Silk Road Adventure Tour From Xi'an

• Arrive in Xi'an and transfer to the hotel

• 4+ stars Hotel

• None

Welcome to Xi'an, which is known as the ancient capital of the 13th dynasty. It is the starting point of the Silk Road mentioned in Italian explorer Mark Polo's travelogues.

Our professional tour guide will meet you at the airport arrival and transfer you to your hotel for rest.

The rest of the day is free time. If you want to wander around, you can find a tour guide and your guide will give you some good suggestions.

Recommend for Free Time

1. Enjoy a wonderful Tang Dynasty Palace Dance Performance. This performance is usually held from 8:00pm to 9:00pm.
2. You can also visit the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in Xi'an, which are beautifully illuminated at night.

• The Terracotta Warriors and Horses--Da Ci'en Temple--Big Wild Goose Pagoda--Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City

• 4+ star hotels

• Breakfast&Lunch

We will drive about 40 kilometers to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. These Terracotta Warriors were built by China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, to protect him in the afterlife. Over 8,000 life-size terracotta figurines, horses and chariots were buried underground for over 2,000 years until they were discovered in 1974. Standing in front of these spectacular statues, you will be awed by the ambition of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and the skill of ancient Chinese artisans.

Before visiting the Terracotta Warriors Museum, you will also have the opportunity to experience traditional culture by making a miniature Terracotta Warrior under the guidance of a local potter.

For lunch, you will enjoy Xi'an's specialty, water basin mutton(Shuipen Yangrou).

After lunch, we will return to downtown Xi'an and visit the Da Ci'en Temple. This temple was a famous translation site of Buddhist scriptures during the Tang Dynasty. The temple has a 64.5-meter-high pagoda, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built by the Buddhist master Xuanzang to preserve the scriptures he brought back from India. 

If you are interested, you can climb the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (extra charge applies) for a great view of the city. 

As night falls, we will take you to Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City. It is a unique Tang Dynasty cultural theme imitation complex in China, where you can enjoy rich singing and dancing performances and charming night scenery.

• Shaanxi History Museum--Small Wild Goose Pagoda--Ancient City Wall--High speed train to Chengdu

• 4+ star hotels

• Breakfast

In the morning we will visit Shaanxi History Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda . Regarded as "the pearl of the ancient city and treasury of the Huaxia civilization", the Shaanxi History Museum is the art pavilion to curate and exhibit Shaanxi's historical culture and ancient Chinese civilization.

Then we will go to the Ancient City Wall, which is the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China. You will pass through the Hanguang Gate, as if traveling back to the prosperous scenes on the ancient Silk Road. On the city wall, you can rent a bicycle (extra charge applies) for a leisurely ride and enjoy the panoramic view of modern Xi'an.

Then we will also take you to visit the bustling Muslim Quarter to taste the authentic local snacks and experience the different cultural atmosphere.

• Xi'an--Flight to Dunhuang--Mingsha Mountain--Crescent Lake

• 4+ stars Hotel

• Breakfast&Lunch

After breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the airport in Xi'an for your flight to Dunhuang (about 2.5 hours). Upon arrival at Dunhuang airport, your local guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, you will head to Mingsha Mountain. The unique feature of the Mingsha Mountain is the singing sound produced by the shifting sand dunes, which can be heard when the wind blows. Visitors can enjoy activities such as sandboarding, camel riding, and exploring the stunning desert landscape. Camel riding across the desert is a very popular activity.

The Crescent Lake is named after the shape of a crescent moon. For thousands of years its shape remains exactly the same,a clean and green oasis on the deadly land,right inside the threatening sand dunes but never filled up by the sand, and a dish of the old fish from the lake will keep one always young.

Optional Activities

If you wish, you can choose to do desert camping for one night at the Mingsha Mountain. During the camping, there are abundant activities and programs for you to have fun, such as sandboarding, desert motorcycle, campfire and so on.

• Mogao Caves--Flight to Turpan

• 4+ stars Hotel

• Breakfast&Lunch

After breakfast, you will go to visit the Mogao Caves. Known as the "Louvre of the East",  it's famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art.

On the cliff face over 1 600m long from south to north 492 caves survived the time,various in size and clustered higher or lower all over the cliff.

You will visit the grottoes (usually 7 to 8 grottoes during April to November and 12 grottoes during December to March) and the guide will give you a detailed introduction. After that, you are free to choose or follow another guide if you want to visit more other caves. There are also 10 special grottoes (extra charge) for you to visit extensively.

In the afternoon, you will be transfered to the airport for your flight to Turpan. You will be picked up by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. 

The rest of the day is free for you to organize.

• the Flaming Mountain--Tuyu Valley--the Village of Mazar--the Karez Well--The Ruins of Jiaohe

• 4+ stars Hotel

• Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the Flaming Mountain. It is a fiery peak that the monk Xuanzang must pass through in the classic Chinese novel《Journey to the West》.The mountain is barren and extremely hot in summer.

Then you will reach Tuyu, a migratory valley with many historical sites. The village of Mazar, the oldest surviving Uyghur village with more than 2,600 years of history. It used to be a Buddhist center as well before Islam. There are many Buddhist grottoes in the village, but the statues and murals have not survived.

Next, you will explore the splendid project of the Karez Well, which is a special type of irrigation system. The tunnel system provides water for local people to drink as well as to water their crops.

Your last stop is the famous ruins of Jiaoha, an ancient city located along the ancient Silk Road and now is known as the best-preserved earthen structure in the world.You can also walk to the central platform for a magnificent view of the entire park. As night falls, you will enjoy a breathtaking sunset over the ruins.

After visiting Turpan, you will take a 3.5-hour drive to Urumqi.

Experience Xinjiang Food

Xinjiang's cuisine is rich and varied, and every kind of food is delicious. Rich and creamy, aromatic roasted meat, sweet and delicious fruits will satisfy your taste buds and make you unforgettable, so ask your guide to take you to try different cuisines.

• Xinjiang Museum--Tianchi lake

• 4+ stars Hotel

• Breakfast

After breakfast, you will visit the Xinjiang Museum. This is China's most important museum on the theme of the Ancient Silk Road. The most unique collection here is the mummies. It has a collection of 10 almost intact mummies from more than 4,000 years ago, mostly found in the remains of the ancient kingdom of Loulan.

After leaving the museum, you will explore Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (or Tianchi lake in Chinese) In order to protect the natural environment, visitors' cars are only allowed up to the park entrance. Next you will take a park bus to the depths of the scenic area. It is said that the mythical event of the Peach Banquet organized by the Xiwanmu was held here. Surrounded by hills, green grass and flowers, it is known as the Pearl of Tianshan.

Recommended Activities

There are generally three ways to explore Tianchi. You can take a walk around the lake, take a boat tour, or ride the cable car to the top of the mountain. (Boat trips and cable cars will be charged extra.

If time permits, you can even enjoy all of these experiences.

• Urumqi--Flight to Kashgar--Apakhoga Tomb--The Etigar Mosque--Old Town of Kashgar

• 4+ stars Hotel

• Breakfast

Early this morning, you will take a flight (approximately 2 hours) to Kashgar, which was once a center of regional trade and cultural exchange along the ancient Silk Road for more than 2,000 years. 

After rest in the hotel, you will first visit the Apakhoga Tomb, which is not a simple mausoleum but an elaborate complex that is the best place in the region to appreciate the extraordinary aesthetics and Islamic architectural skills of the Uyghur people. It also offers a rare opportunity to see and learn about the funeral customs of Uyghur families.

Next, you will visit Kashgar's landmark--The Etigar Mosque, which is considered a holy place for Muslims. Every day, thousands of Muslims worship here. Historically, the mosque used to be a school where Islamic culture and history were taught. Many scholars and respected clerics graduated from it.

A few minutes' walk from the mosque is the exotic Old Town of Kashgar, where you can experience the authentic Uyghur way of life. The ancient city of Kashgar has a history of more than 2,100 years and is known as the "soul of Kashgar". This is a great place to buy some interesting souvenirs for your family and friends.

This is the end of today's activities, next you can have free time or go back to your hotel in Kashgar for a good rest.

• Baisha Lake (White Sand Lake)- Karakul Lake

• 4+ stars Hotel

• Breakfast

Today, you will visit the famous Karakul Lake, which is about 190 kilometers away from the center of Kashgar, about 3 hours by car. Although it is a long drive, the continuous landscape of the Pamir Plateau is breathtaking, with harsh and lonely snow-capped mountains, inhabited barren lands, vast grasslands, pristine glaciers, peaceful villages.

You will stop at the White Sand Lake (Baisha Lake), a serene lake beneath the towering snow-capped mountains of the Pamir Plateau. 

You will arrive at Karakul Lake around noon. At an altitude of 3,600 meters, Karakul Lake is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Central Asia. 

It is a mix of endless grasslands, deserts and valleys. Some Kyrgyz nomads keep yurts by the lake and graze herds of sheep, horses and camels. Here you can spend some time strolling around the lake, enjoying the scenery and taking photos until it's time to return.

Finally, drive back to Kashgar have a good rest.

• Kashgar Bazaar--livestock Bazaar--Kashgar Departure

• 4+ stars Hotel

• Breakfast

In the morning you will come to Kashgar Bazaar. It is a grand, busy, crowded, awe-inspiring, chaotic, fun and colorful place. In Uyghur, bazaar means a grand marketplace. The Kashgar Bazaar has been the largest and busiest trading hub in West and Central Asia since the rise and prosperity of the Silk Road. You'll find everything from Muslim mills and authentic Iranian saffron to Pashmina wool and fine carpets, as well as fresh fruit, spices, cradles and even camels.

If you're lucky enough to visit Kashgar on a Sunday, don't miss the livestock market experience, which takes place every Sunday. At midday, Uyghur farmers and herders drive herds of sheep, camels, horses, cows and donkeys through the gates of the market to trade. The scene is dusty, smelly and crowded, but it offers a unique and exotic experience for most people.

After the tour, we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to your next destination. Or if you plan to leave China via the land border, we will arrange a vehicle to take you straight to the border.