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Silk Road Adventure2008 Itinerary

Calling all adventurous travelers: This itinerary was developed so you can walk in the footsteps of Marco Polo and other ancient explorers as you travel along the time-honored Silk Road. During your 17-day journey, tour age-old cities along this famous trade route—Urumqi, Turpan and Kashgar—and see 2,000 years of history, culture and commerce unfold. A landscape, population and culture very different from other parts China, this region is influenced by surrounding countries of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. You will also explore China’s more modern metropolises of Shanghai, Xian and Beijing to experience their imperial treasures. And, you sail along the legendary Yangtze, visiting riverside villages and uncovering the amazing natural beauty of the heart of China.

Day 1Shanghai

Welcome to Shanghai, China’s most modern metropolis. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.* Take time to relax and explore the city, with its ancient architecture of old China and today’s modern financial district. (B, L, D)

Day 2Shanghai

After breakfast, tour Shanghai’s older district and elegant Bund. A local lunch is followed by a silk carpet workshop tour and demonstration, and a visit to the Shanghai Museum, filled with ancient artifacts and works of art. Tonight, see famed Chinese acrobats at an amazing performance. (B, L, D)

Day 3Shanghai & Wuhan

Take morning free time to further explore Shanghai. After lunch, fly to Wuhan. Tour the historic Hubei Provincial Museum before embarking your ship. Dine aboard. (B, L, D)

Day 4Yueyang

Today, you visit a rural village’s elementary school, sponsored by Viking River Cruises. Enjoy sharing songs and stories with the children. Then, cruise through the breathtaking Xiling Gorge, longest of the Three Gorges. (B, L, D)

Day 5Three Gorges Dam

Disembark for a tour of the Three Gorges Dam, where you learn all about this ambitious engineering project. This afternoon, cruise through the five stair-step locks of the dam. Meals aboard; cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 6Three Gorges & Lesser Three Gorges

Enjoy the Yangtze’s spectacular series of limestone ridges, known as the Three Gorges. Cruise through Wu (Witches) Gorge, noted for its sheer cliffs. Then, board a smaller boat for an excursion through the dramatic Lesser Three Gorges, remarkable canyons flanked by towering cliffs. Along the way you see ancient burial sites and a plank road carved into the cliffside. Return to your ship for lunch and spend the afternoon sailing through the most spectacular of the three large gorges, Qutang Gorge. Dinner is served aboard. (B, L, D)

Day 7Shibaozhai

After breakfast, tour the 12-story Shibaozhai Temple, a red pavilion built in 1650. Experience breathtaking views of the river valley. Return to your ship for lunch and dinner; cruise through the night. (B, L, D)

Day 8Chongqing & Xian

Disembark after breakfast. Visit the giant pandas at the Chongqing Zoo; after a local lunch, fly to Xian, key city of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.). Tonight’s treat is a banquet with food, song, dance and colorful costumes of the Tang Dynasty era. (B, L. D)

Day 9Xian & Urumqi

This morning, tour the famed burial site of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, laid to rest with more than 8,000 life-sized and individually molded terra cotta warriors. After lunch, fly to Urumqi and check in to your hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 10Urumqi

Explore the mountain valley of Urumqi, the world’s farthest city from the ocean. Urumqi has a unique multicultural population, influenced by neighboring countries of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Turkey. Visit with local herdsmen and see their yurts, age-old dwellings where they still live to this day. Try regional specialties at today’s meals, cuisine different from traditional Chinese food. (B, L, D)

Day 11Urumqi & Turpan

A motorcoach ride brings you to Turpan, lowest basin in China. Tour the New City and Old City; see centuries-old mud houses still inhabited by locals. Visit the ruins of the ancient city of Jiahoe, dating back 2,300 years to the Han Dynasty. Tonight, dine on regional cuisine and enjoy a performance by local musicians. (B, L, D)

Day 12Turpan & Kashgar

This morning, you tour the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves followed by a visit to the Grape Valley. This oasis in the desert offers the best grapes for wine and raisins. See how the ancient karez irrigation system helped shape this industry. After your visit, fly to Kashgar. (B, L, D)

Day 13Kashgar

As you drive through Kashgar, see the 59-foot-tall statue of Mao Zedong. Visit the Id Kah Mosque, built in 1442; this Islamic mosque is the largest in China. After lunch, go shopping in the city’s famous Bazaar, featuring everything from animals and food to handcrafted clothing and souvenirs. (B, L, D)

Day 14Kashgar & Beijing

This morning, fly to Beijing. After checking in to your hotel, take free time to explore China’s former imperial capital. Dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

Day 15Beijing

This morning, you will walk the ramparts of the fabled Great Wall of China. After lunch, stroll along the Sacred Way, a long tree-shaded avenue with massive animal sculptures that leads to the Ming Tombs. A dinner of local specialties highlights the evening. (B, L, D)

Day 16Beijing

After breakfast, visit the enormous Tiananmen Square, which can accommodate over 1,000,000 people. Then, visit the mysterious Forbidden City, with its elegant buildings and landscaped gardens, considered the finest in China. Later, tour the Summer Palace, a 700-acre complex of beautiful gardens and intricate buildings. Its Chinese name means Garden of Nurtured Harmony. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner and a performance of the amazing Peking Opera. (B, L, D)