The Ancient Silk Road

We offer educational expeditions that use custom-designed Boeing 757 private jets. With their long-range capabilities and 99 percent reliability rate for operating without mechanical delays, our jets are ideally suited for visiting an incredible variety of far-flung destinations around the world in one expedition. We make use of our flighing time with engaging lectures by distinguished experts, and for some fascinating flightseeing. And we fly only during the day, so that you may have a proper night’s rest in some of the world’s finest hotels. With our newly designed jet for a small group of only 72 travelers, you can enjoy more comfortable seating, more dedicated services and amenities, and unparalleled access to expedition lecturers and staff.

Our specially-outfitted Boeing 757 private jet for 72 travelers offers many special comforts and amenities:

Generously seats 72 passengers in 2x2 configuration instead of the standard 233 seats.

Elegant and plush VIP-class leather seating with 50-52 inches of pitch, 45-degree recline, and ergonomic ecomfort™ foam that reduces pressure and stress.

Onboard education system with 24 flat-screen moniors for onboard seminars and destination-specific movies and documentaries, and a library of destination-specific books and other publications.

Award-winning meal service inspired by the cuisines of the destinations featured in our itinerary.

Noise-canceling headsets, in-seat power outlets and plenty of storage space for laptops, digital cameras, and other personal devices.

A specially-trained flight crew of 2 pilots, an expedition chef, a catering officer, avionics and structural engineers, a dedicated luggage handler, and eight flight attendants, offering one of the highest flight attendant-to-traveler ratios in the business: 1 to 9.

Operated and maintained by the award-winning Thomson Airways, formerly First Choice Airways, based in England.

CHINA & TIBET PRE-TOUR April 14-19.
Depart the U.S.A. and begin your pan-Asian journey in Beijing the following day. Meet your expedition leader, visit the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and take a stroll through Tiananmen Square. Or, visit the Great Wall of China. Then take a local flight to Lhasa, Tibet. Visit the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and the Sera Monastery. Return to Xi’an, China, by local flight and join other travelers for The Ancient Silk Road expedition.
Raffles Beijing Hotel and Brahmaputra Hotel, Lhasa

IMPERIAL TREASURES & SHAOLIN MONKS OF CHINA April 20 & 21.
Meet fellow travelers and the expedition staff in Xi’an. Marvel at the Qin terra-cotta warriors, or see the Famen Temple’s 13-tiered pagoda and its Tang Dynasty treasures. If you wish, visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, for an excellent survey of this area’s rich history. Enjoy a gala welcome dinner featuring a gravity-defying Shaolin kung fu performance.
Sofitel on Renmin Square

THE GOBI DESERT OR ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA April 22 & 23.
Fly by private jet into southern Mongolia for an unforgettable ger-style camp experience in the Gobi Desert. Go dinosaur fossil hunting at the Flaming Cliffs, search for petroglyphs, and ride camels in the dunes. Or in Ulaanbaatar, meet with a nomadic family, and visit the Gandan Monastery, Museum of Natural History, and Museum of Fine Arts.
Three Camel Lodge, Gobi Desert or Kempinski Hotel, Ulaanbaatar

CAVES OF THE THOUSAND BUDDHAS, DUNHUANG, CHINA April 24 & 25.
Visit Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves to see sculptures and murals that depict Buddhist religious art between the 4th and 14th centuries. Ride camels into the Gobi’s spectacular Ming Sha Sand Dunes.
Dunhuang Hotel

SILK ROAD OUTPOST OF SAMARKAND April 26 & 27.
Fly by private jet to Samarkand, traditional home of Tajik merchants who established this city as a major trade center. Admire the sparkling turquoise Gur-e Amir Mausoleum; visit Registan Square to see the Shah-i-Zinga Mausoleum, the Bibi Khanum Mosque, and the National Museum.
In the event that a U.S.A. travel warning is in effect for Uzbekistan, we will visit Almaty, Kazakhstan, a remote outpost of the Mongol empire. Unwind at the Arasan Baths and meet Kazakhs who continue the tradition of hunting with golden eagles and falcons in the Eurasian steppeland.
President Hotel, Samarkand

SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF ARMENIA April 28 & 29.
Fly to Armenia, the world’s first Christian nation. Admire illuminated manuscripts at the Matendaran Museum. Visit the Mother See of Etchmiadzin and Garni Temple, built to honor the Armenian sun god. Join Garni villagers for a picnic lunch. Explore the Art Gallery and National History Museum or the Khor Virab Monastery, with a spectacular view of the beloved Mt. Ararat.
Marriott Yerevan

EPHESUS & ISTANBUL, TURKEY April 30, May 1 & 2.
Fly by private jet to İzmir and transfer to Ephesus to see the Temple of Artemis and the grandiose Celsus Library. Unwind in our hotel on a private peninsula in the Aegean Sea. Then fly to Istanbul—legendary crossroads of East and West. Visit the Topkapi Museum, marvel at the impressive Byzantine-style Hagia Sophia, and celebrate your journey at a gala farewell dinner.
Kismet Hotel, Kusadasi (or similar) and Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet

LONDON / U.S.A. May 3.
Connect with individual commercial flights to your home city from Istanbul or London. Or stay in Istanbul and explore more of Turkey. Please call for details.

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
4/20/2010 - 5/4/2010	$29,950
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Imperial Treasures & Shaolin Monks of China

Mongolia’s Gobi Desert

The Mogao Caves of the Thousand Buddhas

Fabled Silk Road Outpost of Samarkand

Rich Spiritual Heritage of Armenia

Legendary Crossroads of East and West in Istanbul

Limited to 72 Travelers

Cost Per Person:

$29,950 (double occupancy)

$3,990 (single supplement)

For your protection and peace of mind, all payments are secured in a bank escrow account that is fully insured by the U.S. Federal Government.

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