Highlights

The Price Based on 2 Persons in a Private Tour for 4Star Hotel.

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

● Explore the splendid Danxia Rainbow Mountain in Zhangye. 

● Mysterious Labrang monastery in Xiahe where also can enjoy the marvel grassland.

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

● Explore Mogao Grottoes, the home to the largest, best-preserved, and richest Buddhist art in the world—the first cave was carved here in 366 AD.

ITINERARY Close All

Day 1Lanzhou Arrival

Today your travel begins with a welcome meeting at airport. After checking in the hotel, rest of your time is free to explore Lanzhou with a long history and colorful culture. There are many historical sites worth visiting.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Lanzhou
Altitude: 1520m
  • Lanzhou.jpg

    Lanzhou

  • Lanzhou.jpg

    Lanzhou

Day 2Visit Binlings Temple, then drive to Xiahe (230kms)

With a early start today, we will arrive Binlings Temple at 09:30 after 1.5hrs' driving. Taking the 40mins fast boat to the inside of the park, enjoy the variety of artworks in different styles and observe the social situations and customs in ancient times when seeing the stone sculptures and appreciate the miracle of Buddha caves.

After lunch by the side of Reservoir, we will drive 3 or 4 hours to Xiahe which is an ethnically-Tibetan county in Gansu. Upon arrival, transfer you to the hotel and check in

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Xiahe
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 2800m
  • Binglings Temple.jpg

    Binglings Temple

  • Binlgings Temple.jpg

    Binlgings Temple

Day 3Visit Labrang Monasterty, then drive to Tongren (105kms)

Today we will arrange the English Speaking Lama guide you through the Labrang 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.

After visiting, head to visit the natural picturesque pasture-Songke Grassland. Throw yourself into a sea of green, bath in the warm sunshine and see the Tibetan nomads graze their drove. Then visit Tibetan family and wear tibetan cloth, drink milk tea and sample hand-grabbed mutton.

Then we will drive to Tongren for overnight stay

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Tongren
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 2495m
  • Labrang Temple.jpg

    Labrang Temple

  • Songke Grassland.jpg

    Songke Grassland

Day 4Visit Wu tun si Monastery and Long wu si Temple, Drive to Xining (160kms)

Today pay a visit to Wu Tun Si Monastery, which has the collected many Rebkong fine artworks. The murals, embroideries, paintings and sculptures are lively, colorful and exquisite, which well present the fluency and rhythm of the painting lines.

Long Wu Si Monastery is one of the major monasteries in Amdo Tibet, "Longwu" bears the Tibetan meaning of "place of farming". First funded as a Sakya Monastery at the beginning of 14th Century and later in 17th century it became a Gelugpa monastery.

Then drive to Xining for overnight stay

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Xining
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 2261m
  • Wu tun Si Monastery.jpg

    Wu Tun Si Monastery

  • Long wu si Monastery.jpg

    Long Wu Si Monastery

Day 5Visit Qinghai Lake (290kms)

Departure early around 07:00. we will drive 3hrs to Qinghai Lake with the stunning view along the way. You will be amazed by the scenery of this highland lake, it is also interesting to see the grazing animals - sheep, goats, duos, horses .You can ride a bike or cruise around the lake to taking in the wonderful landscape here. then we will take you to visit Ta'er monastery (Kumbum Monastery), which is the centre of Tibetan Buddhism in Northwest China, and enjoys a high reputation in China and Southeast Asia.

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Xining
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 2261m
  • Qinghai Lake.jpg

    Qinghai Lake

  • Ta'er Monastery.jpg

    Ta'er Monastery

Day 6Visit Chaka Salt Lake, then Drive to Dachaidanzhen (390kms)

After breakfast, we will head to 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 we will drive to Dachaidanzhen for overnight stay

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Dachaidanzhen
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3400m
  • Chaka Salt Lake.jpg

    Chaka Salt Lake

  • Chaka Salt Lake.jpg

    Chaka Salt Lake

Day 7Visit Water Yardan, then Drive to Dunhuang (340kms)

Today you will have a chance to visit Water Yardan. People often hear of Yadan landform in Xinjiang or Yadan in the west of Dunhuang. All these Yadan landforms are on dry land without exception. Only this "Yadan on water" 240 kilometers away from Dachaidan, as the name suggests, is the "long" Yadan landform in the water.

The only water Yadan found in Haixi of Qinghai Province in the world is close to the north of the North hilly natural area. It is surrounded by a vast expanse of desolate deserts. In this desolate place, it shows unparalleled amazing beauty. Yadan on the water, the ducks are singing and the wild geese are singing, the water is sparkling, the morning sun is rising, and the reflection of Yadan on the water is photographed, which is beautiful.

After visiting, driving to Dunhuang for overnight stay

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1138m
  • Water Yardan.jpg

    Water Yardan

  • Water Yardan.jpg

    Water Yardan

Day 8Visit Mogao Grottoes and Echoing-Sand Mountain & Crescent Moon Lake

Continue our silk road travel, today our professional tour guide will bring you to travel to Dunhuang, it is the best place where you can explore Chinese history and culture. Our first destination is Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, 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. and head up to Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make a loud sound, while the sound sounds like being produced by some ancient musical instrument when blown by the breeze, There is also a Crescent Lake that has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. Riding the camel as the Silk Road Caravan in the vast desert is highly recommended (approximately 40mins). Please bring your sunglasses and mask to keep out the dust

In the evening, you can 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
Hotel: Overnight in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1138m
  • Mogao Grottoes.jpg

    Mogao Grottoes

  • Echoing Sand Mountain.jpg

    Echoing Sand Mountain

Day 9Drive to Jiayuguan (375kms), visit Fortress and Great Wall Museum

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. Besides functioning as a frontier military fortress, it was also an important traffic hub along the Silk Road, the oldest worldwide trading route.

After that, 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. Thereafter, sightseeing to renowned underground gallery Weijin Tombs. There we can enjoy lifelike and succinct wall paintings covering a wide range of subjects including politics, economics, culture, military affairs, folk customs, and science and technology during the Wei and Jin periods (4AD) Then driving to Dunhuang for overnight stay

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

    Jiayuguan Fortress

  • The Great Wall Museum.jpg

    The Great Wall Museum

Day 10Drive to Zhangye (223kms), visit Zhangye Danxia

After breakfast,transfer you to train station to take the train to Zhangye.Upon arrive in Zhangye,we will head to enjoy the scenery of Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, you will be marveled by the colorful layers of mountain ridges in the 4hr's adventure to the different platforms.

Morning we will visit the Grand Buddha Temple, which is the important place of the Silk Road. The 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

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Zhangye
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1483m
  • Grand Buddha Temple.jpg

    Grand Buddha Temple

  • Zhangye Danxia.jpg

    Zhangye Danxia

Day 11Drive to Wuwei (240kms), visit Leitai Han Tombs

Breakfast at the hotel, we are going to visit Leitai Han Tombs,located in the old Leitai Park of Wuwei. The tomb consists of 19.34 m long passage, 3 coffin chambers and 3 side chambers. There were 231 gold, silver, bronze, iron, jade, bone and pottery articles, and 99 bronze warriors and horses excavated from here, among which the Bronze Flying Horse is the most valuable. Then visit Tiantishan Grottoes.The Tiantishan Grottoes are situated on the Huangyang River, about 60 km south of Wuwei (originally Liangzhou) and Twere excavated during the Northern Liang dynasty (397–439 CE).

Traffic: Car
Hotel: Overnight in Wuwei
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1500m
  • Leitai Han Tomb.jpg

    Leitai Han Tomb

  • Tianshishan Grottoes.jpg

    Tianshishan Grottoes

Day 12Drive back to Lanzhou (270kms)

Today we will drive back to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, transfer to Yellow River’s Mother Statue, explore the ancient history and culture of Gansu Province.

Afterwards, 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
Altitude: 1520m
  • Yellow River's Mother Sculpture

    Yellow River's Mother Sculpture

  • Lanzhou.jpg

    Lanzhou

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 from Lanzhou to Xining, from Xining to Jiayuguan, from Dunhuang(Liuyuan Station) to Zhangye and from 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 and domestic flights 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.

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