Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
You'll be picked up at the airport and taken to your hotel in Beijing. After you settle in, spend the rest of the day relaxing and getting oriented before the sightseeing starts.
- Start point
- Beijing, China (Beijing Airport, 08:00 - 22:00)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing Xinqiao Hotel)
- Day 2
Beijing
Start with a city tour hitting Beijing's major sites. Tian'anmen Square comes first, then the Forbidden City where you'll see artifacts spanning 24 emperors. Later, check out the Lama Temple, which is Beijing's largest Tibetan Buddhist temple.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Beijing Xinqiao Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Tian'anmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
- Visit Lama Temple
Optional Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven (alternative if Forbidden City tickets unavailable)
Landmarks Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Lama Temple - Day 3
Beijing to Luoyang
Head out early to the Great Wall at Badaling for the morning. Then you'll make your way to the railway station for a bullet train to Luoyang, arriving by afternoon and checking into your hotel there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Luoyang Longmen, an IHG hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Great Wall Badaling
Landmarks Great Wall of China - Badaling 
- Day 4
Luoyang
The day focuses on Luoyang's cultural and spiritual sites. First, you'll see the Longmen Grottos, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring a massive Buddha statue from the Tang Dynasty. After that, head to Shaolin Temple, the famous center of Chinese Kung Fu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Luoyang Longmen, an IHG hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Longmen Grottos
- Visit Shaolin Temple
Landmarks Longmen Grottos Shaolin Temple - Day 5
Luoyang to Xi'an
Catch a 2-hour bullet train to Xi'an in the morning. Once there, walk the Old City Wall, which stretches nearly 14 kilometers and dates back 600 years. Spend time in the Muslim Quarter, then climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built 1,500 years ago, for views across the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Xi‘an South Gate City Wall)
Included Activities
- Visit Old City Wall
- Visit Muslim Quarter
- Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Landmarks Old City Wall of Xi'an Big Wild Goose Pagoda - Day 6
Xi'an
This morning takes you to the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, where thousands of life-sized warrior statues are on display. They were discovered in 1974 and each has distinct features. In the afternoon, head over to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Xi‘an South Gate City Wall)
Included Activities
- Visit Terra Cotta Warriors Museum
- Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Landmarks Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Small Wild Goose Pagoda - Day 7
Xi'an to Tianshui
Drive to Famen Monastery to see the temple housing Buddha's relic, though keep in mind it's not always on display. Later, you'll depart for Tianshui by car or bullet train depending on group size.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Tianshui City Center)
Included Activities
- Visit Famen Monastery
Landmarks Famen Monastery 
- Day 8
Tianshui to Lanzhou
Stop at Maiji Grottos in the morning, which holds thousands of Buddha statues carved into the rock. Afterward, travel by vehicle or train to Lanzhou and check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crystal Orange Lanzhou West Railway Station ZhongTianjian Plaza Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Maiji Grottos
Landmarks Maiji Grottos - Day 9
Lanzhou to Xiahe
A 2-hour drive takes you to Binglingsi Temple, where Buddha statues and dramatic stone formations sit beside the Yellow River. The grottos are carved directly into the mountainside with great views. Then head to Xiahe, known as Labrang in Tibetan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tianzhu International Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Binglingsi Grottos
Landmarks Binglingsi Grottos 
- Day 10
Xiahe to Dunhuang
Morning brings a visit to Labrang Monastery, one of the six largest Tibetan monasteries, where you'll see authentic Tibetan Buddhist practices. In the afternoon, transfer to Lanzhou airport for a flight to Dunhuang.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dunhuang Zhongzhou International Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Labrang Monastery
Landmarks Labrang Monastery 
- Day 11
Dunhuang
Dunhuang sits along the ancient Silk Road. Explore caves at the Mogao Grottos and Yulin Grottos, viewing frescoes with vibrant paintings that look nearly fresh despite their age.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dunhuang Zhongzhou International Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Mogao Grottos
- Visit Yulin Grottos
Landmarks Mogao Caves Yulin Grottos - Day 12
Dunhuang to Turpan
Visit Crescent Moon Spring and Mingsha Sand Dunes in the morning. After lunch, head to Liuyuan Railway Station to catch a 3-hour fast train to Turpan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Joyce Coffetel)
Included Activities
- Visit Crescent Moon Spring
- Visit Mingsha Sand Dunes
Landmarks Crescent Moon Spring Mingsha Sand Dunes - Day 13
Turpan
Turpan has several cultural sites to explore. See Bezklik Caves, the Jiaohe ruins built on a 30-meter terrace, and the ancient city of Gaochang with its walls and temples. Also spend time in Toyuk Valley, a traditional Uyghur village with a cemetery for seven holy beings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Joyce Coffetel)
Included Activities
- Visit Bezklik Caves
- Visit ancient city of Jiaohe
- Visit ancient city of Gaochang
- Visit Toyuk Valley
Landmarks Bezklik Caves Jiaohe Ancient City Gaochang Ancient City Toyuk Valley - Day 14
Turpan to Kuqa
Visit the Emin Minaret, built in 1777 and a fine example of Uyghur architecture. Then check out the Karez Irrigation System, underground tunnels that have supplied water to this oasis for centuries. By evening, you'll board an overnight train to Kuqa.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Emin Minaret
- Visit Karez Irrigation System
Landmarks Emin Minaret 
- Day 15
Kuqa
Travel along the ancient Silk Road to Kizil Caves, built 1,700 years ago with colorful frescoes and Jataka paintings still visible. Later, explore the red Tianshan Mysterious Canyon, a 5-kilometer stretch in the southern Tianshan Mountains, then return to your Kuqa hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Home2 Suites By Hilton Xinjiang Kuche)
Included Activities
- Visit Kizil Caves
- Explore Tianshan Mysterious Canyon
Landmarks Kizil Caves Tianshan Mysterious Canyon - Day 16
Kuqa
Start at Subash Temple ruin, a Buddhist temple from 1,300 years ago featuring pagodas, halls, and walls. Then walk through the old town of Kuqa and Kuqa Mosque, browse the local bazaar for fruits, tea, and clothes. Before evening, visit Kizilcara Beacon Tower, built around 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty. Catch an overnight train to Kashgar.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Subash Temple ruin
- Visit old town of Kuqa
- Visit Kuqa Mosque
- Explore local bazaar
- Visit Kizilcara Beacon Tower
Landmarks Subash Temple Kuqa Mosque Kizilcara Beacon Tower - Day 17
Kashgar
Kashgar offers cultural exploration throughout the day. See Moer Pagoda, the old town, and the grand Id Gar Mosque, Xinjiang's largest mosque where local Uyghurs gather. Also visit Apa Hoja Tombs, a family cemetery decorated with brilliant blue tiles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Atour Hotel Ancient City Pedestrian Street Kashgar)
Included Activities
- Visit Moer Pagoda
- Visit old town of Kashgar
- Visit Id Gar Mosque
- Visit Apa Hoja Tombs
Landmarks Id Gar Mosque Apa Hoja Tombs - Day 18
Kashgar
Head to Kashgar airport for your departure flight, bringing your Silk Road journey to a close.
- End point
- Kashi Diqu, Xinjiang, China ( Kashgar Airport, 08:00 - 22:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
