Golden Silk Road
15 day tour to Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar
15 day tour to Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar
Download PDF BrochureDiscover the wonders of China’s ancient Silk Road on a journey through Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar. Experience the colourful Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains, the historic Jiayuguan Pass at the end of the Great Wall, and the world-renowned Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang. Explore Turpan’s desert oasis, including the Flaming Mountains, Jiaohe Ancient City, and the unique Karez Wells. Enjoy alpine scenery at Heavenly Lake in Urumqi before continuing to Kashgar, a vibrant crossroads of Central Asian culture. This tour offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, history, and Silk Road heritage
This evening, depart Australia on 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.
After breakfast, drive to Zhangye (approx. 5½ hours), once a key trading post on the ancient Silk Road and home to the stunning Danxia landforms. En route, stop in Wuwei to visit the Leitai Han Tombs Museum, dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (2nd century AD). The site is renowned for the discovery of the Bronze Galloping Horse, also known as “Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow,” now a symbol of Chinese tourism. Upon arrival in Zhangye, check in for two nights.
Rise early to admire sunrise over the magnificent Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, where ribbons of red, orange, and yellow create the stunning “Rainbow Mountains.” Continue by road (approx. 2 hours) to the ancient Mati Temple, built during the Jin Dynasty. The temple’s name, meaning “Horse Hoof,” comes from hoof-shaped prints in Grotto No. 9 said to be left by a heavenly horse. Return to town and enjoy a relaxing evening at Zhangye’s lively night market.
In the morning drive to Jiayuguan Pass (2.5Hrs), 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 in the Gobi Desert and the lowest city in China as well as the driest and hottest. Upon arrival met and transferred to the 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 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 Erdaoqiao 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.
Fly from Kashgar to Guangzhou today. Upon arrival at Guangzhou Airport, please make your own way to check in at the airport hotel, conveniently located next to the terminal.
This morning, please make your own way to the airport to check in for your flight back to Sydney.
Evening flights to Australia are available upon request. Passengers selecting this option are subject to the hotel’s standard check-out time and policies.
Single supplement: $920
Pre Stay Hotel: $180 (Lanzhou) - per room per night with breakfast
Golden Silk Road
Start in Australia:
Wed 19/05/2027
Finish in Guangzhou:
Wed 02/06/2027
AVAILABLE
Tour code: SR270519
Golden Silk Road
Start in Australia:
Wed 28/07/2027
Finish in Guangzhou:
Wed 11/08/2027
AVAILABLE
Tour code: SR270728
Golden Silk Road
Start in Australia:
Wed 08/09/2027
Finish in Guangzhou:
Wed 22/09/2027
AVAILABLE
Tour code: SR270908
Remarks
- This tour is guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 4 participants
- 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 Dunhuang (Liuyuan Station) - Turpan.
- Train upgrade: Upgrading to 1st class with surcharge $50 pp subject to availability.
- China Visa: No visa required if you stay in China less than 30 days.
- Package prices of China Suthern Airlines are for departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide or Brisbane.
- 4* Hotel references:
- Lanzhou Olymic Sports Centre Rosy Liujing Hotel
- Zhangye Diamond International 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 2025 (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.