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Xi'an to Ashgabat Itinerary

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    • Trip Price tool tip
      USD $4,950
      CAD $4,980
      AUD $4,810
      EUR €3,855
      GBP £3,000
      NZD $6,170
      ZAR R38,470
      CHF FR4,465
    • Kitty tool tip
      USD $1,650
      ‡
    • Total price tool tip
      USD $6,600*
      CAD $6,582*
      AUD $6,389*
      EUR €5,006*
      GBP £4,006*
      NZD $8,150*
      ZAR R49,945*
      CHF FR5,770*
      *
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    • Overland
    • Basix
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‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to view the kitty amount for your departure date.
Historic Bishkek buildings

Meeting the locals of Uzbekistan

Mountains of Turkmenistan

Bukhara Palace, Uzbekistan

Days 1-2 Xi'an

Begin this journey from Xi'an to Kashgar by visiting a 2,000-year-old army of Terracotta Warriors, built to protect an emperor.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Day 3 Pingliang/Mount Kongtong

Overland through the province of Gansu to Pingliang, which sits at the edge of the beautiful Kongtong Mountain. Peruse the wonderful shops or climb the mountain for rewarding views.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Day 4 Gansu Corridor, Lanzhou

Travel down the fertile Gansu Corridor, a rugged stretch of the famed Silk Route.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Days 5-6 Xiahe

Travel to the Tibetan monastery town of Xiahe, often described as one of the most enchanting places to visit in China.
ACCOM: Guesthouse - 2

Day 7 Liujiaxia

At the crossroads of Qinghai and Gangsu, arrive at Liujiaxia. Visit the Bingling Si Buddhist Grottoes to see intricate cliff-side carvings.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Day 8 Bingling Si/Zhangye Bush Camp

Continue the journey west towards Jiayuguan, where we set up camp en route.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 1

Day 9 Jiayuguan/Great Wall

Arrive in Jiayuguan after a full day of driving, and discover deserted sections of the Great Wall.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 1

Days 10-11 Dunhuang

Arrive in Dunhuang and relax in this Gansu oasis trading town. Visit the nearby Mogao Caves and discover their breathtaking Buddhist art.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Day 12 Bush Camp

Continue the overland adventure towards the ancient oasis town of Turpan. Spend the night wild camping beneath the desert stars.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 1

Days 13-14 Turpan

Escape the desert sands in the laidback town of Turpan.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Days 15-16 Urumqi & The Heavenly Lake

Travel towards the Tian Shan mountain range, and arrive at the pristine Heavenly Lake. Located at the top of a mountain and in the middle of a desert, this is a remote spot, perfect for relaxation.
ACCOM: Yurt - 2

Days 17-18 Bush Camp

Head to the outskirts of the enormous Taklamakan Desert. Travel into seemingly unchartered terrain and begin two days on an overland adventure.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 2

Day 19-21 Kashgar

Arrive in Kashgar, an exotic fusion of Chinese, Uzbek and Kyrgyz cultures. Wander the streets that weave through the old town and discover the markets and bazaars of this diverse city.
ACCOM: Hotel - 3

Day 22 Karakol

Set off early to get to stunning Lake Karakol. Spend the day wallowing in the surrounds of this magnificent setting.

Day 23 Kashgar

Hike the lakeside mountains or ride the perimeter of the lake on horseback to wear yourself out before the drive back to Kashgar. Take time out in comfort this evening to relax and recuperate.

Day 24 Bush Camp

Take a good book as today's lengthy border crossing meanders through the Torugart pass and into Kyrgyzstan.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 1

Day 25 Kochkor

Spend some time getting to know the locals of Kochkor with a traditional Kyrgyz homestay and experience a glimpse of daily life.

Days 26-27 Bishkek

Driving into the capital city, explore the crowded bazaars and vast bustling squares of this modern city.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Days 28-29 Chong Kemin Valley

Set off on a leisurely hike along Chong Kemin River. Or if feeling adventurous, perhaps tackle one of the tough 4000 m passes.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 2

Day 30 Karakol

Enjoy the remote, picturesque town of Kara-kol, complete with quaint tree-lined streets and colonial houses.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Days 31-32 Djety Oguz Valley

Hike through dramatic canyons and sandstone cliffs in Djety Oguz Valley.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 2

Day 33 Kochkor

Enjoy more traditional Kyrgyz hospitality on a homestay in Kochkor village.
ACCOM: Homestay - 1

Days 34-35 Song Kul Lake

Stay in traditional yurt accommodation and experience nomad life in the lush pastures surrounding the beautiful Song-Kol Lake.
ACCOM: Yurt - 2

Days 36-38 Kyrgyz Fergana Valley

Spend a leisurely three days journeying through the stunning mountains and lakes of Kyrgyzstan's Fergana Valley.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 3

Day 39 Arslanbob

Make tracks across the Ferghana Valley to Arslanbob.
ACCOM: Guesthouse - 1

Day 40 Kokand/Fergana City

Enter Uzbekistan and see the palace of the former Khan of Kokand.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Days 41-42 Tashkent

Arrive in Tashkent, shop for fresh produce at the Chorsu Bazaar and perhaps grab some Soviet paraphernalia from a market.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Days 43-45 Samarkand

Travel to one of Central Asia's most magical cities, Uzbekistan’s Samarkand. Discover the romance of the Silk Road in this perfectly preserved city full of exotic architecture and majestic buildings.
ACCOM: Hotel - 3

Day 46 Yurt Stay

Spend a night in a yurt camp with the local nomads, sleeping among the dunes of the Red Desert.
ACCOM: Yurt - 1

Days 47-49 Bukhara

Get to know Central Asia's holiest city, where the combination of buildings spanning a thousand years and a thoroughly lived-in Old Town combine to create an awe-inspiring atmosphere.
ACCOM: Hotel - 3

Days 50-51 Khiva

Gaze up at the ancient walls surrounding Khiva and imagine how they once provided sanctuary for weary Silk Road travellers. Explore the historic and perfectly preserved Old Town, beautifully decorated in classic turquoise tiles.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Day 52 Kunye Urgench

Follow a local trading route through harsh desert sands, and meet the nomadic people who call this inhospitable region home.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 1

Day 53 Darwasa

Drive across the Karakum Desert. If time allows, see the amazing Darvaza Gas Crater.
ACCOM: Bush camp (no facilities) - 1

Days 54-56 Ashgabat

End your adventure among the futuristic architecture of Ashgabat's skyline. Spy the world's largest hand-woven rug or learn about the city's traumatic history at the Earthquake Museum.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

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