CENTRALASIAUZBEKISTAN 168 " The homestay and ger camp were fantastic! Exactly the right amount of involvement and activities." Dave Arrowsmith central asia Jewel of the Silk Road Imaginative Facts Tour code: ATJS • Activities: Extensive walking on city tours and minaret climbing for the fit • Accommodation: 9 nights tourist class hotels, 1 night simple hotel, 1 night in a yurt, 1 night homestay • Transport: Private bus and plane • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader or local leader, services of guides for selected sites DAY 1: TASHKENT- Arrival day. DAY 2: TASHKENT - NUKUS- A short city tour of Tashkent before we fly to the far west. We spend the afternoon exploring Nukus, including a guided tour of the art museum, bringing this world- class collection to life. ( BL) DAY 3: NUKUS - MUYNAK- A full day excursion to the fascinating former port of Muynak. The retreating Aral Sea has left this a ghost town. We take a short walk to the ' ship cemetery' encountering signs of recent sea life as we go. ( BD) DAY 4: NUKUS - KHIVA- Morning drive to Khiva. Later we begin our tour of this fascinating town including the Djuma Mosque, Kunya Ark and the beautiful mausoleums of the former rulers. ( BL) DAY 5: KHIVA- In the morning we continue our tour. Free afternoon. ( BD) DAY 6: KHIVA - BUKHARA- Morning drive to Bukhara, a city alive with history. Afternoon city tour and evening cultural performance. ( BD) DAY 7: BUKHARA- Morning tour which includes the Ark Fortress, Kaylan Minaret and the covered bazaars. The afternoon is free to return to a favourite site or visit one of the many teahouses for refreshment and delightful pastries. ( BL) DAY 8: BUKHARA - YURT ENCAMPMENT-We drive through the Kyzyl Kum desert via the village of Gijduvan where we visit a potter's workshop. Continue to the Kazakh village of Yangigazgan where we spend the night in yurts ( nomadic tents). Here we will have the chance to ride a camel before the evening's entertainment - Kazakh singing and dancing. ( BD) DAY 9: YURT ENCAMPMENT - SAMARKAND- Drive to the Mirankul Mountains where we take a short trek to visit the cave of Hazrati Daud, a local saint. We continue to Samarkand. ( BD) DAY 10: SAMARKAND- The Registan in Samarkand is Central Asia's most spectacular architectural ensemble. This Silk Road oasis also has a feast of other stunning monuments and we spend a full day on a guided tour of the city. ( BL) DAY 11: SAMARKAND - SHAKHRISABZ-An excursion to the lovely town of Shakhrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane, which is situated in a small valley at the foot of the spectacular Hisar Mountains. We visit monuments which date back more than six hundred years. In the evening we enjoy a homestay back in Samarkand. ( BD) DAY 12: SAMARKAND - TASHKENT- A free morning before we return to Tashkent. ( BL) DAY 13: TASHKENT- Tour ends. ( B) Discover the architectural treasure- houses of the great Silk Road • Explore the fabulous cities of Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand • Discover the eerie ghost port of Muynak, deserted by the Aral Sea • Enjoy an evening of Kazakh entertainment in a remote nomadic yurt • Walk the Mirankul Mountains or ride a camel in the Kyzyl Kum desert • Visit Shakhrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Jewel of the Silk Road Khiva Nukus Muynak Tashkent Samarkand Shakhrisabz Bukhara Yangigazgan Russia Mongolia China Moscow Khiva Bukhara Urumqi Ulaan Baatar Irkutsk Ekaterinburg Dunhuang Jiayuguan Xi'an SamarkandBeijing Tashkent Bishkek Issyk Kul LakeKashgar The Rhubarb Road Beijing to Moscow Turpan Single Supplement £ 160 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 12.01 * Price includes tour price of £ 949and local payment of US$ 260All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1085pp Land Only * traveller Tour duration 13 days © Imaginative Traveller © Imaginative Traveller Starts SunEnds Fri TashkentTashkent 2009 03- May- 0915- May- 09 31- May- 0912- Jun- 09 23- Aug- 0904- Sep- 09 20- Sep- 0902- Oct- 09 Starts SunEnds Fri TashkentTashkent 2010 02- May- 1014- May- 10 30- May- 1011- Jun- 10 22- Aug- 1003- Sep- 10 19- Sep- 1001- Oct- 10 People might associate camels with the deserts of Africa, but the two humped Bactrian camel is actually indigenous to Mongolia. amazing fact ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243

UZBEKISTAN  KAZAKHSTAN  KYRGYZSTAN  CHINA  RUSSIA  MONGOLIA 169 CENTRALASIA Imaginative Facts Tour code: APRR • Activities: Extensive walking at sites, optional swimming, optional horse and camel riding • Accommodation: 28 nights simple hotels, 4 nights hard sleeper train, 2 nights home stay, 2 nights in Yurt camp • Transport: Public bus, private coach, day train, sleeper train, taxi • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader DAY 1: TASHKENT- Arrive in Tashkent. DAY 2: TASHKENT - URGENCH - KHIVA-We explore the capital of Uzbekistan, including its markets and the old city. Fly to Urgench and transfer to Khiva. DAY 3: KHIVA- Full day to explore Khiva, a UNESCO World Heritage listed city. DAYS 4- 6: BUKHARA- We cross the Kyzyl Kum desert and head for Bukhara with its stunning mosques and mausoleums. DAYS 7- 9: SAMARKAND- Another drive takes us to Samarkand via Shakhrisabz, Tamerlane's birthplace. Samarkand is probably the most famous of the great Silk Road cities, and the Registan one of the most majestic collections of Islamic architecture anywhere. DAYS 10- 11: TASHKENT- Return to Tashkent. DAYS 12- 16: TRAVEL TO KYRGYZSTAN via KAZAKHSTAN- Travel from Tashkent to Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, via the Aksu- Dzhabagly nature reserve. We have time to explore this reserve by foot or on horseback. DAYS 17- 19: KYRGYZSTAN- We make a circuit of the huge alpine lake Issyk Kul where there are superb trekking opportunities. We also meet local nomads who still practice hunting using golden eagles. DAYS 20 & 21: KYRGYZSTAN to CHINA-We stay at the ancient caravanserai at Tash Rabat before continuing through the spectacular Torugart Pass into China. DAYS 22 & 23: KASHGAR- A free day to explore this remote corner of China by foot or by bicycle. We also have a full day to enjoy the wonderful Sunday market. Join the locals for fresh dumplings and tea, watch the horse traders race their prospective animals, and see the shepherds trading their flocks. DAY 24: KASHGAR - TURPAN- Take an overnight train to Turpan. DAYS 25 & 26: TURPAN- We arrive at Daheyan and transfer to the delightful oasis town of Turpan where we visit the ruins of the ancient cities of Gaocheng and Jiache, as well as the nearby Grape Valley where we sample the local wines and raisins. DAY 27: URUMQI - DUNHUANG- We continue to Urumqi where we have time to visit the museum with its extraordinary collection of mummies before we catch the overnight train to Dunhuang. DAY 28: DUNHUANG- In the afternoon we visit the famous Mogao grottoes. DAYS 29 & 30: JIAYUGUAN- This morning we take a bus to Jiayuguan. The following day we visit Jiayuguan Fort, and the end of the Great Wall. We can take an optional camel ride before visiting the ' hanging wall'. DAY 31: JIAYUGUAN - XI'AN- Free morning with the option to visit the Weijin underground tomb. In the afternoon we catch the overnight train to Xi'an. DAYS 32 & 33: XI'AN- After arriving in Xi'an we have free time to visit the sites of this ancient capital of China. DAY 34: XI'AN - BEIJING- A morning visit to the Terracotta Warriors, dating back more than 2,000 years, and originally built to protect the Emperor in the afterlife. In the afternoon we transfer to the train station for the overnight train to Beijing. DAY 35: BEIJING- We transfer to the hotel and then visit the magnificent Forbidden City and the nearby Tiananmen Square. The afternoon is free for further exploration of China's vibrant capital. DAY 36: GREAT WALL - BEIJING- Visit a lesser visited section of the Great Wall with an option to hike for 3- 5 hours along the crest of the wall. DAY 37: BEIJING- Tour ends. Travel from Uzbekistan to Beijing via the heart of Central Asia • Visit the great cities of Tashkent, Khiva and Bukhara • Explore the Aksu- Dzhabagly nature reserveand Issyk Kul lake area on foot • Take the Torugart Pass to China to the famous market town of Kashgar • Travel along ancient caravan routesto the end of the Great Wall • Visit Beijing's Forbidden Cityand Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan China The Rhubarb Road Imaginative Facts Tour code: AABJ • Activities: Optional hiking and horse- riding • Accommodation: 6 nights on board the train, 6- 7 nights simple hotels ( shared facilities in some cases), 1- 2 nights homestay, 2 nights Mongolian ger • Transport: Trans- Mongolian train, bus, metro and taxi • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader DAY 1: BEIJING- Arrival day. DAY 2: GREAT WALL - We take a day trip out to the Great Wall, and hike on one of the less visited sections. DAY 3: TRAIN- Board the Trans- Mongolian train and head north through China and over the broder into Mongolia, passing a part of the Great Wall on the way. DAY 4: ULAAN BAATAR- Arrive in the Mongolian capital in the early afternoon and head out into the rolling grasslands that start right on the edge of the city. We spend the night in a traditional ger ( yurt). ( D) DAY 5: GER CAMP - A full day in the Mongolian grasslands with options for hiking or horse riding. There may also be the chance to visit a local nomadic family. ( BLD) DAY 6: ULAAN BAATAR- We head back to Ulaan Baatar and have a free afternoon to explore the capital of Mongolia. DAY 7: ULAAN BAATAR - TRAIN- A free day to see some of Ulaan Baatar's sights and museums. In the evening we board the train and continue our journey north and west. DAY 8: TRAIN- Our train heads through northern Mongolia, following the Selenge River through mile after mile of grasslands and over the border into Siberia. DAYS 9- 11: IRKUTSK - LAKE BAIKAL - EKATERINBURG- Arrive early in the morning of Day 8 in Irkutsk, capital of Siberia and a pleasant laid back town. We then head out to Lake Baikal which defies all statistics - approximately 25 million years old and at least 1.5km deep. We stay with local families in Listvyanka, a traditional wooden village on the shores of the lake. Later we head back to Irkutsk and board the train bound for Ekaterinburg. During this stretch of our journey we cross the vast wilderness of Siberia. ( BLD - at Lake Baikal only; no meals in other places) DAYS 12 & 13: EKATERINBURG- Arrive in Ekaterinburg and transfer to our hotel. We have plenty of time to explore the city that is famous for being the place where the last Tsar and his family were murdered by communists. It is a pleasant town that dates back to the 18th century. DAY 14: EKATERINBURG - TRAIN- We board the morning train, continuing over the Volga, Danilov and Vytka rivers as well as the Ural Mountains. ( B) DAY 15: MOSCOW- Arrive in Moscow and transfer to our hotel. DAY 16: MOSCOW- A full free day in Moscow. Explore Russia's vibrant capital with its huge communist buildings, the onion-domed St Basil's Cathedral and Lenin's tomb, or perhaps take a trip out to the monasteries of Sergiev Posad, the heart of Russian Orthodox Christianity. ( B) DAY 17: MOSCOW- Tour ends. ( B) Note: The exact itinerary for days 8- 13 will depend on the train schedule. This is notoriously prone to change so please be flexible. The ultimate adventure - on train through Siberia and Mongolia • Witness the diverse scenery of grasslands, Siberian wildernessand the Urals • Experience Mongolian lifeon the plains staying in a ger • Break the journey in Lake Baikalat the traditional village of Listvyanka • Hike on China's spectacular Great Wall • Time in Moscowto visit all the famous highlights Trans Mongolian - Beijing to Moscow Single Supplement £ 440 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 15.55 * Price includes tour price of £ 2299and local payment of US$ 500All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 2560pp Land Only * Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 11.84 * Price includes tour price of £ 1899and local payment of US$ 400All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 2110pp Land Only * pioneeradventurer Tour duration 37 daysTour duration 17 days Starts SatEnds Sun TashkentBeijing 2009 25- Apr- 0931- May- 09 30- May- 0905- Jul- 09 22- Aug- 0927- Sep- 09 Starts SatEnds Sun TashkentBeijing 2010 01- May- 1006- Jun- 10 05- Jun- 1011- Jul- 10 21- Aug- 1026- Sep- 10 Starts MonEnds Wed BeijingMoscow 2009 18- May- 09 03- Jun- 09 22- Jun- 09 08- Jul- 09 27- Jul- 09 12- Aug- 09 31- Aug- 09 16- Sep- 09 05- Oct- 09 21- Oct- 09 Starts MonEnds Wed BeijingMoscow 2010 17- May- 10 02- Jun- 10 21- Jun- 10 07- Jul- 10 26- Jul- 10 11- Aug- 10 30- Aug- 10 15- Sep- 10 04- Oct- 10 20- Oct- 10 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243 Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243