13 Days Xinjiang Silk Road Tour: Western Regions Expedition with Taklamakan Desert

Your private guide will be waiting for you in the airport/train station arrivals area. A comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel. Your guide will help you check in. Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an(4-star) Wyndham Grand Xian South (5-star)

Xi'an | The Terracotta Army Xi'an, the eastern end of the Silk Road, your tour starts at the site of the mysterious underground army — meet the life-size , and you will find the horse are short and small. This is one of the reason that Emperor Wu of Han decided to send the ambassador Zhang Qian to the Western Region-- seek for good steed. It laid the foundation of the silk road. Then visit a local craftsman in his home — a traditional cave dwel

Xi'an to Zhangye | Xi'an City Highlights In the morning, have a walk on the ancient city wall. And then pay a visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is part of the Silk Road route。 We will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight to Zhangye. Tianyu International Hotel (4-star) Zhangye Hotel (5-star)

Zhangye | Danxia National Geological Park After breakfast, you will visit the 'Color Palette Overturned by God' — the Zhangye Qicai Danxia National Geological Park, which is home to the After returning to the city, enjoy a local lunch and continue to the oldest tower in Zhangye, the Wooden Pagoda Temple Admire the largest reclining Buddha in China at the Giant Buddha Temple. Danxia National Geological Park

Zhangye to Dunhuang | Jiayuguan Pass Drive from Zhangye to Dunhuang. On the way, you will visit a magnificient ancient pass, Jiayuguan Pass. It is the west end of the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty and a well-preserved ancient militery fortress. The tall gate tower, the gobi desert, and the mountains ranges in the distance will make you feel that you have traveled back to the powerful Ming Dynasty. Have a walk on the Hanging Great Wall which is one p

Dunhuang | The Mogao Caves and Camel Ride After breakfast, start your adventure to the where you will marvel at the exquisite murals and lifelike sculptures. If you want to see more murals after visiting the Mogao Caves, we will take you to the Dunhuang Research Academy. There, you can linger over copies of murals created by masters and can copy a sample mural on a mud slab with your own hands under the guidance of the teacher. Singing Sand Mount

Dunghuang to Turpan | The Great Wall of the Han Dynasty In the morning, you will visit the ruins of the Great Wall of the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). It is the oldest example of this defensive system in China. Check the ruins and you will find it is different from the Great Wall that you have seen in pictures. After lunch, board the bullet train to Turpan. Turpan Friendship Peak Hotel (4-star) Shuangcheng Hotel (5-star) The Great Wall of the H

Turpan | Turpan Highlights is particularly beautiful in the morning, with the shadow of the minaret falling across the mosque. Go into the mosque and try to tell the time by checking the position of the sunlight on the wall. Then go underground to unveil the secret of the . It's a great place to escape from the heat of the sun. Instead of building from the ground up, the ancient city of Jiaohe was constructed by digging down into the ground. Exp

Drive to Urumqi and City Highlights Visit the Turpan Museum before driving to Urumqi. Every cultural relic in the museum shows you a vivid story of the Silk Road. – the biggest bazaar in Urumqi – and be amazed by the dazzling array of goods. Excemon Xinjiang Yilite Hotel (4-star) Wanda Vista Hotel (5-star)

Urumqi to Kashgar | Kashgar Old Town After your morning flight from Urumqi to Kashgar, you will start your tour of the westernmost corner of China. Along the Silk Road, Kashgar has been the center of regional trade and cultural exchange for more than two millennia. , the biggest mosque in China. Then walk along the , which has an amazing range of handicrafts, including copper, metal, porcelain, woodwork, and other types of goods. Have a break at

Kashgar | Karakul Lake China-Pakistan Highway . Enjoy the seldom-seen scenery of the westernmost point of China. See one of the best-kept secrets in China: , a sparkling glacial lake. During the 3-hour drive, you may want to ask the driver to stop so that you can take photos as the scenery is breathtaking. The scenery and lake will draw out your inner photographer. and other very tall mountains look like a row of strong guards protecting this lan

Your guide and driver will take you to Kashgar Airport and wave goodbye to you. You can connect to the main cities in China from this airport. More Silk Road tours Every element of the tour above can be tailored. Feel free to tell us your ideas and we will be happy to make adjustments for you. In order to protect the fragile murals and paintings, the number of daily visitors to the Mogao Caves is restricted and your entrance ticket(s) must be res

Continue exploring the local culture, cuisine, and hidden gems with your expert guide.