16 Day The Silk Road to Kashgar Premium Small Group Tour

Welcome to China! Your journey begins in Xi'an, an ancient capital of thirteen dynasties carrying the profound history of China for thousands of years. It is the starting point of this wonderful journey into an ancient and story-filled land On arrival, make your own way to the hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to settle in, relax after your travels, or begin exploring at your own pace. You might take a gentle stroll around your neighbourhood to get your bearings, or simply enjoy a quiet evening and rest up for the adventure ahead. Special Information Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal may offer the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.

After breakfast, you will head to the incredible Terracotta Warriors. This underground army, with thousands of terracotta figures, seems to still be guarding the secrets of the empire from thousands of years ago, taking you back to the Qin Dynasty. To get a better understanding of what you have just seen we will visit the Terracotta Figure Factory to learn about the production process of the figures. After lunch, we will tour the Ancient City Wall, which is the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China, and you can appreciate the blend of ancient and modern styles of Xi'an. This evening, you're free to explore on your own. Inspiring Highlights Terracotta Warriors Terracotta Figure Factory Ancient City Wall OPTIONAL TOUR - Tang Dynasty Song and Dance with Dumpling BanquetEnhance your cultural experience with an optional Tang Dynasty Song and Dance Show, paired with a traditional Dumpling Banquet. Enjoy a dazzling performance of classical music and dance from the Tang era, while sampling a delicious variety of local dumplings. Price: approximately RMB 360Start time: 6.00pm.Duration: 2.5 hours. Special Information Optional tours are booked and paid locally with your tour leader.

After breakfast, we will visit Daxingshan Temple to enjoy its serene courtyards, ancient halls, and peaceful Buddhist atmosphere. It offers a quiet refuge and a glimpse into China's deep spiritual history. We will then head to Yongxingfang, a lively cultural and food hub, where you can watch folk calligraphy and painting. You can savor authentic Shaanxi specialties like biangbiang noodles or roujiamo, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere. In the afternoon, your journey continues as you wander through the bustling Muslim Quarter, an area famous for its vibrant alleys and unique history. While here, you will have the opportunity to taste local delights such as lamb skewers, pomegranate juice, and yangrou paomo (a traditional lamb stew with bread pieces). Tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Daxingshan Temple Yongxingfang Muslim Quarter

After breakfast, board a high-speed train for your journey to Lanzhou. Lanzhou is the capital of the Gansu province in northwest China, located on the banks of the Yellow River. It is a major regional hub and historically a key stop on the Northern Silk Road. After settling into your hotel the evening is yours to explore the city and perhaps try the famous Lanzhou beef noodles. Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours. Please note: For train travel, aerosols larger than 150ml are prohibited. Enforcement may vary between stations, with some applying stricter checks than others. All high-speed train stations in China have airport-style security, including bag scans and body checks. If you are carrying small sharp items like nail clippers or scissors, it's best to keep them in your hand luggage to prevent your checked baggage from being opened during security screening.

After breakfast, you'll discover the Gansu Provincial Museum, which houses Silk Road treasures such as the "Horse-Stepping-on-a-Swallow", a famous ancient Chinese bronze sculpture known as the Flying Horse of Gansu or Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow. You have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the region's rich history and see ancient artifacts that tell the story of trade and culture along this pivotal route. The most memorable part of the day will be participating in the Lanzhou Hand-pulled Noodle Experience, where, under the guidance of a master, you'll knead the dough and pull the noodles yourself to make an authentic bowl. This is a fantastic opportunity to feel the unique charm of this "intangible cultural heritage on the tip of the tongue" and create your own meal. After lunch we will stroll the Yellow River Style Line and see the historic Zhongshan Bridge, taking in the views as the Yellow River flows right through the city. Enjoy what the city has to offer as you make your way back to the hotel as tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Gansu Provincial Museum Yellow River Style Line with Zhongshan Bridge Lanzhou Hand-pulled Noodle Experience

After breakfast, we'll depart the hotel around 7:00 AM to board a high-speed train to Zhangye — a former Silk Road hub renowned for its breathtaking Danxia National Geological Park, home to the strikingly colorful rainbow mountains. Enjoy lunch in Zhangye before visiting the Great Buddha Temple, home to a magnificent reclining Buddha,a serene and impressive testament to the city's rich history. Take time to explore this site before we visit Colorful Danxia , a rare and stunning landform with vivid red, orange, and yellow stripes. This natural wonder was shaped by millions of years of fascinating geology, making it a truly unforgettable sight. In the afternoon, we will board a bus and make our way to Linze for the night. Inspiring Highlights Great Buddha Temple Colorful Danxia Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours. At Zhangye Colorful Danxia, visitors explore the park using a sightseeing shuttle that stops at several designated viewing platforms. Guests can disembark at each stop to enjoy the scenery before re-boarding the shuttle to continue to the next viewpoint. Walking at each platform typically takes less than 10 minutes and involves some gentle slopes and steps, but there is no continuous hiking trail throughout the park.

After breakfast we travel to Jiayuguan which is known as the western end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, a strategic point on the Silk Road, and a major industrial center. After arriving we will make our way to the Jiayuguan City Tower. Known as the "First Xiongguan in the World," this fortress stands proudly in the Gobi desert, its formidable walls bearing witness to centuries of trade along the Silk Road and countless historical battles. After lunch, we will visit the Cantilever Great Wall. This section of the Wall is spectacularly built along the steep mountain ridge, resembling a giant dragon reaching into the Gobi. We will then explore the First Pier under Heaven , which marks the Great Wall's western start, providing a striking sense of scale to this ancient defense system. Enjoy your evening at leisure. Inspiring Highlights Jiayuguan City Tower Cantilever Great Wall Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.The Cantilever Great Wall at Jiayuguan involves a moderate amount of physical activity. As its name suggests, it is part of the Great Wall and features architectural characteristics similar to the sections near Beijing. The walking route covers approximately one kilometre each way along a mountainside, with a round trip taking about one hour. The path includes both slopes and steps.

After breakfast, we travel to Dunhuang — an oasis town once vital to trade and cultural exchange, serving as a key link between East and West along the ancient Silk Road. Check into the hotel and take some time to relax before our night tour of the Mingsha Mountain. The Crescent Moon Spring, where the sand and spring coexist, offers a mysterious setting. Inspiring Highlights Mingsha Mountain night tour Crescent Moon Spring Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 6.5 hours.

The morning is yours to enjoy to relax or explore the city. Our hotel is a close distance from the Dunhuang Museum if you want to explore. The museum reflects the flourishing social development and cultural exchange between China and the West during the time when Dunhuang was a major center along the Silk Road. In the afternoon we walk into the Mogao Grottoes Scenic Area. It is a treasure house of Silk Road art. The millennium old murals and colored sculptures tell the stories of the Buddhist kingdom, the business travels along the Silk Road, and the folk customs. Each visit is a deep dialogue with history and art. Enjoy your evening at leisure. Inspiring Highlights Mogao Grottoes Scenic Area

After a leisurely morning we drive to the city named Liuyuan and take the bullet train to Turpan. Turpan offers the perfect blend of Silk Road history, delicious cuisine, and breathtaking scenic beauty. You will arrive at your hotel in the evening, around 8:30 PM, to rest and recharge before a full day of exploration tomorrow. Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours.

Today we have a full day of exploring. We will visit the Ten-Thousand-Buddha Palace, where exquisite Buddhist statues and murals show the prosperity of Buddhism in ancient Turpan. You can take time here to admire the intricate artwork that reflects centuries of cultural exchange. After time for lunch at your leisure we will step into the Flaming Mountain Gorge, where you can feel the unique wonder of the arid landform. That afternoon we visit the Karez Wells, an ancient and intelligent water conservancy project that silently flows underground, nurturing the oasis civilization of Turpan. This ingenious system is a testament to the engineering brilliance of the region's ancient inhabitants. Tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Ten-Thousand-Buddha Palace Flaming Mountain Gorge Karez Wells

After breakfast, we visit the Jiaohe Ancient City, the "Capital of the Cheshi" built entirely on a vast loess platform that has survived for thousands of years. This impressive ruined city offers a compelling look at a settlement preserved by the arid environment. In the afternoon we visit the Turpan Museum, where you will focus on the Chinese Mummies - the Xinjiang dried corpses. These dried corpses are uniquely preserved due to the distinct natural environment, decrypting the ancient Western Region's funeral culture and the life of the ancients for you, and touching the real context of history. You can continue taking in the museum as tonight is at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Jiaohe Ancient City Turpan Museum

After breakfast we start heading east. Along the way, enjoy the sight of the Dabancheng Wind Power Station, where rows of windmills rotate in the vast wilderness, creating a wonderful integration of modern technology and natural landscape. In the late afternoon or evening, we will take a plane to Kashgar , crossing the Tianshan Mountains and starting your southern Xinjiang journey. Special Information You will be transferred to either Turpan Airport or Urumqi Airport for your flight to Kashgar, depending on the final flight schedule. If departing from Urumqi, please note that the drive from Turpan to Urumqi takes approximately 1.5 hours. Your tour leader will provide your flight documentation during the trip, and the flight will be fully escorted to ensure a smooth journey. Your included flight allows one checked bag up to 20kg, and one 5kg carry-on, with options to increase your luggage allowance at the airport if needed. Please note: power banks without a CCC (China Compulsory Certification) mark are forbidden on domestic flights in China.

Today we start exploring Kashgar which was an important Silk Road strategic crossroad for trade between East and West, acting as a crucial gateway and a vital oasis for travelers. We start the day watching the Kashgar City Opening Ceremony. Dancers and folk artists welcome visitors with songs and dances, marking the start of a vibrant day in the ancient city. After the ceremony we walk through the old city of Kashgar, exploring the labyrinth-like streets and civil-structured dwellings. We visit the Etigar Mosque to appreciate the exquisite Islamic architecture. We finish the day at the Han Bazaar (Grand Bazaar), immersing yourself in the unique folk charm of Kashgar. Tonight is at your leisure Inspiring Highlights Kashgar City Opening Ceremony Old city of Kashgar

Today is your day to explore the city at your own pace. You might choose to revisit the Grand Bazaar for some final souvenir shopping or explore the local teahouses to soak up the atmosphere. You could also wander through any of the markets you missed the previous day.

Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience. Special Information Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.