8 Days China Silk Road Tour

The Silk Road is an important ancient network of routes that links China with the Western Asia and Europe, which operated for at least 1,500 years. Traveling the legendary Silk Road will be a life-time experience and tourists will explore the ancient ruins, life of Uyghur people, wild and exotic landscape and rich cultural heritage.

Tour Code: SR04
Departure: Daily
Duration: 8 days
Language: English
Please send us an email to enquiry

(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive in Urumqi by flight and transfer to Hotel. (40km 30 minutes’ drive)
Pick you up from Urumqi airport and transfer to your hotel in Urumqi, the rest of the day is for you to relax. Urumqi is he capital of Xinjiang; you will experience unique ethical endemic and regional culture here.

Day 2 Visit the Heavenly Lake (140km 4 hours) and the Xinjiang Museum. Take evening flight to Kashgar.
After breakfast, head to the picturesque Heavenly Lake, the lake nestles on the northern side of the Bogeda Peak. Its breath-taking view will definitely make tourists forget all the tiredness after a long desert journey. Then transfer back to Urumqi and spend some time in Xinjiang Museum, the museum is by far the best museum along the Silk Road and is home to controversial artefacts- the Xinjiang mummies. Then take evening flight to Kashgar.

Day 3 Drive along the Karakorum Highway to visit Karakuli Lake (400km 7 hours).
Today will be a long day as we will drive 200km along the Karakorum Highway to visit the Karakuli Lake, Surrounded by snow-covered mountains all year round, the three highest peaks of Muztagh Ata (7546m), Kongur Tagh (7649m) and Kongur Tiube (7530m) are mirrored in the melted snow water. The blue lake and the white snow mountain add radiance and beauty to each other. After some pleasant time at Karakuli Lake, take a ride back to Kashgar.

Day 4 Visit Abakhoja Tombs (5km 15 minutes), Id Kah Mosque and the Grand Bazaar (40km 1 hour), fly back to Urumqi.
Today you will first visit Abakhoja Tombs, Muhammad Yūsufa and his families were buried here. The tomb is also well-known as the Tomb of Xiangfei, the only Uyghur concubine of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty. Continue your visit to the Id Kah Mosque, which is the largest mosque in China. The mosque is a pilgrimage place for Chinese Muslims, many believers pray outside the mosque on Fridays and holidays. Then walk in the 2000 years old Grand Bazaar, where you will find various local goods like carpets, tea, dried fruit, Jewellery, musical instruments and the like. After some happy shopping experience, transfer to airport for your flight to Urumqi. Check in at the hotel in Urumqi.

Day 5 Visit the Nanshan Pasture Land (70km 1.5 hours) and drive to Turpan (160km, 2 hours).
In the morning, drive 1.5 hours to visit a natural paradise – the Nanshan Pasture Land, In this wonderland you will find green grassland, mountain flowers, clear brook water, sheep flock and running horses. Travelers can enjoy a horseback tour (optional), climb the mountains or stay in a traditional yurt (Optional). After some pleasant time here we will drive to Turpan, a city famed across China for its grapes. Stay overnight in Turpan.

Day 6 Visit Gaochang Ancient City (60km 1 hour), Astana Tombs, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (45km 30 minutes), Flaming Mountain and Jiaohe Ancient City (8km 20 minutes), Karez Well. Board on overnight train to Dunhuang.
Today you will visit several famous tourist spots at Turpan. First head to Gaochang Ancient City, an ancient oasis town established on the northern rim of the Taklamakan Desert, the city itself witness the prosperity of the Silk Road. Continue to visit the Astana Tombs, the complex contains over 1,000 tombs, and with dry climate many important artefacts including natural mummies have been well preserved here.

After that visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which contain 67 caves from the Northern and Southern dynasties to the Yuan Dynasty. The most famous caves are No.16 and 17. Then drive to visit the Flaming Mountain, a barren, eroded, red sandstone mountain and Jiaohe Ancient City, an archaeological site built with rammed earth and bricks 2300 years ago.

Continue your trip to the Karez Well. The Karez Well is a great ancient irrigation system which stretches 5,000 km underground. This underground water project keeps water from evaporating under arid climate and irrigates the farming land in desert.
Then take overnight train to Dunhuang with soft sleeper.

Day 7 Pick up from Liuyuan Train Station and drive to Dunhuang (160km, 2 hours), visit Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Moon Spring and Singing Sands Mountain.
Transfer to visit the UNESCO site – Mogao Grottoes, the 1.6km of grottoes were constructed from the 4th to the 14th century, the mural paintings and colour statues are considered as the greatest Buddhist art in the world.

Continue to visit the Crescent Moon Spring, the spring got name from the crescent moon shape lake and it is amazing that the pool doesn’t dry up in this arid area. Then spend some time in the Singing Sands Mountain, which drives the name from the sounds created by wind blowing over the dunes. Tourists can also ride camels on the dunes (Optional).

Drive back to Dunhuang and overnight.

Day 8 Exit Dunhuang.
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight back.

Service included:
1. Hotel accommodation in twin share basis
2. Private car and experienced driver
3. Excursions with English speaking guide
4. Entrance fees to tourist spots mentioned above
5. Round way flight tickets between Urumqi and Kashgar
6. Soft sleeper train from Turpan to Dunhuang
7. Daily breakfast and Lunches

Service excluded
1. Flight ticket to Urumqi and Departure flight from Dunhuang
2. Tips to guide and driver

Reservation
Tel: +86 178 1320 5162
E-mail: service@intochinatravel.com
Skype ID: intochinatravel