12-Day Silk Road Tours

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Daily Tour 5 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 the zigzagged streets of Old City.
  • Enjoy ancient cities perspectives by walking in the streets of Jaohe and Gaochang.
Day 1, Arrive in Xi’an

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
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

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
Activities: Visit Bell Tower, Wild Goose Pagoda, Grand Hui mosque, city wall and Provincial Museum
Details:After breakfast, 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 touring here for about an hour continue our tour to wild goose Pagoda which is a well preserved ancient holy building for Buddhism.
later visit the 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.
After lunch Drive 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 City Wall for a few hours by walking around or riding bicycle as your like (on your own expenses)
Finally visit Shanxi provincial Museum which is one of the first huge state museums with modern facilities in China and one of the largest. The museum houses over 370,000 items, including murals, paintings, potteries, coins, bronze, gold and silver objects. The modern museum was built between 1983 and 2001 and its appearance recalls the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty.

Day 3, Xining to Zhangye

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
Activities: Take a bullet train to Zhangye and visit Danxia National Geopark (Rainbow Mountain)
Details:After breakfast, you will take the morning high-speed bullet train from Xining to Zhangye City, Gansu Province (about 2 hours). Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the road, upon arrival at Zhangye railway station, our guide and driver will pick up you and then visit Danxia National Geopark (also called rainbow mountain) which is Known for its colorful rock formations, known for the unusual colors of the rocks, which are smooth, sharp and several hundred meters tall. These are the result of deposits of sandstones and other minerals that occurred over 24 million years. It has been voted by Chinese media as one of the most beautiful landforms in China.
You’ll appreciate the splendid scenery of Danxia landform under the sunset.
After a day of exciting tour, you will check into the hotel which booked for you.

Day 4, Zhangye to Jiayuguan

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
Activities: Visit Giant Buddha Temple, Wooden Pagoda Temple and Mati Temple Grottoes;After lunch drive to Jiayuguan
Details:After breakfast our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and visit Giant Buddha Temple then the Wooden Pagoda Temple in the morning. As a landmark of Zhangye, the Giant Buddha Temple is renowned for the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China. Even a single finger of the Buddha can allow one adult to lie down. It is said that this giant Buddha statue is made in the image of Sakyamuni. Our guide will also introduce other statues and delicate murals in the hall. Numerous scriptures and ancient books are also displayed here. In this temple, we will not miss the earth tower and a typical folk residence with traditional carved beams and painted pillars. Stepping out of the Giant Buddha Temple, we will drive to the Wooden Pagoda Temple built with wood and bricks.
Then drive one hour to visit the Mati Temple Grottoes. It is said that a heavenly horse once left its hoof print on a rock there and you can still find that print in the temple. It is a unique temple house buildings of both Han Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. Follow the guide to admire the Buddha statues carved in the caves and appreciate the painted scriptures of heroes in Tibetan myths.
After lunch drive to Jiayuguan which is about 3:00 hours driving distance.

Day 5, Jiayuguan to Dunhuang

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
Activities: Visit Jiayuguan Fort (pass), Great wall museum, and then drive to Dunhuang and visit Crescent lake
Details:After breakfast explore some exciting sites around Jiayugaun, first visit Jiayuguan pass (Jiayuguan Fort) also known as the “Impregnable Pass under Heaven,” Jiayuguan is the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty as well as the most magnificent and well-preserved pass among over a thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall.
Then stop at Great Wall Museum which is one of the first museums to give a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the history of the Great Wall.
Then drive to Dunhuang which takes around 5 hours. Once arrive in Dunhuang First visit 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’ll have chance to ride camels across the sand dunes of Sounding Sand mountain which makes sounds when the wind blows(camel is on your own expenses). If you like you can stay till sunset and back to the hotel later

Day 6, Dunhuang for whole day and train to Turpan

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
Activities: Visit Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Museum, Crescent Lake and Mingsha Echo-sand Mountain.
Details:After breakfast at the hotel, We spend the whole morning at 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, visit Dunhuang Museum which exhibits relics excavated from the local area, such as papers, coins, a model of the Great Wall as it appeared during the Han Dynasty. Then drive to 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’ll have chance to ride camels across the sand dunes of Sounding Sand mountain which makes sounds when the wind blows.
End of the day drive to Liuyuan train station and take overnight soft sleeper train to Turpan

Day 7, Turpan For Whole Day

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
Activities: Visit Idikut (Gaochang) ancient city, Astana tombs, Toyuq village, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves and Flaming Mountains
Details:After breakfast 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 spend one hour in this ancient city and then drive to Karakhoja Astana tombs, a Tang-dynasty burial ground which is also known as the “Underground Museum”. Astana means “capital” in the Uighur language and Karakhoja is a name of a legendary hero of an ancient Uighur Kingdom who saved his people by killing a vicious dragon.
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 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 Mountains which people claimed to be the hottest and driest along the silk road that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come” (stop on the side of the road for photos)

Day 8, Turpan to Urumqi

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
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 9, Day Trip To Heavenly Lake And Evening Flight To Kashgar

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
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 10, Explore Kashgar City

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
Activities: Visit Grand mosque, Apak Hoja tomb (which is also called Fragrant Concubine Tomb), Old city walking tours, livestock market and Sunday market
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 by wandering around the interesting zigzagged endless streets and ancient historical parts filled with local atmosphere in the Old City 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.

Day 11, Day Trip to Karakul Lake

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
Activities: Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz Valley and check point, 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 Mountains and is one the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world. Return by late afternoon to Kashgar.

Day 12, Kashgar To Your Next Destination

Hotel:
Meals:B,L,D
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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