12 Days Silk Road Photography Tour
Tour Type: Photography Tour
Tour Price: From **** Note!
Destinations: Xining - Zhangye - Alax youqi - Zhangye - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang- Turpan - Urumqi
Free Inquiry Get a free quotation.Day 1
- Arrival Xining
- Meals: No
- Accommodation: In Xining
Meet by guide and driver at the Xining airport. After lunch we will drive to Kumbum Monastery (called by Chinese as Ta’er si). It was founded in 1583 in a narrow valley close to the village of Lusar in the Tibetan cultural region of Amdo. Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism, was born nearby in 1357.
Kumbum Monastery
Kumbum Monastery
Kumbum Monastery
Kumbum Monastery
Day 2
- Xining
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Xining
After breakast drive to the Qinghai Lake. Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China, both the current Chinese name "Qinghai" and the older Mongolian name Kokonur translate to "Blue Lake" or "Teal Sea". Qinghai Lake is located about 152 kilometers west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205 m (10,515 feet) above sea level in a depression of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. In the afternoon drive back to Xining City and visit one of the four most important mosques in north western China - Dongguan Mosque.
Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake
Dongguan Mosque
Dongguan Mosque
Day 3
- Xining Zhangye
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Zhangye
After breakfast, take speed train from xining to Zhangye, the trian goes through Qilian mountain, which is caped with snow all year round. The northern and southern slope of the Qilian Mountain covered with natural forest and rape field. Each year during July and early August the slopes of Qilian Mountain become a sea of flowers. On arrival of Zhangye you will have lunch in the city and then drive to Matisi Grottoes . Matisi Grottoes is also known as the Horse’s Hoof Temple. It is a very popular scenic spot which integrates Yugu minority group’s folk customs, mountain views and Buddhist cave art.
Matisi Grottoes
Matisi Grottoes
Matisi Grottoes
Matisi Grottoes
Day 4
- Zhangye Alax youqi
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,Dinner
- Accommodation: In Bardain Jaran Desert
After breakfast, drive from zhangye city to Alax youqi, on arrival you will have lunch. Then drive to the entrance gate of the Bardain Jaran desert , where you will change to a four wheel drive. This is one of the most beautiful desert in China, is also called" the curves drawn by god". You will have a chance to see several beautiful lakes and the highest sand dune of the world, which know as the desert Mount Everest. In the evening arrive at the camping site. You can stroll along the lake bank and visit the Bardain Jaran monastery. After dinner, you can sleep in the Mongolian yurt and walk out to see the beautiful stars.
Bardain Jaran desert
Bardain Jaran desert
Bardain Jaran desert
Bardain Jaran desert
Day 5
- Alax youqi Zhangye
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Zhangye
After breakfast we will drive across the desert to the entrance of the Bardain Jaran Desert, along the way you have chance to see more beautiful sand dunes and lakes. Then we will have lunch at Alax youqi. In the afternoon we will drive from Alax youqi to Zhangye city and visit wetland park near the city.
Bardain Jaran desert
Bardain Jaran desert
Bardain Jaran desert
Bardain Jaran desert
Day 6
- Zhangye
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Zhangye
After breakfast, visit Giant Buddha temple which enshrined the largest clay nirvanor Buddha in Asia. After luch, be transferred to the Binggou Danxia Landform - the Mullion-like palace style Danxia Landform, which was nominated by China National Geographic Magazine as one of the 7 most beautiful Danxia Landform in China and by National Geographic Magazine as the World's top ten magical geographical wonders. This is also an ideal place for hiking. Follow different path to find out unique views from the other perspectives.
Then visit famous Danxia Landform . It is a unique type of petrographic geomorphology found in China. Danxia landform is formed from red-coloured sandstones and conglomerates of largely Cretaceous age. The best time to photograph the Danxia Landform is the sunset in the evening.
Giant Buddha temple
Binggou Danxia Landform
Danxia Landform
Danxia Landform
Day 7
- Zhangye Jiayuguan
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Jiayuguan
Drive from Zhangye to Jiayuguan city in the morning. After lunch we will visit the famous Jiayuguan Pass, which is the western end of the great wall and one of the most important pass along the great wall. Then we will visit Wei-jin Tomb which enjoy the fame as “the Gobi underground gallery.
Jiayuguan Pass
Jiayuguan Pass
Wei-jin Tomb
Wei-jin Tomb
Day 8
- Jiayuguan Dunhuang
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Dunhuang
Drive for 3 hours to the Guazhou city in the morning where you will have lunch. On the way you will see vast areas of Gobi desert , oasis and wind farm, to have a close contact with the wild west of China. After lunch drive to the Yulin Grottoes (1.5 hours driving) which is one of the most important grottoes in China. After Yulin Grottoes we will drive to Dunhuang and visit Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake.
Yulin Grottoes
Yulin Grottoes
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake
Day 9
- Dunhuang Turpan
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Turpan
Today, enjoy a cultural tour begin with the visit to Mogao Grottoes. The site is considered the great treasure house of Buddhist arts in existence. Then our guide and driver will escort you to the Liuyuan Train station which is 130 KM away from dunhuang, there you will take speed train to Turpan. On arrival of Turpan be picked up and transfered to the hotel
Mogao Grottoes
Mogao Grottoes
Mogao Grottoes
Mogao Grottoes
Day 10
- Turpan
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Turpan
After breakfast visit the mysterious death city, the Ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City, which reveals traces of a prosperous ancient trading center and military stronghold 1,600 years ago. And then Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda) - the biggest ancient pagoda existing in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient pagoda in the country and ancient Karez Well, the underground water supply and irrigation system. After lunch， visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which is a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley, a gorge in the Flaming Mountains.
Jiaohe Ancient City
Karez Well
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Flaming Mountains
Day 11
- Turpan Urumqi
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: In Urumqi
After breakfast drive to Heavenly Lake. Also named as Tianchi, nestled high in the Bogda Mountains of the Tianshan Mountain Range of Xinjiang, lies 115 kilometers west of the city of Urumqi. Back to Urumqi city in the evening and check in the hotel.
Heavenly Lake
Heavenly Lake
Heavenly Lake
Heavenly Lake
Day 12
- Urumqi
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: No
After breakfast, be transferred to the airport and the tour end.
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
- Speed train ticket from Xining to Zhangye
- 4 wheel drive in the Badain Jaran Desert (4 people in 1 vehicle)
- Train ticket from Liuyuan to Turpan(soft sleeper)
- Entrance fee as listed in the itinerary
- 24 H / 7D English speaking telephone service
- China Life Tourist Accident / Casualty Insurance
- 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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