Itinerary
- Days 1 - 4
Bishkek to Charyn Canyon
- Start point
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek)
Included Activities
- Visit Ascension Cathedral in Panfilov Park
- Visit Golden Warrior Monument in Republic Square
- Visit Almaty Tower
- Explore camping areas
- Visit Kolsai Lake
- Hike to Lake Kaindy
- Visit Charyn Canyon with hiking trails
Optional Activities
- Ride the Fast Coaster roller coaster (45 km/hour, mountain-side location)
- Visit Abay Opera House
- Visit Shymbulak ski resort (2,200m elevation)
- Visit Singing Dunes
Landmarks Ascension Cathedral Panfilov Park Republic Square Golden Warrior Monument Almaty Tower Shymbulak Ski Resort Trans Illi Alatau Mountains Kolsai Lake Lake Kaindy Singing Dunes Charyn Canyon - Days 5 - 10
Charyn Canyon to Kochkor
Included Activities
- Stay in traditional yurts at Lake Issyk-Kul
- Explore Altyn Arashan area with hiking and horse riding
- Visit Jeti-Oguz red stone cliffs
- Visit Karakol town
- Visit Fairy Canyon
- Explore Terskay Ala-Too Mountains
Optional Activities
- Hiking excursions
- Horse riding excursions
- Family homestay visits (subject to availability)
Landmarks Lake Issyk-Kul Altyn Arashan Tenskay Ala-Too Mountains Jeti-Oguz Karakol Fairy Canyon Kochkor - Days 11 - 13
Kochkor to Tash Rabat
Included Activities
- Stay in traditional felt yurts at Lake Song Kol
- Hiking at Lake Song Kol
- Horse back riding at Lake Song Kol
- Watch traditional eagle hunting display
- Visit Tash Rabat ancient Caravanserai
Optional Activities
- Watch Ulak Tartysh - Kyrgyz version of polo (subject to luck/availability)
Landmarks Lake Song Kol Tash Rabat - Day 14
Tash Rabat to Kashgar
Included Activities
- Cross Torugat Pass border crossing
Landmarks Chatyr Kol Lake Torugat Pass - Day 15
Kashgar
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Kashgar
- Visit People's Square with Chairman Mao statue
- Visit Apak Hoja Tomb
- Visit Id Kah Mosque
- Visit Handicraft Street
Optional Activities
- Visit Sunday Livestock Market (if visiting on weekend)
Landmarks People's Square Apak Hoja Tomb Id Kah Mosque Handicraft Street Sunday Livestock Market - Days 16 - 21
Kashgar to Lhasa
Included Activities
- Visit Great Wall of China at Jiayuguan
- Guided tour of Mogao Grottoes (Qianfodong - Caves of the Thousand Buddhas)
- Visit Ming Sha Hill
- Visit Crescent Moon Pool
- Scramble and slide down giant sand dunes
- Visit North Mountain Taoist Temple
- Visit Dongguan Mosque
- Board the high-altitude Sky Train to Lhasa
- Cross Tanggula Pass at 5,072m
Optional Activities
- Ride Bactrian camels over sand dunes
Landmarks Great Wall of China Mogao Grottoes Ming Sha Hill Crescent Moon Pool North Mountain Taoist Temple Dongguan Mosque Tanggula Pass - Days 22 - 28
Lhasa to Chengdu
Included Activities
- Tour around Potala Palace
- Tour around Jokhang Temple
- Visit Barkhor Square
- Visit Sera Monastery with monk debates
- Cross Gampala Pass
- View Yamdrok Tso Lake
- Visit Tashilunpo Monastery
- Visit Rongbuk Monastery
- Visit Mount Everest Base Camp with short walk
Optional Activities
- Visit Pelkor Chode Monastery (Gyantse)
- Visit Kumbum Stupa (Gyantse)
Landmarks Jokhang Temple Barkhor Square Potala Palace Sera Monastery Gampala Pass Yamdrok Tso Lake Holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar Tashilunpo Monastery Rongbuk Monastery Mount Everest Base Camp Pelkor Chode Monastery Kumbum Stupa - Days 29 - 32
Chengdu to Xi'an
Included Activities
- Visit Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Centre
Optional Activities
- Fly the Lhasa to Chengdu route instead of train
Landmarks Giant Panda Breeding and Research Centre - Days 33 - 35
Xi'an to Beijing
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses
- Visit Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
- Overnight sleeper train to Beijing
Optional Activities
- Visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- Visit Bell and Drum Towers
- Visit Ming Dynasty City Walls
Landmarks Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Bell and Drum Towers City Walls Great Wall of China - Mutianyu - Day 36
Beijing
Optional Activities
- Visit Tian'anmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Shop in malls and markets
- Explore Chinese restaurants and cuisine
- Experience Beijing nightlife
Landmarks Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Temple of Heaven - Days 37 - 42
Beijing to Kunming
Included Activities
- Visit Giant Panda Breeding and Research Centre (for those not visited previously)
Landmarks Giant Panda Breeding and Research Centre Tang Dynasty Pagodas Yuatong Temple - Days 43 - 49
Kunming to Vang Vieng
Included Activities
- Explore Luang Prabang temples
- Visit Pak Ou Caves
Optional Activities
- Hikes in Luang Namtha
- Rafting in Luang Namtha
- Overnight village stays in Luang Namtha
- Bicycle hire and exploration in Luang Prabang
- Cooking courses in Luang Prabang
- Cave exploration in Vang Vieng (Phu Kham, Tham Chang)
- Swimming in lagoons
- Mountain biking
- Trekking
- Kayaking
- Rock climbing
- Inner tubing
Landmarks Luang Namtha Luang Prabang Mekong River Pak Ou Caves Vang Vieng Phu Kham Cave Tham Chang Cave - Days 50 - 54
Vang Vieng to Savannaket
Included Activities
- Visit Pha That Luang
- Longtail boat trip in Phu Hin Bun National Park exploring caves
Landmarks Pha That Luang Vientiane Phu Hin Bun National Park Savannaket - Days 55 - 61
Savannaket to Nha Trang
Included Activities
- Visit Citadel (Kinh Thanh) in Hue
Optional Activities
- Visit Nguyen Emperor tombs
- Day trip to Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from Vietnam War
- Cooking courses in Hoi An
- Tailor shopping in Hoi An
- Water-based and adventure activities in Hoi An area
- Diving near Hoi An
- Beach visits in Nha Trang
- Diving in Nha Trang
- Offshore island visits from Nha Trang
Landmarks Hue Citadel (Kinh Thanh) Song Huong (Perfume River) Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Hoi An Hoi An Old Town Nha Trang - Days 62 - 64
Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City
Included Activities
- Visit War Remnants Museum
Optional Activities
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels
- Visit Cao Dai Temple
- Day trip to Mekong Delta
Landmarks War Remnants Museum Reunification Palace Cu Chi Tunnels Cao Dai Temple Mekong Delta - Days 65 - 69
Ho Chi Minh City to Battambang
Included Activities
- Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum with guided tour
- Visit Killing Fields with guided tour
Optional Activities
- Visit Royal Palace
- Visit Silver Pagoda
- Visit temples in Battambang
- Visit Buddhist shrines in Battambang
- Ride the Bamboo Railway in Battambang
Landmarks Phnom Penh Royal Palace Silver Pagoda Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Killing Fields Battambang Sangkae River Bamboo Railway - Days 70 - 73
Battambang to Siem Reap
Included Activities
- Boat trip from Battambang to Siem Reap including Tonle Sap Lake
- Entrance to Angkor Wat site (1-Day Pass) with guided tour
Optional Activities
- Hire tuk-tuk with driver/guide for Angkor Wat exploration
- Bicycle exploration of Angkor Wat from Siem Reap
- Explore other temple ruins at Angkor site
- Nightlife and restaurants in Siem Reap
Landmarks Tonle Sap Lake Siem Reap Angkor Wat Temples of Angkor - Days 74 - 78
Siem Reap to Khao Sok National Park
Included Activities
- Visit Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
Optional Activities
- Khlong Tour on Bangkok canals
- Visit Floating Markets
- Stroll Khao San Road
- Day trip to Kanchanaburi
- Visit Bridge on the River Kwai
- Visit Thailand-Burma Railway Centre
- Visit war cemeteries
- Cooking classes in Khao Sok
- Forest hikes in Khao Sok
- Kayak trips on lake in Khao Sok
- Kayak trips on river in Khao Sok
Landmarks Bangkok Grand Palace Wat Phra Kaew Khlong canals Floating Markets Khao San Road Kanchanaburi Bridge on the River Kwai Thailand-Burma Railway Centre Khao Sok National Park - Days 79 - 85
Khao Sok to Thai Islands (Beach Week)
Included Activities
- Return ferry tickets to/from islands
Optional Activities
- Full Moon Party experience
- Scuba diving
- Beach relaxation
- Snorkeling
- Water sports
Landmarks Ko Pha-ngan Ko Samui - Days 86 - 88
Thai Islands to Penang
Landmarks Hat Yai Penang - Days 89 - 92
Penang to Lake Danau Toba
Included Activities
- Jungle trek in Sumatra
- Lake Danau Toba visit
- Pulau Samosir island exploration
Optional Activities
- Flight Penang to Medan
- Explore Grand Mosque
- Explore palace in Medan
- Swimming at Lake Danau Toba
- Trekking at Pulau Samosir
- Indonesian cooking classes
- Bike or motorbike exploration
- Visit toddy shops and try tuak
- Experience Batak cultural sites
Landmarks Medan Grand Mosque Sumatra Lake Danau Toba Pulau Samosir - Days 93 - 94
Lake Danau Toba to Bukit Lawang
Included Activities
- Orangutan feeding station visit
- Jungle trek in Gunung Leuser National Park with inner tube river trip
Optional Activities
- Explore bat cave
- Day or overnight guided hikes in search of wild orangutans
- Spot primates and larger mammals
Landmarks Bukit Lawang Orangutan Feeding Station Gunung Leuser National Park Bat Cave - Days 95 - 103
Bukit Lawang to Singapore
Included Activities
- Entrance fee and speed boat trip to Perhentian Islands
- Jungle trek including visit to orangutan feeding station and inner tube river trip
Optional Activities
- Explore Georgetown street art
- Explore Georgetown colonial buildings
- Snorkelling at Perhentian Islands
- Diving at Perhentian Islands
- Explore Merdeka Square
- Explore Little India (Kuala Lumpur)
- Explore Chinatown and Jalan Petaling (Kuala Lumpur)
- Visit Petronas Towers
- Visit KL Tower
- Boat trip on Malacca River
- Explore museums in Melaka
- Explore temples in Melaka
- Explore churches in Melaka
- Climb to St John's Fort
- Visit Melaka Zoo
Landmarks Georgetown Pulau Perhentian Kuala Lumpur Merdeka Square Little India Chinatown Jalan Petaling Golden Triangle Petronas Towers KL Tower Melaka Malacca River St John's Fort Melaka Zoo - Days 104 - 105
Singapore
- End point
- Singapore, North West, Singapore (Singapore)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Singapore Zoo
- Shopping at local malls
- Explore local food scene
Landmarks Raffles Hotel
