12-Day Silk Road Tours From Xi’an

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Daily Tour 12 day
Xi'an

Tour Highlights

  • Enjoy horse or camel ride at the Karakul Lake with splendid views of snowcapped mountains.
  • Enjoy stunning sceneries along the Karakorom Highway with Tajik and Kyrgiz people’s cultures.
  • Visit mysterious Crescent Lake in the middle of Gobi Desert.
  • Admire the most valuable Buddhist Treasure house of Mogao Grottoes in the World.
  • Understand the ancient history of China in Xi’an Museum.
  • Visit the picturesque scenery of Heavenly Lake at the Tianshan Mountains.
  • Understand the secrets of the longest ancient underground irrigation system Karez.
  • Discover Kashgar by walking in zigzagged streets of Old City.
  • Enjoy ancient cities perspectives by walking in the streets of Jaohe and Gaochang.
Day 1, Arrive in Xi’an

Activities: Pick up you from airport and transfer to your Hotel
Details:Our professional, friendly local guide will meet you with experienced driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel. It takes about one hour to your hotel from airport. Rest of the day is your time to explore this ancient city by yourself.
It is said, 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 Silk Road of China.

Day 2, Explore Xi’an For Whole Day

Activities: Visit Terra-Cotta Warriors; Bell Tower; Wild Goose Pagoda and Hui Mosque
Details:After breakfast, we start our wonderful one day tour with a visit to Terra-Cotta Warriors which is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. This site is about an hour drive from Xi’an city.
After lunch Visit Bell tower which is located in downtown area. it is a Chinese traditional building and geographical center of the ancient capital, best preserved and largest wooden tower in China.
After an hour here we continue our tour to wild goose Pagoda which is a well preserved ancient holy building for Buddhism.
Finally visit Hui grand mosque located in Hui minority area, construction of the mosque has rich Chinese features combined with Arabic style. It is one of the oldest and largest mosque in China.

Day 3, Xi’an to Dunhuang

Activities: Visit Xian City Wall and Provincial Museum ,fly Dunhuang after lunch
Details:Our guide and driver will Wait for you in the hotel lobby and take you to Xi’an City Wall which is the symbol of Xi’an and the most ancient existing city wall in China until today. We enjoy the Wall for a few hours by walking around or riding bicycle as your like. Then drive to Provincial Museum which is a famous first-class museum in China with its outstanding architectural buildings, internal apparatus and exhibits. After lunch drive to Xi’an airport for your flight to Dunhuang. The airport is about 40km from the city and takes about an hour by car. Our local guide and driver see you at Dunhaung airport and transfer to your Hotel.

Day 4, Dunhuang to Turpan

Activities: After breakfast visit the World heritage Mogao Grottoes, the echoing-sand dunes of the Ming Shan Mountains, Crescent Lake and Dunhuang Museum , then take overnight train to Turpan
Details:After breakfast spend the whole morning at World heritage famous 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 with 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.
After lunch drive to Dunhuang Museum which exhibits relics excavated from the local area, including papers and coins. The museum is also home to an excellent reconstruction of the Great Wall during the Han Dynasty.
Later Ride Camels, High Sand Dune Sliding (own expense) or simply walking around the sand by the mysterious Crescent Lake which no-one can explain the formation of such a geological oddity. the trip would be a great experience. If you like you can stay till sunset and back to thehotel later.
At the end, Take overnight soft sleeper train to Turpan

Day 5, Turpan for whole day

Activities: Visit Idikut (Gaochang) ancient city, Toyuq village, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves and Flaming Mountains
Details:After breakfast at the hotel, We start our tour in Turpan with a visit to 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 of the 8th Century.
We’ll visit the city for about 40 minutes 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 tour of the day.
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.
On the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Flaming Mountain which people claimed to be the hottest and driest on the Silk Road that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come”.

Day 6, Turpan to Urumqi

Activities: Visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system and Emin Minaret. After lunch drive to Urumqi
Details:Following the breakfast at the Hotel start your wonderful 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, residential houses and the streets are still visible and time there is a time spent in a long lost world. 
After an hour of touring around the ancient city, we’ll drive 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.
Next 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.”
After lunch drive to Urumqi which is 180Kms and takes about 2.5-3 hours.

Day 7, Day Trip To Heavenly Lake And Evening Flight To Kashgar

Activities: Visit Heavenly lake and take evening flight to Kashgar
Details:Our guide and driver see you at the hotel lobby and Leave for Heavenly Lake after breakfast which is 115 kms (71 Miles) over two hours by vehicle. Your stay at the heavenly lake is the time to ride horses, go for boating, 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 drop off you at Urumqi airport for your flight to Kashgar.
Another driver will pick up you from Kashgar airport and transfer to your hotel.

Day 8, Kashgar to Karakul Lake

Activities: Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz Valley and check point; Ancient Caravan Saray, Bulungkol Valley (white sand mountain), Karakul lake and local Kyrgyz family visit.
Details: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 Mountain and is one the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world.
Karakul lake area offers some great chance for hiking and see some incredible scenery from different angels.
People travel to experience the lives of another cultures, which is why we spend the night in the yurt of a local Kyrgyz family and really experience another way of mountain life.

Day 9, Karakul Lake to Tashkorgan

Activities: After breakfast you will have whole morning for hiking around lake or horse riding (Your own expenses). You can visit local villages and homes of local people and start driving to Tashkorgan after lunch.
Details:For the traveler, a journey along the KKH is one wonder and self-discovery. Its 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 views of the valley and the beautiful peaks of Muztagh Ata and Konger.
If you prefer, our driver and guide stop at Tagharma village with beautiful grassland and colorful trees visit a local Tajik family
Arrive Tashkorgan late in the in the afternoon and have free time.

Day 10, Tashkorgan to Kashgar

Activities: Visit Stone Fort, Tajik village, Hike on the Grassland and drive back to Kashgar after lunch
Details: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 Wahan Corridor.
After breakfast, you’ll have an opportunity to see the town’s ancient Stone Fort – still standing after 2200 years! ‘Tashkurgan’ is a translation of ‘Stone Fort.’ Later Hike on the grassland next to the Stone Fort.
After lunch, drive back to Kashgar and you can make stops along the way if you like.

Day 11, Explore Kashgar City

Activities: Visit Grand mosque, Apak Hoja tomb (which is also called Fragrant Concubine Tomb), Old city walking tours, livestock market, Sunday market and dinner at a local Uighur family
Details:Explore the rich, endless culture of the Uighurs in Kashgar. First visit livestock market which happens on every Sunday and people bring their horses, sheep, goats, camels,cows,bulls,yaks and donkeys to the market for sale. It provides a great opportunity to take photos of the faces of local people, study traditional local market culture, test-drive a donkey or 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 move on 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 spend some time by the 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 also spend time in the Kashgar Old Town and have some walking tours through some ancient historical parts; Stop at a century-old tea house for a short break and taste local medicinal teas such as those containing rose, saffron, honey and many other ingredients.
Finally conclude our city tour with a dinner at a local family in old city area

Day 12, Kashgar To Your Next Destination

Activities: See you off at Kashgar airport
Details:Today is the last day of your tour with us, so we hope this shouldn’t be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us the one that you’ll always remember and if you’d like to book some other tours please Contact us for more information

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