This is a fascinating cultural and historical journey (fully escorted) over the Karakorum Mountains to the oases of the Taklamakan Desert and on into the heartlands of China.

Departure date:29 July 2001
(NB: if travelling from Europe, you will have to fly out on the 28th July.)

Price: £1540.00 per person - a great saving on the published price. International flights are not included so please ask if you would like a quote.

The ‘Silk Road Caravan’ begins its journey in Islamabad heading north through lush foothills, along the banks of the Indus and then up into the geological wonderland of the Karakorums and the Hindu Kush. Making our way gradually up the Karakorum Highway, itself an engineering wonder of the world, we have ample time to explore this, one of the most beautiful and culturally diverse regions on Earth. We spend time in Gilgit, backdrop to the ‘Great Game’ when Imperial British and Russian governments jockeyed for influence in this strategically vital area. Further north we have time to relax amidst the apricot trees and wooden forts of the old Ismaili kingdom of Hunza.

Here beneath the towering majesty of Mt. Rakaposhi it is hard for the visitor not to be struck by the reasons, both natural and cultural, why this valley is considered to be the source of the legend of Shangri- La. We spend our last night in Pakistan in the sleepy, picturesque village of Gulmit before entering China via the stunning Khunjerab Pass. After the dramatic, scenic intensity of the Karakorums we emerge into the gentler, more rolling landscape of the Pamirs and make our way via the Tadjik town of Tashkorgan to Kashgar, the oasis stronghold of the Uighurs. Our stay is timed to coincide with the Sunday Bazaar when nomads and traders from all over Central Asia gather to do business at this extraordinary market.

From Urumqi we travel to Turfan to spend time in another oasis town, exploring Buddhist cities by day, and, in the evening, relaxing beneath grape trellises, perhaps to be carried gently back through the centuries by the plaintive desert songs of the Uighurs. On, past the snowy peaks of the Tianshan Mountains, we travel by train to Dunhuang, home to the most remarkable repository of Buddhist cave art in the world, the Mogao Grottoes. This town was once the last outpost of the Chinese Empire and further south we visit Jiayuguan, the fortress that marks the western end of the Great Wall. We continue through Gansu’s rural hinterland for much of the way following the line of the Great Wall. Eventually we pass through the Wall and after visiting China’s largest statue of the Sleeping Buddha at Zhangye we make our way to the bustling, frontier town of Lanzhou. Here we travel by boat along the reaches and gorges of the Yellow River to see the acclaimed Binglingsi Caves. Moving further into the heart of China we arrive the old imperial capital Xian, formerly Changan and visit the awe inspiring Terracotta Warriors. In today’s capital of Beijing we visit the Great Wall and other ancient sites and also have time to soak up some of the exciting atmosphere of this dynamic modern city.

If you would like more details please call Mun, our Asia expert, on 020 7593 2323.

The Himalayan Caravan – A journey through Tibet

Departure Date: 8th September (you will need to depart the UK on the 7th September).

This is a fully escorted tour and the special offer price is £1435.00 per person (land only). International flights are not included - please ask for a quote.

The Himalayan Caravan begins its journey by exploring Nepal’s bustling capital, Kathmandu. From here one of the most beautiful mountain flights in the world takes us past Everest, across the width of the Himalayas and into Tibet. We spend our first night at a relatively low altitude in Tsetang, one of Tibet’s former capitals and visit the Tolkienesque temple of Yumbu Lhakhang. For much of the way following the mighty Yarlung Tsangpo River we carry on to Lhasa and at one point cross the river to visit Samye Monastery, considered in the Tibetan world to be the centre of the universe. The holy city of Lhasa is Tibet’s intriguing, historic capital and we have three full days in which to explore all the city’s major sights including the Potala Palace, Drepung and Sera Monasteries and also the Jokhang Temple, Vatican of Tibetan Buddhism.

Using high quality Landcruisers, capable of dealing with the rugged terrain ahead, we travel south via the Khamba La pass, with its stunning views of Scorpion Lake, to Gyangtse. Here, in this largely unspoilt Tibetan town, we visit the medieval Pelkhor Chode Temple complex with its huge Kumbum stupa, and also see Gyangtse fort, scene of an assault by the British Younghusband expedition in 1904. We carry on via Shalu to Tibet’s second city, Shigatse and visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, formerly home of the Panchen Lama. As we continue to Everest Base Camp we will, depending on road conditions, visit the important and unusual monastery at Sakya, before crossing over the Pang La pass to spend a spartan night at Rongbuk Monastery. Here in the footsteps of Mallory and Irving (and Tintin!) we are likely to be rewarded with unforgettable views of Everest’s northern face. Carrying on over highland passes and through some of the most stunning mountain vistas in the world we eventually cross the Himalayas and begin our descent down through cultivated foothills and back to the Kathmandu valley.

If you would like more details please call Mun, our Asia expert, on 020 7593 2323.

Slovenia's Trekking Peaks

Departure Dates: Saturday 11 August 2001 and Saturday 15 September 2001
Prices: Based on 2 people sharing a double room in the pensions: £800.00 per person a saving of 5% on the published price.
Includes: All transfers, all accommodation on half-board bases except at Lake Bled pension which is on BB, qualified mountain guide, all additional equipment where required and storage facilities during the treks.
Flights are not included - please ask for a quote.

Join our partners Freedom of Slovenia trekking through the three spectacular mountain ranges that dominate “Europe’s Hidden Treasure”; the Karavanke Mountain Range, the Julian Alps and the Kamnik – Savinja Alps. Each of the ranges offers contrasting scenery, the soft contours of the Karavanke Mountains, the rich limestone of the Julian Alps and the rugged outlines of the Kamnik – Savinja Alps. You stay in small hotels in the stunning Lake Bled and also in Lake Bohinj and also in mountain huts when en-route. The scenery of this part of Europe is Alpine and gloriously unspoilt. The weather in the summer is excellent and makes it perfect for walking and enjoying the spectacular views you will encounter on this trip. This country really is an unspoilt gem and if you enjoy stunning scenery and the great outdoors this holiday is for you. (Please note it is a challenging trek with long days so you do need to be fit to enjoy this trip).

If you would like any further information about this trip please call Ruth, our European expert, on 020 7593 2323.