SILK ROAD SAFARI SILK ROAD SAFARI SILK ROAD SAFARI SILK ROAD SAFARI China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

August 19 – September 13, 2016 Personalised, escorted and catered tour to one of the

most exotic destinations in the world

Travel in the footsteps of Genghis Khan, Marco Polo and Alexander the Great! Spend 26 spectacular days exploring the ancient and exotic Silk Road

from Xi’an to Tashkent with a national tour leader & local English-speaking guides. Quality transport, meals, accommodation & activities included.

What an Adventure! Join us on one of the world’s most exciting and mysterious adventures as we discover the secrets of the legendary Great Silk Road! We’ll travel over 5000 kms through China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan following the ancient trade route which transported silk, spices, livestock, produce, culture, customs, religion and language from west to east and back again for hundreds of years. We’ll enjoy delicious traditional food; travel in coaches, trains, mini-buses, even the occasional camel and rickshaw! We’ll stay in quality 4-5 star hotels (twin/share basis) and a nomadic yurt.

We’ll visit mosques, markets, museums and national parks; enjoy a bevy of cultural activities; meet local people and learn about the fascinating history of Central Asia. Airport transfers, internal flights, visas, ground transport, most meals, entries to attractions, a national escort, local English-speaking guides and Pre-Departure Kit are included in the package. What to Bring Pack comfortable, casual clothes for a variety of conditions ranging from cities to arid deserts to chilly mountains plus one or two ‘smart’ outfits for special occasions. Ladies should dress conservatively with respect for local customs & traditions. A detailed list of suggested items will be included in your Pre Departure Kit. Soft bags with wheels are preferable weighing 20 kgs or less – bring only what you can carry yourself – along with a day/overnight pack. Please have a current passport valid for at least six months and with several blank pages. Note that Australian citizens require visas for China and Uzbekistan. Check with your doctor as to which inoculations you’ll need. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to travel with people you know and trust! Minimum numbers are required for the tour to proceed and group size will be strictly limited.

ITINERARY Day 1, Friday, Aug 19: Arrival in Xian. Activities: Pick up at the airport, transfer to hotel Meals Included: No meals Hotel: 5-star Wydham Grand Xian South or similar.

Day 2, Saturday, Aug 20: Xian Activities: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Terra Cotta Warriors Reproduction Factory, Terra Cotta Warriors, Dumpling Dinner with Tang Dynasty Music & Dance (B,L,D) Hotel: 5-star Wydham Grand Xian South or similar. Day 3, Sunday, Aug 21: Xian/Dunhuang by Flight Activities: City Wall (with bike riding), Bell & Drum Tower Square, Great Mosque, Muslim Bazaar, Silk Road Statues, Fly to Dunhuang. Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant ((B,L,D) Hotel: 4-star Jinye Hotel or similar. Day 4, Monday, Aug 22: Dunhuang Activities: Magao Caves, Singing Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Lake, Camel Riding, Special Dinner in the Desert. Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant, Dinner in the Desert (B,L,D) Hotel: 4-star Jinye Hotel or similar Day 5, Tuesday, Aug 23: Drive from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan Activities: Drive to Jiayuguan in the morning, Jiayuguan Great Wall (Jiayuguan Fortress) Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local restaurant (B,L,D) Hotel: 4-star Holiday Plaza Hotel Jiayuguan or similar. Day 6, Wednesday, Aug 24: Jiayuguan/Turpan by Bullet Train Activities: The Hanging Great Wall, Wei & Jin Dynasty Tomb, Afternoon Bullet Train to Turpan. Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local restaurant (B,L,D) Hotel: 5-star Tuha Hotel or similar. Day 7, Thursday, Aug 25: Turpan. Activities: Gaochang Ancient City, Astana Tomb, Flaming Mountain, Karez Irrigation System, Emin Minaret. Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at local restaurant, diner at local Uyghur Family (B,L,D) Hotel: 5-star Tuha Hotel or similar. Day 8, Friday, Aug 26: Turpan – FREE DAY Activities: Day at leisure. Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel. Other meals at own expense. (B) Hotel: 5-star Tuha Hotel or similar. Day 9, Saturday, Aug 27: Turpan/Kashgar by Flight. Activities: Drive to Urumqi, fly to Kashgar in the afternoon. Visit Idkah Mosque & Abahojia Tomb. Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local restaurant (B,L,D) Hotel: 5-star Yuexing Jinjiang International Hotel Kashgar or similar. Day 10, Sunday, Aug 28: Kashgar. Activities: The old city of Kashgar, Great Bazaar & Livestock Market, Local Handicraft Street Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local restaurant (B,L,D) Hotel: 5-star Yuexing Jinjiang International Hotel Kashgar or similar. Day 11, Monday, Aug 29 - Kashgar/Turgart Activities: Drive for 165km to Turgart Pass at the China/Kyrgyzstan border (altitude of 3795m). After clearing Chinese customs, drive on to scenic Tash Rabat (boxed lunch en-route). Visit ancient caravanserai. Meals: Breakfast in hotel, boxed lunch, dinner in yurt camp (B,L,D) Hotel: Tash Rabat yurt camp

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Day 12, Tuesday, August 30 - Tash Rabat/Issyk Kul Lake Activities: Long (400 km) & scenic drive over the Dolon Pass (altitude of 3030m); stop at Kochkor village to visit the local women’s co-operative handicraft museum & shop; felt carpet making demonstration; Orto Tokoi water reservoir; Cholpon Ata (Issyk Kul Lake) Meals: breakfast at yurt camp, lunch with local family, dinner at hotel (B,L,D) Hotel: Karven Hotel, Cholpon Ata, Issyk Kul Lake or similar Day 13, Wednesday, August 31 – Issyk Kul Lake - FREE DAY (B) Other meals at own expense. Hotel: Karven Hotel, Cholpon Ata, Issyk Kul Lake or similar Day 14, Thursday, September 1 - Cholpon Ata/ Jety Oguz Gorge / Karakol ?? Activities: Drive to Jety Oguz Gorge for walk & picnic Meals: breakfast at hotel, picnic lunch, dinner with a local Uyghur family (B,L,D) Hotel: Karakol Green Yard Hotel in Karakol or similar Day 15, Friday, September 2 - Karakol – Bishkek Activities: Przhevalskii museum; Bokonbaevo village for spectacular Golden Eagle Hunting show; drive to Bishkek arriving late afternoon/early evening. Meals: breakfast at hotel, unch en-route, dinner in Bishkek (B,L,D) Hotel: Jannat Hotel or similar Day 16, Saturday, September 3 - Ala Archa National Park & City Tour Activities: Nature tour to beautiful Ala Archa National Park (40 km from Bishkek); guided half-day walking tour Meals: breakfast at hotel, special Kazakh BBQ lunch in park; special dinner at local restaurant with traditional Folklore Show (B,L,D) Hotel: Jannat Hotel or similar Day 17, Sunday, September 4 - Bishkek/Tashkent Activities: Walking & coach tour of Bishkek; Osh Bazaar, State History Museum, Ala Too Square, Lenin Statue, Parliament House, Manas Monument & White House. Fly to Tashkent in afternoon (arriving 7:00 p.m.). Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch in Bishkek, dinner in hotel (B,L,D) Hotel: Tashkent International Hotel or similar. Day 18, Monday, September 5 – Tashkent Activities: Driving/walking tour of the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia; Khast-Imam Complex, Quran of Caliph Uthman-Ottoman, Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tillya-Sheykh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi, Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari and the Applied Arts Museum. Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner in Tashkent Hotel: Tashkent International Hotel or similar. (B, L, D) Day 19, Tuesday, September 6 – Tashkent - Samarkand Activities: Early breakfast, transfer to railway station for an 8:00 a.m. departure to Samarkand by high speed train “Afrosiab”, early check-in at Samarkand hotel. Coach & walking tour to Imam al Bukhari Mausoleum, Gur Emir Mausoleum, Registan Square, Bibi Khanum Mosque and local oriental bazaar Siab. Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner in Samarkand (B,L,D) Hotel: Hotel Emir Han or similar (B,L,D) Day 20, Wednesday, September 7 – Samarkand Actvities: Full-day guided sightseeing tour to Shahi-Zinda complex, Ulug Beg Observatory & Mausoleum of Khodja Doniyor (Prophet Daniel) and "Khovrenko" Samarkand winery museum. Special “Samarkand by Night” coach tour. Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch at local guest house, dinner at local restaurant(B,L,D) Hotel: Hotel Emir Han or similar. Day 21, Thursday, September 8 – Samarkand – FREE DAY Activities: Free day in Samarkand for walking, relaxing or shopping at the bazaars. Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at own expense (B) Hotel: Hotel Emir Han or similar.

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Day 22, Friday, September 9: Samarkand/Bukhara Activities: Drive to Bukhara (280km), tour of summer palace of Bukahrian Emir Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch in Gijduvan at home of local family (sixth generation of making ceramic handicrafts), dinner at local restaurant. (B,L,D) Hotel: Devon Begi Hotel or similar. Day 23, Saturday, September 10 – Bukhara Activities: Visit Ark fortress, Bolo-Hauz ensemble, Khanaka and madrassah of Nadir Divan-Beghi, Lyabi-Hauz ensemble, Madrassah of Abdulaziz-khan, Miri-Arab Madrassah, Poi-Kalyan ensemble, trading domes of Bukhara & Ulugbek Madrassah. Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local restaurants. (B,L,D) Hotel: Devon Begi Hotel or similar. Day 24, Sunday, September 11 – Bukhara Activities: Bakhouddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum and Chor-Bakr Necropolis in morning; free time in afternoon. Meals: breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner in Bukhara, traditional folklore show program in Nodir Devon Begi Madrasah (B,L,D) Hotel: Devon Begi Hotel or similar Day 25, Monday, September 12 Bukhara – Tashkent Activities: Fly to Tashkent, check into hotel, remainder of day free. Special Farewell Dinner. Meals: Optional lunch in local chayhana (traditional teahouse) at own expense. Special Farewell Dinner (B,D). Hotel: International Hotel or similar. Day 26, Tuesday, September 13 – Tashkent Activities: Check out of hotel, transferred to airport for onward flights. Official end of tour.

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MEET YOUR TOUR LEADER Dilmurad Sabirov

Dilmurad Sabirov is the CEO of one of Uzbekistan’s most exciting tourism businesses, Miramax Travel Management. He will be personally leading the 2016 Silk Road Safari assisted by local English-speaking guides. Dilmurad has a degree in Oriental Science & speaks English, Russian, Turkish, Persian and Uzbek. He has a background in senior management, advertising, marketing, and tourism. Established in 2003 and based in Tashkent, Miramax coordinates a range of tours and travel services to such destinations as Europe, the Balkans, China, the “Stan” countries and, of course, The Great Silk Road. In addition to business and recreational tours, the company offers a wide selection of health and wellness packages, sports tours, cruises and special interest tours.

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PRICE (NETT):

PRICE DESCRIPTION:

• Based on two persons sharing a twin room with single beds (double bed MAY be available ifrequested in advance). N.B. accommodation in Tash Rabat yurt camp might be by 4 clients in a yurtdivided by male/female.

• Prices are subject to change if local costs are subsequently affected by government taxes, exchangerate difference, increase in fuel prices and/or any other influence beyond our control.

• Please note that the tour can only proceed if we achieve a minimum number of 10 participants;maximum number is 20 participants plus tour leader & local guides.

• Bookings will be confirmed on payment of a 25% deposit.

• Final payment will be due on July 1, 2016

Inclusions:

• Meet & greet service at Xi’an airport & other airport transfers in itinerary.

• All accommodation as specified in the itinerary on twin/share basis (please note hotels are subject tochange).

• All meals as specified in the itinerary with one soft drink (we will do our best to accommodate specialdietary requirements)

• All transportation, daily tours and entrance fees to scenic attractions (not camera or video fees) as peritinerary.

• One national tour escort from Uzbekistan & English speaking local guides throughout tour

• Single entry visa for China (N.B. to be arranged by agent)

• Single entry visa for Uzbekistan for Australian passport holders (obtained on arrival at Tashkentairport). Clients wishing to undertake post-tour travel in China will need to pay for a multiple entry visa.(To allow sufficient time for processing, visa application forms and scanned colour copies of passportsmust be sent to Miramax Tours by July 1, 2016)

• Internal flights in China based on economy class including taxes.

• Flight from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

• Domestic flights with tax (Xian/Jiayuguan, Urumqi/Kashgar, Bukhara/Tashkent).

• Second class bullet train tickets from Dunhuang to Turpan and Tashkent to Samarkand.

• 1 litre of still water per day per person.

• Tips to drivers and local guides

Does not include:

• International airfares and taxes to Xian and from Tashkent.

• Personal expenditure (such as alcoholic drinks, laundry service and souvenirs)

• Camera and video entry charges at monuments/forts etc, if any.

• Dual entry visa to China (for those wishing to depart via China or undertake optional travel in Chinapost-tour).

• Meals and services not mentioned.

• Travel insurance (please note this is compulsory).

FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT:

MIRAMAX TRAVEL MANAGEMENT 6 A, Bunyodkor Avenue 100027, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Tel: +99871 200 55 44 Mob: +99890 188 99 58 Skype: dilmurad.sabirov WWW.UZMIRAMAX.COM

Number of persons Price per person in USD

10 - 20 $6495

Single supplement $1650