Tianshan |
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To the Silk Road caravanner of the Gobi and Takla Makan desert, the forested slopes and cool mountain streams of the Tian Shan Mountains offered him respite from the hardships of desert trails, a little pocket of paradise away from the hellish heat of the endless ocean of sand. Today, to many first timers, the shock is palpable as one climbs out of the monotony of a typical desert landscape to find themselves in the alpine beauty of a Tian Shan Valley. North of the desert oasis of Hami, close by the Mongolian border lays Barkol Lake, here numerous Kazak nomads graze their herds of horse, sheep and cattle in the shadow of the misty peaks of the Eastern Tian Shan. We spend a full week riding among the forested valleys and open grassland around the lake, savoring the slow pace of life characteristic to this beautiful area. En route to Barkol, we spend time in the significant Uygur oasis of Turpan visiting it's many important Buddhist sites. Then, crossing the Gobi desert into Gansu Province, we make our way to the historic art treasure house of Dunhuang, before flying on to the former Silk Road terminal and Imperial capital of Xian. So in all, this program offers a prolonged opportunity, not only to experience the special beauty of this region but also to gain a sense of contrasting Silk Road environs both old and new. ITINERARY: DAY 1: Arrive BeijingDAY 2: Beijing DAY 3: Beijing to Urumqi DAY 4: Urumqi to Turpan DAY 5: Turpan DAY 6: Turpan to Hami DAY 7: Hami to Tian Shan Pastoral Farm DAY 8: Begin Trek DAY 9-15 Trek DAY16: Barkol to Hami DAY17: Hami to Dunhuang DAY18: Dunhuang DAY19: Dunhuang to Xian DAY20: Xian to Hong Kong DAY21: Exit Hong Kong |