Details
Kashgar Arrival
Today your flight will touch down in Kashgar, We will meet you at the airport exit with a welcome board and then transfer to the local hotel check in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this city.
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar
Kashgar-Taxkorgan
In the morning, after enjoying your nice buffet breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby
First we will pay a visit to the famous Sunday bazaar that is combined two section. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination. The outdoor Animal Bazaar is the first bazaar we visit, where the farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It’s loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargain.
Then Driving on the China and Pakistan Highway about 4hrs to enjoy the landscape of Pamirs Plateau.
Experience beautiful Karakul Lake where the herds of livestock around the lakeside are reflected in lake Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds before shuttling you onward to Taxkorgan. The following day will be spent exploring the stunning landscape surrounding the highway, and we will drive to Taxkrogan County for overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Taxkorgan
Karakul Lake
White Sand Lake
Taxkorgan-Kashgar
Today, before driving back to Kashgar, we will visit the Stone Fortress. The city is oval in shape and the city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 metres in circumference outside.
Over the past few years, new wooden pathways have been constructed to allow tourist to walk these beautiful grasslands, known as the Golden Grassland. From here you can get even better photos of the Stone Fortress. Walking around the pastureland to see Local Tajiks customs.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar
Stone Fortress
Stone Fortress
Kashgar City Tour,Fly to Urumqi
Today meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby, then we will do full day Kashgar city excursion. we will visit the Idigar Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities.
Around 10:30 we have to visit the Old Town when the open ceremony ready to greeting all the tourists with the culture show, further exploration to the special culture and experience the lifestyle with the arrangements of the visiting to the local Uighur Family.
Kashgar city tour ends with the wandering to the bustling Handicraft street, dazzling jewelry, primitive pottery,unique musical instrument, daily resources of the locals. The spare time in the tea-house is our special arrangement for you to relax and get a feel for the local culture and traditions. After visiting, say goodbye to Kashgar and you will be transferred to the airport to take the flight to Urumqi.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar
Idigar Mosque
Idigar Mosque
Urumqi to Heavenly Lake
Today you will drive to the picturesque Heavenly Lake, which is surrounded by the snow mountains, blooming wildflowers, evergreen pine trees. Trekking along the lake in the fresh air. or you can explore further uo to the Maya Mountain by the cable car to enjoy the magnificent view of the Mountains.
Afterwards, transfer back to Urumqi about the other 1.5hrs, visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You’ll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Urumqi
Urumqi Grand Bazaar
Heavenly Lake
Drive to Turpan,Tuyoq Village,jiaohe Ruins
Today we will drive to the histroical sites and oasis land of Turpan. A must and first visit is the oldest Uighur village Tuyoq Village located in the very center of Flaming Mountain Canyon. The village consists of four parts: Canyon scenery, Maza tomb and the old buildings of the ancient village.
And pay a visit to the Jiaohe Ruins, one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, it was include in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan
Tuyoq Village
Jiaohe Ruins
Karez Well,Sugong Minaret,train to Dunhuang
Today is the first day of your tour. Welcome to Kashgar! Upon arrival, you will be met transferred to the hotel to have check-in. After some rest, you can either explore the city by yourself freely or just stay in the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang
Sugong Minaret
Karez Well
Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes&Echoing sand mountain
Today we will visit the “cultural treasure”—Mogao Grottoes. Here you can enjoy the magnificent grottoes and mural art, and learn the history of Buddhism in Dunhuang through explanation and film display, which is the best option for tourists to visit Dunhuang.
After the visiting, we are going to see Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make a loud sound. There is also a Crescent Lake that has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand.
In the evening, strolling this interesting Shazhou Night Market with different types of things to see and food to eat, it’s easy to lose our sense of time wonder the market while enjoying your leisure time and taste some local cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang
Echoing Sand Mountain
Mogao Grottoes
Drive from Dunhuang to Zhangye Danxia Park
In the morning, we will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you to visit the Jiayuguan Pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan Pass, at the western end of the Great Wall – this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. and visit the The Great Wall Museum, which was opened to visitor in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way. (There are many steps from one tower to the other, please consider if are able to walk and climb about 2hrs).
After the sightseeing of Jiayuguan, we will drive all the way to Zhangye Linze County. And stay at the Kaoshan tent, which is near the Zhangye Danxia Park.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Kaoshan Tent
Jiayuguan Great Wall
Jiayuguan Great Wall
Visit Rainbow Mountain,then drive to Mati Temple
Meet the guide and driver at the hotel, then we will head to the splendid Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is the most typical arid area of northern China. Ribbons of reds, oranges and yellows slice through the rock, to create a rainbow vista contained only by the contours of the jagged mountain peaks. so many people also call it “Rainbow Mountain”.
After visiting, we will drive to Mati Temple and check in the hotel in the scenic area .
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye
Zhangye Daxia Park
Rainbow Danxia
Fast train to xining and visit Ta’er Monastery
After enjoying your breakfast in the hotel, around 9am, we will take the fast train which drives along the Qilian Mountain with the splendid scenery to Xining. We will visit Ta’er Monastery at 16:00 (Kumbum Monastery) which is the most populous monks outside of Tibet. Standing on Thangka Sunning Terrace, you will have the bird-view of the monastery and surrounding scenery.
Inside the monastery, apart from magnificent Buddha stupas and wall paintings, prayer wheels are also the must-see spot. The whole monastery is surrounded by wheels, walk along the corridor, rotate the wheels and pray for blessings.
Butter sculpture is one of the “Three Wonders of Art” of Ta’er Monastery. It is a variety of artistic boutiques, such as statues of Buddha, figures, landscapes, pavilions, birds, animals, flowers and trees, which are made of butter.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Xining
Ta’er Temple
Ta’er Temple
Enjoy the beautiful Lake,drive to Chaka
Another delighted day is coming. We will ride the bikes around the beautiful Qinghai Lake after 2hrs driving, or have the light trekking in the cole flower sea. It’s no exaggeration to say that Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity.
*Special Arrangement:
① biking/hiking 1-2 hrs around Qinghai Lake
② having a nice time in Cole Flower Sea
Every year from May to October, the nomadic tibetan family will move to the side of the lake, it is so great to visit their family and learn their lifestyle. After that, drive 2.5 hrs to Chaka for overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: Overnight in Chaka
Qinghai Lake
Qinghai Lake
Chaka Salt Lake,then Xining Departure
Today is the last day of our journey, we are going to enjoy the beautiful Chaka Salt Lake, it’s the largest saline in Qinghai Province, “Chaka” means “the sea of salt” in Mongolian. It lies in the centre of Qaidam Basin, which was nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go.
*Special Arrangement:
one-way train ride to Chaka Salt Lake
After that, your enjoyable Silk Road trip is about to end, we will drive 4hrs back to Xining to catch your flight. Wish you have a pleasant journey home!
Please book a flight after 19:00
Meals: Breakfast included; lunch & dinner at own expense
Accommodation: return home
Chaka Salt Lake
Chaka Salt Lake
Dates & Prices
| Month | Date | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2026-01 | $ 2080 | Book now |
| Feb | 2026-02 | $ 2080 | Book now |
| Mar | 2026-03 | $ 2080 | Book now |
| Apr | 2026-04 | $ 2080 | Book now |
| May | 2026-05 | $ 2080 | Book now |
You are consulting 2025-04-12 13 Days Silk Road Group Tour: Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai
Fee Description
INCLUDES
- Private transportation through out the itinerary. SRT will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure based on your flight info. 4pax: 7seats. 6pax: 14seats. 8-10 pax: 18seats. 10-15pax: 33seats
- Excellent English speaking guide ( professional and friendly)
- 4star Hotel ;ocated in the downtown with breakfast (2persons shared one room)
- Entrance fee listed in the itinerary
- Airfare from Kashgar to Urumqi
- 2nd class train from Turpan to Dunhuang(Liuyuan South Station), Dunhuang to Jiayuguan, Zhangye to Xining
- Allowance for the guide and driver
- 2bottles of water each person on daily use
- Government tax
- Travel insurance
EXCLUDES
- Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
- Lunch and dinner throughout the itinerary
- Personal expenses and the other tours or activities not mentioned
- Some activities such as boating, camel riding, culture show etc.
- Flight arrive in Kashgar and leave from Xining
TRIP NOTES
Payment and Deposit
1. 4 to 15 pax in a group (4 pax min, 15 pax max)
2. Typically we will take 700 USD per person as deposit when you book the trip (You can pay the deposit through WeChat/Alipay/bank transfer.)
3. Then the balance will be paid when you arrive. (Note: The balance needs to be paid 10 days before departure if your trip is just in the official Chinese holiday. E.g. Chinese New Year, Labor’s Day, National Day)
- Our cancellation policies are very friendly.
- If you have to cancel your trip for some unexpected reasons, we have the following policies:
- 1. FULL REFUND at least 30 days before departure date. (Note: except the cost of service fees paid for the third party, such as flight ticket refund service fees, hotels, transportations etc)
- 2. FULL REFUND if there is no flight and train to arrive resulted from extreme weather or government restrictions.
- If the trip is cancelled due to severe weather conditions or any government restriction, full refund will be offered.
