They started in November 1271, but soon lost the company of the Dominicans, who lost heart and went back.
They went first to Ormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, then struck northward through Khorasan Balkh to the Oxus, and thence on to the Plateau of Pomir.

Thence they passed the Great Desert of Gobi, and at last reached Kublai in May 1275, at his summer residence in Kaipingfu.

Notwithstanding that they had not carried out his request, the Khan received them in a friendly manner, and was especially taken by Marco, whom he took into his own service; and quite recently a record has been found in the Chinese annals, stating that in the year 1277 a certain Polo was nominated a Second-Class Commissioner of the PrivyCouncil.

His duty was to travel on various missions to Eastern Tibet, to Cochin China, and even to India.

The Polos amassed much wealth owing to the Khan's favour, but found him very unwilling to let them return to Europe.
Marco Polo held several important posts; for three years he was Governor of the great city of Yanchau, and it seemed likely that he would die in the service of Kublai Khan.
But, owing to a fortunate chance, they were at last enabled to get back to Europe.