Golden Silk Road
13 day tour to Lanzhou, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar
13 day tour to Lanzhou, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar
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Ancient Silk Road, where the cultures of the East meets the West, will take you to the Jiayuguan Pass to see the west end of the Great Wall, the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, a local family visit in Kashgar, the capital city of Xinjiang – Urumqi and the famous Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar and more ......
Fly with China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou, overnight on flight.
Arrive Guangzhou in the morning then take connecting flight to Lanzhou. Upon arrival met and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day trip to Bingningsi Temple. The Binglingsi Temple is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. You take boat ride to reach the grottoes via the Liujiaxia Reservoir. Return to city and visit Yellow River and the city, including the Waterwheel Park.
In the morning board the high speed train to Jiayuguan Pass (4.15Hrs), which is the western end of the Great Wall of China. Start your tour to the Jiayuguan Fortress, an impenetrable fortress surrounded by 3 inner and outer walls and several lines of defense; then visit Jiayuguan Fort, Great Wall Museum and Xuanbi Great Wall.
In the morning visit the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall before we travel by coach to Dunhuang (takes around 5 hours), a strategic staging post on the Silk Road with a history of more than 2,000 years. Upon arrival Dunhuang, short local visit if time permits. In the evening explore night market.
Today you visit Dunhuang’s most famous monument - The Mogao Grottoes. These grottoes are popularly known as the ‘Thousand Buddha Caves’, and have a history of over 1600 years. The walls of the caves are lined with Buddhist frescoes, Scriptures, murals and sculpted figures; you also visit Mingsha Hill and Crescent Moon Lake set in an amphitheater of sand dunes. Dinner at own choice and expense
This morning is at leisure. At noon take high speed train from Liuyuan to Turpan (approx. 3.5 hours). Turpan, the oasis town famous for its melons and vineyards, is located in the Gobi desert and the lowest city in China as well as the driest and hottest. Upon arrival met and transfer to hotel after dinner.
Today you will visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, then followed by Flaming Mountain Grand Canyon, which condenses the essence of the landscape of Flaming Mountain - the hottest spot in Turpan. Then to the bazaar and experience the atmosphere of the Uygur way of life. After lunch head to the ancient city of Jiaohe and a Karez Well. The Karez Well is an underground irrigation system unique to the area. Drive to Urumqi in the late afternoon.
This morning you cruise on Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), a deep blue lake surrounded by the snowcapped Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan), followed by a visit to Red Hill Park which is regarded as the symbol of Urumqi then enjoy a leisure stroll at Erdaoquiao Grand Bazaar, if time permits visit the Museum of Minorities and History.
Fly to Kashgar this morning. Kashgar is an ancient oasis city at a strategic point dominating the ancient trade routes in far western China. You visit the Abak Hoja (Fragrant Concubine) Tomb, a local village and the Sunday Bazaar. You spend two nights in Kashgar.
Spend the entire day enjoying the beauty of the clear Karakuli Lake, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. The lake lies at an altitude of 3,600m, and is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlun mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year. Dinner at own choice and expense
Today you will fly from Kashgar to Guangzhou; upon arrival Guangzhou Airport, please make your own way to check in airport hotel which is next to the terminal.
You will take morning flight back to Sydney.
Option: Evening flight available upon request. If you take evening flight returning Australia, subject to hotel check out policy.
Single supplement: $780
Pre Stay Hotel: $160 (Lanzhou) - per room per night with breakfast
Golden Silk Road
Start in Australia:
Sat 12/04/2025
Finish in Guangzhou:
Thu 24/04/2025
AVAILABLE
Tour code: SR250412
Golden Silk Road
Start in Australia:
Sat 17/05/2025
Finish in Guangzhou:
Thu 29/05/2025
AVAILABLE
Tour code: SR250517
Golden Silk Road
Start in Australia:
Sat 05/07/2025
Finish in Guangzhou:
Thu 17/07/2025
AVAILABLE
Tour code: SR250705
Golden Silk Road
Start in Australia:
Sat 06/09/2025
Finish in Guangzhou:
Thu 18/09/2025
AVAILABLE
Tour code: SR250906
Remarks
- This tour is guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 4 participants. Full package prices above include airport taxes and fuel surcharges.
- Land Only price: Tour starts with the arrival transfer in Lanzhou (day 2) to the departure transfer in Kashgar, including domestic air tickets Urumqi - Kashgar & 2nd class train travel from Lanzhou - Jiayuguan; Dunhuang (Liuyuan Station) - Turpan.
- Train upgrade: Upgrading to 1st class with surcharge $80 pp subject to availability.
- China Visa: No visa required if you stay in China less than 15 days.
- Package prices of China Suthern Airlines / China Eastern Airlines are for departures from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.
- 4* Hotel references:
- Lanzhou Olymic Sports Centre Rosy Liujing Hotel
- Jiayuguan Jiugang Hotel
- Dunhuang Grand Sun Hotel
- Turpan Mercure Hotel Downtown
- Urumqi Yilite Hotel
- Kashigar Jinjiang Capital Hotel
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Novotel
Inclusions
- Return economy class airfares departing from Australia with selected airlines and all domestic flights (unless specified), including ticketed airport taxes & fuel surcharges as at October 2024 (CBT reserve the right to charge extra if airlines increase their fuel surcharge).
- Fully inclusive tour with all transfers between airports / piers / stations and hotels in each city; daily sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary; evening entertainment; professional English speaking local guides and cruise etc. Most meals - breakfasts are Western / local cuisine style buffet at hotel, while lunches and dinners are mostly local cuisines served at selected restaurants, please refer to meal code on itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, BD=buffet dinner, SD=specialty dinner, WD=western dinner).
- Most of our hotels are 4 star international standard hotels with twin share superior class accommodation. All rooms have private facilities, telephone, colour TV and in-room internet facilities. Many hotels have a swimming pool.
- Professional English speaking National guide will accompany the group throughout the trip, in association with the local tour guides. This is subject to the minimum of 10 clients for each tour. Should the group be less than 10 people, the local guide will meet you at the airport / station upon your arrival and return you to the station / airport for your next destination.
- CBT Holidays travel wallet and travel kits.