7-Day Private Silk Road Trip Urumqi to Dunhuang and Zhangye
This 6 nights classic private tour takes you to explore Chinese section of ancient Silk Road northern route from Urumqi to Dunhuang, then Zhangye. You will travel the path of thousands of merchants and camel caravans to witness its changes.
Day 1: Arriving Urumqi
Upon arrival at Urumqi Airport or Urumqi Railway Station, your driver will send you to the hotel for check-in.
Accommodation: 5-star hotel, Urumqi
Day 2: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi (B)
Visit Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited(close on Mondays). Among which, you will find the spectacular one standing out from the rest named "Beauty of Loulan". Then you will take one hour car ride to Heavenly Lake or Tianchi in Chinese, which is located on the north side of the Tianshan Mountains to enjoy fantastic mountain views and serene lake scenery. Later, return to Urumqi and stroll through the Erdaoqiao Bazaar.
Accommodation: 5-star hotel, Urumqi
Day 3: Urumqi - Turpan (B, L)
Take a 3-hour car ride to Turpan, the centre of a fertile oasis and an important trade center along the Silk Road. You will visit Karez Irrigation System that is old canal system to water the farm in Turpan. Then you will head to explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, Bezklik Grottos, ruin of ancient Jiaohe City that was once the capital of Anterior Jushi kingdom during 108 B.C. to 450 A.D. but abandoned in the 15th century.
Accommodation: 5 or 4-star hotel, Turpan
Day 4. Turpan - Liuyuan (via bullet train) - Dunhuang (B)
Today you will catch 3-hour bullet train to Liuyuan and be transferred to Dunhuang in about two hours. Enjoy a fun hike on the sand dunes to visit the Crescent Spring Lake this afternoon.Be sure to explore the night market nearby the hotel in the evening!
Accommodation: 5-star hotel,.Dunhuang
Day 5: Dunhuang - Jiayuguan by vehicle (B)
Visit the highlight of Silk Road today, Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas). These caves are examples of rock-cut architecture of soft gravel conglomerate not suitable for either sculpture or elaborate architectural details. After lunch, you will take 5-hour car ride to Jiayuguan.
Accommodation: 5-star hotel, Jiayuguan
Day 6: Jiayuguan - Zhangye by vehicle (B)
Visit Jiayuguan Fort that is called The First Pass Under Heaven, the western end of the Great Wall for Ming Dynasty. Then you will catch 2-hour car ride to Zhangye Rainbow Danxia, which is very colorful clay mountain.
Accommodation: 4-star hotel, Zhangye
Day 7: Departing Zhangye (B)
If time allows, visit Dafo Temple before heading to Zhangye Airport or station where the tour concludes.
