4 Days Jiayuguan and Dunhuang Highlights Tour

Tour Overview

Jiayuguan and Dunhuang are two important cities on the ancient Silk Route, and you will get a memorable adventure through history on this 4-day private tour. In Jiayuguan, be guided to explore the westernmost point of the Great Wall and Great Wall Museum.

Travel to Dunhuang to admire the Yulin Grottoes and the world-famous Mogao Caves, showing ancient Buddhist art. Then, experience the fun at the desert of Mingsha Mountain and enjoy the natural beauty at Crescent Spring. Last, end your short Silk Road tour at the amazing Yardang landforms and ancient sites such as Yumenguan Pass and Han Dynasty Great Wall.

Highlights of this tour

Explore the western gateway of the Great Wall – Jiayuguan Pass.
Admire Yulin Grottoes’ ancient Buddhist statues and intricate carvings.
Try local snacks at Shazhou Night Market.
Step into history at the Mogao Grottoes to appreciate ancient Buddhist murals and sculptures.
Slide down dunes, ride camels, and marvel at Crescent Spring.
Find how the wind and rain have carved desert landscapes in Yardang National Geopark.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Jiayuguan-Dunhuang

Travel Length: 4 Days and 3 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, families with kids

Departure: Any day you want

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Jiayuguan
Ascend the Grand Pass to Trace the History of Ancient Silk Road

In the morning, our driver and guide will wait for you at the airport terminal exit or train station exit by holding a welcome sign with your name on it. Then you will be driven to the hotel and have a short rest.

In the afternoon, begin your Silk Road tour in Jiayuguan at the famous Jiayuguan Pass, the very west starting point of the Chinese Great Wall. Here you will see the Great Wall constructed on the cliff. Next move to the Great Wall Museum where you will get some comprehensive knowledge of the Great Wall as a military defensive system in ancient China.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: in Jiayuguan

Jiayuguan Pass Silk Road — Jiayuguan Pass

Day 2 Jiayuguan to Dunhuang Tour
Appreciate Paintings Telling Buddhist Stories at Yulin Grottoes

In the morning, check out the hotel and transfer to Dunhuang. On the way, we will stop to visit Yulin Grottoes, the sister caves of Mogao Grottoes. From the existing murals, we could find Buddhist and Bodhisattva figures of various sizes and paintings telling Buddhist stories. The must-visit cave is Cave No.25 which was made in Golden Tang Dynasty.

Then continue driving to Dunhuang City and check in the hotel. In the evening, you could take a walk at Shazhou Night Market to try some local food on your own.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Dunhuang

Day 3 Dunhuang Highlights Tour
Admire the Exquisite Murals and Sculptures, Experience Desert Fun

After breakfast, your Dunhuang tour takes you to visit the Mogao Caves. It was first built in the 4th century AD and has undergone thousands of years of construction. There are currently 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and more than 2,400 colored sculptures. It is known as the “Oriental Louvre”.

Entering the Mogao Grottoes, you will be amazed by the exquisite murals and sculptures, which are rich in content and cover various aspects such as Buddhist stories, myths and legends, historical figures, and more.

In the afternoon, continue your adventure and visit to the Mingsha Mountain, a desert wonder. The sand here makes a sound when it is blown by the wind, hence its name. Crescent Spring is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain and has a shape resembling a crescent moon. The spring water is as clear as jade, enduring thousands of years of wind and sand without being exhausted. You can experience the fun of sand slide. Also, you can pay extra to ride a camel.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Dunhuang

Dunhuang Camel Ride — Camel Ride in Mingsha Mountain

Day 4 Departure from Dunhuang
Witness the Stunning Yardang Landform

Today’s first stop is Yardang National Geological Park, a magical landscape created by thousands of years of eolian erosion. You will see the unique desert view and various shaped landscapes, and also you can hear the interesting and attractive ancient local folktale.

Then we drive to visit Yumenguan Pass and the Han Dynasty Great Wall. Yumenguan Pass was set in the West Han Dynasty when building the Great Wall. The pass was named so because this pass used to be the only pass to transfer Jade produced in Turkestan to China (Jade is called YU in Chinese, and Yumen means Gate of Jade). The existing Han Dynasty Great Wall is built mainly with rammed earth and has been badly effected by eolian erosion. But we could still imagine the original look of that Great Wall.

After that, you will be escorted to Dunhuang train station or airport to depart Dunhuang. This is the end of your 4-day Jiayuguan and Dunhuang tour. Hope you had a enjoyable time with us!

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: N/A

Request a Custom Quote Today

The price varies based on the activity, number of people, date of trip, and selected hotel. Kindly get in touch with us for a precise cost according to your specifications.

What’s included?

3 nights’ accommodation in well-selected hotels;

Meals listed in the itinerary;

Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

Excellent local English-speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary;

Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary;

Second-class train tickets and economic-class flights mentioned in the itinerary;

1 bottle of mineral water per person per day;

China Travel Insurance.

What’s excluded?

Flight/train tickets to Jiayuguan / off Dunhuang;

Any optional activities inside the attractions;

Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

Single Room Supplement;

All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

What You’ll Receive at Chinasilkroadtours

At the heart of Chinasilkroadtours is the seamless service offered together by our 1-on-1 travel consultant, meticulous tour operators, expert local guides, and attentive local drivers. Our service is therefore made to be as unique as you are.

1-on-1 Travel Advisor

Your Silk Road experience starts with telling us your travel wishes and your one-on-one travel advisor designing the unique trip for you with their insider expertise.

Once we receive your request, one of our travel consultants will get back to you ASAP, typically within 24 hrs. Your travel consultant will then listen and learn about your travel style, your schedule, your budget, and your aspirations for your Silk Road travel plans. Based on this, she/he will provide you with a custom itinerary or a small group journey that suits your needs perfectly.

Plus, know your trip is taken care of by your 1-on-1 travel advisor with round-the-clock support should you need to alter your itinerary anytime.

Best Local Guides

Our locally-based guides narrate the Silk Road’s history and stories. They also provide with you insider tips, show you all the secret places, and introduce you to the locals.

Our best-selected guides are local people living in the cities along the Silk Road. During your trip, be it a private tour or a small group, they offer more than just things you can learn from the guidebooks, they try to give you a real insight into the Silk Route.

Whether you are traveling with kids or seniors, our guides are very patient and always pay close attention to every detail.

Local Drivers & Vehicles

All our Silk Road tours use well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles. Different types of vehicles, from cars to vans are selected depending on your group size and tour style. We also offer off-road vehicles for desert adventures.

Our experienced local drivers are familiar with the local road conditions of rough terrain, including desert highways and mountainous areas. They can easily navigate the roads, guaranteeing a comfortable and safe journey. Plus, they are well trained in a professional manner, being friendly and helpful.

Handpicked Hotels

Checking in and checking out the accommodations along the Silk Road every year, we hand-pick the best collection of accommodations.

The accommodations we choose include luxury, boutique, or comfortable hotels in major cities, comfortable or basic hotels in remote towns, and caravanserais and camping sites that offer a unique experience.

It’s your decision about where to stay that best suits your tastes and budget. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Silk Road Foods

We also hand-pick restaurants with a variety of local cuisines, from Uyghur cuisine to Shaanxi Cuisine, to enrich your Silk Road travel experience.

Savor authentic Northwest Chinese, Uyghur, and Central Asian cuisines with the signature dishes and snacks. From delicious mutton soups to a wide range of noodles and a taste of the local “bread” like Roujiamo and naan, enjoy an expansive menu featuring local flavors.

Please let us know if you have any dietary allergies or what foods (e.g. Western foods) you or your kids enjoy.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Our 10-day mid Oct Silk Road trip was magical. Lenna at China Silk Road Tours took us through 3 customized our itinerary. We witnessed breathtaking sights along the way, including a Lake in a desert, snow-capped mountains, unreal layer-cake hills, ancient Silk Road ruins, Buddhist grottoes, museums… We enjoy the good meals, nice hotels and comfortable transport with professcional English-speaking guides.
Traveler634605
December 2024
It was a really great Silk Road trip with varying sights and experiences. W love the beautiful alpine mountains..and enjoy the desert experience with camel riding and the full Monti. The
Food arranged was great again. We always like the travel experience, together with different regional cuisines.
Bigg Caesar
October 2024
In Thailand, I run a travel agency. When travelling to the Gansu Silk Road, always use this agency. I think Sophia is an excellent trip operator. quick to respond to messages and attentive to every detail. We are unable to plan quality travel without a competent tour operator. Sally is the best guide as well; she is incredibly knowledgable and pays close attention to every aspect. I’d want to give these two girls a big thank you.
Anothai L
October 2024
Silk Road Tours was able to deliver with both excellence and value—thank you for a wonderful trip! Sophia responded to all requests with excellent suggestions and follow-through. We are a couple of over 60 years old who are very experienced travellers. Our travel style is to find good local guides and/or tours that offer excellent guidance with good value. We were able to travel efficiently with both high speed trains and a comfortable and private car.
Travel745
September 2024
In September, Sophia organised a party of 11 of us to travel the Silk Road from Urumqi to Lanzhou. The vacation was fantastic; the hotel accommodations, the history of each area we visited, and the scenery were all thoughtfully prepared for us. Sophia, thank you!
BYTKWAN
September 2024