Compare Trans-Siberian Railway from Beijing to Moscow by Road Scholar vs Journey on the Silk Road by Himalayan Glacier Adventure

Day 1
In Transit to Program
Location: In Flight
Activity note: You can extend your stay and explore more with Extension Program 14601: "St. Petersburg: The Cultural Capital of Russia" featuring 3 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg. Discover elegant St. Petersburg, Russia’s cultural capital, its historic 18th century boulevards, and imperial palaces making up an extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you wish to enroll in this optional extension program, please contact Road Scholar Participant Services at 800-454-5768.

Day 2
In Transit Continues, Crossing International Date Line
Location: In Flight
Activity note: In flight to the program, a day is “lost” due to crossing the International Date Line.

Day 3
Arrive Beijing, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location: Beijing Meal: D Hotel: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Activity note: Hotel check-in is available from 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon: After arriving at the hotel, check in and get your room, then take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax before our late afternoon Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will also receive “boarding passes” with assigned car and cabin numbers for the train ride from Beijing to Erlian commencing at the end of Day 5. In China, most dinners and lunches will be family-style with various dishes brought to the table and placed on a turntable where everyone helps themselves. Chopsticks, forks, and Chinese spoons will be available; soft drinks and water included, other beverages available for purchase. Aboard trains, we will have plated and served set meals. At local restaurants in Russia, we’ll have plated set meals with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Periods in the schedule labeled “Free Time” and “At Leisure” offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable while going out to explore on your own, engaging in available activities independently, making new friends among fellow Road Scholars, or simply relaxing. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have our welcome dinner and enjoy a traditional Chinese favorite, Peking Duck.

Evening: Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Day 4
Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, Beijing Opera
Location: Beijing Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. The drive to the Great Wall at Badaling is approximately 2 hours; walking 1/4 mile from parking lot to Great Wall. Climbing approximately 30 steps, then extensive steps and slopes according to personal interest, 1.5 to 2 hours; comfortable walking shoes required, walking sticks recommended for those who use them. Lunch room available for those who descend earlier or who decide not to climb the Wall. We will return to the bus as a group at the end of the field trip.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as meats, eggs, cereals, fruit, and Chinese dishes such as rice porridge and cooked vegetables; beverages include juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: Boarding a bus with our Group Leader, we’ll depart Beijing on a field trip to a green mountain range where we can walk along the Great Wall, one of the most extraordinary human constructions on earth. Totaling a colossal distance of more than 13,000 miles with its many branches, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was begun in the 3rd century BCE and greatly expanded by the Ming Dynasty in the 1600s. Rising up to 50 feet and topped by 12-foot ramparts and guard towers, the Great Wall signified the attempts of Chinese emperors to keep invaders out as well as Chinese cultural and intellectual advancements within.

Lunch: At a local restaurant near the Great Wall we’ll have a buffet meal with typical Chinese dishes including rice, meats, vegetables, and non-meat dishes for vegetarians; soft drinks and water included.

Afternoon: On our return journey, we’ll visit the heart of Beijing, Tian'anmen Square. Meaning “Gate of Heavenly Palace,” Tiananmen is the location of formal celebrations and ceremonies bounded by the Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the China National Museum, Great Hall of the People, Monument to the People's Heroes, and the Tiananmen Tower.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a family style meal.

Evening: At a theater next door, enjoy a taste of Beijing opera, a unique art form that uses brilliant costumes, mannerized make-up, acrobatics and martial arts, various types of falsetto singing, and exuberant percussionists. The performance is presented with English and modern Chinese supertitles above the stage. At the end of the performance, we’ll return to the hotel. Prepare for check-out and transfer to the train tomorrow.

Day 5
Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Board Chinese Train
Location: Chinese Train Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Chinese Train
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking up to approximately 2.5 miles throughout the day: approximately 1/2 mile from entrance to exit of Temple of Heaven park; approximately 2 miles in and around Forbidden City; flat, paved terrain; about 70 steps if you climb up the Temple of Heaven. Train ride from Beijing to Erlian on Chinese-Mongolian border approximately 16 hours.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll bring our luggage to the hotel lobby for transfer to the train, check out, and depart via bus for a field trip to the Temple of Heaven with our Group Leader. This 15th-century architectural masterpiece, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest remaining sacrificial temple in China. We’ll walk around its encircling park and observe the activities of local people practicing calligraphy, tai chi, musical instruments, dancing, or flying kites. We’ll then experience the majesty of the Temple itself, built as a symbol of the relationship between heaven and earth. The complex covers 6,670 acres (2,668 hectares), an area greater than the Imperial palace.

Lunch: In an “Old Beijing” hutong, we’ll have a family-hosted lunch including jaozi (Chinese style dumplings). Hutongs are old residential neighborhoods with courtyard homes situated in small lanes and alleys that are rapidly disappearing due to urban development.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll explore the Forbidden City with our Group Leader. This 250-acre imperial compound once was the residence and seat of the Qing Emperors and forbidden to all others. Surrounded by a 170-foot moat, the center of the city is home to the best-preserved collection of buildings from the Ming dynasty including the massive Meridian Gate, three Great Halls, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Imperial Garden, and Treasure Gallery.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we'll have a plated meal of shared Chinese dishes.

Evening: To conclude this portion of the program, we’ll transfer to Beijing Railway Station. When the gate opens to board the train, we will walk down to the platform and board according to our individual car and cabin assignments (provided during the initial Orientation). The ride to Erlian is approximately 16 hours. Located on the Chinese-Mongolian border northwest of Beijing, Erlian is the transfer point on the Trans-Mongolian Railway where we will switch to the Tsar's Gold Trans-Siberian Express private train.

Day 6
Erlian, Transfer to Tsar’s Gold Train, Mongolia Introduction
Location: Tsar's Gold Train Meal; B,L,D Hotel: Tsar's Gold Train
Activity note: You will be required to handle your baggage across the Xray machines at Chinese and Mongolian border posts.

Breakfast: Aboard the train, we will have plated and served set meals; coffee, tea, water included; other beverages are available for purchase payable in cash in Chinese Yuan Renminbi or in U.S. Dollars.

Morning: Watch the passing landscape as we traverse the countryside to Inner Mongolia. Mid-morning, our expert Group Leader will provide an overview of Mongolia from Genghis Khan to the 20th century.

Lunch: Aboard the train.

Afternoon: When the train arrives in the border town of Erlian, we will change over to the Tsar’s Gold private train. The rail track gauge between China and Mongolia differs in size, requiring the change of trains at this juncture. The Russians (Soviets) built their rail gauge slightly wider than the standard size gauge used in Europe and China. As a hub for trade between China and Mongolia, Erlian’s population rapidly expanded when the town opened up for international trade following the collapse of the Soviet Union. We will cross the border by coach and board the Tsar’s Gold train in the town of Zamyn Uud on the Mongolian side of the border. Settle into your comfortable cabin and enjoy the amenities onboard as we ride through the Gobi Desert towards Ulaanbaatar.

Dinner: Aboard the train.

Evening: At leisure. Tomorrow, we will go on an overnight field trip to Ulaanbaater. Pack an overnight bag with everything you will need for one day and one night in Ulaanbaatar. The rest of the baggage will remain aboard the Tsar’s Gold train.

Day 7
Ulaanbaatar, Bogd Khaan Winter Palace Museum
Location: UlaanBaatar Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Ramada City Center Hotel
Activity note: Bring overnight bag. Getting on/off bus.

Breakfast: Aboard the train.

Morning: Arriving in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, we will disembark the train and set out to explore the city. We will begin with a field trip via private bus to the Bogd Khaan Winter Palace Museum. A local expert will tell us about Mongolia’s last Bogd Khaan — Living Buddha — who lived 20 years in this compound, built between 1893 and 1903. Unlike other old sites in Ulaanbaatar, this one escaped destruction in the 1930s Stalinist purges. Six temples remain, as does a ceremonial gate built without the use of nails. We will also pay a visit to the beautiful and historic Gandan Monastery, meaning Great Place of Complete Joy. Founded in 1727, it was moved to its current location in 1838. A local expert will tell us about about Buddhist traditions of Mongolia. Mongolia’s monasteries were once small, mobile organizations that moved with the nomads. The Gandan Monastery was badly damaged during the 1930 Stalinist repressions, but the main temple was allowed by to remain as a showcase for foreigners. Today it houses a 20-ton gilded statue of “the Lord Who Looks in Every Direction,” created in the 1990s to replace the original destroyed by communists in 1937.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages are available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will transfer to the hotel for checking in. The remainder of the afternoon is free.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages are available for purchase.

Evening: We will transfer by bus to the Mongolian National Theater for a performance of traditional dances and Mongolian throat singing. These eerie vocalizations are one of the world’s oldest known forms of music. Through specialized techniques, throat singers can produce overtones that produce more than one note at a time.

Day 8
Genghis Khan Statue, Terelj National Park
Location: Tsar's Gold Train Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Tsar's Gold Train
Activity note: Getting on/off bus, stairs, uneven terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, choose what you like from the breakfast buffet that includes milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: As we head to Terelj by bus, we’ll encounter the wide-open spaces and natural beauty for which Mongolia is known and where some traditional nomadic people live. We will first stop at the giant 131-foot stainless-steel-clad equestrian statue of Genghis Khan, which dominates the horizon. Erected in 2008, it was made from 250 tons of stainless steel. The statue is an unforgettable sight. Those who wish to may climb the stairs up to the horse's head.

Lunch: At a traditional Mongolian ger (yurt) restaurant we’ll have a plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages are available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll visit the home of a nomadic family and see a demonstration of traditional Mongolian archery and horsemanship. Horses have long played a prominent role in Mongolian culture, both as transportation and as a representation of a man’s wealth. Our local expert will provide translation and an explanation of the demonstration.

Dinner: At a restaurant in Ulaanbaatar, we’ll have a plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages are available for purchase.

Evening: Reboarding the train, we'll travel to the Russian border.

Day 9
Cultures of Siberia, Ulan-Ude
Location: Tsar's Gold Train Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Tsar's Gold Train
Activity note: Getting on/off the train; on/off a bus.

Breakfast: Aboard the train.

Morning: Today the train will roll through the valley of the Selenga River that flows into Lake Baikal. En route, our Group Leader will give us a presentation on Siberia as a melting pot of cultures and spiritual beliefs. Siberia is home to dozens of indigenous populations and millions of Eastern Europeans who emigrated east to open land and nearly limitless resources.

Lunch: Aboard the train.

Afternoon: For our next field trip, we will board a private bus and explore Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic. Formerly called Udinsk, Ulan-Ude was founded in 1666 by Cossacks as a winter encampment on the Selenga River. The city later prospered as a major trading post along the tea route between China and Irkutsk. We will see the original merchant center of the city with its wooden Siberian houses; the trade rows and administrative center; the city’s first stone Orthodox church; and the largest statue of Lenin’s head in the world, more than 25 feet (7.7 meters) tall, cast in bronze.

Dinner: Aboard the train.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Old Circumbaikal Railway, Lake Baikal
Location: Tsar's Gold Train Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Tsar's Gold Train
Activity note: Getting on/off the train; in/out of a boat. Boat ride from Port Baikal station to Listvyanka village is about 40 minutes. Independent exploration according to personal preference.

Breakfast: Aboard the train.

Morning: This morning we will leave the Trans-Siberian mainline in Sludyanka and journey along the single-track Old Circumbaikal Railway that runs along the southwestern shore of Lake Baikal. This was the original line used by the Trans-Siberian before the present day route was completed. Considered one of the most complicated rail systems in the world, the route hugs the rocky lake shore and passes through 33 tunnels along its length. Aboard the train, enjoy spectacular views of Lake Baikal. Called the Sacred Sea by the indigenous people who have lived along its shores, UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal is the oldest lake in the world and the deepest and largest freshwater lake by volume on earth. Formed in a rift in the earth's surface nearly 25 million years ago, the lake basin today holds about twenty percent of the world's unfrozen fresh water. Its great age and isolation have produced one of the richest and most unusual ecosystems on earth.

Lunch: Aboard the train.

Afternoon: We’ll take a boat across the mouth of the Angara River to the charming lakeshore village of Listvyanka. We’ll have independent time to explore the village on foot, take photos, go to the market near the pier, or have refreshments at one of the cafés. The Group Leader will announce the time to return to the pier and catch the boat transfer back to the train.

Dinner: At one of the Old Railway stations, we’ll have a barbecue dinner on the beach.

Evening: At leisure. Tomorrow, we will go on an overnight field trip to Irkutsk. Pack an overnight bag to bring everything you will need for one day and one night in the city. The rest of your baggage will remain aboard the Tsar’s Gold train.

Day 11
Irkutsk Field Trip, Performance, Wooden Architecture Museum
Location: Irkutsk Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Courtyard Irkutsk City Center
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus several times during the day. Walking up to 1 mile around outdoor museum; uneven surfaces, pavements, stairs.

Breakfast: Aboard the train.

Morning: Arriving in Irkutsk, we’ll board a bus and set out to explore the city. Highlights include the Church of Our Savior and the restored house of Prince Sergei Volkonsky, now the House Museum of the Decembrists. The Decembrists are intertwined with Irkutsk’s modern history as a group of advocates for democratic reform. After fighting abroad in the War of 1812, this group of young officers tried to force the Senate to abolish serfdom and institute various reforms in December 1825. Upon the failure of their rebellion, five of their leaders were hanged; others were forced to hard labor in Siberia and settled their families in Irkutsk when their sentences were over, bringing with them their education and culture. At the museum, we’ll attend a private concert and have a glass of champagne.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have plated set meals with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll take a field trip outside the city to the delightful outdoor Museum of Wooden Architecture that covers 166 acres. This collection of authentic Russian and native Buryat, Evenki, and Tafalar houses and community buildings reflect peasant life in Siberia from the 17th century to the early 20th century. These structures were moved here and reassembled to represent how indigenous communities lived. We’ll then check in to our hotel with time to relax before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have plated set meals with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages are available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Siberian Taiga, Vodka Tasting
Location: Tsar's Gold Train Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Tsar's Gold Train
Activity note: Getting on/off the train.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet includes milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: Reboarding the train, we’ll roll through the vast Siberian taiga - boreal forest - and spend the day relaxing on board the train.

Lunch: Aboard the train.

Afternoon: We’ll gather in a dining car with our expert Group Leader for an exclusive presentation on the collapse of the Soviet Union and how it affected the lives of ordinary people across the country. There will also be train-wide talks over the PA system.

Dinner: Aboard the train.

Evening: We’ll enjoy a traditional Russian vodka tasting.

Day 13
Novosibirsk Opera House, Lenin Square
Location: Tsar's Gold Train Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Tsar's Gold Train
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking up to 1 mile; city streets, uneven surfaces, stairs.

Breakfast: Aboard the train.

Morning: We’ll gather in a dining car with our expert Group Leader for an exclusive presentation on traditions, customs, superstitions and beliefs that influence the Russian national character. There will also be train-wide talks over the PA system.

Lunch: Aboard the train.

Afternoon: We will arrive in Novosibirsk, Siberia’s largest city and Russia’s third-largest after Moscow and St. Petersburg. With a population of more than 1.6 million people Novosibirsk is Siberia’s industrial center and owes much of its growth to the Trans-Siberian Railroad; in 1900 only 15,000 people lived here. We’ll learn about the city as we ride through the central area with a local expert and see Lenin Square with Russia’s largest opera house.

Dinner: Aboard the train.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 14
Bolshevik Revolution, Ekaterinburg
Location: Tsar's Gold Train Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Tsar's Gold Train
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking up to 1 mile; city streets, uneven surfaces, stairs.

Breakfast: Aboard the train.

Morning: In preparation for our stop in Ekaterinburg, we’ll have an exclusive onboard presentation on the demise of Czar Nicholas II and the downfall of the Romanov dynasty by our Group Leader. Among the factors that led to the February Revolution of 1917 were massive peasant poverty, urban workers who were becoming politicized, the unwillingness or inability of the Czar to support reforms, and Russia’s disastrous defeats in the Russo-Japanese War and World War I. The abdication of Nicholas II led to the short-lived Russian Republic, superseded by the October Revolution that put the Soviets in power.

Lunch: Aboard the train.

Afternoon: Founded in 1721 and named after Catherine I, Ekaterinburg - current population 1.4 million - has a fair number of pre-revolutionary buildings. We will see some of the traditional and ornately decorated wooden houses of former aristocratic citizens. But Ekaterinburg is best known as the place where the last czar, Nicholas II, and his family were imprisoned and executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. We will explore the Church on Blood (the Church on Blood in Honor of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land) that stands over the spot where they died. The family has since been canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, and declared “passion bearers.” The church was designed in the early 20th century Russian/Byzantine style and opened in 2003.

Dinner: Aboard the train.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 15
Kazan, Kremlin, Qol Sharif Mosque, Peter & Paul Cathedral
Location : Tsar's Gold Train Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Tsar's Gold Train
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking up to 1 mile; city streets, uneven surfaces, cobblestone pavements, stairs.

Breakfast: Aboard the train.

Morning: Today the train will pull into Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, an old city on the Volga River with a fascinating multi-ethnic history. The Tatars, who make up a majority of the population, are actually Turkic Muslims with an ethnic makeup identical to that of early Bulgarians. A local expert will lead our exploration by bus as we see highlights such as the city's kremlin, the Qol Sharif Mosque, Peter and Paul Cathedral, and the shores of Lake Kaban. Inaugurated in 2005, the Qol Sharif Mosque stands where its original stood until 1552, when it was razed by Ivan the Terrible’s conquering army. Named after Imam Seid Qol Sharif, the Tatar cleric who died defending it, the turquoise and white mosque is the largest in Russia. The mosque has become a symbol of Kazan and Tatarstan.

Lunch: Local restaurant plated meal.

Afternoon: We will enjoy some free time for independent discovery before returning to the train at the end of the day. Take this opportunity to see and do what interests you most.

Dinner: Aboard the train.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 16
Arrive Moscow, Disembark Train, City Overview
Location: Moscow Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Park Inn Sadu
Activity note: Getting off the train; on/off a bus. Baggage will be transported from the train to the hotel. Walking up to 1 mile; city streets, uneven surfaces, stairs.

Breakfast: Aboard the train.

Morning: During our last morning aboard the train, we will complete our journey to Moscow. Reflect on the landscapes we have traversed - the Gobi desert, Siberian taiga, rift lakes, and the Ural Mountains - and the cities we have visited during our 4,735 mile journey. Upon arrival in Moscow, we will disembark the train and transfer by bus to a restaurant in the city.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll board a bus with a local expert for an orientation to the city. Since the Soviet flag last flew on 25 December 1991, central Moscow has undergone a transformation. Beautiful buildings from the days of the Russian Empire that were allowed to fall into disrepair under the communist regime, are being restored to their former glory. We will drive by some of Moscow’s best-known sites including Red Square, the Duma building where Russia’s governing body meets, the Bolshoi Theater, the forbidding Lubyanka prison where the KGB was headquartered, Moscow State University on the Sparrow Hills for a panoramic city view, the moving World War II Memorial and Victory Park on Farewell Hill, past the 16th century Novodevichy Convent, by the Moscow “White House,” and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We’ll check in to the hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: Local restaurant plated meal.

Evening: We will enjoy a nighttime walk on Red Square with our Group Leader.

Day 17
Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics, Red Square, Kremlin, Armory
Location: Moscow Meal: B,L Hotel: Park Inn Sadu
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles indoors and out; inside the Kremlin approximately 3 hours; some steep inclines, stairs, cobblestone pavements.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet includes milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll embark on a field trip by bus for an inside look at the Russian (Soviet) space program that includes an exclusive meeting with a former cosmonaut. The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is housed in the base of the monument named "To the Conquerors of Space." Here we’ll learn about the past and present contributions the Russians have made to space exploration. The monument is a huge upright titanium contrail behind a rocket taking off into the sky. It was built in 1964 to commemorate the 1957 launching of Sputnik, the first-ever orbiting satellite. It was the lights of Sputnik moving across the night sky that prompted the U.S. to step up its own space program. The museum celebrates the Soviet Union's exploits in space, and includes artifacts like Yuri Gagarin's space suit and the first rocket engine, designed and built in 1931 by engineer F. Tsander. The small movie theater for video showings resembles the inside of a spaceship. 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of man's first space flight, a feat achieved by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in 1961.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we'll have a plated meal.

Afternoon: We’ll continue our exploration of Moscow by bus and walking to see Red Square, the Kremlin, and the Armory Museum. Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral are perhaps the most recognizable symbols of Russia. The square owes it origins to Ivan III, who in the late 15th century had all buildings removed from the eastern wall of the Kremlin. St. Basil's — named after Vasily, the "holy fool" who predicted Ivan would murder his own son — was built in 1555-61 to celebrate Ivan the Terrible's victory at the Tatar stronghold of Kazan. For the next several centuries, the newly formed area around the cathedral was a trading center. In 1920, all traders were banned from the square, and in the early 1960s cars were banned as well, making Red Square a pedestrian area. The Moscow Kremlin reminds modern-day Russia of its medieval past. Built on the site of Prince Yuri's hunting lodge, the Kremlin overlooks the Moskva and Neglina rivers. In the mid-14th century, the Russian princes, ruling from the Kremlin, became so powerful that Moscow was named the center of the Russian Orthodox Church. Under the guidance of Ivan the Great, Moscow extended its influence and soon became the seat of Russian political power as well. Today, the Kremlin remains the center of Moscow and Russian politics. Inside the fortress walls are palaces, cathedrals, government buildings and the Armory Museum. Built in the 16th century as a warehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry, the Armory was transformed into an exhibition hall and museum in 1814. It now houses Russia's national treasures, such as religious icons, Faberge eggs, a bejeweled chalice belonging to Prince Yuri, and Catherine the Great's ball gowns and shoes.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Take this opportunity to continue enjoying what Moscow has to offer.

Day 18
Moscow Metro, Arbat Street
Location: Moscow Meal: B,D Hotel: Park Inn Sadu
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Walking up to 1 mile; city streets, uneven surfaces, stairs. Use of Moscow Metro; lengthy, steep, fast-moving escalators and stairs; walking from platform to platform, getting on/off trains, crowded conditions. Those who prefer not to have the Metro experience may transfer to Arbat Street aboard the motorcoach.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like or sample the local fare.

Afternoon: We’ll continue our exploration of Moscow via the famous Moscow Metro, a fascinating experience on its own. The first Moscow Metro station opened in 1935, and today there are more than 150 of them along the 125 miles of track. The stations in the city center are showpieces of Socialist art, furnished with statues, frescoes and mosaics, and with marbled, gilded, and bronzed walls and ceilings. We’ll arrive at Arbat Street, an artist’s enclave that originated as the home of court artisans and craftsmen in the 1400s. Today. the Arbat is like a busy street fair, with small shops lining the sides of the streets and tables of crafts and merchandise such as traditional Russian goods, fur hats, matrioshki dolls, and woolen scarves. Street artists draw portraits while musicians sing and play.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we'll have a plated meal. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Day 19
Program Concludes
Location: In Flight Meal: B
Activity note: Hotel check out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1: Arrival and sightseeing in Beijing

After your arrival at the Beijing airport you will be greeted by our guide who will drop you off at your hotel. After checkingin, you will have the rest of the day to tour Beijing. With more than 3000 years of history, Beijing has rich assortment of well-preserved cultural and imperial relics. Today we tour Tian’anmen Square, which is an extensive open area in central Beijing. Then walk north into the Forbidden City. For five hundred years, it served as home for the emperors of China. Later we visit the Summer Palace which was constructedfrom 1749 to 1764 and is the grandest imperial playground in China with elaborate Qing-style pavilions, bridges, walkways, and gardens scattered around the immense Kunming Lake.Overnight in Beijing.

Day 2: Fly to Xian and tour Xi'an Ancient City Wall and Shaanxi History Museum

After flying to Xian in the morning, you will spend the rest of the day visiting the city’s beautiful landmarks. The City Wall of Xian represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls and also is one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Next, visit the Shaanxi History Museum, regarded as “the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures”. It gives a miniature overview of the thousands of years of Chinese history and the splendid ancient cultures of olden times. Overnight in Xi’an.

Day 3: Sightseeing in Xi’an

Believed to be the most significant archaeological excavations of the 20th century, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horse Museum includes Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 as well the exhibition hall of the chariots and horses. After completing the tour at the museum, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. Later visit another archaeological site, Banpo, discovered in 1953, which contains the remains of several well organized Neolithic settlements carbon dated to 5600–6700 years ago. In the evening, enjoy the Tang Dynasty Song and Dance Show at Tang Yuegong Theatre. Overnight in Xi’an.

Day 4: Fly from Xi'an to Zhangye

Today we fly to Zhangye and tour its famous landmark, the giant Buddha temple which is a complex consisting of the Giant Buddha Hall, the Buddhist Classics Hall, and a Clay Pagoda. The Giant Buddha statue of 34.5m lying in the middle of the hall is the temple’s main attraction. It is also believed that the famous Italian traveller Marco Polo was very impressed by the magnificent architecture of the Giant Buddha Temple and by the prosperity of Zhangye city and lived here for more than a year. Overnight in Zhangye.

Day 5: Morning sightseeing then take a train to Duhuang

Today we visit the famous Matisi grottos or caves. The Thousand Buddha Caves are just inside the entrance gateway to the Matisi Scenic Area, and walking up the road is a pleasant experience, with the river rushing past on one side, and the decaying niches studding the cliff face on the other. Later we visit the temple of the legendary King Gesar. In the evening, you get to witness the excellent sunset over the picturesque landscape of Danxia. Later, take a train to Duhuang to spend the night.

Day 6: Sightseeing in Duhuang: Hechang Military Depot: 95km, 3-4 hours

Today we visit Hechang Military Depot, which is located in the northwest part of Dunhuang, about 20km away from Yumen Pass. The military depot was used to store food and clothing when fighting with the nomadic Xiongnu people during the Han dynasty. Overnight in Duhuang.

Day 7: Sightseeing in Duhuang: Crescent Lakeand Mogao Grottoes

We begin the day by visiting the beautiful Crescent Lake, which is a small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. We even enjoy the beauty of the area with a camel safari. Next, you will tour Dunhuang’s famous Mogao Grottoes also known as the Dunhuang Grottoes. The site showcases China’s largest collection of Buddhist grottoes, the oldest ones dating back to as early as a thousand years ago. While touring the site you will also get to marvel at the murals that have Buddhist stories, folk culture, farming, and hunting as their main themes. Take a train to Yumen and finally to Turpan to spend the night.

Day 8: Sightseeing in Turpan

Begin sightseeing in Turpan with a visit to the Suleiman’s Minaret also known as the Sugong Pagoda. Built in Uighur architectural style, the Pagoda is an old brick tower dating back to 1778, almost as old as the United States! Next, visit the grape valley, a small paradise with a thick maze of grape trellises. Today you will also tour the Karez channels, which is a unique underground water system, invented and built by ancient farmers from various ethnic minorities of Turpan. Another highlight of today would be visiting the Astana Tombs from where thousands of priceless historical relics have been unearthed. End the tour by passing through the legendary Flaming Mountain, believed as the hottest place on earth.

Day 9: Drive to Urumqi

Drive to Urumqi after breakfast and visit the Terai Camp followed by Nanshan Grassland, both beautiful natural sites. Nanshan Grassland, also known as Mount Nan Pasture, is a large pasture region with many beautiful streams and a waterfall. While in Urumqi you can also enjoy a traditional meal of ethnic Kazakhs, who were traditionally nomadic, tribal shepherds and ranchers of cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.

Day 10: Fly to Kashgar

After checking in at your hotel in Kashgar, you will visit the Etigar Mosque, a famous mosque, which is well known among muslims in central and west Asia with the name of “Little Mecca”. Also visit the Tomb of Abakh Khoja, a much revered muslim leader and prophet of the 17th century. Next, enjoy strolling in the world’s livelest market in Kashgar, an oasis in the centuries-old Silk Road before calling it a day.

Day 11: Sightseeing in Kashgar: Karakuli Lake

You will spend the whole day enjoying the beauty of Karakuli Lake which is popular among travellers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. The lake lies at an altitude of 3,600m, and is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlun mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztagh Ata (7,546m), Kongur Tagh (7,649m) and Kongur Tiube (7,530m). Overnight in Kashgar.

Day 12: Final departure

Your journey on the Silk Road ends today. You will fly to Beijing and board an international airplane to fly home. On the way, you can reminisce on your incredible journey on the Silk Road.