14 Days China Silk Road Tour with Tibet
Tour Overview
This 14-day Silk Road tour with Tibet takes you on an unforgettable journey through ancient cultural hubs and the stunning Tibetan Plateau. Begin in Urumqi, exploring the Silk Road’s rich history, before heading to Dunhuang and Xian, home to the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors.
The private adventure continues with a visit to Lhasa, where you’ll marvel at the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, and enjoy Tibet’s breathtaking landscapes, including Yamdrok Lake and Everest Base Camp.unhuang by flight.
Highlights of this tour
- Marvel at the Jiaohe Ruins, an ancient city built on rammed earth.
- Step into history at the Mogao Grottoes to appreciate ancient Buddhist murals and sculptures.
- Explore the life-sized clay soldiers of the Terracotta Army.
- Walk or cycle along China’s largest and best-preserved city wall in Xian.
- Ascend the heart of Tibet – Potala Palace to explore the White and Red Palaces.
- Stroll along the beautiful Yamdrok Lake and enjoy a lakeside farm lunch.
- Capture the glorious sunrise over the Mount Everest.
- Witness wonderful debate at Sera Monastery.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Urumqi-Turpan-Dunhuang-Xian-Lhasa-Shigatse-Lhasa
Travel Length: 14 Days and 13 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture lovers, nature lovers, adventurers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-3 Arrival, Turpan Tour, High-speed Train to Dunhuang
Upon arrival in Urumqi, drive to Turpan to spend 2 days exploring the highlights including Jiaohe Ruins, Sugong Pagoda, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Flaming Hill, and Karez Well. After that, take a high-speed train to Dunhuang.
Day 4-5 Dunhuang Tour, Flight to Xian
In Dunhuang, explore the Mogao Grottoes, a famous site along the Silk Road, and experience desert fun in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. Then fly to Xian.
Day 6-7 Xian Tour, Fly to Lhasa
Follow your tour guide to explore the essence of Xian such as Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Ancient City Wall, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Take a flight to Lhasa.
Day 8-10 Lhasa Tour
Two exploration of Lhasa landmarks – Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery. Also, enjoy the natural views of Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier.
Day 11-12 EBC Tour
Enjoy the magnificent scenery of Mount Everest from viewpoints, stay overnight in EBC, and catch the amazing sunrise. Visit the world’s highest temple – Rongbuk Temple, before driving back to Shigatse.
Day 13-14 Shigatse Tour, Back to Lhasa, Departure
Visit an important Gelug Tibetan Buddhist temple Tashilhunpo Monastery, and enjoy the scenery of the the Yarlung Zangbo River along the way back to Lhasa.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Urumqi
Welcome to this 14-day China Silk Road tour package from Urumqi! Upon arrival, a local private driver will wait for you at the airport terminal exit by holding a welcome sign with your name. Then you will be driven to the well-selected hotel and have a good rest. The rest of the day is free at your disposal.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 2 Urumqi to Turpan Tour
Walk into an Old & Well-preserved Earth Construction
Meet your guide at the hotel lobby and then be transferred to Turpan to check in at the local hotel. After a short rest, start the Turpan tour with a visit to 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.
Then be guided to admire Sugong Pagoda, the largest existing ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang. The next stop will be Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, one of the famous Buddhist Caves in Xinjiang. Tourists will see colorful murals in some caves. At last, go to visit the hottest place along the Silk Road in China – the Flaming Hill. The temperature in summer could reach 49 ℃ (120 ℉). After all visits, drive you back to your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 3 Turpan to Dunhuang by High-speed Train
Understand the Amazing Underground Irrigation System
Today’s Silk Road trip takes you to visit the last attraction in Turpan – the Karez Well – an amazing underground irrigation system that made Turpan a rich oasis. Afterwards, you will escorted to the train station to catch the high-speed train to Dunhuang. Upon arrival in Dunhuang, our local driver will meet you at the train station and transfer you to the hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 4 Dunhuang Highlights Tour
Appreciate the Colored sculptures and Murals
After breakfast, begin your Dunhuang Silk Road tour at the famous 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.
After that, go to visit the Dunhuang Museum where the exhibited historical relics will tell tourists more details things about the ancient Silk Road.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 5 Dunhuang to Xian Tour by Flight
Experience the Desert Fun with Optional Activities
In the morning, continue your Dunhuang adventure 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 skating. Also, you can pay extra to ride a camel.
Then transfer you to the airport to catch the flight to Xian. Our driver in Xian will meet you upon your arrival and escort you to the hotel downtown.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 6 Xian Essence Tour
Marvel at the Life-sized Clay Warriors & City Landmarks
After breakfast, your private tour guide leads you to visit the world’s eighth wonder, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. You will spend 2-2.5 hours to admire the clay soldiers and chariots in 3 pits.
In the afternoon, drive back to downtown Xian to visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was built 1,300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty to keep the Buddhist Sutra brought back to China from ancient India by Master Xuanzang. Concludes today’s Xian tour with the Ancient City Wall, the largest and best-preserved city wall in China. It stretches about 14km long and divides Xian into Inner City and Outer City. Ride a bike on the wall is available and optional.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 7 Xian to Lhasa Tour by Fight
Pick you up from the hotel according to flight time and transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival in Lhasa, our local driver will meet you at the terminal exit by holding a board with your name and then escort you to the hotel. The rest day is free for you to accommodate the natural environment of Tibet.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhasa
Day 8 Lhasa Temple Tour
Glimpse the Unique Debate among Monks at Sera Monastery
Your China trip to Tibet start in Drepung Monastery, one of the six major monasteries of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The temple was built in 1416 AD, with a grand scale, built along the mountain, and looks like a huge pile of rice from afar. You can see a large number of ancient Tibetan literature and scriptures, exquisite Buddhist statues, murals and other artworks in the temple.
Afterward, head to Sera Monastery. This temple, along with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Temple, is known as one of the three major temples in Lhasa. Its unique debate is a highlight, and you will witness the daily life of those monks. In the evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner.
Meal: Breakfast + Dinner
Accommodation: in Lhasa
Day 9 Lhasa City Tour
Explore the Highlights of Lhasa from Palace to Street
In the morning, we will visit the Potala Palace, the most notable attraction in Tibet. The palace was originally built in the Tang Dynasty when the master of Tibet married daughter of the Emperor Taizong. It is said there are a total of 999 rooms in the palace and from the 17th century on, Potala Palace was used as a winter palace for Tibetan masters.
Next, join local Tibetan folk activities in Longwangtan Park at the foot of the Potala Palace.
Then, continue your Lhasa tour to the Jokhang Temple, a sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism located in the center of the old city area of Lhasa with a history of over 1,300 years. There is a 12-year-old statue of Shakyamuni Buddha enshrined in the temple. The temple combines the architectural styles of Tibet, Tang, Nepal, and India. The Barkhor Street, centered around the Jokhang Temple, is a famous pilgrimage route and commercial center in Lhasa, and is also worth a visit.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhasa
Day 10 Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake Tour
Enjoy Beautiful Nature Landscapes of Lake and Glacier
After breakfast, we will drive for about 7-8 hours to Shigatse. Halfway through, we will stop to visit Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier.
Yamdrok Lake, which means “Jade Lake” in Tibetan, is one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet. The lake is 4,441 meters above sea level and 130 kilometers long from east to west. With deep blue and clear water, Yamdrok Lake is like a pure gemstone set on the plateau. Take a walk along the lake, visit a local family by the lake, and enjoy a farm lunch.
After that, continue to Karola Glacier, one of the three continental glaciers in Tibet. It is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, and if you happen to visit it on a sunny day, you can admire its magnificent true appearance. After the visit, continue driving to Shigatse. Stay overnight in Shigatse.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Shigatse
Day 11 Shigatse to Everest Base Camp Tour Via Tingri
See the Magnificent Scenery of Mount Everest
Continue your adventure in Tibet today. Along the way, you will enjoy the magnificent scenery of Mount Everest. After driving for about 4 hours, you will arrive in Dingri County. The tour guide will take you up to Tingri Viewpoint to overlook the scenery of Mount Everest. Afterwards, enter Gwaura Pass to enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas.
Continue your journey to Everest Base Camp. You will enjoy a beautiful sunset view reflected on the snow capped mountains.
Notes:
- If you are traveling between October and April, you will be arranged to stay at the temple’s guesthouse. The tent will close due to the cold weather.
- A tent usually accommodates 8-12 people, with limited facilities but clean.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: EBC Tent or Guesthouse
Day 12 EBC Back to Shigatse
Visit the World’s Highest Temple, Rongbuk
If the weather is good, wake up early to catch the glorious sunrise over Mount Everest. After breakfast, be guided to visit the world’s highest temple, Rongbuk Temple, at an altitude of about 5,154 meters. This temple is very unique – monks and nuns live together here. Rongbuk Temple is divided into old and new temples and the new temple is the best point for taking pictures of the Mount Everest.
After the visit to the temple, transfer you to Xilin Viewpoint to appreciate the eastern slope of Mount Everest and Lhotse Mountain. On the way back to Shigatse, pass by Sakya Town, where your guide will explain the culture and highlights of the town. After arriving in Shigatse, enjoy a traditional Tibetan dinner and experience folk songs and dances.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Shigatse
Day 13 Shigatse to Lhasa Tour
Visit the Spiritual Heart of Shigatse – Tashilhunpo
After breakfast, follow your guide to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, an important Gelug Tibetan Buddhist temple founded in 1447. The temple covers an area of 150,000 square meters and has 3600 houses, integrating traditional Tibetan architecture and Buddhist characteristics. Appreciate the magnificent architecture and feel the profound religious atmosphere.
After the visit, drive back to Lhasa for 5 hours. Enjoy the scenery of the the Yarlung Zangbo River along the way. We may arrange for guests to return to Lhasa by train depending on the situation.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Lhasa
Day 14 Departure from Lhasa
Enjoy your free and easy time until the pick-up time for departure. Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to Lhasa airport to see you off.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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