Where next imminent: Western China and Central Asia
It's almost time to go....
Destination: The Silk Road: Far Western China and Central Asia
Why: Because it's a part of the world that has been on my list for a long, long time
When: September/October 2008
How: Central Asia Overland, with Explore
Itinerary
- Day 1 Fly London/Beijing
- Day 2 Arrive Beijing
- Day 3 Visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City; fly Urumqi
- Day 4 Visit museum; Drive Korla
- Day 5 Drive to Kuqa
- Day 6 In Kuqa; visit ancient sites
- Day 7 Drive to Aksu; visit virgin forest
- Day 8 Drive across Taklamakan Desert to Hotan
- Day 9 In Hotan; visit Cottage Industries
- Day 10 Drive Yarkand
- Day 11 Drive via Uighur knife factory; drive to Kashgar
- Day 12 & 13 In Kashgar; visit famous Sunday market; optional full day excursion through the Pamir mountains to Karakul Lake
- Day 14 Drive via Kyrgyzstan border to Tash Rabat
- Day 15 Drive Song Kul Lake
- Day 16 Drive Bishkek; via Lake Issy Kul
- Day 17 Drive via Kazakhstan to Tashkent
- Day 18 In Tashkent; city tour
- Day 19 In Tashkent; overnight train Urgench
- Day 20 Arrive Urgench; drive Khiva; sightseeing in the Old City
- Day 21 Drive Bokhara
- Day 22 In Bokhara; tour
- Day 23 Drive Karmana; continue to Yangikasgan; 4WD to camp, optional camel riding in desert
- Day 24 Morning at Lake Aydarkul; drive to Samarkand
- Day 25 In Samarkand; visit Gur Emir Mausoleum and Registan Square
- Day 26 In Samarkand; visit Ulug-Beg observatory and museum; afternoon optional visit to Marakanda
- Day 27 Drive Tashkent; fly London
Information
- Wikipedia: Central Asia - Silk Road - China - Xinjiang - Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan
- Wikitravel: Central Asia - Silk Road - China - Xinjiang - Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan
- FCO travel advice: Asia and Oceania - China - Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan
- BBC country profile: Country Profiles - China - Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan
- Lonely Planet: Asia - China - Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan
- BBC NEWS | Programmes | From Our Own Correspondent | Freedom to travel in China
- BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Life in Urumqi
- BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Separatists blamed for China attack
- BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Fatal blasts hit Chinese province
Language
Weather
(forecasts from www.accuweather.com)
- Beijing, China (Beijing)
- Urumqi, China (Xinjiang)
- Khotan (Hotan), China (Xinjiang)
- Korla, China (Xinjiang)
- Kuqa, China (Xinjiang)
- Aksu, China (Xinjiang)
- Yarkand, China (Xinjiang)
- Kashgar, China (Xinjiang)
- Naryn, Kyrgyzstan (Naryn)
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek)
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Toshkent)
- Urgench, Uzbekistan (Khorazm)
- Khiva, Uzbekistan (Khorazm)
- Bokhara, Uzbekistan (Bukhoro)
- Karmana, Uzbekistan (Nawoiy)
- Samarkand, Uzbekistan (Samarqand)
- Home (for comparison):London, United Kingdom
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