12-Day Classic China Silk Road Tour
Route: Urumqi – Kashgar – Turpan – Dunhuang – Xi’an
Activities: This 12 days Classic China Silk Road Tour designed for first time visitors to the Silk Road China. It takes them to towns which had strategic importance in the history of ancient Silk Road. It helps them to get clear overview of the Silk Road past and present.
Day 01
Place & Transport: Arrival to Urumqi Via Beijing or Shanghai
Today’s Activities: Urumqi Airport Pickup and Hotel Transfer
Place to stay: Urumqi
You will meet with our company representative at the Urumqi Airport then transfer to Hotel
Day 02
Place & Transport: Urumqi Tour then Evening Flight to Kashgar
Today’s Activities: Heavenly lake, Xinjiang Museum
Place to stay: Kashgar
You will meet with your guide in your hotel after breakfast then set off for Urumqi tours. Your guide and driver will take you to Heavenly Lake, which is 110km away from Urumqi. You will come back to Urumqi in the afternoon then Pay visit to Xinjiang Museum where you can see great collection of Mummies’. You will be served your dinner in finest Uyghur Restaurant in Urumqi then take evening flight to Kashgar.
Day 03
Place & Transport: Kashgar City Tour
Today’s Activities: Apak Hoja tomb, Sunday market, Old Town, Id Kah Mosque, Handicraft Street
Place to stay: Kashgar
We will begin our tour of Kashgar City by visiting the Apak Hoja Tomb. This is a very tranquil place and a beautiful example of Uyghur Islamic architecture. Next we will head to the Infamous lively Sunday market renowned as the biggest market in Central Asia. It is said you can buy anything you want from the Sunday market except chicken milk and Cow eggs. We will then enjoy lunch in a typical Uyghur restaurant. After lunch we will wander through the narrow winding streets of the historic Old town brushing shoulders with the friendly Uyghur residents. Located at the spiritual heart of Old townis Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China. We will go inside and have the chance to understand a bit more about the Islamic life of the Uyghur people. We will pass down Handicraft Street where we can view pots being hammered, wood craftsmen at work and traditional musical instrument workshops.
Note: For entering the Mosque visitors should dress respectfully, no shorts or short sleeved shirts and women should cover their heads with a scarf.
Day 04
Place & Transport: Kashgar to Karakul Lake then to Tashkorgan
Today’s Activities: Karakoram Highway, Opal village, Red Mountain, Corner Lake & Sand Mountain,MT. Muztagh Ata (7546m) & MT.Konger (7719m), Karakul Lake.
Place to stay: Tashkurgan.
Drive on Karakoram Highway (An epic road to travel.) Karakul Lake is located southwest of Kashgar, and 200km from Kashgar. You will have chance to do some trekking around the lake which is 3600ms above sea level. Karakul Lake is located at the foot of Muztag Ata (7546m). The people living around the lake are Kyrgyz people, will have chance to visit the Kyrgyz yurts and learn about the nomadic mountain life of Kyrgyz people.In the afternoon drive to Taskorgan and spend the night in Tashkurgan.
Day 05
Place & Transport: Tashkurgan to Kashgar then Evening Flight to Urumqi
Today’s Activities: Stone city, Tajik family Visit
Place to stay: Urumqi
After the breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Stone city in Tashkorgan. It was once the palace of the Tajik kingdom. After the visit to Stone city, you will have a chance to look around the town and visit Tajik family to see the Traditional life of the Tajik people on the Pamir Plateau and the beautiful scenery of the Pamir Mountains. After the visits, you will drive back to Kashgar and arrive in the afternoon. After dinner; take the evening flight to Urumqi.
Day 06
Place & Transport: Drive from Urumqi to Turpan then Turpan Tour
Today’s Activities: Jiaohe Ancient city, Kariz system, Emin Minaret
Place to stay: Turpan
After the breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Turpan, upon our arrival, you will visit the Jiaohe Ancient city, Kariz system is an irrigation system of wells connected by underground channels, is considered as one of the three great ancient projects in China. Emin Minaret which was built in 1777, is the largest extant old tower in Xinjiang. Night will be spent in Turpan after the tour.
Day 07
Place & Transport: Turpan Tour then Overnight Train to Dunhuang
Today’s Activities: Tuyuk Valley, Gaocheng Ancient City, Flaming Mountain, Astana Ancient Tombs
Place to stay: Overnight Train
Tuyuk Valley: where the most traditional Uyghur life can be seen with the people living in traditional homes made of mud, Gaocheng ancient city (Started in the first century B.C, it was a key point on the ancient Silk Road,). Driving by the Flaming Mountain (The Flaming Mountains were formed in the organic movements of the Himalayas fifty million years ago). Astana-Karahoja Ancient Tombs (Known as the “Underground Museum” and widely valued by Chinese and foreign archaeologists and historians. You will take evening train to Dunhuang.
Day 08
Place & Transport: Dunhuang Railway Station Pickup then Dunhuang Tour
Today’s Activities: Mogao Caves, Echoing sand dunes of Mingshan Mountains, Crescent Lake
Place to stay: Dunhuang
You will meet your guide and driver at Dunhuang railway station. You will then be transferred to Dunhuang and start your tour of Dunhuang. Places you will visit are: World Heritage site Mogao Caves, Echoing sand dunes of Mingshan Mountains, Crescent Lake. AFter the tour, night will be spent in Dunhuang.
Day 09
Place & Transport: Dunhuang Tour then Evening Flight to Xian
Today’s Activities: Dunhuang Museum, Jade Gate, Han Dynasty Great Wall
Place to stay: Xi’an
After the breakfast at the hotel, you will visit Dunhuang Museum, Jade Gate was once one of the west gates out of the country of the Han Dynasty (206 B. C. -220 A. D.), it is quite ruined by the shifting sands but still shows the ever splendor. The Great Wall of the Han dynasty was build for defending the nomadic Xiongnu during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). After the tour in Dunhuang, you will then take evening flight to Xi’an.
Day 10
Place & Transport: Xi’an Tour
Today’s Activities: Terracotta Army, Bell Tour and Drum Tower, Hui Ethnic Street, Xi’an Grand Mosque
Place to stay: Xi’an
After Breakfast we will take 1.5 hour’s drive out to visit the amazing Terracotta Army. Here we will have the chance to see 8,000 life sized terracotta warriors and horses that were unearthed in 1974.. There is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. After return to Xi’an, you will visit Bell Tower and Drum Tower followed by Hui Ethnic street and Grand Mosque of Xi’an. After the tour, night will be spent in Xi’an.
Day 11
Place & Transport: Xi’an Tour
Today’s Activities: Xi’an City Wall, Shanxi Historical Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Place to stay: Xian
After the breakfast at the hotel, you will visit Xi’an City Wall, Shanxi Historical Museum and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Shanxi Regional Museum has four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collections beautifully displayed. After the tour, night will be spent in Xi’an.
Day 12
Place & Transport: Xi’an Airport See Off
Our guide and driver will meet you after your breakfast at the hotel depending on the departure flight then see you off at Xi’an airport for your next destination or to home. End of Service!
