Departure Dates
Departures every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday through 30 October 2027. Minimum 2 travellers; maximum 6 travellers.
Package Price
From AUD $4,060 per person
Based on two travellers sharing a private double room. Minimum booking: 2 travellers.
Tour Highlights
Discover Xinjiang’s landscapes, Dunhuang’s desert heritage and Xi’an’s ancient wonders on an 11-day Silk Road journey.
Included
Excluded
You’ll fly into Kashgar today and your driver will be waiting at the airport with a welcome board to take you to your downtown hotel. It’s a good idea to take it easy and let yourself adjust after the flight.
Start point Kashi Shi, Kashi Diqu, Xinjiang, China (Kashgar airport, 00:00)
After you handle your travel permit application this morning, you’ll drive along the China-Pakistan Highway to White Sand Lake on the Pamir Plateau. The contrast between the calm water and surrounding sand dunes is really striking. From there, you’ll head to Karakul Lake to look for Kirghiz herdsmen and their animals reflected in the water. You’ll spend the day taking in the landscape before driving back to Kashgar for the night.
Meals Breakfast
Your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel to explore Kashgar city. You’ll check out the Idigar Mosque, which is the largest mosque in China, then head to Kashgar Old Town around 10:30 for a cultural show and opening ceremony. After that, you’ll walk through Handicraft Street browsing jewelry, pottery, and musical instruments before going to the Apak Hoji Tomb, the holiest place in Xinjiang. Later in the evening you’ll catch your flight to Urumqi, the capital.
Meals Breakfast
You’ll drive to Heavenly Lake today, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, wildflowers, and evergreen pines. There’s a leisurely trek along the shore or you can take a cable car up Maya Mountain for views looking over the lake and mountains. Water activities like boating are available if that interests you. By evening you’ll head back to Urumqi to see the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar where you can try local food, then return to your hotel.
Meals Breakfast
This morning you’ll drive about 3 hours to Turpan to explore Uygur culture. First up is Tuyoq Village, the oldest Uygur village in the world, located in Flaming Mountain Canyon. You’ll experience authentic local life by visiting a family and tasting their local fruit juice. Then you’ll go to Jiaohe Ruins, which are 2,300-year-old remains called the Oriental Pompeii and recognized as a World Heritage site. Walking through these historic remnants gives you a sense of the ancient civilization.
Meals Breakfast
After breakfast you’ll visit the Karez Well, an ancient underground irrigation system that shows the engineering knowledge of Uygur ancestors. Next you’ll see the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778 and considered one of the finest Islamic artworks in the country. Later you’ll take a train to Dunhuang Liuyuan station, where your driver will pick you up and take you to your downtown hotel.
Meals Breakfast
You’ll spend the full day exploring Dunhuang’s cultural sites. Start with a 4D movie at the Mogao Grottoes about Chinese history, then visit 8 grottoes with a professional guide to see the murals and learn about Buddhism in the region. Next you’ll head to Echoing Sand Mountain where wind-blown sand creates loud sounds, and visit Crescent Lake, which has survived for hundreds of years without being buried. Camel riding and sand sliding are activities you can do. In the evening, walk through the Shazhou Night Market to taste local food and look at handicrafts.
Meals Breakfast
You’ll fly to Xi’an today. When you arrive, your driver will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel so you can rest.
Meals Breakfast
The tour starts at 08:00 as you drive about 1 hour to see the Terracotta Warriors, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century near Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 7-floor structure built to house Buddhist scriptures, where you can see the whole city from the top. In the evening you’ll stroll around Tang Paradise to explore traditional Tang Dynasty architecture with buildings, squares, and gardens.
Meals Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
You’ll visit the City Wall today to get a bird’s-eye view of Xi’an city as you walk along it. Next you’ll explore the ancient Bell Tower, the most well-preserved ancient military defensive system and a landmark of Xi’an. After that, you’ll wander through the Muslim Quarter to see how locals live, where street vendors sell souvenirs, hand-crafted products, and local snacks. Bargaining with vendors is common practice if you’re buying things.
Meals Breakfast
Your Silk Road journey comes to an end today. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Xi’an airport for your departure. Safe travels home!
End point Xi’an Shi, Shaanxi, China (Xi’an Xianyang International Airport , 00:00 – 23:55) Meals Breakfast
For single travelers, a single supplement price must be purchased.
No discounts apply for 3rd person traveling. Full price applies, subject to availability.
✻Please note: Triple shares may be required to share existing bedding.
Twin or Double Bedding (subject to availability)
✻Please note: Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult 18 years old and over to travel. No unaccompanied minors are allowed.
Customers are required to provide valid passport details either at the time of purchase or at least 6 months’ validity for use on arrival to the foreign country. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of the booking. In this instance, customers will be responsible for any costs and fees incurred.
All the packages are inclusive of 23kg Check-in luggage / Hand luggage 7 kg. You will be responsible for all your personal belongings whilst on the tour. With regards to luggage, you must carry your own luggage from the coach to the hotel room and back to the coach. The driver will assist with the uploading and offloading of the luggage from the coach.
Non Refundable.
Please makes sure you read the Terms and Condition Before you place the Booking.
All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars and all Australian Domestic Travel Products included GST
Please visit http://www.smartraveller.gov.au for the latest Travel Advice.
Travel Insurance is strongly recommended by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for all overseas travel. With the traveler who purchased with Delightful Travel. We will offer 20% off on your insurance.
