Dragoman: Beijing to Istanbul

Itinerary

• Weeks 1-2: Beijing – Datong – Xian

  Beijing is home to a host of incredible sights. A guided tour is included to the Forbidden City then the remainder of your time is at leisure. Visit the Great Wall at Jinshanling with the option of a short trek; continue to Chengde for a guided tour. In Datong visit the Hanging Monastery and Yungang Caves and then on to a Mongolian ger camp. Travel through Inner Mongolia via Yinchuan and Shapotou to Xian.

• Weeks 3-4: Xian – Xiahe – Turpan

  In Xian to visit the night markets, catch a cultural show over a dumpling banquet and explore the great city walls. A guided excursion will take you to the famed Terracotta Warriors. Travel overland to Pingliang at the edge of Mt Kongtong, and then on the Lanzhou before arrival in Xiahe, where you can opt to visit to Labrang Monastery. 250km overland to Liujiaxia on the slopes of the Tibetan Plateau and then journey west to Jiayuguan where you will again meet the Great Wall. After touring the wall, overland to Dunhuang, to explore the amazing Mogao Caves. Bush camp en-route to Turpan.

• Weeks 5-6: Urumqi – Kashgar – Bishkek

  Relax on the shores of Heavenly Lake before overlanding for two days skirting the Taklamakan Desert towards Kashgar. Join the Silk Route and cross into China over the Torugart Pass. Learn of the life of a Kyrgyz family on a homestay and the continue to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

• Weeks 7-8: Bishkek – Chong Kemin – Tashkent

  Journey through the beautiful Chong Kemin Valley National Park wild camping. Spend time relaxing on the shores of Lake Issuy-Kul, and then journey to Djety Oguz Valley for hiking and other activities. In Kochkor village enjoy a homestay with a local family, before arrival at Song Kul Lake. It is a two-day trip through Aksu National Park to Kazakhstan, spending time with a local family in the fishing village of Zhabagly, and then bush-camping for a night, before arrival into Tashkent.

• Weeks 9-10: Tashkent – Bukhara – Ashgabat

  From Tashkent overland to the romantic silk route city of Samarkand. From here, visit Nurata and stay amongst the dunes in a desert yurt camp with a local Uzbek family. Wander the historic bazaars and markets of Bukhara and the UNESCO heritage town of Khiva. Cross the border into Turkmenistan, home to the ancient ruined city of Kunye Urgench, and then drive across the Karakum Desert to Ashgabat.

• Weeks 11-12: Ashgabat – Yazd – Tehran

  Continue overland through Damghan, boasting one of the oldest mosques in the world. Next stop is the oasis city of Yazd, home to Iran’s oldest religion – Zoroastrianism. From here, spend a night at Zeinoddin Caravanserai, and then tour the ruins of Persepolis before arrival in Shiraz, where you can gain an insight into the Iranian way of life. Two nights is spent in Esfahan, full of souks and bazaars, and then on to Tehran.

• Weeks 14-15: Tehran – Goreme – Istanbul

  Spend your last two nights in Iran camping at Zanjan and Kandovan, before crossing the border into Turkey. Travel east, wild camping en-route to Goreme, and the land of Cappadocia. Overland on the last leg to Istanbul, the only city in the world that straddles two continents.

* All prices shown are for low season, per person, twin share. Click here to see full Terms & Conditions.