D.1 |
Arrive
at Beijing |
|
Arrive at Beijing and transfer to hotel. |
D.2 |
Beijing |
| |
After
a hearty American style breakfast, leave Beijing by deluxe motor coach.
Today you will climb the Great Wall, one of the world's fantastic
architectural achievements. The tour continues to the renowned Sacred
Way leading to the famous Ming Tombs. In the evening, return to Beijing
for a special Peking Duck dinner party. |
| D.3 |
Beijing |
| |
This
morning, explore the best of Beijing with a visit to Tian'anmen Square,
the world's largest square, and the incomparable Forbidden City. After
lunch, visit the spectacular and vast Summer Palace with an optional
boat ride on Lake Kunming. Evening enjoy a memorable Peking Opera
performance. |
| D.4 |
Beijing
- Urumqi - Kashgar |
| |
After
breakfast fly to Urumqi, Our guide will meet you at the airport in
Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province. The rest of the day will
be left open for you to do last minute shopping or make a final check
on your bicycle. There will be a welcoming dinner in the late afternoon
and a short briefing on the trip. In the evening, we will head back
to the airport to take a flight to Kashgar, once a key trading port
that bridged the East and the West. |
D.5 |
Kashgar
to Opal (85 km) |
| |
We
will start our cycling trip by going down a fairly easy route to Wupaer.
Along the way, we will pass by Kyrgyz, Tajik and Kazakh herdsmen that
tend sheep and yaks and make this harsh terrain their home. |
D.6 |
Opal
to Besiqkul Lake (70 km) |
| |
This
70 km (44 mi) journey may not be long, but it will be tougher than
you think. It involves many uphill cycles at altitudes exceeding 3,000
m (9,843 ft). |
D.7 |
Besiqkul
Lake to KarakuL Lake(35 km) |
| |
Climbing
through river gorges and dry sand dunes, you will arrive at Lake Karakuri,
which lies on the foothills of the Pamir Mountains and the colossal
peak of Mount Muztag Ata (7,546 m). The scenery here is stunning,
with the dark blue water of the Karakuri reflecting the snow-capped
peaks. We will spend the afternoon trekking around the lake before
settling down at a comfortable spot to camp for the night. |
D.8 |
Karakul
Lake to Muztag Ata Base Camp |
| |
Standing
at 7,546 m (24,750 ft), Muztag Ata is a round-topped mountain wrapped
in snow all year round with more than ten glaciers lying in its canyons.
Today, we will hike instead of bike. The hike at times may be ardous,
but as we move across the mountain face, we will appreciate new views
of Muztag Ata with Lake Karakuri and glacial mountains in the distance.
After four-five hours of walking, we will arrive at the Base Camp
(4,500 m). |
D.9 |
Muztag
Ata Base Camp to Karakul Lake |
| |
Today,
we will hike back to Lake
Karakul. |
D.10 |
Karakul
Lake to Tashkurgan (105 km) |
| |
Leaving
the snow mountains and the glacial lake behind, we will head to Tashkurgan,
a predominantly Tajik town that sits on the Chinese end of the Karakoram
Highway. |
D.11 |
Tashkurgan
to Kashgar |
| |
Today,
we will leave early to drive back to Kashgar, arriving at Kashgar
in the late afternoon. |
D.12 |
Kashgar
to Urumqi |
| |
Situated
at the foot of the impressive Pamir mountains, Kashgar was once the
key trading post that bridged the East and the West. Largely inhabited
by the Uygurs, this ancient city is dotted with Muslim architecture
and still retains the exotic feel of the Silk Road era. Id Kah Mosque,
a 500 year-old dome dominating the center of the city, is China's
largest mosque. It attracts thousands of worshippers each day. During
the annual Guerbang Festival, 20,000 to 30,000 worshippers flock here
from all corners of Xinjiang for the religious service. We will also
pay a visit to the lively market, where the crowds sell, bargain and
trade everything from camels and donkeys to embroidered caps and ornate
knives. In the evening, we will head to the airport to take a flight
to Urumqi. |
D.13 |
Departure
from Urumqi |
| |
Departure
from Urumqi to your other destination. |
