Arrival at Xian and be transferred to hotel.
Xi'an is the regional capital of Shaanxi, the largest city in north-west China. It had served as the nation's capital for more than 1000 years, which combine ancient China capital culture with amazing historical relics.
After breakfast, take speed train to Tianshui (1 hour and 40 minutes).On arrival be picked up by our guide and driver, and then visit Maijishan Grottoes. Maijishan Grottoes is one of China’s four greatest Buddhist grottoes, which is also known as “Oriental Sculpture Museum”.
After breakfast, take speed train to Lanzhou (1.5 hours). On arrival be picked up by our guide and driver and then visit Yellow river scenery and Gansu Museum - one of the best Museums on Silk Road.
After breakfast, drive to Liujiuxia Reservoir – one of the earliest and most important hydropower stations of China. Take a speed boat from the huge dam of Liujiaxia to Binglingsi grottoes. After sightseeing take speed boat back the dam and drive 150km to Xiahe city.
After breakfast, follow Tibetan pilgrims to see the longest prayer wheel corridor of the world and then visit Labrang Monastery – the largest Tibetan Buddhism College of the world. After lunch, drive about 185km to Langmusi and check in hotel.
After breakfast, visit Sertri Gompa monastery on Gansu side and Kirti Gompa on Sichuan side. After lunch stroll about the small city and then drive about 170km to Hezuo city.
After breakfast, drive about 230km to Lanzhou city and take speed train to Zhangye (3 hours). On arrival, drive 60km to visit Danxia Landform (sunset). Zhangye Danxia Landform is also known as Rainbow Mountains, which is one of the most beautiful Danxia Landform of the world.
After breakfast, visit Giant Buddha temple. Giant Buddha Temple is the only Western Xia dynasty royal temple preserved in China, which houses the largest clay reclining Buddha of Asia. After lunch drive about 70km to visit Matisi Grottoes.
After breakfast, drive about 230km to Jiayuguan city and visit the famous underground art gallery - Wei-jin tomb and the western end of the Great wall - Jiayuguan Pass and overhanging great wall. Then check in the hotel.
After breakfast, drive about 300km to Suoyang Town where to have lunch, and then drive 30km to visit Yulin grottoes. Yulin Grottoes is an important UNESCO site, which is famous for exquisite mural painting from Tang and Western Xia dynasties. Then drive 160km to Dunhuang and check in hotel.
After breakfast, drive 15km to visit Mogao Grottoes - the biggest Buddhist Art gallery of the world. After lunch, visit Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake. In the evening stroll to the famous local night market.
Be transferred to the airport and 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 Xian to Tianshui
- Speed train ticket from Tianshui to Lanzhou
- Speed train ticket from Lanzhou to Zhangye
- Entrance fee as listed in the itinerary
- 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)
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.
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.
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.
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.