Arriving Urumqi

Silkroadtrips - tour operator

Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport - Upon arrival at Urumqi Airport or Urumqi Rail Station, your guide will send you to the hotel for check-in.

Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi

Xinjiang Regional Museum (Qu Bowuguan) - Visit Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited. Among which, you will find the spectacular one standing out from the rest named “Beauty of Loulan”.

Tianshan Tianchi Lake - After lunch, take a one hour ride to Heavenly Lake, which is located on the north side of the Tianshan Mountains to enjoy fantastic mountain views and serene lake scenery.

Erdaoqiao Market - Later, return to Urumqi and stroll through the Erdaoqiao Bazaar.

Urumqi - Turpan

Karez System - Take a 3-hour car ride to Turpan, the centre of a fertile oasis and an important trade center along the Silk Road. You will visit Karez Irrigation System that is old canal system to water the farm in Turpan.

Ancient City of Gaochang (Kharakhoja) - Then you will head to explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, which used to be a huge city in the history.

Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto) - Later you will move to ruin of ancient Jiaohe City that was once the capital of Anterior Jushi kingdom during 108 B.C. to 450 A.D. but abandoned in the 15th century.

Turpan - Liuyuan (via bullet train) - Dunhuang

Dunhuang - Jiayuguan by vehicle

Mogao Caves - Visit the highlight of Silk Road today, Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas). These caves are examples of rock-cut architecture of soft gravel conglomerate not suitable for either sculpture or elaborate architectural details.
After lunch, you will take 5-hour car ride to Jiayuguan.

Jiayuguan - Zhangye by vehicle

Jiayuguan Fortress - Visit Jiayuguan Fort that is called The First Pass Under Heaven, the western end of the Great Wall for Ming Dynasty.

Zhangye Danxia Geopark - Then you will catch 2-hour car ride to Zhangye Rainbow Danxia, which is very colorful clay mountain.

Departing Zhangye

Zhangye - If time allows, visit Dafo Temple before heading to Zhangye Airport or station where the tour concludes.

• Local guide
• Entrance fees
• Lunch
• Accommodation as per itinerary
• Breakfast
• Bullet train from Turpan to Liuyuan (Dunhuang)
• Transport by private vehicle

• Alcoholic drinks (available for purchase)
• Gratuities

This 6-night private tour offers a journey through the Chinese section of the ancient Silk Road’s northern route, starting from Urumqi and ending in Dunhuang, then Zhangye. Follow the historic path of countless merchants and camel caravans to see how it has transformed in modern times. Highlights of this tour include Jiayuguan Fort, Mogao Grottos, Turpan Oasis, Heavenly Lake on the northern side of the Tianshan Mountains, and Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Mountain.

• A current valid passport is required on the day of travel

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.