5 Days Zhangye and Badain Jaran Desert Tour of Silk Road

Tour Overview

On this 5-day short China Silk Road trip to Zhangye and Badain Jaran Desert, you will be guided to discover the natural beauty and Buddhist Grotto culture. First, explore the culture of Buddhist Grottoes at Horse’s Hoof Temple and marvel at the colorful Danxia Mountains.

Then travel to Alax Youqi to experience the serene beauty of the Badain Jaran Desert with its shimmering lakes and towering sand dunes, staying overnight in a traditional Mongolian yurt. Last, go back to Zhangye to visit the Giant Buddha Temple, home to China’s largest reclining Buddha sculpture.

Highlights of this tour

See the intricate Buddhist carvings of the Horse’s Hoof Temple.
Take photos of the colorful rock formations of Zhangye Rainbow Mountain.
Walking at the Badain Jaran Desert entrance to admire the lake and sand dune scenery.
Capture the beautiful sunrise over the Badain Jaran Desert, with an overnight stay in a Mongolian yurt.
Admire the colossal Sleeping Buddha at Dafo Temple.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Zhangye

Travel Length: 5 Days and 4 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture lovers, nature lovers

Departure: Any day you want

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Zhangye

Welcome to our China 5-day Silk Road tour to Zhangye! Your private local driver will wait for you at the airport terminal exit or train station by holding a welcome sign with your name on it. Then transfer you to a hotel and enjoy your free time.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: in Zhangye

Day 2 Zhangye Highlights Tour
Learn about the Culture of Buddhist Grottoes

In the morning, start your Zhangye tour at the Matisi Grottoes (Horse’s Hoof Temple). The highlights of the over 70 grottoes are the Buddhist grotto culture and the Yugu Minor Ethnic culture. After that, we will head for Danxia Mountain where you will see a truly picturesque world made up of red, white, yellow, and other colors of rock. After finishing the visit, we drive back to the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Zhangye

Day 3 Zhangye to Badain Jaran Desert Tour
Admire the Scenery of Lakes and Sand Dunes

After breakfast, meet your guide and driver and drive 3 hours to Alax Youqi. After lunch, begin your Silk Road tour at the Badain Jaran Desert, one of the most beautiful deserts in China. Walking at the desert entrance to appreciate the lake and sand dune scenery. Today, you will stay overnight at Mongolian yurt and enjoy local dinner.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Accommodation: in Mongolian Yurt

Day 4 Zhangye Buddhist Culture Tour
Witness China’s Largest Indoor Clay Sculpture Reclining Buddha

Continue your time in the desert scenic area in the morning. You can get up early to witness the stunning sunrise view over the desert. Then drive back to Zhangye.

After arrival, pay a visit to Giant Buddha Temple, aka Dafo Temple, which is not only an important scenic spot on the Silk Road, but also a landmark building in Zhangye. The temple preserves the largest Western Xia Buddhist hall in the country and the largest indoor wooden and clay sculpture reclining Buddha. Finishing the visit, drive you back to your hotel in Zhangye.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Zhangye

Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye — Giant Buddha Temple

Day 5 Departure from Zhangye

Enjoy your leisure morning in Zhangye till your driver escorts you to the airport for your departure flight. Safe travels! This is the end of your 5-day short China Silk Road tour in Zhangye and Badain Jaran Desert!

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?

4 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/off Zhangye;

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