- 4.9/5 503 Latest reviews
- Destination: China
- Duration: 13 Days
- Tour Type: Private & Bespoke
- Tour Style: Historical
About This Trip
Most Silk Road itineraries cover the Xi’an end and stop. This 13-day private trip follows the route west for real, from the Terracotta Army through the Gansu corridor and the Mogao Grottoes, across the Taklamakan’s edge to Turpan, Urumqi and the old oasis city of Kashgar.
You walk the last fort of the Great Wall at Jiayuguan, ride a camel over the singing dunes of Dunhuang and explore the ruins at Jiaohe before finishing in Kashgar’s old town. It is a tailor-made trip with a private guide in each region, three flights, a high-speed train and several long drives, and it suits travelers who want history and desert landscape and can handle early starts and variable conditions.
Summary
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 2
Xi'an
Terracotta Army, Muslim Quarter
3 - 4
Jiayuguan
Flight, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Jiayuguan Pass, Overhanging Great Wall
5 - 7
Dunhuang
Weijin Tombs, Mogao Grottoes, Singing Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Spring
8 - 9
Turpan
Yulin Caves, train, Emin Minaret, Jiaohe Ruins, karez wells
10
Urumqi
Heavenly Lake, Grand Bazaar
11 - 12
Kashgar
Xinjiang Museum, flight, Id Kah Mosque, old town
13
Kashgar
Departure
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Xi'an
Your journey begins in the historic city of Xi’an, the ancient starting point of the Silk Road. Upon arriving at Xi’an airport, your guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel by private vehicle. Spend the rest of the day relaxing after your long flight or exploring the city at your leisure to get acquainted with your new surroundings.
- Xi’an
- Day 2: Terracotta Army and the Muslim Quarter
Drive about 40 minutes to the Terracotta Army and go early, before the tour groups arrive. Walk around the main pits, where thousands of life-size soldiers and horses stand in formation, and see the bronze chariots in the museum. Your guide explains how the figures were made and why the first emperor was buried with them. Return to the city for a rest at the hotel. In the evening, eat your way through the Muslim Quarter’s food stalls, with skewers, flatbread soups and sweet persimmon cakes. The day includes a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes.
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- Xi’an
- Day 3: Xi'an to Jiayuguan
Start at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, where the monk Xuanzang stored the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from India along the Silk Road. Visit the Hanyangling Mausoleum if the schedule allows, with its underground displays of tomb figures from more than 2,000 years ago. After lunch, transfer to the airport for the flight to Jiayuguan, about 2 hours. You arrive in the evening and check in at your hotel. Dinner is free, and your guide can suggest a local noodle place. Expect the evening to be quiet, since this is a small city at the end of the Great Wall.
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- Jiayuguan
- Day 4: Jiayuguan Pass and the Great Wall
Visit Jiayuguan Pass, the western end of the Ming-dynasty Great Wall and the last major fort before the open desert. Your guide explains how it guarded the route and why exiled officials once left through its gate. Walk the walls and gatehouses, then see the Overhanging Great Wall, a restored section that climbs a steep ridge. The Great Wall Museum and the First Tower give the background on the dynasty’s western defences. Bring a hat and sunscreen, since there’s little shade, and a windproof layer for the afternoon.
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- Jiayuguan
- Day 5: Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
Start with the Weijin Tombs, whose brick walls are painted with scenes of farming, hunting and daily life from about 1,700 years ago. Then take the road west to Dunhuang, about 4-5 hours through gravel desert and oasis towns, with stops for views and lunch. This is mostly a travel day, so bring snacks, water and something to read. You arrive in the late afternoon and check in. In the evening, walk the night market near the hotel, where you can try local lamb noodles and sweet apricot tea.
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- Dunhuang
- Day 6: Mogao Grottoes
Spend the morning at the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO site of hundreds of caves cut into a cliff and painted with Buddhist murals over about a thousand years. Visits are timed and limited, so we book the slot in advance. Your guide leads you into a selection of the open caves, and photography inside isn’t allowed. In the afternoon, visit the Dunhuang Museum or the research academy to see how the paintings are studied and conserved. Plan on a relaxed evening, since the caves need quiet attention and a lot of standing.
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- Chengdu
- Day 7: Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Moon Spring
Spend the day on the dunes at Mingsha Mountain, which are named for the low sound the sand sometimes makes. Ride a camel across the ridge, then climb on foot to the top for a view over the whole desert if you have the energy. Walk down to Crescent Moon Spring, a small oasis lake that has stayed in the dunes for centuries. Sandboarding and paragliding are available as optional extras. Wear closed shoes and bring a scarf for the wind, since sand gets everywhere.
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- Dunhuang
- Day 8: Dunhuang to Turpan
Visit the Yulin Caves, a smaller cave complex that is often called Mogao’s sister site and is usually quieter. After lunch, drive to Liuyuan station and take the high-speed train to Turpan, about 3-4 hours across the Gobi. Your guide helps with luggage and boarding. You arrive in the evening and check in at your hotel. Turpan sits below sea level and is one of the hottest places in China in summer, so your guide explains what to expect.
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- Turpan
- Day 9: Turpan Highlights
Begin at the Emin Minaret, a 44-meter brick tower in the Islamic style, with its patterned walls and a mosque beside it. Then walk through Jiaohe, the ruined capital of an ancient oasis kingdom, built on a plateau between two river valleys. Visit the karez, the underground water channels that irrigate the fields, and learn how the oasis survives in a desert. If your guide can arrange it, a visit to a local family home gives an introduction to daily life. We confirm the details with the hosts before you book.
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- Turpan
- Day 10: Turpan to Urumqi
Drive about 2.5 hours to Urumqi, the regional capital, with a stop at the Flaming Mountains if the schedule allows. Continue to Heavenly Lake, a high alpine lake in the Tianshan range, about 2 hours from the city. Walk the lakeshore and, if the weather is clear, take a short boat ride. Temperatures are much cooler than in the desert, so bring layers. In the evening, browse the Grand Bazaar for dried fruit, nuts and carpets.
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- Urumqi
- Day 11: Urumqi to Kashgar
Visit the Xinjiang Museum in the morning, with its collection of Silk Road finds and the famous Loulan mummy. Your guide explains how the region’s history connects East and West. Then transfer to the airport for the flight to Kashgar, about 2 hours. You arrive in the afternoon and check in. In the evening, walk the old streets near the hotel, where bakers and coppersmiths still work in open shopfronts.
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- Hong Kong
- Day 12: Id Kah Mosque & Abakh Khoja Tomb
Discover the fascinating history of the Id Kah Mosque with your guide, and admire the grandeur of Xinjiang’s largest mosque. Learn the stories behind the Abakh Khoja Tomb, the resting place of an Islamic saint, where 72 members of five generations of the same family are interred.
Later, explore Kashgar’s lively bazaars, each with its unique atmosphere and charm. End your day wandering through Kashgar Ancient Town, lined with traditional Uyghur-style architecture, and stroll along Ancient Art Street, where local artisans create carpets and embroidery, offering a glimpse into the artistic heritage of the Silk Road.
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- Kashgar
- Day 13: Kashgar – Departure
Enjoy some free time in the morning to relax or explore at your own pace before catching your flight to your next destination.
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