On this 8 days tour, you will explore 4 important cities along the 2,000-year-old Silk Road by train. You will visit top attractions such as Mogao Grottoes, Karez Well, Jiaohe Ruins, Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake in the company of informative guide. Don’t forget to have a camel ride in the endless desert which will bring you back to the glorious days with the jingle of camel bells ringing in your ears. Fabulous scenery and hospitable local people wait for you on the Silk Road. Just do the tour right now!
Dunhuang
Urumqi
Day 1 Dunhuang Arrival
Day 2 Dunhuang – Turpan by Train: Mogao Grottoes, Echoing-Sand Mountain, Crescent Lake
Day 3 Turpan: Astana Tombs, Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, Flaming Mountain, Uyger family
Day 4 Turpan – Urumqi by Train: Karez Well, Sugong Pagoda, Jiaohe Ruins
Day 5 Urumqi – Kashgar by Train: Xinjiang Museum
Day 6 Kashgar: Karakul Lake
Day 7 Kashgar: Sunday Market, Id Kah Mosque, Old Town, Abakh Khjoa Tomb, Handicraft Street
Day 8 Kashgar Departure
Our driver and guide will wait for you at the train station exit by holding a welcome sign with your name on it. Then you will be driven to the hotel and have a good rest. The rest of the day is free at your disposal. Accommodation: Dunhuang
Start today’s tour with Mogao Grottoes, one of the four most famous caves in China. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Echoing-Sand Mountain. When you slide down the slope, you can hear the roaring echo of sands, hence the name. If you have interest, an optional short Camel Ride will leave you a(an) unforgettable memory. Then we will reach the Crescent Lake, your eyes will be feasted on the crescent-shaped spring surrounded by the endless Gobi desert. At last transfer to train station for overnight soft sleeper train (K4931 19:18/07:35+1) to Turpan. Accommodation: on the train
Met by local guide and driver at the train station and transfer to hotel to check in. Firstly drive to visit Astana Tombs which is called “Underground Museum of Turpan”. Then pay a visit to Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Cave, a series of caves with thousands of Buddhism murals that show many Buddhism figures, stories, and the social life about 1,500 years ago in Ancient Gaochang Kingdom. Then continue to visit Flaming Mountain, the hottest place in summer of China. Concludes today’s tour with visit to a local Uyger family in Vineyard. Accommodation: Turpan
Pick up from hotel and go to visit the Karez Well— an amazing irrigation system which made Turpan a rich oasis. Then we will go to visit Sugong Pagoda, the largest existed ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang. Afterward drive to the Jiaohe Ruins, one of the most important towns along the ancient Silk Road and the largest, oldest and best-preserved earth construction in the world. When finishing tour in Turpan, you will take the bullet train D8807 (19:12/20:30) or similar train to Urumqi. Arriving in Urumqi meet your local driver and check in the hotel. Accommodation: Urumqi
It’s market day in Lausanne! Enjoy browsing and packing a picnic lunch for our 11 a.m. boat cruise on Lake Geneva. A few miles down-shore we’ll dock at Château de Chillon, where we’ll have a guided tour of this delightfully medieval castle on the water. On our way back we’ll take time to peek into the vineyards surrounding Lutry before returning to Lausanne. Boat: 2 hrs. Bus: 1 hr. Walking: moderate.
Today we will d a full day to Karakuri Lake which has an altitude of 3600 meters and has the snow cap all year around. At the same time, you will appreciate the landscape of Pamirs. Accommodation: Kashgar
In the morning, we will pay a visit to Sunday Market, also known as Sunday Bazaar, the largest international trade market on the northwest boundary line of China. Next, continue to visit the Id Kah Mosque, a typical Islamic architecture like domes, minarets and arches, as well as pious prayers. Then head to Old Town, where bring you back to the ancient Kashgar, with narrow alleys and traditional houses built with earth or brick. Afterwards we will visit the Abakh Khoja Tomb, an ancient Islamic building complex and a cemetery where five generations of famous Islamic masters were buried. At last we will visit Handicraft Street where we will have chance to see lots of local hand made works. Back to hotel. Accommodation: Kashgar
Pick up from hotel and transfer to airport for your flight departing Kashgar.