THE GRAND SILK ROAD
DELHI TO TASHKNET
(INDIA, PAKISTAN, CHINA AND CENTRAL ASIA)

Tour operates: May to October
No of days: 32 Tour cost from: 3750 US Dollar
Tour Route: Delhi/Shekawati/Jaipure/Agra/Amritsar/Lahore/Islamabad/Besham/Gilgit/Hunza Karimabad/Gulmit/Khunjerab pass/Tashkurgan/Kashgar/Tash Rabat/Issik Kul lake/Bishkek/Taraz/Tashkent/Samarkand/Bukhara/Khiva
Transport: Private busses, Soft sleeper trains, domestic economy flights
Tour starting point: Delhi

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Delhi
Arrive in Delhi & transfer to your hotel. Later, enjoy a city tour. Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 2: Delhi
Full day city tour covering Laxmi Narayan Temple – the Place of Gods, India Gate - the Memorial of Martyrs, Parliament House – the government headquarters, Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in Asia, Red Fort - the red stone magic, Gandhi memorial – the memoir of father of the nation, Qutab Minar Complex, Lotus Temple, Humayun's Tomb, Jantar Mantar and Rajghat.
Stay Overnight at the hotel (BLD).

Day 3: Delhi - Shekawati
In the morning we drive to the Shekawati region. There are various districts founded by Shekawats: Jhunjhuna, Nawalgarh and Mandawa to name a few .Mandawa is located midway between Jhunjhuna and Fatehpur.The town’s imposing fort in the heart of the city, now houses the most famous hotel in the region, Overnight stay in this hotel (BLD).

Day 4: Shekawati - Jaipur
Early this morning, you will be transferred by road to the pink city of Jaipur (221 kms / 5 hrs), On arrival check in at hotel. In the evening we visit Chokhi Dhani - an ethnic village resort and enjoy Rajasthani food served in traditional style with folk dancing and music, overnight in hotel (BLD).

Day 5: Jaipur
Built in the 16th century, we visit the Amber fort and enjoy an elephant ride. We drive past the Hawa Mahal, visit the city palace and museum and walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar Observatory, overnight at the hotel (BLD).

Day 6: Jaipur - Agra
We are transferred by road to the Mughal city of Agra (206 kms / 3.5 hrs). We visit the Agra Fort, built by the great Emperor Akbar and the spectacular Taj Mahal, built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Overnight in hotel (BLD).

Day 7: Agra – Delhi
After breakfast, drive to Delhi. Enjoy a city tour. Overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 08: Delhi – Amritsar
Drive to Amritsar famous and sacred Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple. overnight stay in a hotel (BLD).

Day 09: Amritsar-Lahore
We drive to Wagha border in the morning where we meet by your Pakistani guide and transfer to Lahore city, overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 10: Lahore
Full day sightseeing in the Mughul city of Lahore. We visit the Fort, Badshahi Mosques and Museum, overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 11: Islamabad
Drive to Islamabad En-route we stop at the Rothas Fort. In Islamabad, we enjoy a city tour, overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 12: Besham
Drive to Besham, via Taxila the ancient Buddhist Capital of Gandhara overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 13: Gilgit
Drive to Gilgit on the Karakoram highway .Overnight at the administrative capital of Northern area’s of Pakistan overnight hotel (BLD).

Day 14: Karimabad
In the morning we explore Gilgit, visiting Karga Buddha. Later we drive to Karimabad, Free afternoon overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 15 Karimabad
Full day visiting the sights of Karimabad: Duiker for sunrise, Hoper Glacier, Baltit Fort overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 16 Gulmit
Free morning. Drive to Gulmit Upper Hunza. In the evening we visit a local Wakhi family for a home cooked meal overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 17: Gulmit
Today we visit the local village. Our visit begins with the local school, followed be a handicraft project run by the local women. Later we hike through Ghulkin glacier to Borith lake drive back to Gulmit for our overnight at hotel (BLD).

Day 18- Tashkurgan
After the immigration formalities we will be driving to Tashkurgan over the Khunjerab pass (the highest border crossing pass 4750 m) where you will be well comes by our Chinese local guide and transfer to your hotel (BLD).

Day 19 Kashgar
Drive to Kashgar. En route we stop at Karakul lake for a stunning view of the Giant Mustaghata Mountain. Later we drive to Kashgar (BLD).

Day 20: Kashgar Sunday Market
Full day in Kashgar. Visit the Sunday market, Eid Ga mosque, Appak Khoja tomb. (BLD)

Day-21- Kashgar –Tash Rabat
Morning transfer to the border cross the Torugart pass, stop at Tash Rabat Saray caravan and spend the night in a typical Kyrgyz Yurt (BLD).

Day-22- Issik Kul Lake
Morning drive to Cholpon Ata (Issik Kul lake) (BLD).

Day 23- Bishkek
Drive to Bishkek; explore Bishkek in the afternoon (BLD).

Day 24- Taraz
Drive to Taraz. Upon arrival visit the Taraz History museum. Transfer to Aksu Djabagly nature preserve (BLD).

Day 25- Tashkent
Free time before head off to Uzbekistan. Cross the border. Drive to Tashkent.
(BLD).

Day 26- Tashkent-Samarkand
Sightseeing in the old section of Tashkent, the Kafelsashi Mausoleum, the Barak Khana, the Tila Shaikh Mosque and Archives, followed by the Chorsu Bazar, Kukeldesh Madrassah, the Friendship Square and the Navoi Theatre. In the afternoon, we take a countryside drive to the second largest city in the country, Samarkand (BLD).

Day 27- Samarkand
The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world's cultures and has been declared a World Heritage Site recently. Founded in the 7th century BC as ancient Afrosiab, Samarkand had its most significant development in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries. Our tour takes us to the major monuments and includes the Registan Mosque and the adjoining madrassahs, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shakhi-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir Ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg's Observatory. Our afternoon tour also includes the Afrosiab Museum, located on the site of ancient Afrosiab and the Historical Museum of Uzbek Culture and Art, with the coffin of Tamerlane and a large copy of the Koran as part of its collection (BLD)

Day 28- Samarkand-Shakhrisabz-Bukhara
We depart for the World Heritage Site of Shakhrisabz, hometown of Tamerlane. This historic centre contains a collection of exceptional monuments and ancient quarters, which bears witness to centuries of history with its power climaxing in the 15th century under the empire of Tamerlane. After our tour of Tamerlane, we continue for yet another gem of Uzbekistan, Bukhara (BLD).

Day 29- Bukhara
One of the grandest of Uzbek centers, Bukhara is an open museum with many mosques, madrassahs and a grand minaret. We spend the day visiting some of the finest examples of Islamic Architecture in the world, where exquisite tile and mosaic work complement the beautiful brickwork; it is no wonder the city is a World Heritage Site. Our visit includes the Lab-e-Khauz Complex with the Nadirkhon Devanbegi Madrassah, the Mogak Attari Mosque and the Poi Kalon Minaret. We also visit the Madrassahs of Aziz Khan and the Ulugbek Ark Fortress, the residence cum army headquarters of the Bukharan Emirs which houses an interesting collection of ancient objects. We tour the Mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, featuring some of the best Persian influenced10th century brickwork. We conclude the day with a visit to Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the Summer Residence of the former Emirs of Bukhara (BLD).

Day 30- Bukhara-Khiva
We drive to Khiva via the Kyzyl Kum Desert. Along the way we stop for some refreshments and see how people have survived over the centuries in this barren landscape (BLD).

Day 31- Khiva-Urgench-Tashkent
We explore the World Heritage Site at Khiva. Our visit starts with the main site of Itchan Kala followed by Kalta Minor, the Kunya Ark, the Rakhimkhon Madrassah, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, the Friday Mosque and the Tashauli Palace and Harem. To complete a perfect day we climb the Khodja Minaret to take in the amazing fairy tale panorama. This afternoon we are transferred to the airport for our flight back to Tashkent (BLD).

Day 32- Depart Tashkent
Our journey along the Silk Road comes to an end today as we bid farewell with “Sau Bolinizder”, as we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight. (B)

Guarantee departures: Every Tuesday
Minimum 2 people.

Tour cost

No of Pax.	2-5	6-9	10-18
Price in US Dollar per person	$4972	$4370	$3750

TOUR COST INCLUDES
• All domestic transportation and transfers, train soft sleeper class, domestic flights mentioned in the itinerary.
• Twin sharing accommodation at hotel plus with en-suite private facilities
• Meals full board
• All the sightseeing tours as described in the itinerary and entrance fees
• English-speaking local guides

TOUR COST EXCLUDES
• Visa Fees.
• Expenses in hotels such as laundry, telephone and room service, etc.
• Optional activities
• Meals not mention above
• Personal expanses
• Single supplements
• Tips for Guides and drivers