Highlights

The price is based on 2 persons in a private tour for 4star hotel

  • Explore the west most city Kashgar of its most interesting corners

  • Drive along the Karakom Highway to enjoy the amazing Pamir Plateau

  • Marvel Karakul Lake, a high-altitude lake set at the foot of snowcapped Muztagh Ata (7,546m) and Kongur Tagh (7,719m)

  • Explore one of the oldest cities in Xinjiang - Turpan, the best place for you to know the Silk Road Culture. 

  • Explore the splendid Danxia Rainbow Mountain in Zhangye

ITINERARY Close All

Day 1Kashgar Arrival

In the morning, we will meet you at the Kashgar train station and then we will take you to downtwon hotel and check in

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Kashgar
Altitude: 1289m

Day 2Visit Karakul Lake (260 kms)

The tour starts with the nice buffet in the hotel, drives about 4hrs to Karakul Lake around 09:00.


After 1hr's driving, we will stop at Opal village for a rest where you may stroll around the local bazaar with the feeling of the traditional local lifestyle.


Continue to enjoy the majestic views of the Sand dunes, mountains, and sandstone valley along the Karakorum Highway, the Hindu Kush Mountains and the Himalayas. It is the world's tallest cross-border roads and most thrilling corridors.Trekking around the Karakul Lake with enjoy the magnificent landscape and the nomadic lifestyle of the local Kirghiz in their yurts.


Back to Kashgar in the afternoon.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Kashgar
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3100m
  • Karakul Lake

  • Karakul Lake

Day 3Kahgar City Tour, then flight to Urumqi

Today you will enjoy a full day excursion of Kashgar. Pay a visit to Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities at 09:00. Continue the visiting to Old Town at 10:30 with the open ceremony of Maxilap show. Come and Join the exciting movement in this well-preserved Uighur residential area. Our speciality: Relaxing in the Hundred-years Tea house,taste the local rose tea and nang-bread!


After Lunch in the local Restaurant. Continue to visit Handicraft street, gathered hundreds of handicraft workshops, which has become a boutique exhibition for handicraft in Kashgar and Central Asia.


Then drive to Sunday Bazaar drive to Sunday Bazaar that is combined two section. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination.The outdoor Animal Bazaar is the first bazaar we visit, where the farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargin.


Thereafter, catch the night flight to the capital city of Xinjiang- Urumqi(2hrs).

Traffic: Car+Flight
Hotel: Overnight in Urumqi
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 918m
  • Id Kah Mosque

  • Handicrafts Street

Day 4Visit Heavenly Lake (120 kms) and Regional Museum

We will drive 1.5 hours to entrance of the Heavenly Lakeabout 08:30, following is the 40-minutes shuttle bus twisting through the picturesque Tianshan mountains to the edge of the Lake. Either Trek around the lake, enjoy the boating cruise, or even take the cable car to the explore the Maya Mountain for the incredible view of Bogoda Peak.


Lunch will be arranged in the Yurt of the local Kazakhs. Back to Urumqi and head to Xinjiang Regional Museum, where are many archaeological treasures of the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. You will learn about the history of Xinjiang and its peculiar ethnic customs. If time allowed, you will visit Grand International Bazaar and have dinner there.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Urumqi
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 918m
  • Heavenly Lake

  • Xinjiang International Bazaar

Day 5Drive to Turpan, Turpan City Tour (200 kms)

Take the morning drive to Turpan. A must and first visit is the oldest Uighur village Tuyoq Village located in the very center of Flaming Mountain Canyon. It used to be the holy site of Buddhism and Islam. The village consists of four parts: Canyon scenery, Thousand Buddha Caves, Maza tomb and the old buildings of the ancient village. Following a lunch in the traditional Uighur family in their grape yard,we will drive all the way of 1hr to Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778 by Sulaiman that is the ruler and leader of Turpan to commemorate and commend his father's achievements of the reunion of Xinjiang.

In the afternoon we will also pay a visit to Karez Well, A special irrigation system that the locals make full use of the topography of Turpan to draw the underground water to irrigate their farmland ingeniously. The tour today end up to enjoy the sunset of Jiaohe Ruins with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, it was include in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.

Traffic: Train+Car
Hotel: Overnight in Turpan
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 819m
  • Tuyoq Village

  • Jiaohe Ruins

Day 6Train to Dunhuang, then Visit Echoing Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake

Today say farewell to Turpan and we will take high-speed train to Dunhuang. You will have a pleasant afternoon at Echoing Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake, which is the most popular tourist site in Dunhuang. Echoing-Sand Mountain, known as Mingsha Mountain to the Chinese, is 5 km to the south of Dunhuang and is famous for the constant sound of the moving sand. the Crescent Moon Lake is literally an oasis in the desert. The lake’s name derives from the crescent moon shape taken by the pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. 

In the evening, walk around and taste Gansu delicacies at the Shazhou Night Market, the most bustling place of Dunhuang at night. It's easy to lose our sense of time wonder the market while enjoying your leisure time and taste some local cuisine.

Traffic: Car+Train
Hotel: Overnight in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1138m
  • Echoing Sand Mountain

  • Shazhou Night Market

Day 7Explore Dunhuang Mosque, then Drive to Jiayuguan (370 kms)

After breakfast, let's do an exploration to the Dunhuang Mosque, which is an exquisite building condensing the efforts and wisdom of the Muslims of Dunhuang. also a unique landscape on the ancient silk road deep in the Gobi. After lunch, we will transfer to Jiayuguan, the transportation fortress on the ancient Silk Road

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Jiayuguan
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1462m
  • Dunhuang Mosque

  • Dunhuang

Day 8Jianyuguan City Tour, then Drive to Zhangye (223 kms)

Today we begin our journey to the Jiayuguan Fortress. Standing among vast desert and surrounded by rolling mountains,it looks like a dignified general guarding the grand land. It was constructed with the most integrated defensive system. It was also an important traffic hub along the Silk Road, the oldest worldwide trading route.


After lunch, we will head to Zhangye with about 3hrs driving. on the way visit Jiuquan Mosque, explore the Muslim culture and custom in Gansu area.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Zhangye
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1400m
  • Jiayuguan Pass

  • Jiuquan Mosque

Day 9Enjoy Zhangye Danxia Landscape, then Train to Lanzhou

Morning we will drive to the masterpiece of nature Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is situated in the north of Qilian mountains with a distance of 40 km from east Zhangye city. You will be marveled by the colorful layers of mountain ridges in the 4hr's adventure to the different platforms. afternoon, you will be transferred to the station to take the express train to Lanzhou.

Traffic: Car+Train
Hotel: Overnight in Lanzhou
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1600m
  • Zhangye Danxia

  • Zhangye Danxia

Day 10Lanzhou City Tour

The journey will begin from Xiguan Mosque this morning. Xiguan Mosque was built by the Muslim merchants, and it is the one of top ten outstanding buildings in Lanzhou. 

We will then head to visit Gansu Museum, which is the biggest comprehensive museum in the province. It is one of the best sights in the city and a visit is well worthwhile. Continue tour at the Yellow River's Mother Statue consisting of “a mother” and “a baby boy” which symbolizes the mother of the Yellow River nurturing the Chinese nation.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Lanzhou
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1600m
  • Lanzhou Xiguan Mosque

  • Gansu Museum

Day 11Lanzhou Departure

It's time to say farewell to Lanzhou. After a pleasant breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for the flight back to your hometown or next destination. Bon voyage!

Traffic: Car
Hotel: No accommodation
Meals: Breakfast

INCLUDES

  • Private transportation through out the itinerary. SRT will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure based on your flight info.

  • Shared accommodations in well located, tourist to superior class hotels include breakfast, service charge and government tax.

  • All entrance fees(shuttle bus) sightseeing; excursions and activities as per the itinerary

  • Domestic flight from Kashgar to Urumqi

  • 2nd class express train from Turpan to Dunhuang (Liuyuan Station), Zhangye to Lanzhou listed in the itinerary

  • Private friendly and professional English-Speaking guides (French, Italy, Russian, German can be arranged per your request)

  • Visa support letter for you to apply Chinese visa easily.

  • Travel and health insurance when travel with us.

  • 8, A 24/7 helpline while you are traveling.

EXCLUDES

  • International flight arrive in Kashgar and leave from Lanzhou not indicated.

  • Food, Lunch or dinner not specified

  • Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers

  • Personal expenses and the other tours or activities not mentioned

TRIP NOTES

  • We will upgrade trains to 1st class where available if book the tour 5 months in advance of departure.

  • There is no problem to travel Silk Road during Ramadan.

  • Complimentary 2 bottles of water each person on daily use.

Transportation

We will use business MPV to luxurious coaches and trains.

Accommodation

All the hotels we selected are 4-5star well-located in the city center with good and proper breakfast for our clients.

Guides

Our guides are very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful. And our group tours will be escorted from SRT.

Climate and Altitude

Generally speaking Mid March—End Oct are the best time to visit Silk Road. And we strongly suggest you come in May, June, October to avoid the heat and crowd. No need to worry about high altitude along the Silk Road. We will prepare Oxygen bags if the package includes Xiahe, Qinghai Lake and Taxkorgan County.

We offer beneficial Cancellation Policy to our customers.