Golden Silk Road
14 day tour to Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar
13 day tour to Lanzhou, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar
Download PDF BrochureAncient 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 Air China evening flight to Beijing.
Arrive Beijing in the morning; take connecting flight to Lanzhou; met and transferred to hotel. The rest of the day remains free.
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 the city in the afternoon and have city highlights tour of Lanzhou.
Board the high speed train to Jiayuguan Pass, which is the western end of the Great Wall of China. You start your tour to the Jiayuguan Fortress, an impenetrable fortress surrounded by 3 inner and outer walls and several lines of defense. You will also visit to the Great Wall Museum.
Today you will travel by high speed train to Dunhuang (2.5 hours), a strategic staging post on the Silk Road with a history of more than 2,000 years.
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 amphitheatre of sand dunes.
This morning is at leisure. In the afternoon take high speed train to Turpan (approx. 4 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 transferred to your hotel.
Today you will visit the bazaar and experience the atmosphere of the Uygur way of life. You also visit 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 and check into your hotel.
This morning you cruise on Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), a deep blue lake surrounded by the snowcapped Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan), followed by a visit to 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 and the Sunday Bazaar. You spend two nights in Kashgar.
Today you visit the old town of Kashgar, then onto a Uygur village. Next stop the Id Kah Mosque and Zhi Ren Street where you will see the street lined with handicrafts stores.You will also enjoy the Blind tea-tasting at the 100-year-old Tea-House.
Today you will fly from Kashgar to Chengdu then take connecting flight bound for Sydney.
Arrive in Australia in the afternoon.
# Land Only: $3580 Single supplement: $880
Pre / Post Stay Hotel: $160 (Lanzhou) / $160 (Kashagar) - per room per night with breakfast
Remarks
- This tour is a guaranteed departure based on a minimum of 4 people. Full package prices above include airport taxes and fuel surcharges.
- Land Only price: Tour starts from Arrival transfer in Lanzhou (day 2) to Departure transfer in Kashgar, including domestic air tickets Urumqi - Kashgar & 2nd class train from Lanzhou - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang - Turpan.
- Train upgrade: Upgrade to 1st class with surcharge $130 pp subject to availability.
- China Visa: All travellers need visas to visit China. For single entry visa, one visa application form, one recent photo & visa application fee of $110 per person are required for Australian passport holders.
- Package prices of Air China are for departing from Sydney and Melbourne only.
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 2019 (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.