7-Day Private Silk Road Trip Urumqi to Dunhuang and Zhangye
Overview
Available languages
1 week
Mobile ticket
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 in modern days. Attractions you will visit during this tour includes Jiayuguan Fort, Mogao Grottos, Turpan Oasis, Heavenly Lake located on the northern side of Tianshan Mountains, and Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Mountain.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
What To Expect
Arriving Urumqi
Accommodations
5-Star hotel, Urumqi
Silkroadtrips
tour operator
Upon arrival at Urumqi Airport or Urumqi Rail Station, your guide will send you to the hotel for check-in.
Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi
Accommodations
5-Star hotel, Urumqi
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Xinjiang Regional Museum (Qu Bowuguan)
Visit 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".(close on Mondays)
Tianshan Tianchi Lake
After lunch, take a one hour ride to Heavenly Lake, 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.
Urumqi - Turpan
Accommodations
5-Star hotel, Turpan
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
Karez System
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.
Ancient City of Gaochang (Kharakhoja)
Then you will head to explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, which used to be a huge city in the history.
Then you will visit Bezklik Grottos, a pretty place with amazing frescos.
Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto)
Later you will move to 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.
Turpan - Liuyuan (via bullet train) - Dunhuang
Accommodations
5-Star hotel, Dunhuang
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
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!
Dunhuang - Jiayuguan by vehicle
Accommodations
5-Star hotel, Jiayuguan
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Mogao Caves
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.
Jiayuguan - Zhangye by vehicle
Accommodations
5-Star hotel, Zhangye
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Jiayuguan Fortress
Visit Jiayuguan Fort that is called The First Pass Under Heaven, the western end of the Great Wall for Ming Dynasty.
Zhangye Danxia Geopark
Then you will catch 2-hour car ride to Zhangye Rainbow Danxia, which is very colorful clay mountain.
Departing from Zhangye, tour ends.
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Zhangye
If time allows, visit Dafo Temple before heading to Zhangye Airport or station where the tour concludes.
Options
Tour Price
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Local guide
Entrance fees
Lunch
Accommodation as per itinerary
Bullet train from Turpan to Liuyuan (Dunhuang)
Transport by private vehicle
Alcoholic drinks (available for purchase)
Gratuities
Pickup points
Luxemon Xinjiang Yindu Hotel
No.179 Xihong West Road, Shayibake District, Urumqi China
Sheraton Urumqi Hotel
No.669 Youhao North Road, Sayibake District, Urumqi China
Mirage Hotel
No.305 Xinhua North Road, Tianshan District, Urumqi China
Urumqi Airport
Urumqi China
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.
Reviews
2 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
8 day private Silk Road Tour in Xinjiang and Gansu provinces of China
awA3018GL,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We worked with Ben from the start, as we tweaked the itinerary and added one extra day in Dunhuang. Ben is excellent to work with! He always responds promptly . During the trip, he set up a group chat, with our group and the tour guides and monitored our arrivals/departures and ensured we were picked up by drivers! We visisted Xijiang and Gansu provinces . Overall the hotels were good, the vans were well maintained and the drivers were good. We had two guides, one in Xijiang and one in Gansu. Our tour guide in Gansu was excellent, professional , knowledgeable and friendly. Overall a fun family trip, with beautful sites and lots of history!
A very well organized trip
alicehL8612VQ,Oct 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Silk Road (Ben) customized my itinerary for Silk Road and Yunnan. He was extremely patient, always quickly addressed any questions I had and make changes to itinerary if needed. Everything was well organized. The tour guides & drivers were very nice and professional and hotels were located in convenient areas.
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