Silk Road Urumqi to Jiayuguan 7D

This 7-day classic private tour takes you to explore Chinese section of ancient Silk Road northern route from Urumqi to Dunhuang. You will travel the path of thousands of merchants and camel caravans and witness its changes in modern days. Attractions you will visit during this tour include Mogao Grottos, Turpan Oasis, Loulan Mummies, and Heavenly Lake located on the northern side of Tianshan Mountains.

Itinerary
Day 1: Arriving Urumqi
Upon arrival at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport or Urumqi Rail Station, your guide will pick you up at arrival lobby and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. You may spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the streets of Urumqi.
Accommodation: Urumqi 3-star Jinggu Hotel or similar

Day 2: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi (B)
Your first stop of the day is Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited. Among which, you will find the spectacular one standing out from the rest named "Beauty of Loulan," who was buried 4,000 years ago near the town of Loulan in Taklimakan Desert. "Beauty of Loulan" was remarkably preserved in an open coffin under hot desert sands of the Taklamakan when she was excavated in 1980. After the museum, you will break for lunch and then take a one hour ride to Heavenly Lake, which is located on the north side of the Bodga Shan range of the Tianshan Mountains to enjoy fantastic mountain views and serene lake scenery. Later, you will return to Urumqi and stroll through the wonderful Erdaoqiao Bazaar before driving back your hotel.
Accommodation: Urumqi 3-star Jinggu Hotel or similar 

Day 3: Urumqi - Turpan (B, L)
After breakfast, you will take a 3 hours ride to Turpan, the centre of a fertile oasis and an important trade center along the Silk Road that was once adjacent to the kingdoms of Kroran and Yanqi. You will visit Emin Minaret which is the symbol of Turpan before sampling an authentic local lunch at a Uyghur home under the grape vine in open air. Later in the afternoon, you will explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs before returning to your hotel.
Accommodation: Turpan 3-star Turpan Hotel or similar

Day 4. Turpan - Liuyuan (via bullet train) - Dunhuang (B)
Today we will explore ruin of Ancient City of Jiaohe that was once the capital of Anterior Jushi kingdom during 108 B.C. to 450 A.D. but abandoned in the 15th century. With helps irrigating the oasis, Jiaohe was an important site along the Silk Road trade route leading west adjacent to Korla and Karasahr kingdoms. Afterwards, you will catch a bullet train to Liuyuan arriving in approximately 4 hours and be transferred to Dunhuang hotel in about two hours. Be sure to explore the night market nearby the hotel in the evening!
Accommodation: Dunhuang 3-star Hantang Hotel or similar

Day 5: Dunhuang (B)
You will visit the highlight of Silk Road today, Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas), where you will be impressed by the fresco and statues in the caves. These caves are examples of rock-cut architecture of soft gravel conglomerate not suitable for either sculpture or elaborate architectural details. In the afternoon, enjoy a fun hike on the Singing Sand Dunes to visit the Crescent Spring.
Accommodation: Dunhuang 3-star Hantang Hotel or similar

Day 6: Dunhuang/Jiayuguan (B) Train
Take a morning train from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan. Upon arrival, your guide will take you to visit Jiayuguan Fort, Overhanging Great Wall.
Accommodation: Jiayuguan 3-star Starway Hotel or similar

Day 7: Departing Jiayuguan (B)
If time permits, you could visit Wei Jin Ancients Tombs before heading to Jiayuguan Airport where this 7 days trip concludes.