12-day Silk Road Tours From Xi'an

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Xi’an. O/N Xi'an.

Stop At: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, Weicheng District, Xianyang, Xianyang, China
Upon your flight landing, our local tour guide will wait you by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to hotel.Rest of the day is your own time to explore this ancient city by yourself.
It is said that if you want to see 800 years of China’s history, visit Beijing; if you want to see 3000 years of China’s history go to Xi’an. The root of Chinese history and culture remains there. It used to be the ancient capital of many dynasties and the starting point of the Silk Road in China.


Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Xi'an Bell tower hotel, a 4 star hotel

Day 2: Xi'an. O/N Xi'an.

Stop At: Xi'an, Xi'an, Shaanxi
In the morning,our tour guide can meet you at your Xi'an hotel lobby at 9:00am then transfer to Terracotta Warriors Museum, need 80 minutes driving,45km.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Qinling North Road, Lintong District, Xi'an 710600 China
We reserve tickets for you online in advance and your guide will help you skip the line at the entrance of the Museum. Following your guide, you will explore the Terracotta Warriors Museum by visiting the three excavated pits, as well as the Bronze Chariots and Horses Exhibition Hall. Although the clay warriors and horses have been buried for more than 2,200 years, they are still vivid with distinct appearances. You will spend at least two and a half hours to see this amazing site.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Small Goose Pagoda, No.72 Youyi Road, Beilin District, Xi'an 710068 China
Next, we will Transfer to Small Wild Goose Pagoda which is located inside Jianfu Temple, about one kilometer south of Xi'an city proper. It is one of the two famous and important Buddhist pagodas erected in the Tang Dynasty about 1300 years ago. Small Wild Goose Pagoda and its large neighbor, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, are two important Buddhist sites, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, 1300 years ago.

The two pagodas were a symbol of Chang'an (Constant Peace) city. Xi'an (West Peace) was called Chang'an until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when Beijing became the capital of China. Chang'an had served as the capital for ten dynasties.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang), Zhongxin District, Xi'an 710001 China
After the lunch, we will Transfer to city wall.You can walking or cycling around the wall, the bike fees you pay locally if you do that.
The first landmark visitors will encounter in Xian is the ancient City Wall, which stretches round the old city. It is also one of the most famous attractions in Xian. Today, this wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Muslim Quarter, West of Bell Drum Towers Square , Beilin District, Xi'an 710000 China
Our last stop will be the Muslim Bazaar, the most thriving area of the city. If you are interested, you can explore the bazaar at your own pace and then return to the hotel by yourself. Our guide will give you directions for returning to your hotel. The Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Tower Square are within walking distance of the Bazaar. There are many boutique stores at fair prices in Bazaar and also a number of excellent choices of food for dinner.


Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Xi'an Bell tower hotel, a 4 star hotel

Day 3: Xi'an--Dunhuang by flight. O/N Dunhuang.

Stop At: Xi'an, Xi'an, Shaanxi
In the morning,our tour guide will meet you at your Xi'an hotel lobby at 8:30am then transfer to Hanyanglin, need 30 minutes driving,15km.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Tomb of Emperor Jingdi (Hanyangling), Zhanjiawan Village, Xi'an China
We first drive for one hour to visit the Hanyangling Mausoleum, which is on the site of the Mausoleum of Western Han Emperor Liu Qi built in 153 AD. In the company of the guide, you will have a close look at the thousand-year-old tombs through the glass floors and the glass walls in the tomb pits. Besides, the advanced Spectra Vision program will reproduce the real life of the Western Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago. We will ensure you two hours exploring the site.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Shaanxi History Museum, 91 Xiaozai E Rd, Xi'an 710061 China
After lunch, we continue Xi'an group tour to explore Shaanxi History Museum. Unique historical and culture heritage of Shaanxi is undoubted worth the praise as treasure house of Chinese civilization, and Shaanxi History Museum is definitely a palace of art to display Shaanxi's history and culture and China's ancient civilization. There are as many as some 370,000 antiquities collected, ranging from prehistorical relics to that of the 1840s. Time spans more than one million years and the collection is superior in value, quantity, rank and species. Your guide will provide professional full explanations.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, Weicheng District, Xianyang, Xianyang, China
After lunch drive to Xi’an airport for your flight to Dunhuang. The airport is about 40km from the city and it takes about an hour by car.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Dunhuang Airport, Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Gansu, China
Upon arrival at Dunhuang, you will be picked up on time with our local guide and transferred to the Dunhuang hotel.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at "The silk road Dunhuang hotel", a 4 star hotel.

Day 4: Dunhuang--Turpan by overnight soft sleeper train. O/N Train.

Stop At: Dunhuang, Dunhuang, Gansu
Our guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel at around 09:00 in the morning. You will be escorted to the well-known Mogao Grottoes in around 30 minutes ride.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mogao Caves, West of Hexi Zoulang, Dunhuang 736200 China
The Mogao Grottoes, which were constructed over a millennium ago, from the 4th to 14th centuries. The caves are also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves has two distinctions of being one of the most notable grottoes in China as well as the best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist art, sutras, murals and sculptures in the world.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Crescent Moon Pool, 5km South of Dunhuang, Dunhuang 736200 China
Nex, go to the Mysterious Crescent lake which its name derives from the crescent moon shaped by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Here you could slide down on the Sounding sand dunes to see if you can hear the sound from sand dunes.
The Crescent lake also Known to the world as “the first spring in the desert”, no-one can explain the formation of such a geological oddity.visit would be a great experience. crescent lake is like a crescent moon, which is nestled in the vast desert for thousands of years, its water is very clear, sweet.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain, Three miles from Dunhuang, Dunhuang 831900 China
Afterwards,visit to the Singing Sand Mountains (Mingsha Mountain) where you can experience sand surfing and camel riding( on your own expenses). Mingsha Mountain starts from Mogao Caves in the east, 40 kilometers long from east to west, and 20 kilometers from south to north.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Dunhuang Museum, No.1390 North MingShaShan Road, Dunhuang China
After lunch we head to Dunhuang Museum which exhibits relics excavated from the local area, including paper and coins. The museum is also home to an excellent reconstruction of the Great Wall during the Han Dynasty.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Dunhuang Railway Station Parking Lot, China, Gansu Sheng, Jiuquan Shi, Dunhuang Shi, 314省道
At the end, Take overnight soft sleeper train to Turpan
Duration: 15 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Turpan. O/N Turpan.

Stop At: Turpan Railway Station Ticketing Office, Yanguan St, Gaochang Qu, Tulufan Shi, Xinjiang Weiwuerzizhiqu, China
Upon arrival at Turpan, you will be picked up on time with our local guide and transferred to the well-known Idikut ancient city (Gaochang) in around 60 minutes ride.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Ancient City of Gaochang (Kharakhoja), Sanpu Country, Turpan 838000 China
We start our exciting day in Turpan with a visit to the ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was first built in the first Century BC and later became capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th Century. We’ll enjoy seeing the ancient city for about one hour and then Move on to Toyuq village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and have lunch with a local family at their home. This could be the highlight of your day tour.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Gaochang District, Turpan, Xinjiang, China
After lunch we visit Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves which used to be an important center for Buddhist worshipers under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Flaming Mountains (Huoyan Shan), Middle of Turpan Basin, Turpan 838200 China
On the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Flaming Mountains which people claimed to be hottest and driest along the silk road that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come”.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Turpan, Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
Duration: 17 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Metropolo Jin Jiang Hotels Turpan, a 4 star hotel.

Day 6: Turpan--Urumqi. O/N Urumqi.

Stop At: Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto), Jianggelemaisi Village, Ya'er Country, Turpan 838000 China
Following the breakfast at the Hotel you start your another memorable day in Turpan. Our special itinerary today includes sightseeing in Turpan and drive to Urumqi after Lunch.
First we visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city which is one of the best preserved ancient cities in China , the ruins of the buildings are divided into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices, workshops and residential houses are still visible and time there is a time spent in a long lost world.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Karez System, Xincheng Ximen Village, Ya'er Country, Turpan 838000 China
After an hour of visiting around the ancient city, we’ll head to see the world famous Karez irrigation system, unique to this part of the world. The system is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Emin Pasa Camii (Emin Pasha Mosque), Adem JasharI Behind the Gazi Mehmet Pasha Bath, Prizren Kosovo
Then visit Emin Suliman minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture.It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient minaret in the country. Locals call it “pure tower”.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China
After lunch drive to Urumqi which is 180Kms and takes about 2.5-3 hours.
Duration: 17 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hilton Urumqi, a 5 star hotel.

Day 7: Urumqi--Kashgar by flight. O/N Kashgar.

Stop At: Tianshan Tianchi Lake, Within Tianshan Scenic Resort, Urumqi 830002 China
Our guide and driver will see you at the hotel lobby and Leave for Heavenly Lake after breakfast which is 115 kms (71 Miles)takes over two hours by vehicle. Your stay at the heavenly lake is your time to ride horses, go boating, (on your own expense)take photos or simply trek around the lake for as long as you like. You can have lunch with a local Kazak family or just pay them a visit! This is certainly the easiest way to understand the life of the Kazak people in such a short time. Whenever you are finished at the lake, our driver will see you off at Urumqi airport for your flight to Kashgar.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Airport Road, Ji Chang Lu, Kashi Shi, Kashi Diqu, Xinjiang Weiwuerzizhiqu, China
Upon arrival at Kashgar, you will be picked up on time and transferred to the Kashgar hotel.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel Kashgar, a 4 star hotel.

Day 8: Kashgar--Karakul Lake. O/N Karakul Lake.

Stop At: Karakul Lake, Karakoram Highway ,foot of Mushitage Peak The new road to Karakul lake is compeleted and is now all paved., Kashgar 844000 China
Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz check point and Valley ; Ancient Caravan Saray, Bulungkol Valley (white sand mountain), Karakul lake and local Kyrgyz family visit.
We set out along the Sino – Pakistan Karakorum Highway, on the Pamir plateau (the roof of the world)visit Karakul Lake (3600m above sea level). The lake sits at the foot of the notorious, Muztagh Ata ( 7546m ) and Gongur ( 7719m ) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountains and is one of the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world.
Karakul lake area offers great chance for hiking and enjoy some incredible scenery from different directions.
People travel to experience the lives of other cultures, which is why we spend a night in the yurt of a local Kyrgyz family and really experience another way of life.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the yurt of a local Kyrgyz family

Day 9: Karakul Lake--Tashkorgan.

Stop At: Tashkurgan, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, China
After breakfast you will have the whole morning for hike around the lake or horse rides (Your own expenses). You can visit local villages and homes of local people and start driving to Tashkorgan after lunch.
For the travelers, a journey along the KKH is a wonder and self-discovery. It’s soaring peaks and untamed wilderness truly dramatizes a sense of life without limits and yet still hold the promise of more to come. Wake up along the whispering shores of a jewel among sleeping giants.
On the way we drive through Subash Pass from where you can see better view of the valley and beautiful peaks of Muztagh Ata and Konger.
If you prefer, our driver and guide will stop at Tagharma village to enjoy the beautiful grassland with colorful trees and a local Tajik family visit.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at the yurt of a local Kyrgyz family

Day 10: Tashkorgan--Kashgar. O/N Kashgar.

Stop At: Tashkurgan, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, China
After breakfast you’ll visit the town’s ancient Stone Fort – still standing after 2200 years! ‘Tashkurgan’ means ‘Fort made out of stones’ Later Hike on the grassland next to the Stone Fort. The Tashkurgan Tajik autonomous county was once an important hub on the old Silk Road. The area borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan via the Kunjerab Pass and the Wahan Corridor.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Kashgar, Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur
After lunch drive back to Kashgar and you can have stops at the missed scenes along the way if you like.
Duration: 17 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel Kashgar, a 4 star hotel.

Day 11: Kashgar. O/N Kashgar.

Stop At: Kashgar, Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur
Explore the rich, endless culture of the Uighurs in Kashgar. First enjoy the famous livestock market which happens only on every Sunday and people bring their horses, sheep, goats, camels,cows, bulls and other livestocks to the market from all the directions for sale. It provides a great opportunity to take photos of the faces of local people, enjoy the traditional local market culture, test-drive a donkey or a horse or even make its shoes. Like opening a window, today is a real glimpse into a time lost in the annals of the Silk Road’s past and an opportunity not to be missed.
Later moving to Sunday market main Bazaar which is considered one of the largest market in Central Asia. From fluffy sheepskin hats to rugged camel-hide boots, not to mention beads, buttons and buckets of locals. Everything – including plenty of kitchen sinks – is for sale at this fairytale bazaar. It is the best chance to practice your bargaining skills.
After lunch, visit the Grand Id Kah mosque, the largest mosque in China and marvel at the intricate architecture of Kashgar’s historic Apak Hoja Tomb which is also known as Fragrant concubine tomb).
We’ll enjoy the Old Town of Kashgar by walk. walking is the best way to see and understand the ancient historical parts,streets,handicraft workshops and many more; enjoy a century-old Kashgar tea house atmosphere for a short break. sit by locals and try various medicinal teas such as those containing rose, saffron, honey and many other ingredients.
Finally, we wrap up one day tour with a dinner at a local family which offers a great opportunity to deeply understand real local life, culture and traditions of Uighurs.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel Kashgar, a 4 star hotel.

Day 12: Kashgar departure. The tour end.

Stop At: Airport Road, Ji Chang Lu, Kashi Shi, Kashi Diqu, Xinjiang Weiwuerzizhiqu, China
Today is the last day of your tour with us, so we hope this tour shouldn’t be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us the one that you’ll always remember
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.