DRIVE THE SILK ROAD Venice to Beijing 2012

Despite the great distance between Asia and Europe, the two regions had contact prior to the first century AD. Traders, pilgrims and warriors all travelled along the Silk Road from the Mediterranean region in the West to as far as China in the East. Cultures spread through interaction among merchants, travellers and conquerors. The most profound influence of all were those brought by conquering civilizations. To understand the history of cultural diffusion, one must understand the major empires of the Silk Road and the effects that they had on the exchange and spread of culture.

Our one-of-a-kind overland adventure “Drive the Silk Road: Venice to Beijing” program, from April to June, will take place again in 2012. It will take 80 days travelling through 12 countries covering over 20,000 kilometres. The trip is divided into 3 sections and travellers will have the option of participating in one section, or two combined sections.

The journey reveals various regions along this historical and legendary route taking travellers into many unspoiled and off-the-beaten-path places. By driving through and visiting these places, our participants have realized that the Silk Road is not a legend that belongs to the past, but full of liveliness and present-day activities, and the knowledge gained from the journey shall be much greater than those from the history books. Journey with us in the footsteps of legendary explorers ,along the greatest thoroughfare in human history.