Highlights

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

● Explore the splendid Danxia Rainbow Mountain in Zhangye. 

● Meet Buddhist monks and nomads in the Qinghai of China's wild west.

● Cycling around the stunning Qinghai Lake, where you can also see the life of local Tibetans

● Standing on the majestic Great Wall for a bird's eye view of Jiayuguan

● Discover the historic city of Dunhuang that is on the edge of the Gobi Desert.

● Explore Dunhuang's markets and soak up a very different culture to that of western China.

● Discover the famous Mogao Caves which was built up from 4th Century AD.

ITINERARY Close All

Day 1Xining Arrival, Visit Ta'er Monastery

Today your flight will touch down in Xining around 11:00am, We will meet you at the airport exit with a welcome board. Then take you to visit the Ta'er monastery (Kumbum Monastery), the most populous monks outside of Tibet. You will stay at Thangka Sunning Terrace that is one of a good place to view the monastery and surrounding scenery. Inside the monastery, apart from magnificent Buddha stupas and wall paintings, prayer wheels are also the must-see spot. The whole monastery is surrounded by wheels, walk along the corridor, rotate the wheels and pray for chasing away the troubles.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Xining
Altitude: 2261m
  • Kumbum Monastery

  • Ta'er Monastery

Day 2Qinghai Lake Cycling Experience, then head to Chaka

Departure from the hotel and Enjoy the magnificent scenery of Qinghai Lake, which is the largest inland salt water lake in China. It is no exaggeration to say that Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity. Outside, He encircled the lake with four continuous mountains and extends broad grassland at the foot of them. then drive to Chaka for rest.

Traffic: Car (450kms)
Hotel: In Chaka
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3100m
  • Qinghai Lake

  • Cycling Around Qinghai Lake

Day 3Sightseeing in Chaka Salt Lake, train to Zhangye

Explore Chaka Salt Lake, it is the largest saline in Qinghai Province, Chaka Salt Lake means "the sea of salt"  in Mongolian. It lies in the centre of Qaidam Basin, which was nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go. Then back to Xining and catch the express train to Zhangye.

Traffic: Car & Train
Hotel: In Zhangye
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1483m
  • Chaka Salt Lake

  • Chaka Salt Lake1

Day 4Zhangye Buddhist Temple Exploration

After breakfast at the hotel, we will take you to visit the Giant Buddha Temple, which is the important place of the Silk Road. the Giant Buddha Temple is the largest architectural relic in Gansu Province of the Western Xia (1038-1227) period. China's largest reclining Buddha is well preserved in this temple. then proceed the tour to Mati Temple where were built in Jin Dynasty. A series of horse shoe prints are visible in Grotto 9, which are said to be left by a heaven horse. As a result, the temple was named for the horseshoe prints left by the legendary heaven horse, which become the treasure of the temple.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Kaoshan Tent
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1483m
  • Giant Buddha Temple

  • Mati Temple

Day 5Visit the splendid Danxia Landform, then drive to Jiayuguan

Today we will proceed to visit the Binggou Danxia, which is the most significant geological and geomorphic relic of the window lattice palace in China, mainly composed of sandstone geomorphic relic landscape. After that, continue the tour to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is the most typical arid area of northern China. Ribbons of reds, oranges and yellows slice through the rock, to create a rainbow vista contained only by the contours of the jagged mountain peaks. so many people also call it "Rainbow Mountain". Afternoon, drive you to Jiayuguan

Traffic: Car (230kms)
Hotel: In Jiayuguan
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1710m
  • Binggou Danxia

  • Zhangye Danxia Geopark

Day 6Explore the Great Wall in Jiayuguan, travel to Dunhuang

In the morning, we will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you to visit the Jiayuguan pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass, at the western end of the Great Wall – this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. you will explore the Great Wall Museum, which was opened to the public in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way. Afterwards, we will drive all the way to the next stop Dunhuang.

Traffic: Car (350kms)
Hotel: In Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1139m
  • Great Wall Museum

  • Jiayuguan Pass

Day 7World Heritage Mogao Grottoes and Echong Sand Mountain

The journey will begin from the Mogao Grottoes, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and it is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which was built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. 

Following a lunch in local restaurants, then we will head to visit the Echoing Sand Mountaion&Crescent Lake. it is famous for the constant sound of the moving sand. and the Crescent Lake, 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, you will be visiting Shazhou Night Market. the most bustling place of Dunhuang at night, taste the localcuisine and buy some souvenirs for your family and friends. 

Traffic: Car
Hotel: In Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1139m
  • Crescent Lake

  • Dunhuang

Day 8Dunhuang Departure

Enjoy your leisure time in the morning, we will arrange airport transfer according to your flight schedule, wish you have a pleasant journey home!

Suggestion Attraction:

if you are interested, you can do an exploration to Dunhuang Museum on your own before the airport transfer. which is a comprehensive topography one principally exhibits historic and cultural relics. 

Traffic: Car
Hotel: No accommodation
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1139m

Dates & availability

Prices may change, so secure your trip today!

Departing Finishing Booked Single Room Total USD Book

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

  • 2nd class express train form Xining to Zhangye 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.

  • A 24/7 helpline while you are traveling.


EXCLUDES

  • International flight arrive in Lanzhou and leave from Urumqi 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.