Hostel (1 nt), Hotel (42 nts), Yurt (5 nts)

  • Transport:

    Overland vehicle

  • Included activities:

    Animal market, Bisu Shanzhuang, Black Dragon Temple, Bukhara - Guided walking tour, Forbidden City Tour, Fort & Wall Entrance Jiayuguan, Great Wall, Entrance, Jinshanling section, Beijing, Guided Tour of Cappadocia, Guided Tour of Terracotta Warriors, Guided visits to Bibi Hanum Mosque & Shakh-I-Zinda, Registan Square & Tamerlane's Tomb, Hanging Monastery, Entrance, Datong, Hiking, Kochkor - Women's Felt Co-op, Kokand Khan's Palace and Mosque, Puning Temple, entrance,, Regional Museum, Revolution Museum & Headquarters site, Stalin Museum, Sumela Monastery, Sunday Market, Taihui Temple Cluster, Tsminda Sameba Church, Visit to ancient ruined city, Yunguang Grottos, Entrance, Datong

  • Carbon emissions offset:

    3936kg pp per trip

  • Notes:

    1. Some destinations visited on this trip do not have consulates in Australia and New Zealand. We recommend that travellers from these countries book the WESTBOUND itinerary of this trip where some visas can be obtained en route.
    2. Please note that this trip requires minimum numbers to depart, and may be cancelled up until 56 days prior to departure. The places showing on the dates and availability page are an indication only so please contact Intrepid to check if your preferred date will depart before making any final arrangements, such as booking non-changeable flights.
    3. Combination trip. Please see Trip Notes (Important Notes) for more details.
    4. Due to a British government travel warning, from September 2012 this itinerary will no longer be able to visit Iran. It will instead travel from Turkey to Georgia and then through Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan.

  • Trip price from

    USD $8,410
    CAD $8,465
    AUD $8,180
    EUR €6,555
    GBP £5,100
    NZD $10,485
    ZAR R65,400
    CHF FR7,590
    Price information
  • +

    Kitty

    USD $3,160
    ‡ Price information

  • Total price from

    USD $8,410
    CAD $8,465
    AUD $8,180
    EUR €6,555
    GBP £5,100
    NZD $10,485
    ZAR R65,400
    CHF FR7,590
    *     Price information
  • * Refer to booking conditions
  • ‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to view the kitty amount for your departure date.

  • Per day from:

    USD $87
    CAD $88
    AUD $85
    EUR €68
    GBP £53
    NZD $109
    ZAR R681
    CHF FR79
Book

About Azerbaijan , China , Georgia , Kyrgyzstan , Turkey , Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan

    • 96
    • KDOZC
    • Trip Price tool tip
      USD $8,410
      CAD $8,465
      AUD $8,180
      EUR €6,555
      GBP £5,100
      NZD $10,485
      ZAR R65,400
      CHF FR7,590
    • Kitty tool tip
      USD $3,160
      ‡
    • Total price tool tip
      USD $8,410
      CAD $8,465
      AUD $8,180
      EUR €6,555
      GBP £5,100
      NZD $10,485
      ZAR R65,400
      CHF FR7,590
      *
    •  
       
       
       
       
    •  
       
       
       
       
    • Overland
    • Basix
Book
‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to view the kitty amount for your departure date.

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