Day 1 West Coast/Beijing
Depart the West Coast for Beijing.

Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Shanghai, you are escorted to the Ramada Plaza (or similar).

Day 3 Beijing/Xi’an (AB,L,SD)
Take a morning flight to Xi'an, where you will transfer to the Sheraton Hotel (or similar). Visit the ancient city walls, the Bell Tower and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Xi'an, known as Chang'An in ancient times, was the gateway to the Silk Road and a crossroads for traders and pilgrims from faraway lands. In the evening attend a dinner and cultural show, recreating the music, costumes and dance from the Tang Dynasty.

Day 4 Xi'an (AB,L,D)
Today's highlight is a visit to the Archaeological Museum, home to more than 6,000 life-sized terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. After lunch, visit the Neolithic Village of Banpo which contains relics from the earliest known inhabitants of China.

Day 5 Xi'an/Dunhuang (AB,L,D)
In the morning visit the Grand Mosque and the Muslim quarter. Take an afternoon flight to Dunhuang and transfer to the Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel (or similar).

Day 6 Dunhuang (AB,L,D)
Excursion to the Mogao Grottoes, the world’s richest treasure trove of Buddhist manuscripts and art. Begun in 386AD and added to over the next 9 centuries, the grottoes total over 45,000 square meters and boast over 2,000 murals and sculptures. Continue to the Singing Sand Dunes and enjoy a camel ride into the dunes.

Day 7 Dunhuang/Turpan (AB,L,D)
Visit White Horse Pagoda and Crescent Moon Lake. Drive from Dunhuang to Liuyuan, passing sections of the Han Great Wall and several beacon tower ruins along the way. Board the overnight train to Turpan.

Day 8 Turpan (AB,L,D)
Arrive Turpan in the morning. Sightseeing features Gaochang, the ancient walled capital of the Uighurs which flourished between the 7th and 14th centuries, and the ruins of Jiaohe City, where large fragments of actual streets and buildings remain. You’ll also visit Grape Valley, in lush contrast to the desert surrounding it, and the amazing 2,000 year old Karez Irrigation Tunnels, which brought water from melting snow on the mountains to this parched city. Attend a music and dance performance in the evening. Overnight at Oasis Hotel (or similar).

Day 9 Turpan/Kuche (AB,L,D)
This morning's tour includes the Flaming Mountains, named for their vibrant color, Suliman’s Minaret and a local village. Transfer to the train station for the mid-afternoon express train to Kuche. Relax and enjoy the scenery as the train travels past Bosten Lake, then along the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, second largest in the world after the Sahara. Overnight on board.

Day 10 Kuche (AB,L,SD)
Morning arrival in Kuche, meet and transfer to Kuche Hotel (or similar). Jeep trek along the Gobi Desert to the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, en route passing several Great Wall Beacon Towers. Dinner in a local restaurant with exotic Quci Dance and musical performance.

Day 11 Kuche/Kashgar (AB,L,D)
Early morning transfer to the train station for your ride with merchants to Kashgar, a key hub on the ancient silk road. Late afternoon arrive Kashgar. Meet and transfer to Ceman hotel (or similar). Evening is free at leisure, perhaps stroll along the lively night market.

Day 12 Kashgar/Urumqi (AB,L,D)
After breakfast, head directly to the Great Bazaar, alive with storybook scenes: thousands of merchants haggling for camels, carpets and other native goods; imams on donkeys and veiled women in their black robes. After wandering the Great Bazaar, you will visit Id Kah Emin mosque, one of the largest in China, and the Tomb of the Fragrant Lady before flying to Urumqi in the evening. Overnight at Holiday Inn Hotel (or similar).

Day 13 Urumqi (AB,L,D)
After breakfast, enjoy an excursion to Heavenly Lake, nestled in the Tianshan Mountain range. Return to Urumqi after lunch and take a city tour, which gives you a glimpse of the major sights of this northwestern city. Populated by Han people and thirteen ethnic minorities, Urumqi is quite different from the usual Chinese street scene. Here you can see nomadic Khazakhs, a Middle Eastern bazaar, a jadecarving center and more.

Day 14 Urumqi/Beijing (AB,L,D)
Today's full day excursion takes you to the pasture by the Southern Mountains where you will visit local herds. Take an evening flight to Beijing, the capital of China. Check into Capital Hotel (or similar).

Day 15 Beijing/West Coast (AB)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Arrive back in the U.S. the same day.

Full meals with symbols as follows
AB - Full American Breakfast	L - Lunch at local restaurant
D - Dinner at local restaurant	SD - Special dinner banquet

Order an Ancient Silk Road Tour

Name*:
Address*:
City:*
State:*
Zip:*
Day Phone* w/Area Code:
Night Phone w/Area Code:
Email Address*:
Departure Date *:	Mar 17 Apr 21 May 19 Jun 16 Jul 21 Aug 18 Sep 15 Oct 20
Departure City*:
Number of People Traveling*:
Special Requests /Comments:
A visa is required for Mainland China.