Itinerary
- Day 1
Kashgar
You'll arrive in Kashgar and get picked up for transfer to your hotel. If your flight comes in early, you'll have the afternoon to yourself to walk around and get oriented to the city.
- Start point
- Kashi Shi, Kashi Diqu, Xinjiang, China (Kashgar airport, 08:00 - 22:00)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Green Oriental Hotel (Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area))
- Day 2
Kashgar to Karakul Lake
It's a solid 4-hour drive by private vehicle from Kashgar toward the Pamir Plateau along the friendship highway. You'll stop in Upar Uyghur town to grab some snacks and local fruits, then head to White Sand Lake where snow-capped mountains reflect in the water. After lunch, you'll reach Karakul Lake at 3,600 meters, surrounded by the Muztagh Summit and scattered yurts. By evening you'll get driven back to Kashgar for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Green Oriental Hotel (Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area))
Included Activities
- Visit White Sand Lake
- Explore Karakul Lake (3,600 meters) beside Muztagh Summit
Optional Activities
- Purchase snacks and fruits in Upar Uyghur town
Landmarks White Sand Lake Karakul Lake Muztagh Summit - Day 3
Kashgar to Urumqi
Your day covers a lot of Kashgar with a local guide. Start at the Apa Hoja Mausoleum from 1640, which has impressive blue tiles, a dome, and minaret showing Uyghur architecture. Then walk through the old town to see traditional shops, workshops, bakeries, and tea houses. Handicraft Street is worth your time for the large music instruments and bronze vessels. Try some local snacks like Nang Bread, and check out the Id Ghar Mosque, the largest in Xinjiang. Lunch happens at a local Uyghur home with nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau. If it's Sunday, the Animal Bazaar opens up too. Afterward you'll head to the airport for a flight to Urumqi, then transfer to your hotel there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau at a local Uyghur home)
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Atour Hotel Urumqi Minzhu Road)
Included Activities
- Visit Apa Hoja Mausoleum
- Explore Kashgar Old Town
- Visit Handicraft Street
- Visit Id Ghar Mosque (largest in Xinjiang)
- Lunch at local Uyghur home with traditional Uyghur cuisine
Optional Activities
- Taste local snacks in Old Town (Nang Bread, grilled eggs, dried fruits)
- Visit Animal Bazaar (opens only on Sundays)
Landmarks Apa Hoja Mausoleum Kashgar Old Town Id Ghar Mosque Animal Bazaar 
- Day 4
Urumqi
Take a 1-hour car ride from Urumqi to Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), a high-mountain lake in the Tianshan Mountains and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The water's crystal-clear and reflects the snow-capped mountains, with white Kazak yurts dotting the hills around it. After you've spent time looking around, you'll get transferred back to your hotel in Urumqi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Atour Hotel Urumqi Minzhu Road)
Included Activities
- Visit Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)
Landmarks Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) - Day 5
Urumqi to Turpan
A 3-hour car ride takes you to Turpan, an old hub on the Silk Road. You'll see the Ancient City of Jiaohe, a massive ruin sitting on a terrace between two rivers. The Karez Irrigation System shows how water was supplied underground to this dry area. The Emin Minaret from 1777 stands as Turpan's symbol with typical Uyghur design. After a Uyghur lunch, you'll check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Uyghur food)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Joyce Coffetel), Hotel (Metropolo Jin Jiang Hotels Turpan)
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient City of Jiaohe
- Visit Karez Irrigation System
- View Emin Minaret
Landmarks Ancient City of Jiaohe Karez Irrigation System Emin Minaret - Day 6
Turpan
Working with a local guide, you'll visit the Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves and the Ancient City of Gaochang, both packed with Silk Road history. You'll taste some dried fruits from the region and have Uyghur food for lunch. Then it's back to your hotel in Turpan for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Uyghur food)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Joyce Coffetel), Hotel (Metropolo Jin Jiang Hotels Turpan)
Included Activities
- Visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves
- Visit Ancient City of Gaochang
Optional Activities
- Taste dried fruits
Landmarks Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves Ancient City of Gaochang - Day 7
Turpan to Dunhuang
You'll take a 3.5-hour bullet train from Turpan to Liuyuan, then a 2-hour car ride into Dunhuang. This afternoon, head out to the Minsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes) and see the crescent spring tucked in among them. Tonight you can check out the Dunhuang night market or catch a performance inspired by the Mogao Caves before staying at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Minsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes)
- View Crescent Spring in the dunes
Optional Activities
- Explore Dunhuang night market
- Watch performance copied from Mogao Caves
Landmarks Minsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes) Crescent Spring 
- Day 8
Dunhuang to Jiayuguan
The Mogao Caves open up in the morning, the Silk Road's centerpiece with roots going back to the 4th century. Colorful frescoes and statues fill the caves with Buddhist stories. After lunch, a 5-hour car ride takes you through the western Hexi Corridor to Jiayuguan, passing the Gobi Desert, oasis towns, and snow-capped Qilian Mountains. You'll check in at your hotel in Jiayuguan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dunhuang Zhongzhou International Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Mogao Caves
Landmarks Mogao Caves - Day 9
Jiayuguan to Zhangye
You'll visit the Jiayuguan Fortress, the western end of the Great Wall, positioned on the narrowest stretch of the Hexi Corridor between the Qilian and Black mountains. Climb the Overhanging Great Wall for mountain views. Then see the Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery with brick paintings that still hold their fresh, bright colors. After that, a 2.5-hour car ride gets you to Zhangye where you'll settle into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zhangye Jiancheng Holiday Hote)
Included Activities
- Visit Jiayuguan Fortress
- Climb Overhanging Great Wall
- Visit Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery
Landmarks Jiayuguan Fortress Overhanging Great Wall Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery 
- Day 10
Zhangye
After breakfast, you'll visit the Giant Buddha Monastery (Dafo Temple), which doubles as the city museum showing Zhangye's ancient history. The main draw is the huge reclining Buddha inside. Next comes the Matisi Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist site. A 1-hour ride takes you to Zhangye Danxia this afternoon to see the Rainbow Mountains with their impressive red, yellow, white, and black clay layers. Back to your hotel in Zhangye after that.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zhangye Jiancheng Holiday Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Giant Buddha Monastery (Dafo Temple)
- Visit Matisi Monastery
- View Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains
Landmarks Giant Buddha Monastery (Dafo Temple) Matisi Monastery Zhangye Danxia - Day 11
Zhangye to Lanzhou
A 3-hour bullet train carries you from Zhangye to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province situated along the Yellow River. The Gansu Provincial Museum is worth visiting if you can get tickets (they close Mondays). Walk through historic sites like the Zhangshan Iron Bridge and Water Wheel Park along the river, plus White Pagoda Hill. You'll check in at your hotel later in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Hotel, South Tianshui Road)
Included Activities
- Visit Zhangshan Iron Bridge
- Visit Water Wheel Park by the Yellow River
- Visit White Pagoda Hill
Optional Activities
- Visit Gansu Provincial Museum (if tickets available)
Landmarks Gansu Provincial Museum Zhangshan Iron Bridge Water Wheel Park White Pagoda Hill - Day 12
Lanzhou to Xiahe
It's a 2-hour car ride to Linxia, then you'll board a ferry to cross the Liujiaxia Reservoir and reach the Binglingsi Grottos beside the Yellow River. You'll see various Buddha statues carved into the rock and take in the landscape around the grottos. Afterward, another 2-hour car ride brings you to your hotel in Xiahe (Labrang).
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Xiahe Tianzhu International Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sail across Liujiaxia Reservoir
- Visit Binglingsi Grottos
Landmarks Binglingsi Grottos Liujiaxia Reservoir 
- Day 13
Xiahe to Lanzhou
With a local lama guide, you'll enter the Labrang Monastery to learn about Tibetan Buddhism and its history. The temples hold colorful paintings, statues, and detailed carvings throughout. After exploring, a 4-hour car ride takes you back to Lanzhou where you'll check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Hotel, South Tianshui Road)
Included Activities
- Visit Labrang Monastery with local lama guide
Landmarks Labrang Monastery - Day 14
Lanzhou to Xian
A 3-hour bullet train gets you to Xian from Lanzhou. Once there, head to the City Wall from the Ming Dynasty, stretching nearly 14km around the city. You can either walk or bike along the top. Then explore the Muslim Quarter and particularly the Grand Mosque with its traditional Chinese architectural style. You'll check in at your hotel in Xian as the day winds down.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit City Wall (built Ming Dynasty, nearly 14km)
Optional Activities
- Walk or ride bike on the City Wall
- Visit Grand Mosque in Muslim Quarter
Landmarks Xian City Wall Grand Mosque Muslim Quarter - Day 15
Xian to Beijing
A 1-hour car ride takes you to the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, one of the Silk Road's major highlights. First discovered and dug up in 1974, the museum displays thousands of warriors, each with their own distinct uniform and details. Your local guide walks you through the history and stories behind them. Then it's a 5-hour bullet train to Beijing where you'll transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing Xinqiao Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum
Landmarks Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum - Day 16
Beijing
You'll spend 2 hours driving to Mutianyu Great Wall, which went up about 600 years ago during the early Ming Dynasty. Take the cable car or walk up to reach the wall itself and see this imposing military structure. The wall winds across the mountains like a dragon. You'll have time for a nice walk taking in views all around. Lunch gets served at a local restaurant before heading back to your Beijing hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing Xinqiao Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Mutianyu Great Wall (built 600 years ago in early Ming Dynasty)
Optional Activities
- Walk up Great Wall
- Take cable car up Great Wall
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall - Day 17
Beijing
Starting with a walk through Tiananmen Square with your guide, one of the world's largest city squares. Then you'll go into the Forbidden City, the world's biggest palace complex, exploring the main buildings while learning the stories connected to them. In the afternoon, head to Summer Palace to see Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, where Qing Dynasty royals used to escape during summer. You'll return to your hotel afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing Xinqiao Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
- Visit Summer Palace with Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Summer Palace Kunming Lake Longevity Hill - Day 18
Beijing to Departure
Your tour wraps up today with a transfer to Beijing airport so you can catch your flight home. That marks the end of your Silk Road journey through China.
- End point
- Beijing, China (Beijing Airport, 08:00 - 22:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
