5-Night Private Silk Road Trip from Dunhuang to Urumqi including Hotel Accommodations

6 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

This 5 nights classic private tour takes you to explore Chinese section of ancient Silk Road northern route from Dunhuang to Urumqi. You will travel the path of thousands of merchants and camel caravans and witness its changes in modern days. Attractions you will visit during this tour includes Mogao Grottos, Turpan Oasis, Loulan Mummies, and Heavenly Lake located on the northern side of Tianshan Mountains.

What's Included

Local guide
Lunch
Bullet train from Liuyuan (Dunhuang) to Turpan
Accommodation as per itinerary
Breakfast (Optional[5])
Breakfast
Transport by private vehicle
Alcoholic drinks (available for purchase)
Food and drinks, unless specified
Airfare for flight to/from Urumqi/Dunhuang
China Visa
Gratuities

Meeting and pickup

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

We also pick you up at your centrally located Dunhuang hotel.

Itinerary

Duration: 6 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Arriving Dunhuang

    2 stops
  • 1
    Silkroadtrips

    tour operator

    Admission ticket free
  • 2

    Upon arrival at Dunhuang Airport or Dunhuang Rail Station, meet your guide at arrival lobby and go to the hotel for check-in. You may spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the streets of Dunhuang. Be sure to explore the night market nearby the hotel in the evening!

    1 hour 30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • Day 2

    Dunhuang - Liuyuan (via bullet train) - Turpan

    1 stop
  • 3
    Mogao Caves

    You will visit the highlight of Silk Road today. Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas), where you will be impressed by the fresco and statues in the caves. These caves are examples of rock-cut architecture of soft gravel conglomerate not suitable for either sculpture or elaborate architectural details. In the afternoon,  you will catch a bullet train to Turpan arriving in approximately 4 hours and be transferred to hotel in about 30 minutes.

    4 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 3

    Turpan

    5 stops
  • 4
    Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta)

    After breakfast, you will start to visit Turpan, the centre of a fertile oasis and an important trade center along the Silk Road that was once adjacent to the kingdoms of Kroran and Yanqi. You will visit Emin Minaret which is the symbol of Turpan before sampling an authentic local lunch at a Uyghur home under the grape vine in open air.

    30 minutes Admission ticket included
  • 5
    Ancient City of Gaochang (Kharakhoja)

    Later in the afternoon, you will explore the Ancient City of Gaochang

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • 6

    More than 100 caves were hewn out of this cliff face between the 6th and 9th centuries by Buddhist monks who farmed the valley below.There are 77 rock-cut caves at the Bezeklik Caves. Most have rectangular spaces with rounded arch ceilings often divided into four sections, each with a mural of Buddha. The effect is of entire ceiling covers with hundreds of Buddha murals. Some ceilings in Bezeklik Caves are painted with a large Buddha surrounded by other figures, including Indians, Persians and Europeans. The quality of the murals varies, with some being artistically naive while others are masterpieces of religious art.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • 7

    The Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs are part of the Underground Museum of Turpan and the Living Archives of Gaochang. Astana means capital in Uigur; Karakhoja was a Uigur hero who protected his people from a vicious dragon.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • 8
    Karez System

    Karez Irrigation System was created by ancient Uygur people at the second half of 18th century. It can mainly be found in the area of Turpan, Hami and Helei. If connecting all these underground channels together, the total length will reach more than 5000 km, so it is regarded as one of ancient China's greatest public projects.

    1 hour Admission ticket included
  • Day 4

    Turpan - Urumqi

    2 stops
  • 9
    Xinjiang Regional Museum (Qu Bowuguan)

    After breakfast, you will take a 3-h ride to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The impressive stop of the day is Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited. Among which, you will find the spectacular one standing out from the rest named "Beauty of Loulan," who was buried 4,000 years ago near the town of Loulan in Taklimakan Desert. "Beauty of Loulan" was remarkably preserved in an open coffin under hot desert sands of the Takliamakan when she was excavated.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • 10

    Later, you will head to stroll through the wonderful Erdaoqiao Bazaar before driving back your hotel.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 5

    Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi

    1 stop
  • 11

    Today you will take a one hour ride to Heavenly Lake, which is located on the north side of the Bodga Shan range of the Tianshan Mountains to enjoy fantastic mountain views and serene lake scenery. Then you will be taken back hotel.

    3 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 6

    Departing Urumqi

    1 stop
  • 12

    Transferred to?Urumqi Airport where the tour ends.

    2 hours Admission ticket not included

Additional info

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Please wear comfortable walking shoes
  • Passport name and number is required at time of booking for all participants
Supplied by SilkRoadTrips

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Tags

Multi-day Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Historical Tours
Road Trip
Zombie
Zombie Slice

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

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