SILK ROAD TOUR 2007

The Silk Road was an interconnected series of routes through Asia traversed by caravans, and connecting Chang’an (today’s Xi’an), China, with Asia Minor, as well as other points. A group of Estonians tries to re-discover these ancient routes, forgotten cultures, exotic peoples... following in the footsteps of the legendary kings and travelers like Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, Marco Polo, Nikolai Przhevalsky, Nikolai Roerich.

In Estonian / Eesti keeles
See: The team

The route and time-schedule

Sun 2nd Sep: Departure from Tallinn Airport

Mon 3rd Sep: Arrival in Beijing Airport. Beijing – Luoyang by train

Tue 4th Sep: Arrival in Luoyang (formerly Chengzhou, one of the four great ancient capitals of China; sunrise 6.05; sunset 18.52; White Horse temple, Longmen or Dragon’s Gate grottoes)

Wed 5th Sep: Luoyang – Shaolin – Luoyang

Thu 6th Sep: Luoyang

Fri 7th Sep: Luoyang – Lingbao – enter Shaanxi province – Tong’guan – Fushui – Weinan (“No 1 peculair and perilous mountain under heaven”) – Terracotta Warriors museum – Xi’an 410 km

Sat 8th Sep: Xi’an (formerly Chang’an; one of the four great ancient capitals of China; the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road; 18–24 C˚; sunrise 6.21 am, sunset 7.03 pm; Big Wild Goose pagoda, Great mosque) – Baoji 170 km

Sun 9th Sep: Baoji – Long Xian – enter Gansu province – Pingliang (Kongtong Dao temple, altitude ca 1900 m, 16–20 C˚) – enter Ningxia province – enter Gansu province – Lanzhou 551 km

Mon 10th Sep: Lanzhou – Yellow river – Hekou – Tianzhu – Gulang – Wuwei – the Great Wall – Shandan – Zhangye 519 km, altitude ca 1380–2950 m   

Tue 11th Sep: Zhangye – Jiuguan – Jiayuguan – the Great Wall – Yumen Zhen –  Anxi – Dunhuang (Minghoshan) 607 km, altitude ca 1020–1690 m, 15–25 C˚

Wed 12th Sep: Mogao Buddhist grottoes – Mingsha “singing” sand dunes 54 km, 16–26 C˚

Thu 13th Sep: Dunhuang – Yumenguan – Dunhuang 369 km

Fri 14th Sep: Dunhuang – Hongliuyuan – enter Xinjiang province (Eastern Turkestan, Uyghur Autonomous Region) – Xingxinhxia – Yandun – Hami (Kumul) 430 km, altitude 795–1840 m, 20–35 C˚

Sat 15th Sep: Hami – Shanshan – Turfan  417 km, altitude 10 m below see level – 1600 m, 9–33 C˚

Tue 18th Sep: Ürümqi – Tian-shan mountains – Bosten lake (1048 m) – Yangqi – Korla 477 km, 17–30 C˚

Wed 19th Sep: Korla – Luntai – Kizil Thousand Buddha caves – Kuqa (Kuche) 436 km, altitude 900–1450 m, 21–28 C˚

Thu 20th Sep: Kuqa (sunrise 8.14, sunset 20.28) – Aksu – Sugun – Kashgar (Kashi) 731 km, altitude 965–1505 m, 19–31 C˚

Fri 21st Sep: Kashgar (1290 m; sunrise 8.44 am, sunset 8.53 pm; big bazaar, Id Kah mosque)

Sat 22nd Sep: Kashgar

Sun 23rd Sep: Kashgar – Yengisar – Sache (Yarkant) – Zepu – Yecheng (Kargilik) – Sagan – Moyu (Karakax) – Khotan 530 km, altitude 1290–1510 m, 16–25 C˚

Mon 24th Sep: Khotan – Moyu – Sagan – Kargilik – Akmeqit – Mazar 535 km, altitude 1320–4800 m, -6 – +25 C˚

Tue 25th Sep: Mazar – Mazarwala – Mazar 58 km, altitude 3450–3670 m, 3–15 C˚

Wed 26th Sep: Mazar – Xaidulla – Kangziwar (Kangxiwar) – enter to the region Aksai Chin claimed by India under Chinese administration – Dahongliutan ca 242 km, full moon, altitude 3670–4930 m, -5 – +15 C˚ 

Thu 27th Sep: Dahongliutan – Tielong – enter Tibet – Sumxi – Domar ca 309 km, altitude 4270–5400 m, -5 – +10 C˚

Fri 28th Sep: Domar – Wüjang – Nyak tso – Rutog – Zhaxigang – Ali (Shiquan-he) ca 233 km, altitude 4365–4875 m

Sat 29th Sep: Ali, 5–10 C˚

Sun 30th Sep: Ali, 2–10 C˚

Mon 1st Oct: Ali – Zhada (Zanda) 222 km, altitude 3730 – 5380 m, 2–19 C˚

Tue 2nd Oct: Zhna – Guge ruins – Zanda – Moincēr (Mon Tser) – Darchen 270 km, altitude 3730–5180 m, -1 – +12 C˚

Wed 3rd Oct: Darchen (4670 m) – Mt Kailash (Kang Rinpoche, 6658 m) – Driraphuk (Dirapuk) gonpa (5050 m) ca 20 km walk, -8 – 0 C˚

Thu 4th Oct: Driraphuk gonpa – Drölma la 5660 m – Dzutul-puk (Dzutrül) gonpa (4820 m) ca 25 km walk, -10 – -2 C˚

Fri 5th Oct: Dzutul-puk gonpa – Darchen ca 13 km walk – Barga –  Manasarovar lake (Tso Rinpoche) 32 km, -9 – -1 C˚

Sat 6th Oct: Manasarovar lake – Barga – Moincēr – Namru – Ali (Shiquan-he) ca 255 km, altitude 4365–4900 m, -2 – +10 C˚

Sun 7th Oct: Ali – Zhaxigang – Wüjang – Sumxi – enter the region Aksai Chin – Tielong – Dahongliutan 582 km

Mon 8th Oct: Dahongliutan – enter Xinjiang province (Eastern Turkestan) – Xaidulla – Mazar – Akmeqit –  Kargilik (Yecheng) –  Yarkant (Shache) – Yengisar – Kashgar (-10 – +10 C˚; sunrise 8.58 am, sunset 8.28 pm) 730 km, altitude 1250–4930 m, -10 – +7 C˚

Tue 9th Oct: Kashgar, 7 – 15 C˚

Wed 10th Oct: Kashgar – Shufu – Upal – Ghez – Bulunkol – Kara-kul lake 212 km, altitude 1300–3700 m, -5 – +14 C˚

Thu 11th Oct: Kara-kul lake – Shubash – enter to Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous county – Taheman – Tashkurgan (Taxkorgan) 106 km, altitude 3105–4100 m, -8 – +10 C˚

Fri 12th Oct: Tashkurgan  – Davdar (Tajik settlement) – Pirali (Chinese security post) – Khunjerab pass (4700 m, 36°50’N, 75°25’E, will be closed on 31st Oct for winter season) – cross the border to Pakistan – Sost (2700 m) – Markhun – Batura glacier bridge – Pasu (Passu) – Hussaini – Gulmit (2700 m, non-official capital of Gojal) – Karimabad (Baltit, 2440–2800 m, the ancient capital of Hunza; -3 – +12 C˚) 302 km

Sat 13th Oct: Karimabad (Baltit fort) – Thol – Nilt – Sikanderabad – Gilgit 90 km, altitude 1500–2840 m

Sun 14th Oct: Gilgit – Raikot bridge (Indus river) – Thalpan – Chilas (the petroglyphs) – Sazin – Pattan – Dasu – Besham 363 km, altitude 755–1500 m, 18–31 C˚

Mon 15th Oct: Besham – Thakot – Batagram (Butt Gram) – Shinkiari – Mansehra (Ashoka rocks) – Taxila – Islamabad 275 km, altitude 650–1755 m, 17–33 C˚

Tue 16th Oct: Islamabad – Lahore (sikh gurdwara, Badshahi mosque) 383 km, altitude 390–920 m, 27–34 C˚

Wed 17th Oct: Lahore – cross the border to India – Amritsar – Batala – Gurdāspur – Pathānkot – Jammu 297 km, altitude 340–470 m, 22–33 C˚

Thu 18th Oct: Jammu – Udhampur – Patnitop (Padnitop) – Batote – Srinagar 297 km, 15–31 C˚, altitude 395–2290 m.

Fri 19th Oct: Srinagar (sunrise 6.09 am, sunset 5.23 pm; the tomb of Juz Asaf / Jesus Christ?) 32 km, 13–20 C˚

Sat 20th Oct: Srinagar – Pampore – Bijbehara – Anantnag – Vernag – Patnitop resort 201 km, altitude 890–2150 m, 12–32 C˚, arrival of a part of the group in Islamabad

Sun 21st Oct: Patnitop resort – Udhampur – Jammu – Pathānkot – Amritsar (Golden temple / Dharbar Sahib) 323 km, altitude 385–2150 m, 9–34 C˚

Mon 22nd Oct: Amritsar – cross the border to Pakistan – Lahore – Islamabad 461 km, altitude 335–930 m, 23–35 C˚

Tue 23rd Oct: Islamabad – flight to Gilgit – Karimbad – Sost – Karimabad – Gilgit, drive 424 km, altitude 335–2900 m, 12–34 C˚, sunrise 6.18 am, sunset 5.26 pm

Wed 24th Oct: Gilgit – Pattan – Taxila – Islamabad 603 km, altitude 335–1725 m, 10–32 C˚

Thu 25th Oct: Islamabad – Taxila (centre of Gandhāra art) – Hasa Abdal – Peshawar 176 km, altitude 335–440 m, 20–31 C˚

Fri 26th Oct (full moon): Peshawar – Landi Kotal – Khyber pass (1080 m) – cross the border to Afghānistān – Jalālābād – Kābul 319 km, altitude 410–1830 m, 18–26 C˚, sunrise 5.38 am, sunset 4.36 pm

Sat 27th Oct : Kābul 84 km, altitude 1800–2020 m, 18–20 C˚

Sun 28th Oct: Kābul – Charikar – Jabal os Sara (Jabulsaraj) – Shebar pass 2987 m – Bamiyan 232 km, altitude 1620–2987 m, 1–22 C˚

Mon 29th Oct: Bamiyan (Buddhist caves & destroyed Buddha-statues) – Shebar pass – Jabal os Sara – Charikar – Kābul  235 km (SILK 1 & SILK 3: Kābul – Panjshir valley – Kābul ca 318 km), altitude 1620–2987 m, -1 – +22 C˚

Tue 30th Oct: Kābul – Jalālābād – cross the border to Pakistan – Khyber pass – Landi Kotal – Peshawar – Islamabad 468 km, altitude 660–1800 m, 12–29 C˚

Wed 31st Oct: Islamabad 12 km, 22–29 C˚

Thu 1st Nov: Islamabad – Lahore – Okara – Sahiwal – Khanewal – Multan (tomb of Shah Rukn Alam) 713 km, altitude 250–750 m, 20–32 C˚

Fri 2nd Nov: Multan – Bahawalpur – Ghotki (Bilal’s mosque) – Sukkur 477 km, altitude 215–245 m, 22–35 C˚

Sat 3rd Nov: Sukkur – Shikarpur – Jakobabad – Dera Murad Jamali – Sibi (Sibbi) – Bolan pass – Quetta 396 km, altitude 205–1810 m, 28–33 C˚

Sun 4th Nov: Quetta – Panjpai – Nushki – Dalbandin – Nok Kundi – Taftan 637 km, altitude 660–1640 m, 12–34 C˚

Mon 5th Nov: Taftan – cross the border to Iran – Mirjāveh – Zāhedān –  Bam 410 km, altitude 515–1435 m, 20–30 C˚

Tue 6th Nov: Bam – Kermān – Yazd 607 km, altitude 910–2435 m, 15–25 C˚

Wed 7th Nov: Yazd (Jaame Kabir mosque, Zoroastrian Fire temple, Dakhmeh “Towers of Silence”) 34 km, altitude 1200–1250 m, 12–28 C˚

Thu 8th Nov : Yazd – Cham (Zoroastrian village) – Taft – Deh Shir – Abarku desert – Persepolis 401 km, altitude 1200–2470 m, 12–24 C˚

Fri 9th Nov: Persepolis – Naqsh-e Rostam (Nekropolis) – Pasargadae – Eşfahan (Isfahan) 448 km, 5–22 C˚, altitude 1560–2470 m

Sat 10th Nov: Eşfahan (Alighapu palace, Royal mosque, Imam mosque, Armenian church, bazaar, carpet workshop) 12 km, altitude 1595 m, sunrise 5.57 am, sunset 4.38 pm

Sun 11th Nov: Eşfahan – Abyaneh village – Kashān – Tehrān (Teheran) 536 km, altitude 890–2095 m, 15–26 C˚

Mon 12th Nov: Tehrān – Tabriz (Tābris) 700 km, altitude 1160–2020 m, -6 – +18 C˚

Tue 13th Nov: Tabriz – Urmia lake (ferry) – Ormiyeh – Sero – cross the border to Turkey – Yüksekova (– Van) 245 km, altitude 1275–2200 m, 0–14 C˚

Wed 14th Nov: Yüksekova – (Van –) Van lake – Bitlis – Batman – Mardin 621 km, 0–17 C˚, altitude 490–2735 m

Thu 15th Nov: Mardin – Nusaybin – enter to Syria – Al Qāmishlī – Euphrates river – Dayr az Zawr 350 km, 12–22 C˚, altitude 200–900 m

Fri 16th Nov: Dayr az Zawr – Halabia – Dayr az Zawr – Palmyra (Tadmur) – Damascus (Dimashq) 582 km, 14–23 C˚, altitude 180–980 m

Sat 17th Nov: Damascus (Umayyad mosque, Salahuddin’s tomb, Al Hamidieh souq), 14–21 C˚, altitude 720 m, sunrise 6.07 am, sunset 4.31 pm

Sun 18th Nov: Damascus – Homs – Hamāh (Epiphania) – Apameia – Aleppo 434 km, 14–22 C˚, altitude 220–1330 m

Mon 19th Nov: Aleppo – cross the border to Turkey – İskēnderun 180 km, 13–17 C˚, rainy, altitude 5–750 m

Tue 20th Nov: İskēnderun – Arsuz – İskēnderun 95 km, 10–18 C˚, hailstorm, thunderstorm, tornado, altitude 5–250 m

Wed 21st Nov: İskēnderun – Adana – Cappadocia (Kapadokya) – Nevşehir – Ürgüp 482 km, 3–17 C˚, rainy, altitude 5–1600 m

Thu 22nd Nov: Ürgüp – Görem – Uçhisar – Nevşehir – Konya (Mevlāna) 268 km, 0–9 C˚, altitude 845–1200 m

Fri 23rd Nov: Konya – Afyon – Kütahya 338 km, 1–9 C˚, altitude 830–1175 m

Sat 24th Nov: Kütahya – Bozüyük – Bilecik – Istanbul – enter to Europe 396 km, -2 – +16 C˚, altitude 15–1000 m

Sun 25th Nov: Istanbul (Şehzade mosque, Süleymaniye mosque, Beyazit mosque, Sultan Ahmed “Blue” mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi palace), the end of expedition, 10–14 C˚

Return home

Mon 26th Nov: Istanbul – enter to Bulgaria – Sofia
Tue 27th Nov: Sofia – enter Macedonia – Lazaro Pole
Wed 28th Nov: Lazaro Pole – enter Albania – enter Montenegro – Budva
Thu 29th Nov: Budva – enter Croatia – enter Bosnia-Herzegovina – enter to Croatia – Split
Fri 30th Nov: Split – enter Slovenia – enter Austria – enter to Germany – Rosenheim
Sat 1st Dec: Rosenheim – Eslohe-Wenholthausen
Sun 2nd Dec: Eslohe-Wenholthausen – enter Denmark – enter Sweden – Markaryd
Mon 3rd Dec: Markaryd – Stockholm
Tue 4th Dec: Stockholm – Tallinn (ferry)
 

The team

Whole trip: Raivo Pärnpuu, Tiina Jokinen, Aivo Spitsonok, Peeter Vähi
From Luoyang to Urumqi: Inga Karu
From Luoyang to Islamabad: Jaanus Kuklane, Leonid Tolstov, Laura Kõiv, David Vallner
From Luoyang to Adana: Aigar Ojaots
From Urumqi to Islamabad: Kaido Kepp, Priit Porila
From Islamabad to Istanbul: Maivi Ots, Jaanus Roots, Orm Naarits, Jüri Lamesoo
From Teheran to Istanbul: Ott Karolin
 

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