Inner Mongolia- and now Northern Xinjiang Province- a real adventure.  Are you game ?

Experience the culture of Inner Mongolia, and take part in the famous Nadaam, where horses dominate the events.  Sleep one night in a yurt. Then travel from Hohhot to Urumqi and explore Northern Xinjiang Province . Here you will meet people from Uighur, Kazakh and Tuwa Minority groups. Also enjoy the mountains, rivers and lakes, and see the borders of Russia and Kazakhstan from a mountain perch. Lovely. 4-star hotels- adventure in comfort.

Day One. Thursday, 22/07/10 Melbourne

Arrive Melbourne Airport at 22:00. Meet at Singapore Airlines counter.

Day Two. Friday, 23/07/10 Melbourne/Beijing

Leave Melbourne by SQ218 (Singapore Airlines) at 00:50.  Arrive Singapore at 06:00, transit in Singapore by SQ802, at 08:40. arrive Beijing at 14:55.  Tour guide will meet us and transfer us to our hotel.  Free for rest of day, collected by tour guide and taken to dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in Beijing. (D)

Day Three. Saturday, 24/07/10 Beijing/Hohhot

Transfer to airport after breakfast and fly to Hohhot by CA1103 at 07:45, arrive 08:45.  Upon arrival met by local guide then transferred to hotel to leave our luggage.  Day tour in Hohhot, including the Tomb of Wangzhaojun, Da Zhao Lamasery, Wu Ta Pagoda, and the Inner Mongolia Museum.  Overnight stay in Hohhot. (B,L,D)

Day Four. Sunday, 25/07/10 Hohot/Grasslands by coach (2 hours)

Join the Nadaam festival.  Watch the horse racing, wrestling, etc.  Visit a Mongolian family and taste the Mongolian cuisine.  Enjoy the graceful Mongolian singing and dancing in the evening.  Overnight stay in yurts to experience the culture. (B,L,D)

Day Five. Monday 26/07/10 Grassland/Erdous by coach (4 hours)

Drive to Erdous and visit Kubuqi Resonant Sand Gorge, camel riding (optional), visit Yellow River Bridge. Overnight stay in Erdous. (B,L,D)

Day Six. Tuesday 27/07/10  Erdous/Hohhot by coach (4 hours)

In morning visit Genghis Khan's Mausoleum.  Back to Hohhot by coach.  In afternoon, city tour before dinner. (B,L,D).

Day Seven. Wednesday 28/07/10  Rural area/Hohhot/Urumqi

Day tour. Visit dairy farm, learn about dairy industry.  Back to Hohhot later in afternoon. Fly to Urumqi by CZ6928 at 17:10 , arrive at 20;50. Met by tour guide and transfered to hotel.( B,L,)

Day Eight. Thursday, 29/07/10 Urumqi/Tianshan/Urumqi

Visit Tianshan ( Heavenly Mountain) - this mountain is regarded by the locals as a holy residence of an ancient legendary goddess. It is a beautiful area and you will see quaint yurts dotted around the wooded slopes ( spruce pines). This area is 110 kms east of Urumqi: the Heavenly Lake is 2,000 metres up into the mountains, a blue ribbon of water set in front of the snow-capped peak of Bogeda Feng. (B,L,D)

Day Nine. Friday 30/07/10 Urumqi/Buerqin

After breakfast visit Urumqi city, in particular Dabaza market, the local market in the town centre. There are many Uighurs living in the area and you can buy traditional dress and music at Da Ba Za. Fly north by CZ6841 at 16:25, arrive at 17:40. Met by tour guide and transferred to Buerqin, a small town (50,000 people) which is the gateway to the Kanas Lake area. Visit a night market, in the market you can taste different kinds of fish and other foods. (B,L,D)

Day Ten. Saturday 31/07/10 Buerqin/Kanas Lake

After breakfast in the hotel, drive to Kanas Lake. This lake is 180 km from the hotel, you will drive to the deep mountain area via the plains. You will see Kazakh people and their yurts and animals- horses, camels and cattle. Nearing Kanas Lake see the birch forests and follow the Kanas River. When you arriva at the lake area you will be taken to see the 3 bays from elevated positions. Cameras out! Learn about the Tuwa people, who are the mountain Mongolians, living mainly in log cabins around the lake area. Hear the legend of the strange being of the lake- similar to the Loch Ness Monster. ( B,L,D)

Day Eleven. Sunday 01/08/10 Kanas Lake/Karamay

Visit a local Kazakh family farm. You will see inside their yurts and learn about their farming, see their animals. The Kazakhs are great horsemen and love music and dance. Visit Five Coloured Bay on way to Karamay, visit an oil well. Transfer to hotel for dinner. ( B,L,D)

Day Twelve. Monday 02/08/2010 Karamay/Urumqi

Drive back to Umumqi, on the way you will visit the Ghost city, which has been created by wind. It looks like a ruined city, and you will explore it by camel. Arrive Urumqi before dinner. Enjoy a Minority Dance for your evening's entertainment. (B,L,D)

Day Thirteen. Tuesday,03/08/2010 Urumqi/Beijing/Melbourne

Fly to Beijing by CZ6901 at 10:05, arrive at 13:25. Transfer to airport and back to Melbourne by Singapore Airlines.  Leave Beijing by SQ805 at 16:00, arrive Singapore at 22:15, connect SQ217, leave at 23:35.

Day Fourteen. 04/08/2010 Wednesday Melbourne

Arrive Melbourne at 09:55 next morning.

 

Cost of tour:

$4,588.00 pp twin share.  $700 pp single supplement.

Includes :

• Return international air ticket, fly Singapore Airlines (economy class).
• Transportation in China, including domestic flights and coaches.
• 4-star accommodation.
• Meals and sightseeing as per the itinerary.
• Visa fee.
• English speaking tour guide.

Does not include :

• Departure tax and related surcharge ( around $500, this may change).
• Tipping: $140.00 p.p.
• Travel insurance.

 Note:

• Itinerary, etc, may change because of unforeseen circumstances.
• Small group travel : 16 people maximum.
• Men and women are welcome.
• If numbers are sufficient, transport may be arranged from South West Victoria to and from the airport.
• Di Clanchy will accompany the group.
• Trip based on 10 passengers, cost may change if less than 10.
• Trip will be finalised by April, 2010, and may be cancelled or postponed if numbers are insufficient,

Deposits of a non-refundable $500.00 can be paid to China Birds Pty Ltd, Di Clanchy, Box 210, Port Fairy, 3284.  Cheques made payable to "Premier Towns Travel".

Resources which may provide background information about the country and cultures involved are :

Books: The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson, Gantsara by Ian D. Robertson, Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong, Wolf of the plains by Colin Iggulden and the movie "Mongol".

For more details : 03 55681343, 0408361552, diclanchy@chinabirds.com.au

China Birds and Premier Towns Travel Licensed 31514

Medina- her company organises part of the trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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