Eclipse Tour #1 : Along China’s Silk Road (Uyghur - Kazakh - Mongolian Country)
Our core program (1A) concentrates on a 9-day tour starting and ending in Urümqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Province. You will travel some 2,000 km by comfortable tourist coach busses along China’s Silk Road and experience unforgettable highlights, such as the view of crystal clear lakes at an elevation over 2,000 meters, drive along the world’s second lowest depression in Turpan Basin, visit ancient caves with Buddhist paintings, shop in multi-ethnic bazaars, witness the stunning sand dunes, watch and/or ride the famous Barkol horses or camels and of course, enjoy more than 2 minutes of totality in our specially built camp in the Gobi Desert.
You will be accompanied by our multilingual staff, bilingual local guides, and of course, astronomy experts from the international community as well as from Urümqi Observatory. We have personally inspected all hotels, 2 to 4 stars depending on the visited locations. Our "Kazakh Eclipse City" will be your home for two nights, ashore lake Balikun, an incredible location. Full board and an award winning show and eclipse gala dinner, will make this trip, an unforgettable experience.
For those customers wishing to have a more comprehensive package, we do also offer programs, which allow you to start or end (1B and 1C) your journey in Beijing or Shanghai, with all inland flights and Beijing sightseeing (tour 1B only) included. The Olympic Summer games start on August 8th 2008 in Beijing. We do therefore strongly recommend to place your bookings for these programs as early as possible.
|
Program 1A : 9-day tour from Urumqi (China) Saturday July 26th - Sunday August 3rd 2008 1,990 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
|
Download the detailed itinerary, pricing, terms and conditions :  Itinerary [1.2 MB]
> Reservation Form > Terms & Conditions 
|
|
|
|
Program 1B : 11-day tour from Beijing (China) Thursday July 24th - Sunday August 3rd 2008 2,950 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
|
||
|
|
Program 1C : 9-day tour from Shanghai or Beijing (China) Saturday July 26th - Sunday August 3rd 2008 2,490 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
|
||
|
|
Program 1D : 14-day tour from Beijing (China) Monday July 21st - Sunday August 3rd 2008 3,789 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
|
Program 1A : 9-day tour from Urumqi (China)
Saturday July 26th - Sunday August 3rd 2008
1,990 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
Saturday July 26th - Sunday August 3rd 2008
1,990 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
|
Day 1: Saturday, July 26th 2008 - Dive Into the Magic of Multi Ethnic China [D] Arrival at Urumqi Airport, either on your own or through programs 1B and 1C. You will be transferred to your hotel. After freshening up, we will enjoy an overwhelming Dance and Dinner-Event at the Uygur district. Day 2: Sunday, July 27th 2008 - Heavenly Lake and Dinosaur Valley [B, L, D] After taking your breakfast we will head for Heavenly Lake, in the middle of Bogda Peak Mountain range, 110 km (68 mi) east of Urumqi. In summer, this beautiful lake is an ideal cool resort. Boaters on the lake see the ever-changing silvery mountains soaring into the blue sky, their slopes highlighted with verdant pasture and flamboyant wild flowers. A day in this fairyland promises restoration. We will enjoy lunch at a typical yurt restaurant in the surroundings of Heavenly Lake and continue our journey to the "Petrified Wood" area in the Karamaili Mountains and Dinosaur Valley (Jimsar). Day 3: Monday, July 28th 2008 - Urumqi-Sightseeing and Bazaar Shopping [B, L, D] After breakfast, we will visit the National Museum in Urumqi. The display of ancient mummies is fantastic, as it was in this region that a great number of ancient and well-preserved remains were discovered. We will then visit Red Hill, which is a symbol of Urumqi, owing to its uniqueness. The body of the mountain, made up of aubergine rock, has a reddish brown color, hence, the name Red Hill. The hill is 1.5 km (0.9 mi) long and 1 km (0.6 mi) wide from east to west. On the peak of Red Hill, you will have the whole city of Urumqi before your eyes! We will then go on a shopping tour through the International Bazaar and have lunch in a typical Uygur restaurant. Now we leave the Urumqi area and begin our journey towards the Southeast with a late arrival at Turpan hotel, check-in and dinner. Day 4: Tuesday, July 29th 2008 - The Turpan (Turfan) Region [B, L, D] Our day starts early with the visit of the one of the world’s architectural wonders that hides in Yarnaz Valley, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) west of Turpan. Like a willow leaf, the ancient city of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto) with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30 meters (98 feet). The largest, oldest and best-preserved earthen city in the world, Jiaohe is 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) by 300 meters (984 feet) at its widest; with an area of 220,000 square meters (2,368,168 square feet). We then drive to Grape Valley to have lunch (alternatively lunch at Flaming Mountains). This green paradise of 400 hectares (988 acres) is covered with layer upon layer of grapes. It seems that all the water in the desert of Turpan flows into the Karez Systems in the Grape Valley. We continue our journey to visit Flaming Mountain. With the red Sun overhead, the red mountain looks like a fiery dragon - truly an unforgettable spectacle! Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves stand high on the cliffs of west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountain, 45 km (28 mi) east of Turpan. Of the 83 original caves, 57 caves currently remain. The murals cover an area over 1,200 square meters (12,917 square feet) in more than 40 caves. After a full day of impressions we take dinner at the hotel or another typical place. Day 5: Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - The Living Desert [B, L, D] We start our day with the Su Gong Tower. Emin Minaret is the largest extant old tower in Xinjiang; it is the only Islamic tower among the hundred famous towers in China. Right beside the minaret stands Su Gong Ta Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Xinjiang. The circular Emin Minaret and the square mosque are in sharp contrast without losing harmony. 46 kilometers (29 miles) southeast of Turpan near the ‘Flaming Mountains’ sit the impressive ruins of the ancient city of Gaochang. Built in the first century B.C. and originally called Gaochangbi, it used to be a garrison town and later became a key point along the ancient Silk Road. We continue our journey to Kumtagh Mountains with its famous high sand dunes and camel riding. Connected to the Taklamakan, China’s largest desert in the west, Kumtagh Desert in Shanshan County is the most accessible desert in Xinjiang and the only desert that borders a city in the world : we will have dinner and stay overnight at Shanshan Oasis. Day 6: Thursday, July 31st 2008 - Hami and Eclipse-City at Balikun Lake [B, L, D] We start with an early drive to Hami and the visit of the Hami Uyghur Kings tombs. Today, Hami is the Eastern gateway to Xinjiang, a rich oasis in the midst of a seemingly endless desert and famous for its melons, the Hami Melon. After enjoying lunch in Hami, we will continue our journey towards the Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, where we will stay for two nights in our specially built Eclipse City. Our Eclipse City will be built ashore the beautiful and temperature pleasant Barkol Lake, with an unparalleled view on the Lake and the clear peaks that shadow from the Eastern Tian Shan. Dinner will be served on our specially built Eclipse-City Restaurant. Day 7: Friday, August 1st 2008 - Eclipse Day : Over 2 Minutes of Totality [B, L, D] We begin our day with a hearty breakfast. Eclipse-City offers all the amenities you may encounter in a 2-3 star hotel, with the difference, our location has much more character, beauty and uniqueness than most others. After breakfast, we will head for our specially built day camp in the Gobi Desert, just one hour drive away. It is all there for you : lunch and beverage service, camel riding, hot air balloon and much more. Get ready for more that 2 minutes of totality. The Sun’s altitude will be about 20°, at azimuth 275° with an umbral depth of 99.3%. Considering our location, we expect a spectacular and immaculate totality view over the Gobi Desert’s horizon, with its distant Eastern Tian Shan Mountains in the background. Back at our Eclipse City, you may want to freshen up, change and get ready for our Eclipse Gala Dinner and Show. Day 8: Saturday, August 2nd 2008 - The Day After the E-Day [B, L, D] After a typical Eclipse-City breakfast, we will head back for Urumqi, some 600 km away. We will enjoy lunch in/around Turpan and arrive late afternoon / early evening in the capital of the Uygur Autonomous Region. In Urumqi, we shall enjoy dinner in a typical Uygur restaurant. Day 9: Sunday, August 3rd 2008 - Farewell [B] After enjoying breakfast, you will have time to stroll around the city and finish your shopping. Depending on your own travel arrangements, we shall offer shuttle transfer to the airport for the time you required this. For those of you that have booked our Program 1B or 1C, you will fly back to Beijing or Shanghai in the morning.
|
       
|
|||
|
||||
Top of page
Program 1B : 11-day tour from Beijing (China)
Thursday July 24th - Sunday August 3rd 2008
2,950 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
Thursday July 24th - Sunday August 3rd 2008
2,950 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
|
Day 1: Thursday, July 24th 2008 - Beijing Arrival in Beijing from your home country. Depending on your arrival, we will pick you up and bring you to your hotel. In the afternoon we will drive you into your first Beijing impressions : visit of the Tiananmen Square, and Temple of Heaven. Day 2: Friday, July 25th 2008 - Forbidden City and Great Wall Beijing - visit of the Forbidden City with its palaces; in the afternoon drive to the Great Wall (130 km outside of Beijing), the famous 13 Ming tombs and "Avenue of Souls". Day 3: Saturday, July 26th 2008 - Dive Into the Magic of Multi Ethnic China Transfer to Urumqi. And start of Program 1A! Day 4: Sunday, July 27th 2008 - Heavenly Lake and Dinosaur Valley (see Program 1A) Day 5: Monday, July 28th 2008 - Urumqi-Sightseeing and Bazaar Shopping (see Program 1A) Day 6: Tuesday, July 29th 2008 - The Turpan (Turfan) Region (see Program 1A) Day 7: Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - The living Desert (see Program 1A) Day 8: Thursday, July 31st 2008 - Hami and Eclipse-City at Balikun Lake (see Program 1A) Day 9: Friday, August 1st 2008 - Eclipse Day : 2 Minutes of Totality (see Program 1A) Day 10: Saturday, August 2nd 2008 - The Day After the E-Day (see Program 1A) Day 11: Sunday, August 3rd 2008 - Farewell (see Program 1A)
|
  
|
|||
|
||||
Top of page
Program 1C : 9-day tour from Shanghai or Beijing (China)
Saturday July 26th - Sunday August 3rd 2008
2,490 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
Saturday July 26th - Sunday August 3rd 2008
2,490 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies)
|
Day 1: Saturday, July 26th 2008 - Dive Into the Magic of Multi Ethnic China Air transfer to Urumqi around noon. Start of Program 1A! Day 2: Sunday, July 27th 2008 - Heavenly Lake and Dinosaur Valley (see Program 1A) Day 3: Monday, July 28th 2008 - Urumqi-Sightseeing and Bazaar Shopping (see Program 1A) Day 4: Tuesday, July 29th 2008 - The Turpan (Turfan) Region (see Program 1A) Day 5: Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - The living Desert (see Program 1A) Day 6: Thursday, July 31st 2008 - Hami and Eclipse-City at Balikun Lake (see Program 1A) Day 7: Friday, August 1st 2008 - Eclipse Day : 2 Minutes of Totality (see Program 1A) Day 8: Saturday, August 2nd 2008 - The Day After the E-Day (see Program 1A) Day 9: Sunday, August 3rd 2008 - Farewell Air transfer to Shanghai or Beijing from Urumqi with transfer to your hotel or connect to your final destination.
|
 
|
|||
|
||||
Top of page
|
Program 1D : 14-day tour from Beijing (China)
Monday July 21st - Sunday August 3rd 2008 3,789 € p.p. (single supplement policy applies) |
Itinerary of this special tour [620 KB]
|
|
Day 1: Monday, July 21st 2008 - Beijing Arrival in Beijing from your home country. Depending on your arrival, we will pick you up and bring you to your hotel. In the afternoon we will drive you into your first Beijing impressions : visit of the Tiananmen Square, and Temple of Heaven. Day 2: Tuesday, July 22nd 2008 - Forbidden City and Great Wall Beijing - visit of the Forbidden City with its palaces; in the afternoon drive to the Great Wall (130 km outside of Beijing), the famous 13 Ming tombs and "Avenue of Souls". Late evening flight to Urumqi. Day 3: Wednesday, July 23rd 2008 - Lake Karakul Early morning flight to Kashgar on the way to lake Karakul in the Pamir Mountains. Day 4: Thursday, July 24th 2008 - Lake Karakul and Muztagh Ata Base Camp Lake Karakul - hike up to the Muztagh Ata base camp at 4,450 m (14,600 ft). Day 5: Friday, July 25th 2008 - Kashgar Kashgar - visits of the Id Kah mosque, the bazaar, the old city and the Abakh Hoja Mausoleum. Day 6: Saturday, July 26th 2008 - Dive Into the Magic of Multi Ethnic China Morning air transfer to Urumqi. Join those of Program 1A! Day 7: Sunday, July 27th 2008 - Heavenly Lake and Dinosaur Valley (see Program 1A) Day 8: Monday, July 28th 2008 - Urumqi-Sightseeing and Bazaar Shopping (see Program 1A) Day 9: Tuesday, July 29th 2008 - The Turpan (Turfan) Region (see Program 1A) Day 10: Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - The living Desert (see Program 1A) Day 11: Thursday, July 31st 2008 - Hami and Eclipse-City at Balikun Lake (see Program 1A) Day 12: Friday, August 1st 2008 - Eclipse Day : 2 Minutes of Totality (see Program 1A) Day 13: Saturday, August 2nd 2008 - The Day After the E-Day (see Program 1A) Day 14: Sunday, August 3rd 2008 - Farewell Air transfer to Beijing from Urumqi with transfer to your hotel or connect to your final destination.
|
|
|||
|
||||
Top of page
Note :
There is no Beijing program availability after the eclipse due to the Beijing Olympics starting August 8th 2008. If you require a Beijing Olympic package please get in touch with us at Beijing-Olympics@eclipse-city.com or simply consult the official web site at http://en.beijing2008.cn/
Top of page
Last update on February 26, 2007.