SILK ROAD · SMALL GROUP
Silk Road & Ancient Xi’an
Max 16 travelersNo forced shoppingNo commission stopsLicensed local operator
T2C-SR-15
15 days / 14 nights
Urumqi → Turpan → Dunhuang → Jiayuguan → Zhangye → Lanzhou → Xi’an
Small group · max 16 · private departures available
Licensed English-speaking guides · private AC vehicle + trains Turpan–Dunhuang & Lanzhou–Xi’an
Comfortable 4★ hotels and Silk Road heritage stays (e.g. Dunhuang resort hotels)
Silk Road, archaeology and photography fans
Travelers who dislike long scenic drives — desert legs are several hours each
Moderate; Mogao Caves and Mingsha dunes involve walking and sand
Light-to-moderate daily walking; sightseeing days include stairs
Some sites have uneven terrain — please advise us of any needs at booking
Most evenings are free for you to explore at your own pace
twin share · land only · no international airfare
How many travelers?
Select a day to see that day's activities, transport, meals and hotel.
Arrive in Xi'an, private airport pickup and hotel check-in.
Today: Overnight in Xi'an · No meals included · Private airport transfer · English-speaking guide · Light walking
After your flight lands at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY), our English-speaking guide meets you at arrivals and transfers you to your 5-star city-center hotel. Rest and recover from jet lag.
Our guide holds a sign with your name at the arrivals gate and escorts you to a private vehicle for the 45-minute transfer to your city-center hotel.
Private transfer · ~45 min · Meet at arrivals gate
Overnight stay at Sheraton Xi'an North.
World-famous Terracotta Warriors.
Today: Overnight in Xi'an · Breakfast + Lunch included · Full-day sightseeing · English-speaking guide · Active walking
Visit the Terracotta Army — 8,000 life-sized soldiers guarding Qin Shi Huang's tomb for 2,200 years.
Drive from Xi'an to the Terracotta Army site (~1 hour).
~1 hour drive
Explore the Terracotta Army (UNESCO World Heritage) — pits containing thousands of life-sized terracotta soldiers, horses, and chariots dating back to 210 BC.
~3 hours · UNESCO · Wonder of the ancient world
Lunch near the Terracotta Army site.
~1 hour
Overnight stay at Sheraton Xi'an North.
Ancient city wall bike ride and famous food street.
Today: Overnight in Xi'an · Breakfast + Lunch included · Full-day sightseeing · English-speaking guide · Active walking
Morning bike ride on the 600-year-old Ming Dynasty City Wall. Afternoon visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Muslim Quarter food street.
Bike ride on the 600-year-old Ming Dynasty City Wall — one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in China.
~1.5 hours · Bike rental included · Sunset views
Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda — 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty pagoda, symbol of Xi'an.
~1 hour · Tang Dynasty · Iconic landmark
Lunch at the famous Muslim Quarter — Xi'an's best food street.
~1 hour · Street food · Halal cuisine
Wander the Muslim Quarter — hundreds of street food stalls, old mosques, and Hui Muslim culture.
~2 hours · Free time · Street food dinner
Overnight stay at Sheraton Xi'an North.
Fly to Dunhuang — the jewel of the Silk Road.
Today: Overnight in Dunhuang · Breakfast included · Flight · English-speaking guide · Easy day
Morning flight from Xi'an to Dunhuang (~2 hours). Afternoon visit to the Mingsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes) and Crescent Lake.
Morning flight from Xi'an to Dunhuang (~2 hours).
~2 hours flight · Desert oasis city
Visit Mingsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes) — massive sand dunes in the Gobi Desert. Ride a camel and see the Crescent Lake — a small oasis lake that has existed for 2,000 years.
~3 hours · Camel ride included · Sunset views
Overnight stay at Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel.
The thousand Buddha grottoes of the Silk Road.
Today: Overnight in Dunhuang · Breakfast + Lunch included · Full-day sightseeing · English-speaking guide · Active walking
Visit the Mogao Caves (UNESCO World Heritage) — 735 cave temples carved into a cliff face between the 4th and 14th centuries, containing the largest collection of Buddhist art in China.
Drive from Dunhuang to the Mogao Caves (~20 minutes).
~20 min drive
Explore the Mogao Caves (UNESCO World Heritage) — 735 cave temples with 45,000 sq meters of murals and 2,000+ painted statues. Guided tour of 8-10 caves.
~3 hours · UNESCO · No photography inside · Guided tour
Lunch at a restaurant near the caves.
~1 hour
Visit the Dunhuang Museum — learn about Silk Road history and the discovery of the Mogao Caves library.
~1.5 hours · Silk Road history
Overnight stay at Dunhuang Silk Road Hotel.
The western end of the Great Wall.
Today: Overnight in Jiayuguan · Breakfast + Lunch included · ~4-hour drive · English-speaking guide · Moderate walking
Scenic drive from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan (~4 hours). Visit Jiayuguan Fort — the westernmost fortress of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, known as the 'First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven'.
Scenic drive from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan (~4 hours) through the Gobi Desert.
~4 hours drive · Gobi desert views · Rest stops
Lunch at a local restaurant on the way.
~1 hour
Visit Jiayuguan Fort (UNESCO World Heritage) — the westernmost fortress of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Built in 1372, this was the last outpost of Chinese civilization before the desert.
~2.5 hours · UNESCO · Great Wall western end
Overnight stay at Jiayuguan Crowne Plaza.
Overhanging Great Wall section, then drive to Turpan.
Today: Overnight in Turpan · Breakfast included · Full-day drive · English-speaking guide · Long drive
Morning visit to the Overhanging Great Wall — a steep section built on a cliff. Then long drive across the Gobi Desert to Turpan (~6 hours).
Visit the Overhanging Great Wall — a section built on a steep cliff 14km from Jiayuguan Fort. Built in 1539, it looks like it hangs off the edge.
~1 hour · Steep walk · Cliffside
Long drive from Jiayuguan to Turpan (~6 hours) across the Gobi Desert and into Xinjiang.
~6 hours drive · Border crossing · Rest stops
Overnight stay at Turpan Holiday Inn.
Hot desert and sweet grapes.
Today: Overnight in Turpan · Breakfast + Lunch included · Full-day sightseeing · English-speaking guide · Active walking
Visit the Flaming Mountains (made famous by Journey to the West) and Grape Valley — lush oasis famous for sweet seedless grapes.
Visit the Flaming Mountains — red sandstone mountains that can reach 70°C in summer. Made famous by the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West'.
~1 hour · Desert landscape · Hot!
Visit Grape Valley (Putao Gou) — a lush oasis valley famous for sweet seedless grapes. Walk through vineyards and taste fresh grapes.
~2 hours · Vineyards · Grape tasting
Lunch at a Uyghur family restaurant in the valley.
~1 hour · Uyghur cuisine
Visit Jiaohe Ancient City (UNESCO World Heritage) — ruined city built 2,000 years ago, one of the largest and best-preserved earthen cities in the world.
~2 hours · UNESCO · Earthen ruins · Desert setting
Overnight stay at Turpan Holiday Inn.
Drive to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang.
Today: Overnight in Urumqi · Breakfast included · ~3-hour drive · English-speaking guide · Easy day
Morning drive from Turpan to Urumqi (~3 hours). Afternoon visit to Xinjiang Museum and Hongshan Park.
Drive from Turpan to Urumqi (~3 hours).
~3 hours drive · Scenic
Visit Xinjiang Museum — see the famous 'Tarim Mummies' (3,800-year-old preserved bodies), Silk Road artifacts, and Uyghur cultural exhibits.
~2 hours · Free entry · Mummies · Silk Road history
Visit the International Grand Bazaar — the largest bazaar in Central Asia. Explore Uyghur markets, mosques, and food stalls.
~2 hours · Uyghur culture · Shopping · Street food
Overnight stay at Urumqi Sheraton.
Alpine lake in the Tianshan Mountains.
Today: Overnight in Urumqi · Breakfast + Lunch included · Day trip · English-speaking guide · Moderate walking
Day trip to Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) — a beautiful alpine lake at 1,900m in the Tianshan Mountains, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and spruce forests.
Drive from Urumqi to Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) (~1.5 hours).
~1.5 hours drive · Mountain road
Explore Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) — turquoise alpine lake at the foot of Bogda Peak (5,445m). Take a boat ride or walk along the lakeside boardwalk.
~3 hours · Boat ride optional · Snow mountain views
Lunch at a restaurant near the lake.
~1 hour
Overnight stay at Urumqi Sheraton.
Fly back to Xi'an.
Today: Overnight in Xi'an · Breakfast included · Flight · English-speaking guide · Easy day
Morning flight from Urumqi back to Xi'an (~3 hours). Afternoon free to do last-minute shopping or relax.
Morning flight from Urumqi back to Xi'an (~3 hours).
~3 hours flight
Free afternoon to do last-minute shopping or try more Xi'an food.
Free time · Last-minute shopping
Overnight stay at Sheraton Xi'an North.
Free day or optional hiking.
Today: Overnight in Xi'an · Breakfast included · Free day · English-speaking guide · Free time
Free day in Xi'an. Optional: visit the Shaanxi History Museum, Huaqing Hot Springs, or just relax and shop.
Free day in Xi'an. Optional: Shaanxi History Museum (best in China), Huaqing Hot Springs, or Big Wild Goose Pagoda night show.
Free day · Optional activities · Shopping
Overnight stay at Sheraton Xi'an North.
Free morning, transfer to Xi'an Airport.
Today: Breakfast included · Private airport transfer · Free morning
Free morning to pack or do last-minute shopping. Transfer to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) for your departure flight.
Free morning to pack, shop, or relax. Check-out by 12:00.
Check-out by 12:00 · Luggage storage available
Private transfer to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) for your departure flight.
~45 min transfer · Allow 2 hours before flight
Own room available with a single supplement (priced on request); roommate pairing available at no extra charge when possible.
Children welcome with adult supervision — please ask about age rules and family pricing.
Vegetarian, vegan, halal and allergy needs are accommodated when advised at booking.
Please advise us of mobility or accessibility needs — we will do our best to adjust hotels and pacing.
One suitcase plus one carry-on per person is recommended; larger items may affect transfers.
Gratuities are at your discretion and never required.
We run each tour with a small confirmed group (typically 4–16 travelers). If a departure cannot meet its minimum, you may reschedule or receive a full refund.
Free full refund when you cancel 30+ days before departure. Within 30 days, the deposit is non-refundable as it holds your places, hotels and tickets.
Date or itinerary changes are possible before final confirmation — contact your consultant. Your deposit can be transferred to a new departure.
If we cancel a departure or make a major change to the tour, you get a full refund of everything paid. Force-majeure cases follow the same full-refund principle.
Refunds are processed by the licensed operating agency shown in your contract, to the original payment method, within the timeline stated in your booking contract.
