5 Day Private Silk Road Tour Zhangye Jiayuguan and Dunhuang

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5 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

Travel the Hexi Corridor, the Silk Road route between the snow-capped Qilian Mountains and the Gobi Desert, on a private 5-day journey from Zhangye to Dunhuang with your own English-speaking guide.

See the striped hills of Zhangye Danxia at sunset and the red-sandstone gorges of Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, a quieter spot most tours skip. Walk the walls of Jiayuguan Pass at the western end of the Ming Great Wall, then follow the old caravan road across the desert to Dunhuang. Visit the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 1,000 years of Buddhist murals, climb the dunes of Mingsha Shan above Crescent Moon Spring, and finish at the Han-dynasty Yumen Pass and the wind-carved Yadan Geopark.

The tour is private for your group only. Entrance tickets, scenic area shuttles and 4 nights in 4- and 5-star standard hotels are included, with pickup timed to your train or flight in Zhangye and drop-off at Dunhuang Airport.

What's Included

Zhangye Danxia, Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, Jiayuguan Pass, Mingsha Shan and Crescent Moon Spring, Yumen Pass, Yadan National Geopark
Mogao Caves ticket with Digital Exhibition Center films and guided cave visit by a site docent
Scenic area shuttle buses at Zhangye Danxia, Mogao Caves and Yadan National Geopark
Air-conditioned vehicle
2 nights 4-star standard in Zhangye, 2 nights 5-star standard in Dunhuang
Private English-speaking guide
Flights or train tickets to Zhangye and from Dunhuang
Lunches and dinners
Camel ride at Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake, Dunhuang (optional, paid on site: CNY 100/person)
Personal expenses

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

Your guide will meet you at the arrivals exit of Zhangye West Railway Station or Zhangye Ganzhou Airport, holding a sign with your name. Pickup time is based on the train or flight details you send us after booking, and your guide will confirm it with you on WhatsApp the day before. If your train or flight is delayed, please message your guide; we track arrivals and will wait for you. On Day 5, you will be dropped off at Dunhuang Mogao Airport in the evening; please book a flight departing after 7:00 PM.

Drop-off point
Dunhuang Airport

Itinerary

Duration: 5 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Arrival in Zhangye

    1 stop
  • 1
    Zhangye

    Meet your private English-speaking guide at Zhangye West Railway Station or Zhangye Ganzhou Airport and transfer to your hotel. The evening is free to explore Zhangye's night market on your own.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
    • Day 2

    Zhangye: Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon and Danxia Rainbow Mountains

    2 stops
  • 2
    Pingshan Grand Canyon

    Walk the canyon-rim trails and viewing platforms above deep red-sandstone gorges, a quieter alternative to the busier Danxia park. Your guide explains how wind and water shaped this landscape.

    3 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 3
    Zhangye Danxia Geopark

    Ride the park shuttle between viewing platforms over the striped red, orange and yellow hills, and stay for sunset when the colors are at their most vivid. Lunch on the way is at your own expense.

    3 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 3

    Zhangye - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang

    1 stop
  • 4
    Great Wall at Jiayuguan Pass

    Walk the inner and outer walls of the fortress at the western end of the Ming Great Wall and climb the gate towers, with the Qilian Mountains behind. Before and after the visit, drive along the Hexi Corridor and across the Gobi Desert (about 6.5 hours of driving in total, with rest stops) to Dunhuang.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 4

    Dunhuang: Mogao Caves and Mingsha Shan

    2 stops
  • 5
    Mogao Caves

    Watch two films at the Mogao Digital Exhibition Center, then visit a selection of caves with the site's official docent. The caves shown are chosen by the site on the day, and photography is not allowed inside.

    4 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 6
    Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain

    After a midday break, climb the singing sand dunes, visit Crescent Moon Spring and watch the sunset over the desert. Camel rides are available at your own expense.

    3 hours • Admission ticket included
    • Day 5

    Dunhuang: Yumen Pass and Yadan Geopark - Departure

    2 stops
  • 7
    Yumen Pass

    Visit the Han-dynasty Jade Gate fort and the nearby remains of the Han Great Wall, built over 2,000 years ago from reeds and gravel.

    1 hour • Admission ticket included
  • 8
    Yadan National Geological Park

    Ride the park shuttle between viewpoints of wind-carved clay formations in the Gobi Desert. Food options are limited here, so bring snacks. Afterwards, transfer about 2.5 hours to Dunhuang Mogao Airport for your evening flight.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included

Additional info

  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Becoming Travel China

Tags

Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Adventure Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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