Trip from UK to China and back

[Tomar]

Hi, am new to this forum but am finding it a great help in planning my trip. We have been touring Europe, both east and west for many years and have also spent a lot of time in Morocco but now want to extend our horizons so am having an overland MAN 4x4 truck built in Poland which should be finished this summer. Am in touch with a China travel organisation who are in the midst of arranging documentation for a three month tour of China starting sometime in March 2019 and my question, which I hope you can give some guidance on, is what route to get there and back would you suggest bearing in mind the time of year and would not want to retrace tracks so a circular route would be better. The China route is already mapped out. Many thanks

[bwv812]

If your China route is already mapped out, it would probably help to know what your entrance and exit points are. Also how long you expect to take from Europe to China, and how long in the opposite direction.

[Tomar]

Thanks, planning entry and exit through Irkeshtam, am advised by China tour operators China-tours.net that March would be the best time to start in China. Timing not an issue so open to suggestions.

[bwv812]

I don't know where you're going in China, but I can't see how three months starting in March would be optimal. There are plenty of highlands/mountain/northern areas where July/August are probably the best times to go. Those are probably also the optimal times for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, while Iran through to Uzbekistan are better in spring or autumn.

[Tomar]

Really wanted to stay out of busy tourist periods and was led to believe these were through months of July And August or is this wrong info. Thanks

[bwv812]

Again, I don't know where you're going, but I probably wouldn't want to be in snowy/cold areas starting in March. For me, weather is more important than tourists, especially since lots of areas of China don't get a lot of foreign tourists, and I'm not sure domestic tourists focus on July and August.

[Tomar]

This is my suggested itinerary from China Tours
Itinerary
Day01 Irkeshtam–Kashgar Enter China, drive to Kashgar, approx. 234km, approx. 3hrs 33min.
In the morning we arrive in Irkeshtam port between China and Kyrgyzstan. Leading car and your guide will meet you at Chinese country border. Then escort you to cross approx. 110km no man land and then get to Irkeshtam border. Guide will assist for custom formalities etc. The procedure is complex and might take a lot of time. So you may leave the border in the late afternoon. Drive to Kashgar. 3N in Kashgar

Day02 Kashgar: we will assist for custom formalities and car check, obtain your temporary drive license and vehicle tag etc.

Day03 Kashgar: city sightseeing. approx. 70km.
Our guide today will bring us to visit Kashgar includes the bazaar where many Uyghur people make business and the old city area of Kashgar, Id Kah Mosque and the Tomb of Abakh Hoja etc.

Day04 Kashgar - Zepu: 211km, 3hrs. In the morning visit the Bazzar. 1N in Zepu

Day05 Zepu - Khotan: 300km, 4hrs43min. 1N in Khotan

Day06 Khotan - Alear: 442km, 6hrs8min. 1N in Alear

Day07 Alear - Kucha: 295km, 6hrs. Visit the Kucha Temple. 1N in Kucha

Day08 Kucha - Korla: 295km, 6hrs. Visit Kizil Thousand Buddha Cave and Subashi Ancient City. 1N in Kucha

Day09 Korla - Toksun: 319km, 4hrs23min. Visit the Bosten Lake. 1N in Toksun

Day10 Toksun - Turfan: asphalt road, approx. 54km, approx. 1hr. Visit Emin Minarett (Sugong Ta), Thousand Buddha Caves and Karez. 1N in Turfan

Day11 Turfan – Shanshan: 92km, 1hr21min. Visit the Mountain of Flames and Gaochang Ancient Town. 1N in Shanshan

Day12 Shanshan - Hami: 325km, 3hrs44min. 1N in Hami

Day13 Hami - Xingxing Xia: 213km, 2hrs30min. 1N in Xingxing Xia

Day14 Xingxing Xia - Dunhuang: 212km, 2hrs33min. Visit the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Spring Pool. 1N in Dunhuang

Day15 Dunhuang - Jiayu Guan: 370km, 4hrs19min. Visit the Jiayuguan Tower and Overhanging Great Wall. 1N in Jiayuguan

Day16 Jiayuguan - Zhangye: 227km, 2hrs27min. Visit the Danxia landform and the Giant Buddha Temple. 1N in Zhangye

Day17 Zhangye - Xining: 338km, 6hrs38min. 1N in Xining

Day18 Xining - Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Si) - Lanzhou: 221km, 3hrs26min. Visit the Kumbum Monastery. 1N in Lanzhou

Day19 Lanzhou - Maijishan: 345km, 6hrs33min. Visit the Maijishan Grottoes. 1N in Maijishan

Day20 Maijishan - Xi’an: 317km, 5hrs. 2N in Xi’an

Day21 Xi’an: Terracotta Warriors, Wild Goose Pagoda, Ancient City Wall.

Day22 Xi’an - Luoyang: 374km, 4hrs51min. Visit the Longmen Grottoes. 1N in Luoyang

Day23 Luoyang - Shaolin Temple: 56km, 1hr29min. Visit the Shaolin Temple. 1N at Shaolin Temple

Day24 Shaolin Temple - Pingyao: 433km, 6hrs. 2N in Pingyao

Day25 Pingyao: visit the Pingyao Ancient Town and have a rest.

Day26 Pingyao - Yingxian: 331km, 4hrs. Visit the Yingxian Wood Tower. 1N in Yingxian

Day27 Yingxian - Suspended Temple - Datong: 141km, 2hrs13min. Visit the Suspended Temple and Yungang Grottoes. 1N in Datong

Day28 Datong - Great Wall at Mutianyu: 369km, 4hrs45min. Visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu. 1N in Mutianyu

Day29 Mutianyu - Beijing: 72km, 1hr23min. 2N in Beijing

Day30 Beijing: Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Tiananmen Square.

Day31 Beijing - Taishan: 469km, 5hrs54min. 2N in Taishan

Day32 Taishan: visit Taishan.

Day33 Taishan - Qufu: 86km, 1hr26min. Visit the Kong Lin, Kong miao and Kong Fu. 1N in Qufu

Day34 Qufu - Nanjing: 492km, 5hrs50min, 1N in Nanjing

Day35 Nanjing - Suzhou: 214km, 2hrs33min. Visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. 1N in Nanjing

Day36 Suzhou - Shanghai: 105km, 1hr43min. Visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, Tiger Hill. 2N in Shanghai

Day37 Shanghai: the Band, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Tower.

Day38 Shanghai - Hangzhou: 174km, 2hrs31min. Visit the West Lake and Lingyin Temple. 1N in Hangzhou

Day39 Hangzhou - Huangshan: 232km, 3hrs11min. Visit the Hong Village and Xidi Ancient Town. 2N in Huangshan

Day40 Huangshan: visit Huangshan Mountain

Day41 Huangshan - Wuyuan - Jingde Town: 172km, 2hrs40min. Visit the Wuyuan Scenic. 1N in Jingde

Day42 Jingde - Wuhan: 393km, 4hrs56min. Visit the Yellow Crane Tower. 1N in Wuhan

Day43 Wuhan - Jingzhou - Yichang: 319km, 4hrs9min. Visit the Jingzhou Ancient Town and Three Gorges Dam. 1N in Yichang

Day44 Yichang - Lichuan: 285km, 4hrs35min. 1N in Lichuan

Day45 Lichuan - Chongqing: 291km, 3hrs55min. Visit the Jiefangbei and Hongya Cave. 1N in Chongqing

Day46 Chongqing - Dazu - Anyue: 179km, 2hrs48min. Visit the Dazu Stone Carving and Pilu Cave. 1N in Cave

Day47 Anyue - Chengdu: 160km, 2hrs. Visit the Panda Center. 2N in Chengdu

Day48 Chengdu: Wide and Narrow Alley, have Tea in Renmin Park and have a rest.

Day49 Chengdu - Leshan - Yibin: 298km, 3hrs51min. Visit the Leshan Buddha and Wuliangye Group Co., Ltd. 1N in Yibin

Day50 Yibin - Liupanshui: 387km, 5hrs2min. 1N in Liupanshui

Day51 Liupanshui - Huangguoshu: 145km, 1hr45min. Visit the Huangguoshu waterfall. 1N in Huangguoshu

Day52 Huangguoshu - Kaili - Xijiang: 326km, 4hrs38min. Visit Xijiang Miao village. 1N in Xijiang

Day53 Xijiang - Liping - Sanjiang: 341km, 4hrs38min. Visit the Mapang Drum-Tower and ChengYang rain bridge. 1N in Sanjiang

Day54 Sanjiang - Longsheng: 65km, 1hr. Visit the Longsheng Terrace. 1N in Longsheng

Day55 Longsheng - Yangshuo: 144km, 1hr52min. Visit the Lijiang River and Yangshuo Old Street. 2N in Yangshuo

Day56 Yangshuo - Guilin: 70km, 1hr20min. Visit the Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill. 1N in Guilin

Day57 Guilin - Pingguo: 423km, 4hrs24min. 1N in Pingguo

Day58 Pingguo - Luoping: 463km, 6hrs. 1N in Luoping

Day59 Luoping - Stone Forests: 148km, 2hrs14min. Visit the Stone Forests. 1N in Stone Forests

Day60 Stone Forests - Jianshui: 233km, 2hrs56min. Visit the Jianshui Ancient Town. 1N in Jianshui

Day61 Jianshui - Yuanyang: 81km, 2hrs21min. Visit the Laohuzui Terrace. 1N in Yuanyang

Day62 Yuanyang - Yunxi: 241km, 4hrs16min. Visit the terrace. 1N in Yunxi

Day63 Yunxi - Kunming: 73km, 1hr. Visit the Dianchi Lake and have a rest. 1N in Kunming

Day64 Kunming - Dali: 330km, 4hrs17min. 2N in Dali

Day65 Dali: Erhai lake, Three Pagodas and Dali Ancient Town.

Dau66 Dali - Lijiang: 160km. Visit the Xizhou Ancient Town. 2N in Lijiang

Day67 Lijiang: Black Dragon Pool, Lijiang Ancient Town.

Day68 Lijiang - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Shangri-la: 163km. Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge and Ganden Sumtseling Monastery. 1N in Shangri-la

Day69 Shangri-La – Dechen: 183km, aspahlt road. After visiting the Sumzanlin Monasteryin Shangri-La drive to Dechen, on the way far view of the first bend of Jinshajiang River. 1N in Dechen

Day70 Dechen – Markam - Zuogong: 381km, 9hrs, asphalt road. 1N in Zuogong

Day71 Zuogong - Baxoi - Ranwu Lake: 288km, 5hrs37min. Visit the Ranwu Lake. 1N at Ranwu Lake

Day72 Ranwu - Bomi - Lulang Wald: 279km, 5hrs15min. 1N in Lulang

Day73 Lulang - Serkhyem La Pass - Lhasa: 477km, 7hrs31min. Overlook the Namjagbrawa Mountain and Gyala Peri Mountain in a distance. 3N in Lhasa

Day74 Lhasa: visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery and Barkhor Street.

Day75 Lhasa: visit Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka and Sera Monastery.

Day76 Lhasa – Yamdork Lake – Gyantse (Pelkor Monastery with Kumbum Stupa): 262km, 5hrs25min. 1N in Gyantse

Day77 Gyantse – Shigatse: 93km, 1hr46min, asphalt road. Visit the Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse. 1N in Shigatse

Day78 Shigatse - Lhatse - Shegar - Rongbuk: 384km, 8hrs45min. Visit the Mt. Everest. 1N ar Rongbuk

Day79 Rongbuk Monastery - Old Tingri - Paiku Tso - Saga (4504m): 322km, 7hrs. 1N in Saga

Day80 Saga - Paryang (4598m) - Lake Manasorovar: 492km, 7hrs. 1N at Lake Manasorovar

Day81 Lake Manasorovar - Darchen (4560m): 40km, walk around the foot of the Mt. Kailash. 1N in the simple guesthouse

Day82 Darchen - Earth Forest - Tsada: 230km, 5hrs26min. 2N in Tsada

Day83 Tsada: Guge Kingdom Ruins and Toling Monastery.

Day84 Tsada - Shiquanhe: 251km, 6hrs. 1N in Shiquanhe

Day85 Shiquanhe - Bangong Tso - Domar: 231km. Visit the Banggong Tso. 1n in Domar

Day86 Domar - Songxi - Jieshandaban (6700m) - Hongliutan (4190m): 247km. 1N in Hongliutan

Day87 Hongliutan - Marza: 351km. 1N in Mazar

Day88 Mazar - Yecheng - Zepu: 287km, 6hrs. 1N in Zepu

Day89 Zepu - Kashgar: 209km, 2hrs59min. 1N in Kashagar

Day90 Kashgar - Irkeshtam: exit Kyrgyzstan. Service ends.

Does this look realistic as we plan to start from Irkeshtam early April 2019.

[bwv812]

Sorry for the late response.

Starting in April is an improvement, and although you're hitting Tibet at a good time, I still think it would probably be better to start a bit later. Consider checking some weather/climate charts for some of your destinations to see if you think the weather will be an issue.

For example: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/climate/dunhuang.htm

On the other hand, if you leave China in early July, you'll still have a solid 2+ months of optimal weather for Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Because you don't want to see these places when it's cold, I'd save them for after China. Consider trying to exit China via the border at the Qolma Pass near Tashkurgan (totally worth visiting) instead of Irkeshtam. That will let you see the Pamir Highway as you see fit (either by doing a simple loop to Khorog and then back up the Pamir highway — possibly via the Bartang valley — to Osh; or going through to Dushanbe, up to Khojand with a possible detour to the Fann Mountains, then over to Osh in Kyrgyzstan) before heading north into Kyrgyzstan and then up to Kazakhstan before heading back to Europe via Russia and/or the Caucasus.

Since it will be fairly cold before arriving in China, it probably makes sense to stick to a fairly straight route through the warmer areas of Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, then going straight through Kyrgyzstan from Osh to Irkeshtam in a day or so.