10 Days China Silk Road Tour of Xian and Xinjiang
Tour Overview
This 10-day private tour takes you through China’s ancient Silk Road, exploring the rich history and beautiful landscapes of Xian and Xinjiang. Begin in Xian, home to the Terracotta Warriors and Ancient City Wall.
Fly to Urumqi to discover the natural beauty of Heavenly Lake, followed by a visit to Kashgar, with its lively livestock market and scenic Karakuli Lake. Continue to Turpan’s ancient ruins, before heading to Dunhuang to marvel at the Mogao Caves and experience desert fun at the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring. A journey through time and culture awaits!
Highlights of this tour
- Witness the life-sized Terracotta soldiers.
- Explore this iconic Buddhist structure – Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
- Visit Xi’an Museum to learn about the history of the ancient capital.
- Enjoy an optional cruise tour on the Heavenly Lake.
- At Karakuri Lake, shoot the snow-covered mountains and icebergs.
- Admire the largest mosque in China, the Id Kah Mosque.
- See livestock and local goods at the bustling Sunday Bazaar.
- Explore the world’s largest earthen city – Jiaohe Ruins.
- Admire the ancient priceless murals and Buddhist artifacts at Mogao Caves.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Xian-Urumqi-Kashgar-Turpan-Dunhuang
Travel Length: 10 Days and 9 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, nature lovers, adventurers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-3 Arrival & Xian Tour, Flight to Urumqi
Two full-day exploration of the most popular attractions in Xian such as Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Ancient City Wall, Xian Museum, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Then take a flight to Urumqi.
Day 4-6 Urumqi Tour, Flight to Kashgar and Back
Enjoy a Urumqi side tour to Heavenly Lake with the optional boat trip. Then fly to Kashgar for your free time in Kashgar Old Town. Enjoy a guided Kashgar tour of Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Khoja Tomb, and Livestock Market.
Day 7-8 Turpan Tour. High-speed Train to Dunhuang
Spend 2 days discovering the highlights of Turpan including Jiaohe Ruins, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Sugong Pagoda, and Karez Well. After the visits, take a high-speed train to Dunhuang.
Day 9-10 Dunhuang Tour, Departure
In Dunhuang, explore the Mogao Grottoes, a famous site along the Silk Road, and experience desert fun in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Xian
Welcome to Xi’an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, for a 10-day private Silk Road trip! Upon your arrival, a local driver will greet you at the airport or train station by holding a board with your name. Then, transfer you to check into the hotel and enjoy your free time.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 2 Xian Highlights Tour
Marvel at the Life-sized Clay Warriors & City Landmarks
Your private Xian tour guide will pick you up from the hotel lobby in the morning. Then after a short visit to Terracotta Figures Factory which focuses on reproduction of Terracotta figures, you will be directly transferred to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level of sculpture, which is the most significant discovery of the 20th century. The splendid scene and format will leave you with an impressive memory.
After lunch, continue visiting the Xian Ancient City Wall. It is the most completely preserved and the largest city wall in China. It was built for the military defense in the ancient time. Since it is cycling the city, visitors can ride a bike around the city wall (optional, at your own expense).
Last, transfer to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is a worship place for Buddhists. The pagoda was originally built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that Xuanzang brought back to China from India. Now the Big Wild Goose Pagoda has been built into a big garden, where people can have a retreat.
In the evening, you have the option to enjoy the dumpling banquet for dinner. The dumpling banquet will be both a view and taste feast. After dinner, watch the Tang Dynasty Show, the most favorable night activity for one’s Xian tour. (at your own expense)
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xian
Day 3 Xian to Urumqi Tour
Explore Xian’s Historical Charm from the MuseumHalong Bay, a cooking class, squid fishing
Your Xi’an tour today will take you to the Xi’an Museum, which consists of the museum, the Tang Jianfu Temple ruins, and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, collecting 130,000 cultural relics and showcasing the historical charm of this ancient capital. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is an important heritage of Buddhist architecture in the Tang Dynasty, which has stood firm after multiple earthquakes.
After the visit, be taken to the airport to take a flight to Urumqi. After arrival, a local private driver will pick you up and take you to the hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 4 Heavenly Lake Tour from Urumqi, Fly to Kashgar
Enjoy Stunning Mountain & Lake Views and Local Legends
After breakfast, your guided Silk Road tour package in Xinjiang begins! The tour guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and drive for about 1.5 hours to reach Tianshan Tianchi, aka the Heavenly Lake, a 5A level scenic spot known for its high mountains, lakes, and magnificent natural scenery.
Your expert tour guide will explain the myths related to the area, such as the bathing of the Queen Mother of the West. Optional boat activities (self funded) are available here. After the tour, drive you back to Urumqi airport for a flight to Kashgar. Upon arrival, meet the local driver and transfer to the hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Kashgar
Day 5 Kashgar to Karakuri Lake Tour
Spend a Whole Day Exploring the Lake Scenery
Today, you will enjoy a Kashgar side trip to Karakuli Lake, which is located in the eastern part of the Pamir Plateau, at the foot of Muztagh Ata, with an altitude of 3,600 meters.
The lake is deep and gloomy, surrounded by lush vegetation and mountains. The reflection of Muztagh Ata often appears on the lake, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts. This is also a great place to experience the scenery of the Pamir Plateau. After the leisure time here, drive you back to Kashgar hotel. Spend your free time in Kashgar Old Town.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Kashgar
Day 6 Kashgar Tour, Back to Urumqi by Flight
See China’s Largest Mosque, Witness Lively Livestock Market
In the morning, your Kashgar tour guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby at the confirmed time. Then, start your Silk Road tour in Kashgar at the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China. The mosque is not only an important spot for religious activities but also an important institute to spread Islam and train religious personnel.
Next, come to the Abakh Khoja Tomb, the tomb of Emperor Qianlong’s Concubine. Then, transfer to the lively Livestock Market, the most interesting part of the famous Sunday Market. Then, take a walk to see the other parts of the market.
At last, you will be escorted to the airport to take a flight back to Urumqi.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 7 Urumqi to Turpan Tour
Explore the Best-preserved City of Earthen Architecture
After breakfast, drive to Turpan to visit Jiaohe Ruins, the largest, oldest, and best preserved city of earthen architecture in the world. It was first built in the 2nd century BC and has undergone multiple changes in history, ultimately being destroyed by war in the 14th century. The tour guide will take you to visit multiple areas such as government offices, impoverished areas, temple areas, and burial areas to explore its past.
Afterward, pay a visit to Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. The Buddhist murals and statues in the grottoes represent many social facts of Gaochang Kingdom which existed 1400 years ago. After the visit, you will check in at your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 8 Turpan to Dunhuang Tour by High-speed Train
Understand the Secrets of Underground Irrigation
In the morning check out hotel and continue your Turpan tour to Sugong Pagoda, the largest existed ancient Islamic pagoda in Xinjiang. Then, go to visit Karez Well, an amazing irrigation system that takes advantage of the snow melt water from Tianshan Mountain to make Turpan an oasis in the desert.
Afterward, transfer you to the train station to catch a high-speed train to Dunhuang.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 9 Dunhuang Essence Tour
Appreciate Buddhist Grotto Art, Experience Desert Fun
Our driver and guide will wait for you at your hotel lobby in the morning. Then you will be driven to visit the Mogao Caves, one of the four most famous caves in China. The grottoes, also known as Caves of the Thousand Buddha, preserve nearly a thousand years of Buddhist cave temple architecture, clay sculpture, mural paintings, and manuscripts, dating from the 5th to the 14th centuries.
Later in the afternoon, we will visit Crescent Spring to appreciate the never-dried lake in the heart of the desert. Here, you can also enjoy sand slide or pat extra to experience a camel ride. At last, go back to the hotel for rest.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 10 Departure from Dunhuang
According to the flight/train time, your local driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport or train station to depart Dunhuang. This is the end of your 10-day private China Silk Road trip of Xian and Xinjiang.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
