Accommodation

Hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with twin-bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast.

Insurance

Travel Agency Liability insurance

Meals

All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner).

Guide

As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available

Others

1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary 2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary 3.Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges

Transport

All air and train city transfers indicated in the itinerary and transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.

Not included:

Others

1. China entry visa fees 2. Excess baggage charges 3. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary 4. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary 5. Single room supplement 6. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival 7. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day). 8. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.

Flights

International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrive In Xi’An (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrive In Xi’An (Bl)

After picking up at the airport, our Silk Road journey will begin! We will start the trip off with a visit to the magnificent Qin Terra-Cotta Army. It was built in about 2500 years ago and contains more than 6000 warriors, soldiers and horses. It was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages. In the afternoon, drive back to Xian city, visit Forest of Stone Steles Museum.
Day 2 Day 2: Xi’An / Lanzhou (Bl, By Train)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Xi’An / Lanzhou (Bl, By Train)

In the morning, visit Shanxi History Museum and the Old City Wall. The Shanxi History Museum’s permanent exhibition primarily displays Shaanxi’s ancient history. Representative pieces from all periods have been selected to show the development of civilization in this region. This afternoon we will visit Gao’s Grand Courtyard, the Great Mosque and the old street. We’ll take a high speed train from Xi’an to Lanzhou where we’ll stay at a lovely 4 star hotel.
Day 3 Day 3: Lanzhou (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Lanzhou (Bl)

Today’s highlights are Gansu Provincial Museum and an excursion to Bingling Temple Grottoes, 75km southwest of Lanzhou. Listed as part of the ancient Silk Road for the World Heritage candidate, Bingling Temple Grottoes, filled with stupas, murals and Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves, were a work in progress between the 4th and 10th centuries. Taste traditional and local foods at the local market.
Day 4 Day 4: Lanzhou / Wuwei / Zhangye (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Lanzhou / Wuwei / Zhangye (Bl)

Day 4 of our Silk Road Tour lets us cross the great Yellow River and head up the Hexi Corridor towards the ancient city of Wuwei. Here we’ll visit Lai Tai Han Tomb, which has become a fantastic tourist attraction in Wuwei city. Then drive to visit the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye where the biggest indoor sleeping Buddha in China is preserved. Further on to Zhangye Danxia Geopark, the Rainbow Mountains. It enjoys the honors of "The world’s top ten magical geographical wonders". Upon arrival, start hiking along the north part of Danxia Landform, enjoying the great view of Qilian Shan and memorable sunset. China Rainbow Mountains are magnificent with gorgeous colors, which developed at about 200 million years ago. We will see lots of precipitous red cliffs, most of which are several hundred meters high, and multicolored ridges of weathered strata, sometimes stretching to the horizon. It is the best place for photography. After a great day we’ll stay in a nice 4-star Huachen International Hotel or similar.
Day 5 Day 5: Zhangye / Jiayu Guan (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Zhangye / Jiayu Guan (Bl)

As we continue on our silk road journey, the snow-capped Qilian Mountain ranges wind its way westward and accompany us all the way (about 250km). We’ll visit “The Strategic Pass under Heaven” - the most west point of the present Great Wall. And visit Wei & Jin Ancient Tomb to explore the ground floor of its murals and brick Graves known as "the world’s largest underground gallery".
Day 6 Day 6: Jiayu Guan / Dunhuang (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Jiayu Guan / Dunhuang (Bl)

Today we’ll drive about 385 km there the Great Gobi Desert. Along the way we’ll also ride camels to visit the Singing Sand Mountains. The Crescent Spring, which forms a lake between two huge sand dunes. It is like seeing a mirage - but it’s real!
Day 7 Day 7: Dunhuang (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Dunhuang (Bl)

Today we get to sleep in a bit later and have a nice rest. Afterwards, we’ll drive towards the northwest of the city for the Yumen Pass. Situated in the Gobi Desert 80 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang City, it was once one of the two critical defensive passes protecting Dunhuang from invasion about two thousand years ago. Drive onwards to visit Yadan National Geologic Park. Yadan landforms rise above the flat Gobi Desert and cover a vast area. Due to its eccentric landforms, the hard-to-spot roads, low-lying terrain, strong magnetism and howling sounds made by the wind, the area is also called "Ghost City" by local people. Yadan Landforms is the largest in scale, fully developed in geology and most valuable for ornament in the world. The scenery sites have an infinite variety of fantastic phenomena and the superlative craftsmanship of nature.
Day 8 Day 8: Dunhuang / Take The Train To Turpan (Bl, By Train)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Dunhuang / Take The Train To Turpan (Bl, By Train)

After a relaxing morning we’ll then visit the world famous Mogao Grottoes which is called “the World Famous Treasure House of Arts”, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddha. After dinner, we’ll take a high speed train from Dunhuang Liuyuan station to Turpan;
Day 9 Day 9: Turpan (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Turpan (Bl)

After early arrival in Turpan we’ll be taken to our hotel and later picked up to see some of the ancient sights: Gaochang Ancient City shining like a resplendent precious stone inlaid in the boundless desolate Gobi desert and the Silk Road, and the Astana Graves which are a group of underground tombs. Following a lunch in an authentic Uygur restaurant we get to see the vineyards for ourself. The Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves is another rock-cut building with the most caves and frescos contents at most in Turpan area. It is located on the west cliffs of the Wood Valley of the Flame Mountain, 45 kilometers away from Turpan city. The history of the Caves is more early than Dunhuang but unfortunately that most murals were damaged by nature or by man-made. Then visit the Flaming Mountains, overshadow the cradle of the Turpan ancient civilization and oasis agriculture. They provide a spectacular backdrop to the oases and scenery of the Turpan area.
Day 10 Day 10: Turpan / Urumqi (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Turpan / Urumqi (Bl)

In the morning, we will drive to the west part of Turpan for the Suleiman Minaret, the only ancient Islamic minaret left in China, and the Karez Wells, one of the three great ancient projects’ in China. The Karez Wells Folk Garden and Museum explains how the well system makes it possible for the famous orchards and vineyards to exist in these hot, dry desert communities. After that, we will drive all the way to Urumqi. It’s about 300km highway..
Day 11 Day 11: Urumqi –Kashgar (Bl, By Air)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Urumqi –Kashgar (Bl, By Air)

After breakfast we will head for Heavenly Lake Heavenly Lake (Tian Chi), which lies on the north side of Bogda Peak of Tian Shan (Heavenly Mountains), about 110 km east of Urumqi. We will be amazed by the snowy peaks of the Heavenly Mountains reflecting on the dazzlingly blue lake surface. Then drive back to Urumqi, we will also pay a visit to the National Museum. The display of ancient mummies is fantastic, for it was in this region that a great number of ancient and well preserved remains were discovered.

Take an evening flight to Kashgar.
Day 12 Day 12: Kashgar - Tashkurgan (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Kashgar - Tashkurgan (Bl)

Today we will drive about 4-5 hours to Tashkurgan County which is located at the south of Kashgar for the ancient stone city. We could take an easy hiking visit to the ruins of the stone city which is in the back of Tashkurgan County.
Day 13 Day 13: Tashkurgan - Karakuri Lake (3,770M) - Kashgar (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Tashkurgan - Karakuri Lake (3,770M) - Kashgar (Bl)

Today we start our tour from the Tashkurgan Museum. We’ll drive about 2 hours to the famous Karakuri Lake and Muztagh Mountain, enjoying breathtaking scenery of high mountain pastures and snow-capped peaks. Karakuri Lake, known as "the father of glaciers", is located at the foot of Mount Muztaga-Ata, sitting at 3,600m above sea level. We will have enough time for deep exploration of the famous lake and the holy Mountain. Take a leisure walking around the majestic blue lake. Then back to Kashgar.
Day 14 Day 14: Kashgar (Bl)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Kashgar (Bl)

Spend the day experiencing its Islamic culture in Kashgar. A must visit place is Id Kah Mosque, built in the 15th century, where 10,000 people gather at midday on Fridays to pray, and a restaurant nearby which provides authentic Muslim food. Kashgar Bazaar is festooned with traditions and ancient history and has become famous throughout Asia, attracting merchants from as far as Pakistan and Kirghizstan; some tourists come especially to see it. Zhiren Street is an old street where craftsmen still produce their fare. It’s easy to lose our sense of time and direction as we wonder this bazaar, but don’t worry our guide will lead us through the maze. We’ll take a night flight back to Urumqi, and stay in Xinjiang Grand hotel or similar
Day 15 Day 15: Kashgar / Home (B)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Kashgar / Home (B)

Transfer to the airport and fly back home. It has been great and our CAT look forward to seeing you on another adventure trip!

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15 days tour

15 Days China Mysterious Silk Road Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 15 Days China Mysterious Silk Road Tour

Day 1: Arrive In Xi’An (Bl)

Day 2: Xi’An / Lanzhou (Bl, By Train)

Day 3: Lanzhou (Bl)

Day 4: Lanzhou / Wuwei / Zhangye (Bl)

Day 5: Zhangye / Jiayu Guan (Bl)

Day 6: Jiayu Guan / Dunhuang (Bl)

Day 7: Dunhuang (Bl)

Day 8: Dunhuang / Take The Train To Turpan (Bl, By Train)

Day 9: Turpan (Bl)

Day 10: Turpan / Urumqi (Bl)

Day 11: Urumqi –Kashgar (Bl, By Air)

Day 12: Kashgar - Tashkurgan (Bl)

Day 13: Tashkurgan - Karakuri Lake (3,770M) - Kashgar (Bl)

Day 14: Kashgar (Bl)

Day 15: Kashgar / Home (B)

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