After a long period of inactivity, 2014 will bring new life to this blog: from 17 April to 29 August I will be on tour again. This time, it will be a major trip, one combining several trips I have wanted to do already for many years: Iran, Uzbekistan and China. The project is to leave from Istanbul and - along the Silk Road - to travel over land through 6 countries: Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China to Beijing, over more than 7.000 km, mostly by train, but also by bus, shared taxi, sometimes on foot and - who knows - maybe also on a camel or a donkey if necessary / available. ;-) For the last part, I plan some days in Thailand to relax after this great adventure.
With only 3 months left before my departure, I have now entered the intense preparatory phase: visas, vaccinations, detailed route planning.
To give you a small overview and impression of what this trip will be about, I took a description of a 4 week (!!!) organised tour which will travel the same route and edited it slightly...
Istanbul - Gateway to the Silk Road (2 weeks in Turkey: 17.04. - 02.05.)
Early Silk Road explorers set out from Constantinople to follow the "golden road" of trade to Central Asia and the distant empire known as Cathay. Today the journey is far more comfortable, but no shorter! Following some time in Istanbul and in Cappadokia, I will join the trans-Asia Express for our 3-night journey across the breadth of Turkey to Tabriz in Iran. The train journey provides a wonderful opportunity to witness the wild and changing landscape as I will travel to the lands of ancient Persia.
Incredible Iran (4 weeks: 02.05. - 01.06.)
Tabriz is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Bazaar. From there to Ardabil, Masuleh, Zanjan, Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Shush and Shushtar, Shiraz, Yazd to Isfahan with its wonderful blue tiled buildings, covered bazaar, the stunning Masjed-e Emam Mosque, one of Iran's great architectural ensembles, and the cities' renowned tea-houses. Via Kashan and Ghom to Tehran, the busy, crowded metropolis with few historic sights, however it boasts some excellent museums many housed in former palaces. Final stop in Iran - Mashhad, of course on a Friday! The incredible shrine complex of Emam Reza, the eighth grandson of the prophet Mohammed, is one of the great architectural wonders of the Islamic world, and is said to receive more than 5 million pilgrims each year.
The "golden" cities of Central Asia (3 weeks in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: 01.06. - 26.06.)
Leaving Iran, i will cross the Kopet Dag mountains to Turkmenistan, first to ancient desert city of Merw, then to its capital Ashghabad and Konye-Urgench (long time ago the centre of the Islamic world). From there to ancient Uzbek cities of Khiva and Bukhara. Once known as 'holy' Bukhara, it was home to more than 2000 mosques, today its monuments are some of the oldest on the Silk Road; the Ark Fortress, Samanid Mausoleum and, spared the destruction of Genghis Khan, the Kalyan Minaret - one of central Asia's tallest. Across the Kyzyl Kum Desert lie the fabulous monuments of Samarkand. No city is so evocative of the ancient Silk Road than 'golden' Samarkand, Tamerlane's turquoise-spangled capital. I will explore Central Asia's most spectacular architectural ensemble; the Registan, plus many other highlights including the Shah-i-Zinda complex, Bibi Khanym Mosque and the Ulug Bek Observatory. I will leave Samarkand for the Uzbek capital, Tashkent and then further to the Fergana valley.
Stunning nature and mountain trekking in Kyrgyzstan (2 weeks: 26.06. - 10.07.)
From Osh to the capital Bishkek, then to the Issyk Kul and Son Kul lakes, with lots of trekking and probably some horse riding (if I manage to take the riding classes beforehand ...). Some nights I will stay in traditional Yurts.
China's Silk Road (6 weeks: 10.07. - 18.08. - if I get the visa extension)
Over the Torurgat Pass to Xinjiang, the Chinese Uygur province, to Kashgar, the fabled oases of the Taklamakan Desert, from which departs the legendary Karakorum Highway, the overland route to India through Pakistan, which I will unfortunately only travel for two days, before it really gets spectacular, but I had to make choices... I will explore the oasis of Turpan, which still reflects life as it was along the Silk Road and the faces in the bazaar recall the four corners of Asia. One of the last trains carries me westwards across the Taklamakan Desert to Jiayuguan, and the bastion ramparts of the Great Wall's most westerly garrison. From there, I will make an excursion into the mountains that were part of the old Tibetan province to get to know the life of Tibetan monks and to do some more great hiking. Then onwards to Xian. At the height of Silk Road prosperity Chang'an, as Xian was then known, was the glittering capital of ancient Cathay. Today the old city walls, towers, pagodas and incredible Terracotta Army reveal the city's long and turbulent history. Finally an overnight train carries me from the gateway of the great Silk Road to Beijing, with a stop in Pingyao, the only old town in China which preserved it's complete ancient city walls.
Beijing - the adventure is complete
Beijing is an incredible contrast of sights, sounds and smells,explore the backstreets (Hutongs) of the old town with their food stalls and street vendors for a taste of 'old Beijing'. The 'Scheduled Sightseeing' takes in the "must see" sights: the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and Forbidden City and - of course - the Silk market! ;-) This will complete the Silk Road adventure and I will have deserved some days of relaxation in Thailand. ;-)
Hope you will follow me on this adventure! ;-)
Here is a map indicating the itinerary
With only 3 months left before my departure, I have now entered the intense preparatory phase: visas, vaccinations, detailed route planning.
To give you a small overview and impression of what this trip will be about, I took a description of a 4 week (!!!) organised tour which will travel the same route and edited it slightly...
Istanbul - Gateway to the Silk Road (2 weeks in Turkey: 17.04. - 02.05.)
Early Silk Road explorers set out from Constantinople to follow the "golden road" of trade to Central Asia and the distant empire known as Cathay. Today the journey is far more comfortable, but no shorter! Following some time in Istanbul and in Cappadokia, I will join the trans-Asia Express for our 3-night journey across the breadth of Turkey to Tabriz in Iran. The train journey provides a wonderful opportunity to witness the wild and changing landscape as I will travel to the lands of ancient Persia.
Incredible Iran (4 weeks: 02.05. - 01.06.)
Tabriz is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Bazaar. From there to Ardabil, Masuleh, Zanjan, Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Shush and Shushtar, Shiraz, Yazd to Isfahan with its wonderful blue tiled buildings, covered bazaar, the stunning Masjed-e Emam Mosque, one of Iran's great architectural ensembles, and the cities' renowned tea-houses. Via Kashan and Ghom to Tehran, the busy, crowded metropolis with few historic sights, however it boasts some excellent museums many housed in former palaces. Final stop in Iran - Mashhad, of course on a Friday! The incredible shrine complex of Emam Reza, the eighth grandson of the prophet Mohammed, is one of the great architectural wonders of the Islamic world, and is said to receive more than 5 million pilgrims each year.
The "golden" cities of Central Asia (3 weeks in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: 01.06. - 26.06.)
Leaving Iran, i will cross the Kopet Dag mountains to Turkmenistan, first to ancient desert city of Merw, then to its capital Ashghabad and Konye-Urgench (long time ago the centre of the Islamic world). From there to ancient Uzbek cities of Khiva and Bukhara. Once known as 'holy' Bukhara, it was home to more than 2000 mosques, today its monuments are some of the oldest on the Silk Road; the Ark Fortress, Samanid Mausoleum and, spared the destruction of Genghis Khan, the Kalyan Minaret - one of central Asia's tallest. Across the Kyzyl Kum Desert lie the fabulous monuments of Samarkand. No city is so evocative of the ancient Silk Road than 'golden' Samarkand, Tamerlane's turquoise-spangled capital. I will explore Central Asia's most spectacular architectural ensemble; the Registan, plus many other highlights including the Shah-i-Zinda complex, Bibi Khanym Mosque and the Ulug Bek Observatory. I will leave Samarkand for the Uzbek capital, Tashkent and then further to the Fergana valley.
Stunning nature and mountain trekking in Kyrgyzstan (2 weeks: 26.06. - 10.07.)
From Osh to the capital Bishkek, then to the Issyk Kul and Son Kul lakes, with lots of trekking and probably some horse riding (if I manage to take the riding classes beforehand ...). Some nights I will stay in traditional Yurts.
China's Silk Road (6 weeks: 10.07. - 18.08. - if I get the visa extension)
Over the Torurgat Pass to Xinjiang, the Chinese Uygur province, to Kashgar, the fabled oases of the Taklamakan Desert, from which departs the legendary Karakorum Highway, the overland route to India through Pakistan, which I will unfortunately only travel for two days, before it really gets spectacular, but I had to make choices... I will explore the oasis of Turpan, which still reflects life as it was along the Silk Road and the faces in the bazaar recall the four corners of Asia. One of the last trains carries me westwards across the Taklamakan Desert to Jiayuguan, and the bastion ramparts of the Great Wall's most westerly garrison. From there, I will make an excursion into the mountains that were part of the old Tibetan province to get to know the life of Tibetan monks and to do some more great hiking. Then onwards to Xian. At the height of Silk Road prosperity Chang'an, as Xian was then known, was the glittering capital of ancient Cathay. Today the old city walls, towers, pagodas and incredible Terracotta Army reveal the city's long and turbulent history. Finally an overnight train carries me from the gateway of the great Silk Road to Beijing, with a stop in Pingyao, the only old town in China which preserved it's complete ancient city walls.
Beijing - the adventure is complete
Beijing is an incredible contrast of sights, sounds and smells,explore the backstreets (Hutongs) of the old town with their food stalls and street vendors for a taste of 'old Beijing'. The 'Scheduled Sightseeing' takes in the "must see" sights: the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and Forbidden City and - of course - the Silk market! ;-) This will complete the Silk Road adventure and I will have deserved some days of relaxation in Thailand. ;-)
Hope you will follow me on this adventure! ;-)
Here is a map indicating the itinerary
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