Silk Road Itinerary

13 days

Day 1

ARRIVE in BEIJING

Your flight lands at Beijing, the capital of China. You are transferred to the hotel for rest and relaxation.

Day 2

BEIJING

The morning program begins with Tian An Men Square: the largest city square in the world.

Then proceed to the Forbidden City: the residence of emperors for more than 500 years, which houses numerous precious artifacts.

After a visit to a pearl factory, take a tour of Hutong by rickshaw with a house visit to explore the real Beijing lifestyle.

Day 3

BEIJING

This morning starts on the Badaling Great Wall: a symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization. This 2,000 year old landmark is an astonishing feat of engineering.

After lunch, visit the Summer Palace to see the beautiful Kunming Lake.

Day 4

BEIJING > URUMQI

Take a morning flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, you’ll visit the Xinjiang Museum. It is by far the best museum you’ll find along the Silk Road and is home to some of the area’s most famous and controversial artifacts.

Day 5

URUMQI

Day 5, visit the Lake of Heaven at an elevation of 2,600 meters over Tianshan. It is a beautiful highland lake, flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, with clear waters that reflect the surrounding mountains.

Head back to the city by afternoon, and visit the Old Town and Er Dao Qiao Bazaar: the most famous compact communities of the Uyghurs.

Day 6

URUMQI > TURPAN

Take a morning high-speed train to Turpan to visit the Ruined City of Jiaohe. Located in the Yarnaz Valley, 13 kilometers away from the Turpan, Jiaohe Ruins was built by the old Cheshi people in Qin and Han Dynasties.

Then, visit the famous Karez Well: the grand underground irrigation system created by ancient local people.

Afterwards, visit Sugong Minaret: the largest existing ancient pagoda in Xinjiang, China.

Day 7

TURPAN

Full days trip in the Gaochang Ruins: the ancient walled capital of the Uighurs which flourished the 7th and 14th centuries.

Followed by the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Cave, the Astana Tombs and the Flaming Hill: a combination of red sand and rocks that makes the mountain look like a red dragon sleeping in the area’s basin.

Day 8

TURPAN—DUNHUANG

After breakfast, drive to the train station for a high-speed train ride to Dunhuang.

Upon arrival, enjoy a day of leisure that includes visits to Minsha Hill and Crescent Moon Lake set in an amphitheater of sand dunes.

Take a short camel ride en route at sunset.

Day 9

DUNHUANG

In the morning, visit Dunhuang’s most famous monument: the Mogao Caves, popularly known as "Thousand Buddha Caves." An art gallery in the desert.

After lunch, visit the Yumen Pass: also known as Small Square Castle, which has long since lost its ancient reputation as an invincible military fortress. 

In the evening, visit in the Night Market to explore the night life, eat local delicacies and snacks, and buy some handicrafts.

Day 10

DUNHUANG > XIAN

Visit the Dunhuang Museum in the morning, which contains unique exhibits from the Mogao cave temple complex: collected by archaeologists from all over the world.

Then, get transfered to the airport for a flight to Xian. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for some rest.

Day 11

XIAN

The highlight of the day is a visit to The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses: an archaeological dig, excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty.

In the afternoon visit the Ancient City Wall: the most complete ancient city wall in China. It's also the best vantage point to view one of China's most fascinating cities.

Day 12

XIAN

Spend a full day exploring the Big Wild Goose Pagoda: one of the best preserved Buddhist temples in all of China, as well as the Shaanxi Historical Provincial Museum to learn all about the Silk Road city, one of the most well-protected cities in China.

Day 13

DEPART XIAN

After breakfast, you are free to partake in whatever leisure activities until your transfer to the airport to take your flight to home.