Compare Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to China by African Trails vs China Adventure Tour by Discovery Nomads

Turkmenistan - Week 1...
The recently passed dictator had the capital city Ashgabat made in white marble. The rest of the country is a beautiful empty dessert, with nomads in their yurts.

Highlights - Ashgabat, Darvaza Gas Craters, Konye-Urgench

The economy is run off its vast reserves of oil and gas which lies beneath Central Asia’s largest desert; the Karakum or Black Desert. First, stop the capital Ashgabat with enormous monuments and extravagant buildings made entirely of white marble.

We visit Darvaza Gas Craters or the ‘Doors to Hell’, it’s a drilling operation gone wrong, which opened a massive hole in the desert; from which the natural gas came out – it was lit to get rid of the dangerous gas and it’s been burning for 40 years.

Kanye-Urgench on the northern border is a ruined town, with old monuments. Is was the scene of one of the biggest massacres in human history by Genghis Khan; this start of his killings led to the death of over 70 million people; some 17% of the world population

Uzbekistan – Week ...1 - 2
The heart of the ancient Silk Road

Highlights – the beautiful cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand are the main highlights not only Uzbekistan but of the whole of Central Asia

Khiva town is one of the best preserved of the in Central Asia the Old Town is within a massive mud-brick fortress. Climb the towering minarets and sit in the tranquil old mosques. We cross the desert and the Amu Darya River, (known in ancient times as the Oxus), to Bukhara. Its old center with easy to get lost in narrow winding streets, mosques, medieval royal fortress and a bazaar complex; it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Samarkand was once the most populous city in the world; its 2,500 years of history old rivaling Rome in importance; now its attractions are really big colorful mosques, markets and the impossibly big public square called ‘Registan’ or sandy place in Persian. This was made when public squares were for public announcements and executions. Onto the capital Tashkent and east, transiting Kazakhstan into Kyrgyzstan.

Kazakhstan – Week 3…

One of the larger countries in Asia - it extends into Eastern Europe; the people are a mix of Mongolian and Russians. The capital Almaty; is named after apples, which is where they first grew.

Highlights – the size of the place; the 9th largest country in the world

We cross to Kazakhstan and Aksu-Dzhabagly Nature Reserve the oldest nature reserve in Central Asia; stunning scenery of green valleys, rushing rivers and snowcapped peaks. Look out for the Himalayan brown bear.

Kyrgyzstan – Weeks …4 - 5
A land of high mountain passes, grassy plains, alpine lakes & yurts, all in the Celestial Mountains. The beginning for us of a strong Chinese influence.

Highlights - High altitude Lake Song Kol and Ala Archa National Park.

As big as England with just 5 million people; there is space to wander. We visit the capital Bishkek You can go walking and horse trekking around Lake Issyk Kul.

We visit the vast red stone cliffs in Jet Oguz or ‘Seven Bulls’ and visit the town of Karakol with its beautiful Russian wooden houses and tree-lined streets. Nearby are the Teekay Ala-Too Mountains, a wilderness with nomadic shepherds.

Continuing around the lake to Semenovskre Gorge you can go walking and follow the rivers that wind through the national reserve.

On to Ala Archa National Park; forests, glaciers and alpine streams and go camping amongst the nomads in their yurts.

China – Week 6 - 9
China invented everything we like; Chinese food (stir fry and fried rice), chopsticks, fireworks, goldfish, tea, toilet paper, kites, paper money and hundreds of other things.

Highlights –Kashgar, Taklamakan Desert, Turpan Oasis, Gobi Desert, Yellow River, Chengdu city, Giant Pandas, Xi'an Terracotta army, Beijing, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City or Palace.

From Kashgar, we cross the Taklamakan and Gobi Deserts, visit a Buddhist Monastery, Giant Pandas, Xi'an’s Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall of China and reach Peking where the best things to see are Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City or Palace.

Cross the border to China over the high Torugat Pass to high plains with nomadic Kyrgyz people with their yurts and horses. Kashgar – is a major trading point on the old Silk Road. Big bazaars, markets, and old tombs. Down the Karakorum Highway to beautiful Lake Karakol, nestled in the desert below snow covered mountains.

Into the Taklamakan Desert – a dry massive desert of slowly moving sand. We spend a few days on the northern edge of this long desert.

To Kuqa and the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, these caves were carved into the cliff face over a period of 1,700 years; all overlooking the Muzat River, a broad river running through this dry country.

On to the ruins of Turpan, a revitalized oasis town, hot weather and good irrigation produce trellised vines and the best grapes and raisins in the world. On a nearby plateau are the ruins of Jiaohe; a city destroyed by the Mongols under Genghis Kahn.

We cross the Gobi Desert visiting oasis towns of Dunhuang to visit Ming Sha Hill and the Crescent Moon Pool. Spring water flows into a depression between huge sand dunes, forming a picture postcard crescent-shaped lake.

The Great Wall of China spreads across a great many parts of the country. Jiayuguan Fort built in the Ming Dynasty is the westernmost section lies at the walls most western end

Over the Tibetan Plateau and Yong Jing, and take a ferry across the Yellow River to the Bingling Grottoes and Temple; a series of Buddhist caves and statues cut into the cliff face. Wander through the site by following walkways perched on the cliff face high above the river.

Huanglong National Park or in Chinese; Yellow Dragon Valley there are colorful pools formed by calcite deposits, snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and hot travertine springs. Go hiking and warm up in the natural hot pools. http://www.huanglong.com/

Chengdu is our first really big city in China with something around 14 million people. It’s the capital of Sichuan province and the home of the spicy Chinese food. The Giant Panda breeding center is here, so if you want to see one of the babies bears up close. The film Kung Fu Panda was set in this city. It’s an attractive modern city and worthwhile spending time to wander around and to visit the Wuhou Temple & Wenshu Monastery.

To Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors; 8,000 life-size terracotta soldiers and horses lay buried for 2,000 years. They are all unpainted as when they are unearthed and exposed to the air, within just two minutes the ancient colorful paint job fades and flakes off. Also, you can see a relic of the Buddha, a finger bone at Famen Temple.

From Xi’an to Beijing by a full day's train ride - We see the Great Wall of China and reach Peking where the best things to see are Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City or Palace and Temple of Heaven.

Day 1-3 Beijing

Arrive in Beijing at any time. On the first day we have not planned any events. On Day 2 visit some of the top attractions of Beijing and the surrounding area on this guided group tour. You’ll have the opportunity to walk along the Great Wall, marvel at the Royal Palace and other sites in the Forbidden City and stop to see Tiananmen Square.

Hotel: Grand Hyatt Beijing or similar.

Day 3-5 Xi`an

Travel by high speed comfortable train to Xian (5h). On the Day 4 uncover the mysterious mask of the eighth world wonder, the Terracotta Warriors. Feast your eyes on over 7,000 terracotta sculptures, an army ready for battle and explore one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world.

Hotel: Sheraton Xian or similar.

Day 5-7 Shanghai

Flight to Shanghai. In the evening explore the local restaurant scene of Shanghai on a 3-hour food tasting tour of the city center. Sample more than 15 traditional dishes from Shanghai on a 3-hour food tasting tour of the Yunnan Road. Try some of the best dumpling soup in the city and indulge your sweet tooth at a dessert store. On Day 6 explore the highlights of Shanghai, visit local markets, and the trendy Xintiandi district.

Hotel: Grand Kempinski Shanghai or similar.

Day 7-9 Hong Kong

 Flight to Hong Kong. In the evening cruise along the coastal lines of Hong Kong and Kowloon Peninsula, see the the sparkling night city filled with skyscrapers and dazzling neon lights. Enjoy the famous the Symphony of Lights Cruise with unlimited drinks. On Day 8 get scenic photos of the city's famous Victoria Harbor view at Sky Terrace 428 after riding the Peak Tram on this city tour. Visit an ancient fishing village to get to know old Hong Kong and shop for souvenirs at Stanley Market.

Hotel: JW Marriott Hong Kong or similar.