Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below
Overview
Explore the highlights of the Silk Road during a 5-night tour one-way from Urumqui to Dunhuang. Travel by train and private vehicle to visit the Gobi desert, Mogao Grottoes, ancient ruins in Turpan, Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), and Crescent Spring and the Singing Sand Dunes. Experience local culture during lunch at a Uighur home and a stop at the night market in Dunhuang. Includes five nights of 5-star accommodation, high-speed train ticket, entrance fees, private guide and vehicle, breakfasts, and one lunch.
What's included
5 nights accommodation (5-star hotel)
Lunch
Breakfast
One-way high-speed train from Turpan to Liuyuan (second class)
English speaking guide service with private transfers
Gratuities
What to expect
Day 1: Urumqi
Urumqi
1h
Your guide picks you up when you arrive at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (URC), then transfers you to your hotel for check-in. Have the rest of the day free to relax on your own.
Day 2: Urumqi – Heavenly Lake – Turpan
Tianshan Tianchi Lake
3h · Admission ticket included
After breakfast, drive to Heavenly Lake (Tianshan), a gorgeous alpine lake situated 6,257 feet (1,907 meters) above sea level.
Turpan Bazaar
2h
In the afternoon, drop down to Turpan, located at 505 feet (154 meters) below sea level, known to be the lowest, driest, and hottest place in China. The dry climate has preserved the region’s ancient sites remarkably well. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the local bazaar.
Day 3: Turpan
Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto)
2h · Admission ticket included
Located at the junction of the east and the west of China, Turpan is a marvelous city combining Western and Eastern religions and culture entirely. After breakfast, visit the Jiaohe Ruins. It is a natural fortress located atop a cliff, and a Chinese archaeological site found in the Yarnaz Valley. It is the largest, oldest and best preserved ancient capital city relics in the world. In 2014, the Jiaohe Ruins became part of the Silk Road UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta)
1h · Admission ticket included
Later, pay a visit to the Emin Minaret, a tower stands by the Uyghur mosque. With a height of 44 m, it is the tallest minaret in China.
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
2h · Admission ticket included
Then, we will visit The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are a collection of retreats once inhabited by Buddhist monks dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) to the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert of Xinjiang Province. These caves are found high on the cliffs of the west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountains.
Karez System
2h · Admission ticket included
Turpan praised as the 'Hometown of Grapes'. Later in the afternoon, we will visit Grape Valley and Karez Waterways, the famous underground irrigation system
Day 4: Turpan – Liuyuan (by high-speed train) – Dunhuang
Dunhuang
2h
Ride the high-speed train from Turpan to Liuyuan, which takes about four hours, then continue by private vehicle from Liuyuan to Dunhuang for another two hours. In Dunhuang, have time to check out the night market, which offers good shopping and local snacks.
Day 5: Dunhuang
Mogao Caves
4h · Admission ticket included
We will visit Mogao Caves in the morning; the Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China.
Crescent Moon Pool
2h · Admission ticket included
This afternoon we will visit Ming-Sha Dunes and Crescent Lake. Ming-Sha Dunes is 5 km far away from the city, where you have a chance to take a camel ride in the desert and enjoy the beautiful desert and oasis scenery. The spring has thousands years history in Dunhaung, it has become hot attraction since Han dynasty , 2000 years ago. If you like you may climb the sand dunes and take a sand sliding in the dunes.
Day 6: Dunhuang Departure
Dunhuang
2h
Your tour ends in Dunhuang with transport to the Dunhuang airport or Liuyuan railway station, or your next hotel, depending on your schedule.
Meeting and pickup
Pickup details
This is an layover tour. The arrival and departure transfers can be moved to any day as you like.
Additional information
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum age is 16 years
Discount price is available for group size of 2, 4 or more
Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
Cancellation policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
