10 Days Silk Road Classic Tour
Tour Type: Private tour
Tour Price: From *** Note!
Destinations: Xian - Zhangye - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang - Turpan - Urumqi
Free Inquiry Get a free quotation.Day 1
- Xi'an: Arrival in the Ancient Capital
- Meals: No
- Accommodation: In Xian
Upon arrival at Xi'an Airport, you'll be greeted by your private guide & driver and transferred directly to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax or take a gentle first stroll through the historic streets of this once-imperial city.
Day 2
- Xi'an: Warriors, Pagodas & Local Flavors
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
- Accommodation: In Xian
Start with the legendary Terracotta Army , where thousands of life-sized soldiers stand guard in silent formation. Then visit the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a serene Buddhist landmark from the Tang Dynasty. As evening falls, dive into the lively Muslim Quarter (Huimin Street) , where the scent of sizzling lamb skewers and fresh-baked naan fills the night air.
Terracotta Army was constructed to accompany the tomb of China’s First Emperor as an afterlife guard. It’s the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is no doubt a must-see for every visitor to Xian.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (also called Giant Wild Goose Pagoda) is a symbol of the old-line Xian. and a holy place for Buddhists. This whole scenic area includes the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Da ci'en Temple, and the various squares, gardens and other facilities around.
Muslim quarter is one of busiest place in Xi'an, which has been a home to Chinese Muslims for over one thousand years. It’s a fascinating area where you can find exotic food, interesting people (some of the residents are still look like their Arabian cousins) and great souvenir stalls.
Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Muslim quarter
Day 3
- Xian Zhangye: City Walls, a Flight West & a Reclining Buddha
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
- Accommodation: In Zhangye
Begin atop the ancient Ming Dynasty City Wall, offering sweeping views of Xi'an's old and new. Later, transfer to the airport and fly west to Zhangye. Upon arrival, visit the Giant Buddha Temple home to China's largest reclining Buddha — a 35-meter-long figure of serene stillness.
Ming Dynasty City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.
Giant Buddha Temple is a historic Buddhist temple built in 1098 during the Western Xia Dynasty . It is best known for housing Asia's largest indoor reclining Buddha statue, a 34.5-meter-long clay sculpture of Sakyamuni in a state of nirvana . The temple complex, which also features a sutra repository with rare Ming Dynasty scriptures, is recognized as a key national cultural heritage site and serves as a significant landmark along the ancient Silk Road
Ming Dynasty City Wall
Ming Dynasty City Wall
Giant Buddha Temple
Giant Buddha Temple
Day 4
- Zhangye: Cliff Temples & Rainbow Mountains at Sunset
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
- Accommodation: In Zhangye
Explore Matisi Grottoes , a dramatic cluster of Buddhist caves carved into red cliffs — legend says a heavenly horse once left its hoofprint here. In the late afternoon, arrive at the Zhangye Danxia National Geopark. As the sun sinks lower, bands of crimson, gold, jade, and rust burst into color, rippling across the hills like frozen flames — a perfect end to your journey.
Matisi Grottoes is also known as the Horse’s Hoof Temple. It’s one of the three most famous Buddhist Grottoes in Gansu and a very popular site which integrates Yugu folk customs, snow mountain views and cave art.
Zhangye Danxia NatinonalGeopark is also Know as Rainbow Mountain. It’s a photographer’s dream, by boasting the spectacle of Danxia landforms extending for 410 square kilometers in Linze and Sunan counties. With its majestic table mountain terrain, odd-shaped Danxia cliffs, and dynamic, dramatic colors, Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park is one of the most beautiful corners on earth and displays a unique type of petrographic geomorphology found in China.
Matisi Grottoesy
Matisi Grottoes
Danxia Landform
Danxia Landform
Day 5
- Zhangye Jiayuguan : Great Wall’s End & Ancient Tombs
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
- Accommodation: In Jiayuguan
Drive west toward Jiayuguan, the legendary “Pass of the Last Light.” Stand on the Jiayuguan Pass, the western terminus of the Great Wall, where desert winds whisper tales of Silk Road caravans. Later, step into history at the Wei-jin Tomb, where vivid brick murals reveal daily life from 1,700 years ago.
Jiayuguan Pass is the western end the Great wall in China, also known as "the Impregnable Pass under Heaven". It’s the most magnificent and best-preserved pass among the Great Wall of 6000 km.
Wei-jin Tomb Renowned as the largest subterranean art gallery in the world, housing a great deal of colorful murals, Wei-Jin tomb has attracted tourists from both home and abroad since 1972. Most tombs are of families, housing bodies of three or four generations, and now only Grave 6 is open for tourism.
Jiayuguan Pass
Jiayuguan Pass
Wei-jin Tomb
Weijin Tomb
Day 6
- Jiayuguan Dunhuang：Singing Sands & Crescent Moon
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
- Accommodation: In Dunhuang
A scenic drive leads you to Dunhuang, an oasis steeped in Silk Road mystery. As the sun softens，visit Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake， ride a camel over the rolling dunes of Mingsha Shan (Singing Sand Mountain) . Listen closely — the sands hum underfoot. At its base lies Crescent Moon Spring, a turquoise lake cradled by golden dunes, shimmering like a desert jewel.
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent lake is a combination of two natural wonders. The beautiful sand dunes that can make sounds as thundering and the beautiful lake in shape of crescent moon which is totally enclosed by the sand dunes around, but never been buried by sand.
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent lakey
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent lake
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent lake
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent lake
Day 7
- Dunhuang Turpan : Mogao Grottoes & High-Speed Journey
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
- Accommodation: In Turpan
Morning unveils the sublime Mogao grottoes，a UNESCO treasure trove of Buddhist art spanning a millennium. Hundreds of painted caves tell stories of devotion and trade. Later, board a high-speed train across the Gobi to Turpan, the parched but fruitful “Grape Valley” of Xinjiang.
Mogao Grottoes (also known as Thousand Buddha Cave) is one of three noted Buddhist caves in China and also the largest, best preserved and richest treasure house of Buddhist art in the world.
Mogao grottoesy
Mogao grottoes
Mogao grottoes
Mogao grottoes
Day 8
- Turpan : Desert Kingdoms & Flaming Peaks
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
- Accommodation: In Turpan
Explore the ancient Jiaohe city， a wind-worn city of clay that once thrived along the Silk Road. Visit Karez well， underground canals that turned desert into orchards. Then， feel the heat at flaming mountain, where red sandstone seems to blaze under the sun. End at Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves， with murals overlooking stark canyons.
Jiaohe City, Jiaohe means where two rivers meet in Chinese, was once the most forward outpost in the West for ages. Historical records and excavation reveal evidence of a prosperous ancient trading center and military stronghold from 1,600 years ago. Owing to the arid climate and remote location, Jiaohe remains relatively intact, leaving us a rare example of an earthen castle, the largest, oldest and best-preserved earthen city in the world
Karez Well is very delicate irrigation systems made up of vertical wells, underground canals, above-ground canals and small reservoirs. Karez systems are the life source of Turpan. In a sense, without them, there would be no Turpan culture.
Flaming mountain, also called “Red Mountain”, is located in the north of Turpan in China’s northwest Xinjiang Region. It lies 6.2 miles to the east of Turpan city, stretching about 62 miles from the east Shanshan County to the west Turpan with a width of 5.6 miles.
The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves were carved over a 900 year period of time between about 400 and 1,300 AD. In these grottoes, people created artwork depicting daily life and their religion. Bezeklik Caves was the royal temple of Huihu (the predecessor of today’s Uyghurs) State and the present remains were enlarged or renovated during that time. The murals take us back to the ancient Huihu State, where we can see the King and Queen and people from all walks of life. The inscriptions, written in ancient Uyghur, Chinese and other languages, provide authentic reference for valuable historic research.
Jiaohe City
Karez well
Flaming mountain
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Day 9
- Turpan Urumqi: Heavenly Lake & Mountain Vistas
- Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
- Accommodation: In Urumqi
Drive toward the regional capital Urumqi, but pause en route for heavenly lake (Tianchi). Nestled in the Tianshan Mountains, its jade waters mirror snow-capped peaks and pine forests. Breathe the crisp alpine air before continuing to Urumqi for an overnight stay.
Heavenly Lake nestles on the northern side of the Bogeda Peak of the Tianshan Mountains,120 kilometers away from Urumqi City It covers the area of 3 square kilometers,105 meters deep at the deepest point,and 40 meters deep in average,this crescent-shaped lake deserves its name.“Pearl of the Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan Mountain)”.With melted snow as its source,the Heavy Lake enjoys crystal water.
Heavenly Lakey
Heavenly Lake
Heavenly Lake
Heavenly Lake
Day 10
- Urumqi : Farewell to the Silk Road
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: No
After a final breakfast, a private transfer takes you to Urumqi Airport. As you depart, the vast landscapes, ancient echoes, and warm hospitality of Xinjiang linger — a journey to remember until the next Silk Road sunset.
Price Includes
- Private car with air-conditioning and driver
- Land transfers between airport / train station / hotels and scenic sites
- Hotel accommodation with breakfast (4 stars with nice breakfast)
- Professional English speaking tour guide
- Lunch and dinner as listed in the itinerary
- Entrance fee as listed in the itinerary
- Flight ticket or Speed train ticket from Xian to Zhangye
- Speed train ticket from Dunhuang to Turpan
- 24 H / 7D English speaking telephone service
- Government taxes
Price Excludes
- Personal expenses such as laundry, drinks, phone bills and optional activities …
- Gratitude for guides and drivers as international practice
- China Entry Visa
- Travel insurance (full coverage travel insurance from you country of origin)
Hotels
For all standard tours, The Silk Road China Tours will choose the best 4 stars hotel in different destinations. The hotel was evaluated comprehensively by its room size, cleanness, location, service and breakfast. It can well satisfy most western travelers and brings you relaxation, comfort and convenience.
If you want to upgrade the hotel to Deluxe standard or you have some special requirements, please inform us in the booking form or email us.
At some remote regions or ethnic area, there are no 4 stars or 5 stars hotels available. So we will arrange the best local hotel and notify the situation in advance.
Meals
Normally The Silk Road China Tours provides two meals each day: Breakfast and Lunch. You will have the freedom to make your own dinner choice.
Breakfast
It is normally served at the hotel where you stay. Depending on the hotel, the breakfast would be in western style, Chinese style, or a combination.
Lunch
When plan your lunches, we consider the balance of food quality, dining environment and tour convenience. We will provide lunch in a local restaurant whenever possible. The meal will give you an opportunity to eat at local restaurant, follow local customs, and taste local dishes. However in some remote regions where it’s simply hard to find a non-tourist restaurant, the meal could be arranged at a local tourist restaurant or a local family
Your own dinner choice
Dinners will not be included in your meal plan unless you have that requirement. Enjoying the local food could be one of your best experiences in China. This is why we provide you this flexibility of food choice. Your private guide will always give you good suggestions based on your preferences.
If you have certain food allergies or special requirements such as vegetarian food, let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Private Guide & Transfer
You will have a private tour guide, private driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle escorting you at every destination you travel. This will provide you with maximized personal care, security, and flexibility.
All of our tour guides are qualified professionals and registered English Speaking Tourist Guides in China who are reassessed annually. All of our tour vehicles are clean and in excellent condition, manned with licensed safe drivers.
Private Tour Guide
You will always be greeted punctually on arrival at each destination airport. At every departure, your guide will stay at your side until you have checked in and passed through the security checkpoint.
All of our travel guides in every destination are locals, who know the area well, they are very good at guiding you around and telling background stories of the tour sites, as well as showing you the secret spots for taking your best photos.
When changing your itinerary is needed due to unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you have a wonderful experience.
Private Transportation
When plan your lunches, we consider the balance of food quality, dining environment and tour convenience. We will provide lunch in a local restaurant whenever possible. The meal will give you an opportunity to eat at local restaurant, follow local customs, and taste local dishes. However in some remote regions where it’s simply hard to find a non-tourist restaurant, the meal could be arranged at a local tourist restaurant or a local family
Your own dinner choice
With our comfortable and safe private transportation, your tour will be more relaxing and less tiresome, keeping you in the best spirits to make the most of your experience in China.
In every destination visited, your vehicle is air conditioned, clean, and expertly maintained. Your private driver is licensed, insured, and very experienced.
To maximize your comfort, we use vehicles with extra space for you and your luggage. Depending on how many are traveling together, we generally use sedans or mini vans (7 seats) for 4 people or less, large vans or small coaches (12-22 seats) for 5-12 people, medium coaches (33 – 37 seats) for 13 – 25 people, and large coaches (45 seats over) for more than 25 people.
Tipping Guidelines
We realize that tipping is a sensitive subject for all travelers. While tips are widely accepted, we would like to stress that this is at your own personal discretion.While everyone is recommended to tip based on services rendered, our clients often ask we provide some basic guidelines.
1 person: $20-30/day • Group of 2: $15-25/per person/day • Group of 3-5: $15/per person/day • Group of 6-10: $10/per person/day
Some outstanding guides receive twice or three times as much depending on service quality and also the size of the group. Guests are welcome to tip more if they feel the services were exceptional. The driver may sometimes receive a tip 50% of what the guide receives. In places where roads are rough and dangerous, the driver may sometimes receive an equal amount of tipping as the guide.
Silk Road Map
Why Choose Us?
We are the top Silk Road tour operator based in Dunhuang, China. We focus on providing well designed Silk Road China Tours with resonable price and thoughtful service.
- Easy & carefree booking
- The best value
- Great travel experience
- Locally operated
Tailor-made Tours
Your final trip plan will be 100% tailored to your needs, incl. itinerary, activities, hotel, meal plan etc.
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Silk Road China Tours -
Reliable travel agency based in Dunhuang, China. We focus on providing customized tours across Silk Road in China,on your own terms and with reasonable prices.
Contact Us
Gansu, China
Phone: 0086 - 18919428669 (24h)
Tel: 0086 - 937 - 8809499 (24h)
Email: Service@silkroadtourcn.com
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