OVERVIEW

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The Silk Route might be thought of as the middle of nowhere today, but back in its heyday, it was once the trading hub linking up China, India, Persia & Rome. Explore the evolution of the Silk Route with a drive through China, which still tells many stories of ancient times and the exchange of cultures. Get ready to witness the scenery and sights that are not just spectacular but also intriguing on this time honored trade route. There are well-known Mogao Caves (Mogao Grottoes) in Dunhuang, the bustling Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar, exotic customs in Xinjiang, thousands of miles long Great Wall of China in Jiayuguan, cute Giant Pandas in Chengdu and more…

Are you ready to experience the adventures on this ancient trade route with us?

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DAY 1: INDIA – CHENGDU [FLY-IN]
Nihao! Time to familiarize yourself with a little Chinese as you fly into Chengdu, China! Check-in at the hotel and rest for the day as you gear up to begin your two week-long drive through the Silk Route in China, tomorrow.

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DAY 2: CHENGDU – SIGHTSEEING
It would be a crime to come to Chengdu, and not visit those black and white bundles of overflowing cuteness! Yes, you guessed it right – we are talking about Pandas (Fun Fact: 80% of World’s giant pandas live in Chengdu). Chances are that you are not going to visit Chengdu that often in life, so why not make the most of it? In the evening, get to know your fellow participants as you wine & dine together!

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DAY 3: CHENGDU – RUOERGAI (480 KM/ 8 HOURS)
Take charge of your specially arranged vehicle, sit behind the wheel and join the convoy! The most thrilling part of the day begins when we reach Ruoergai.

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DAY 4: RUOERGAI – FREE DAY/ SIGHTSEEING
Ruoergai is a good place to explore the Tibetan culture. The flat and wide Ruoergai grassland looks like a green carpet under the blue sky, with the back paved highway leading you to the end of the sky. Tibetan villages and yaks add much vitality to this carpet. Trust us, you will forget all your worries when driving through such a scenic area.

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DAY 5: RUOERGAI – XINING (550 KM/ 9 HOURS)
Today, we will drive towards the mesmerizing province of Quighai’s capital city – Xining. It will be a long day on the road but you will find solace in the fluffy white clouds, untainted blue sky, and vast grasslands. Lunch en-route at Langmusi or Xiahe. Once in Xining, if you are willing, jaunt your way to Dongguan Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in northwest China with a history of more than 600 years!

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DAY 6: XINING – JIYAYUGUAN (560 KM/ 9 HOURS)
It is going to be another long day on the road, so we are going to make an early morning start. Today, take a deep breath and enjoy the spectacular views of the “Qilian Mountain”, which literally translates to “heavenly mountain”, en route to Jiayuguan. Qilian grassland is 300 km from Xining and would take 5-6 hours to get there. If you are lucky, you might get to experience beautiful snowfall en route.

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DAY 7: JIAYUGUAN – DUNHUANG (400 KM/ 6 HOURS)
Today visit the Jiayuguan Great Wall, the vital pass to the world’s oldest trading route. Do you know it took 168 years to complete the wall? Well, now you know! You may have seen the Great Wall of China from the east, but today you are going to become a part of that rare group of travelers who have witnessed the Western end of the thousands of miles long Great Wall of China! Time to proceed to our next destination i.e. Dunhuang.

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DAY 8: DUNHUANG – FREE DAY/ SIGHTSEEING
No Driving Today! If you are itching to go out and explore the city, we recommend that you spend the day visiting the Mogao Caves. The mere fact that the world’s earliest printed dated book- Diamond Sutra was discovered here, should be enough to tick this place off your bucket list. An alternative to this is to enjoy an early morning quad biking session on the Gobi desert or slumber your way through the day!

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DAY 9: DUNHUANG – TURPAN (800 KM/ 11 HOURS)
Aren’t early morning drives the best? Today, enjoy your drive to Turpan. As we approach Turpan, we will also enter the Xinjiang Province. Officially known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, it is a provincial-level autonomous region of China in the northwest of the country. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and the 8th largest country subdivision in the world, spanning over 1.6 million sq km. Xinjiang borders the countries of Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

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DAY 10: TURPAN – KUERLE (380 KM/ 6 HOURS)
As they say, the true charm of the city and places can only be learned by those who really see it with their own eyes and feel it with their own heart. All the attractive sights to visit in Kuerle cannot be described in words. One thing is for sure, that you wouldn’t wish to miss out on the exotic ‘fragrant pears’ grown around Kuerle.

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DAY 11: KUERLE – AKESU (530 KM/ 7 HOURS)
You will be driving from Kuerle to Akesu today. En-route visit Kuche ancient town. Visit the Tianshan Grand Canyon Scenic Area to take a couple of pictures for Instagram/Facebook to make your friends back home a little jealous. The mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon is a canyon near Keziliya Mountain formed by wind and rain over billions of years. Continue driving through the vast expanses of Xinjiang province, passing more obscure Silk Road stops and simply soak in the remoteness of this unique part of the world.

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DAY 12: AKESHU – KASHGAR (715 KM/ 10 HOURS)
Today you would be driving close to 10 hours, so make sure that your phones and iPods are charged enough to last you the complete drive. Traveling by road will give us a good look at the lifestyle of those who live in the sparsely populated areas of western China, and we’ll get an idea of what it might have been like to travel the Silk Road in days gone by— in air-conditioned comfort, of course.

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DAY 13: KASHGAR – FREE DAY/ SIGHTSEEING
Kashgar is a city in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in China’s far west. It was a stop on the Silk Route, with its history stretching over 2,000 years. Today it’s known for the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar, a daily market crammed with pashminas, spices, fur caps and more. Visiting Kashgar is a chance to travel back in time. We saved a day in your itinerary to make sure you have ample time to enjoy many charming places here, like Abakh Khoja Tomb, Three Immortals Buddhist Caves, Stone City, Karakul lake, etc. One of the main attractions of Kashgar is the Id Kah Mosque – one of the largest mosques in China. A visit here is must not only for its beauty and religious sentiments but also for its grandeur.

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DAY 14: KASHGAR – INDIA [FLY OUT]
The expedition concludes this morning and you fly back home. However, in case you wish to extend your program and explore China for a few more days, we will be happy to assist you in extending your holiday!

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HIGHLIGHTS
Date: 1st May 2021 – 14th May 2021

Duration: 13 Nights / 14 Days

Cost: INR 4,75,000 Per Person

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TOUR INCLUSIONS
Accommodation on twin occupancy
All meals*
China visa support
Self-drive vehicle (4 people in 1 vehicle)
Fuel
Airport transfers in Chengdu and Kashgar
Road books, maps and wireless radio sets for the vehicle
Driving permits and vehicle insurance

TOUR EXCLUSIONS
International flights
*Lunch and Dinners on Day 2, Day 4, Day 8 and Day 13
Travel Insurance
Chinese visa application fees
Any cost arising out of unforeseen circumstances
Additional accommodation charges due to unforeseen delays in the journey
Any charges for carrying video camera or still camera
Any additional fee for issuance of visa apart from the standard fee
International Driving Permit
5% GST

CANCELLATION POLICY
10% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fee if the trip is cancelled any time after confirmation until 31st August 2020
25% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fee if the trip is cancelled between 1st September 2020 – 30th November 2020
50% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fee if the trip is cancelled between 1st December 2020 – 31st January 2021
100% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fee if the trip is cancelled post 1st February 2021
REFUND POLICY
In case of cancellation, the refund will be made in 07-10 working days as per the cancellation policy and subtracting 5% GST on the deposited amount.
The refund will be made to the same account/mode through which transfers have been received.