This 12-day Chinese Silk Road discovery trip goes deep into the Gobi desert where you'll experience amazing landscapes and ancient wonders. Like the ancient caravans on the Silk Road a thousand years ago, your journey starts in the ancient capital Xian, travelling to the Mogao grottoes in Dunhuang, through ancient ruins and sites, visiting splendid attractions in Turpan and the famous Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar. Other popular sights include the Terracotta Army, Wild Goose Pagoda mall, ancient city wall, Yadan Geopark, Yumen Pass, Emin Minaret, Desert Botanical Garden, Heavenly Lake and Id Kah Mosque. This trip idea is packed full of sights and is fully guided throughout.
Day 1 - Xian
- Pick up service at Xi'an airport
Day 2 - Xian
- Visit Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army
- Enter the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Park to explore the historic pagoda
- Explore Xi'an's Great Mosque and Muslim quarter
Day 3 - Dunhuang
- Private transfer from hotel to Xi'an airport
- Fly from Xi'an to Dunhuang
- Private transfer from Dunhuang airport to hotel
Day 4 - Dunhuang
- Yardang National Geologic Park
- Visit the Yumen Pass, a strategic fort on the ancient Silk Road
- The ruined Great Wall of Han Dynasty
- Visit the Crescent Lake & Singing Sand Mountains
Day 5 - Dunhuang, Turpan
- Mogao Grottoes
- High speed train from Dunhuang to Turpan
- Pick up service at the Turpan rail station
Day 6 - Turpan
- Visit the Emin Minaret
- Jiaohe Ancient Town
- Visit the Karez Irrigation System
- Turpan Desert Botanical Garden
Day 7 - Urumqi
- Private transfer from Turpan to Urumqi
- Visit the Heavenly Lake
Day 8 - Kashgar
- Fly from Urumqi to Kashgar
- Pick up service at Kashgar airport
- Visit Id Kah Mosque
- Explore the charming Kashgar Old Town
Day 9 - Kashgar
- Full day visit to Karakul Lake
Day 10 - Urumqi
- Fly from Kashgar to Urumqi
- Pick up service at the Urumqi airport
- Visit The Museum of Xinjiang
Day 11
- Transfer from hotel to the Urumqi airport
The sheer size of China means that climatically it is hard to pin down, and that ideal times to visit will differ depending on which areas you intend to see. It is often wise to travel outside the extremes of temperature brought by summer and winter, as large areas of China suffer both harsh winters and stiflingly hot summers. Check the dates of Chinese New Year – an exciting and festive time to visit, but also very busy.
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