• Why Travel with Discover Beijing Tours

    Unique Experiences

    Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.

    Well-Selected Local Guides 

    Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!

    Your Booking is Risk-Free 

    Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund

  • Popular Beijing Tours

    Start from 186 USD P/P
    Private Tour to Beijing Panda House and Mutianyu Great Wall

    Start from 168 USD P/P
    Beijing Private Tour to Temple of Heaven, Panda House and Summer Palace

    Start from 278USD P/P
    Jinshanling Private Tour with Night View of Simatai and Gubei Water Town from Beijing

    Start from 218 USD P/P
    Private Day Tour to Longqing Gorge and Dingling at the Ming Tombs with Lunch and Boat Ride

    captcha

    Share this tour

    • 99.6% positive customer reviews among 1500+

    • For More Informations

      +86 13522069857
      (Wechat/Whatapp)

      103, Unit 9, Yabaoli, Beijing, China

      Mon - Sat 8.00 - 18.00 Sunday CLOSED

      chineseqing_2008@hotmail.com

      Any questions, please email or call us!

    • Why Travel with Discover Beijing Tours

      Unique Experiences

      Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.

      Well-Selected Local Guides 

      Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and attentive — your personal local guides will share interesting stories, insider information, and even create unexpected highlights!

      Your Booking is Risk-Free 

      Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund
    31 Users Online

    13 Days Silk Road Group Tour: Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai

    13 days
    All Months

    Embark on this 13-day Silk Road group tour to traverse iconic spots from Kashgar to Xining—explore ancient fortresses, sacred grottoes, rainbow mountains, and alpine lakes, while immersing in diverse ethnic cultures along the legendary trade route.

    Itinerary Quick Look

    Day 1: Arrival in Kashgar – Gateway to the Silk Road

    You’ll be warmly greeted at Kashgar Airport with a welcome sign and transferred to your destination. The rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure, with a 3-hour window for initial arrangements and free wandering through the city’s exotic lanes, sampling local snacks or browsing bustling bazaars.

    Day 2: Kashgar → Taxkorgan (320km / ~6hrs Drive)

    Morning: Kashgar Sunday Bazaar Adventure

    After breakfast, meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby. Head to Kashgar’s famous Sunday Bazaar, a vibrant trading hub that has been a cornerstone of Silk Road commerce for centuries. First, stop at the lively outdoor Animal Bazaar—farmers and buyers arrive with livestock via donkey cart, truck, bike, horseback or on foot, and you can watch their animated bargaining rituals. Then wander the covered bazaar, brimming with colorful clothing, fragrant nuts, unique household goods and more.

    Afternoon: China-Pakistan Highway & Karakul Lake

    Drive 4 hours along the legendary China-Pakistan Highway, where sweeping Pamirs Plateau scenery unfolds at every turn. Stop at Karakul Lake, a crystal-clear alpine lake where livestock herds mirror in the water and Kyrghiz herdsmen graze their animals on the surrounding pastures. Continue your journey to Taxkorgan County for the night, with a 3-hour stop to explore key attractions along the way.

    Day 3: Taxkorgan → Kashgar

    Morning: Stone Fortress & Golden Grassland

    Before heading back to Kashgar, visit Taxkorgan Stone Fortress, an oval-shaped ancient stronghold with sun-dried brick walls on stone foundations and an outer circumference of 1,285m that once guarded vital Silk Road trade routes. Walk the new wooden pathways across Golden Grassland to capture perfect photos of the fortress against the plateau backdrop.

    Local Experience & Return Journey

    Wander the lush pastures to learn about the unique customs of the Tajik people, the highland ethnic group of the Pamirs. Then start the return drive to Kashgar, with a 4-hour stop for sightseeing and travel along the way.

    Day 4: Kashgar City Tour → Fly to Urumqi

    Full-Day Cultural Immersion

    Meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby for a full-day deep dive into Kashgar’s heritage. First, visit Idigar Mosque, China’s largest mosque that has been the sacred heart of local Islamic activities for generations (40-minute stop). Next, head to Kashgar Old Town—catch the 10:30 opening ceremony with a vibrant cultural show, then step into a local Uyghur family’s home to experience their warm daily life. Wander the bustling Handicraft Street, filled with glittering jewelry, primitive pottery, unique musical instruments and local daily goods. Take a relaxing break in a traditional tea-house to soak in the authentic local culture.

    Transfer to Urumqi

    After the tour, head to Kashgar Airport for your flight to Urumqi.

    Day 5: Urumqi → Heavenly Lake (120km / ~1.5hrs Drive)

    Heavenly Lake Exploration

    Drive to the stunning Heavenly Lake, a mountain gem surrounded by snow-capped peaks, blooming wildflowers and towering pine trees that has been a beloved scenic spot since ancient times. Choose to hike around the lake’s shore or take a cable car up Maya Mountain for panoramic mountain views (2-hour stop).

    Return to Urumqi & Bazaar Visit

    Drive back to Urumqi (~1.5hrs), then visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar—Urumqi’s largest market, brimming with juicy fruits, colorful clothing, exquisite crafts, traditional knives and handwoven carpets.

    Day 6: Urumqi → Turpan (200km / ~3hrs Drive)

    Turpan Oasis & Historic Sites Tour

    Drive to Turpan, a land of oases and ancient civilizations. First, visit Tuyoq Village, an ancient Uyghur settlement nestled in Flaming Mountains Canyon, featuring dramatic canyon scenery, sacred Mazar tombs and well-preserved old settlement architecture. Then explore Jiaohe Ruins, one of China’s best-preserved ancient city ruins and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 22, 2014 (2-hour stop).

    Day 7: Turpan → Dunhuang (by Bullet Train)

    Morning: Turpan’s Hidden Treasures

    Start the day with a visit to Karez Well, a brilliant ancient underground irrigation system that showcases the wisdom of Turpan’s ancestors in adapting to arid climates. Escape the summer heat while exploring this ingenious engineering marvel. Then head to Turpan Grandpa’s Antique Museum, a charming private collection run by a friendly 71-year-old local and adored by residents. Next, see Sugong Minaret, China’s tallest Islamic minaret, built in 1778 during the Qing Dynasty.

    Transfer to Dunhuang

    Head to Turpan Train Station for a bullet train to Liuyuan South Station. On arrival, meet your driver and head to your Dunhuang downtown accommodation, with a 4-hour stop for sightseeing and travel.

    Day 8: Dunhuang – Mogao Grottoes & Echoing Sand Mountain

    Mogao Grottoes: Cultural Treasure of the Silk Road

    Visit the Mogao Grottoes, a world-famous “cultural treasure” carved into the cliffs that houses thousands of Buddhist murals and sculptures dating back over a thousand years. Learn about Dunhuang’s rich Buddhist history via guide explanations and introductory films (30-minute stop for initial orientation).

    Echoing Sand Mountain & Crescent Lake

    Experience the Echoing Sand Mountain, where sands emit melodic sounds in strong winds, then marvel at Crescent Lake—a tiny oasis lake that has miraculously survived hundreds of years without being buried by sand.

    Evening: Shazhou Night Market

    Wander the lively Shazhou Night Market to savor local delicacies like Dunhuang noodles and roasted mutton, and browse unique handicrafts and souvenirs.

    Day 9: Dunhuang → Zhangye Danxia Park (590km / ~6-7hrs Drive)

    Morning: Jiayuguan Pass & Great Wall Museum

    Visit Jiayuguan Pass, a magnificent Ming Dynasty fort that marks the western end of the Great Wall and once stood as a crucial defense post on the Silk Road. Then explore the Great Wall Museum, opened in 1989 as China’s first museum dedicated to Great Wall culture. Note: There are many steps—plan for ~2hrs of walking and climbing.

    Drive to Zhangye

    After sightseeing in Jiayuguan, head to Zhangye Linze County. Overnight at Kaoshan Tent near Zhangye Danxia Park, with a 5-hour stop for sightseeing and travel.

    Day 10: Zhangye Rainbow Mountain → Mati Temple

    Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

    Explore Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, famous for its “Rainbow Mountain”—striking red, orange and yellow rock ribbons that form a rainbow-like landscape typical of northern China’s arid regions.

    Transfer to Mati Temple

    Drive to Mati Temple and check into your hotel in the scenic area, with a 6-hour stop for sightseeing and travel along the way.

    Day 11: Zhangye → Xining (1hr High-Speed Train) → Ta’er Monastery

    High-Speed Train to Xining

    Take the 9am high-speed train along the majestic Qilian Mountains to Xining, enjoying breathtaking scenic views of snow-capped peaks and grasslands en route.

    Afternoon: Ta’er Monastery Visit

    At 4pm, visit Ta’er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery), the largest monastery with the most monks outside Tibet. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view from Thangka Sunning Terrace, see exquisite Buddha stupas, vivid murals and prayer wheels (walk the corridor to rotate them for blessings), and admire the delicate butter sculptures—one of the monastery’s “Three Art Wonders” (6-hour stop for travel and sightseeing).

    Day 12: Xining → Qinghai Lake → Chaka (300km / ~4hrs Drive)

    Qinghai Lake Adventure

    After a 2-hour drive, reach Qinghai Lake, a natural miracle and China’s largest inland lake. Choose to cycle (~1-2hrs) or hike around the lake’s shore, or wander the vibrant cole flower sea in full bloom (seasonal). From May to October, visit nomadic Tibetan families near the lake to learn about their traditional pastoral lifestyle.

    Transfer to Chaka

    Drive 2.5hrs to Chaka for an overnight stay, with a 4-minute stop for initial lake access and ample time for cycling or hiking.

    Day 13: Chaka Salt Lake → Xining Departure

    Chaka Salt Lake Exploration

    Explore Chaka Salt Lake, Qinghai’s largest salt lake where “Chaka” means “sea of salt” in Mongolian and ranks among China’s top 55 tourist spots. Take a one-way train to the lake’s heart and walk on the shimmering salt flats that mirror the sky like a “heavenly mirror”.

    Farewell Journey

    Drive 4hrs back to Xining for your departure flight (book flights after 7pm). Carry home unforgettable memories of the Silk Road’s diverse landscapes and rich cultures, and wish you a pleasant journey home! (4-minute stop for initial lake access; main time spent on exploration and travel).

    Discount available at low season, please send inquiries!

    Free cancellation

    Cancel up to 24 hours before the travel date in advance for a full refund

     

    • Included
      Breakfast
      Private transportation through out the itinerary. SRT will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure based on your flight info.
      Excellent English speaking guide ( professional and friendly)
      Entrance fee listed in the itinerary
      Airfare from Kashgar to Urumqi
      Allowance for the guide and driver
      2bottles of water each person on daily use
    • Not Included
      Tips or gratuities for guides and drivers
      Lunch and dinner throughout the itinerary
      Personal expenses and the other tours or activities not mentioned
      Some activities such as boating, camel riding, culture show etc.
      Flight arrive in Kashgar and leave from Xining

    Similar Tours

    12 Days Silk Road Tour from Xining to Kashgar (Qinghai Gansu Xinjiang)

    12 Days Silk Road Tour from Xining to Kashgar (Qinghai Gansu Xinjiang)

    Embark on an epic 12-day Silk Road adventure from Xining to Kashgar, exploring China’s most iconic natural wonders and ancient cultural landmarks—from Qinghai Lake’s turquoise waters and Zhangye’s rainbow Danxia landforms to Dunhuang’s Mogao Grottoes and Kashgar’s historic Old City, with breathtaking stops at the Pamir Plateau and Mount Everest’s gateway along the way. Experience the rich tapestry of Silk Road history, diverse ethnic cultures, and stunning alpine, desert and lake scenery on this all-inclusive journey with private guides, transfers and selected meals, creating unforgettable memories of China’s western frontier.

    12 days

    5-Day Xinjiang Adventure: Silk Road & Heavenly Lake Tour

    5-Day Xinjiang Adventure: Silk Road & Heavenly Lake Tour

    Enjoy a private car throughout the trip with flexible itineraries—no tedious planning, just immerse yourself in Xinjiang’s breathtaking scenery and unique customs.

    5 days

    Private Day Tour to Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Lanzhou by Bullet Train

    Private Day Tour to Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Lanzhou by Bullet Train

    Experience a seamless one-day private tour from Lanzhou to Zhangye Danxia Geopark, with hassle-free hotel pick-up, a scenic bullet train ride and an authentic local lunch included. Explore the stunning 200-million-year-old rainbow-hued rock formations at the geopark with expert guidance, capture incredible photos, and enjoy a smooth return transfer back to your Lanzhou hotel.

    1 day



    Share

    13 Days Silk Road Group Tour: Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

    ACCEPT MORE INFO