Silk Road Explorer

Days 1-2 : Fly to Xian

Fly overnight to Xian.

Day 3 : Terracotta Warriors

Visit one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century – the Terracotta Warriors, followed by a walk along the Ancient City Wall.

Day 4 : Explore Xian

Visit the renowned Shaanxi Museum which is home to thousands of priceless relics. We also stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter, past the Great Mosque to explore the Islamic food markets before boarding the overnight train to Lanzhou.

Days 5-6 : Explore Lanzhou

Visit Baita Temple and sample the local hand-stretched noodles. The next day visit the extraordinary Thousand Buddha Caves of Bingling Temple on Lioujiaxia Lake.

Day 7 : Journey to Xiahe

Travel through Jishi Mountain Pass to Tibetan Xiahe.

Day 8 : Labrang Monastery

Explore the Tibetan Labrang Monastery, home to thousands of Buddha statues, and explore the town.

Days 9-10 : Great Wall at Jiayuguan

Return to Lanzhou and board the overnight train for Jiayuguan. The next day, visit Jiayu Fortress, and walk along the western end of the Great Wall to appreciate 2,000 years of history whilst admiring the panoramic views. The Great Wall is China’s most iconic attraction, which stretches over 4,000 miles from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast to the Gobi Desert in the west.

Day 11 : Dunhuang

Drive to the ancient Silk Road hub of Dunhuang, known as City of Sands, on the edge of the starkly beautiful Taklamakan Desert.

Day 12 : Mogao Grottoes

Tour the Mogao Grottoes, known as the Caves of Thousand Buddhas. Overnight in Dunhuang.

Day 13 : Singing Sand Dunes

Visit Crescent Moon Spring and the famous Singing Sand Dunes. Take the overnight train to Turpan.

Days 14-15 : Explore Turpan

Explore the ancient ruins of Jiaohe, and see the Flaming Mountains. The following day, see the Emin Minaret, visit a local home and learn about the Kerez Irrgation Canals.

Day 16 : Overnight train to Kashgar

Follow the ancient Silk Road, skirting the Taklamakan Desert, on an incredible overnight train journey to Kashgar.

Day 17 : Explore Kashgar

Explore Kashgar, one of the most remote cities in the world, and the heart of the Silk Road; sightseeing includes the Abakh Hoja Tomb, Id Kah Mosque and the alleyways around Id Kah Square.

Day 18 : Kashgar Sunday Bazaar

See the largest and best bazaar in the world where everything from exotic spices to scorpions, and sheepskins to musical instruments are on sale. Fly to Urumqi.

Days 19-20 : Discover Urumqi

Travel to Tian Chi Heavenly Lake for breathtaking views of the crystal clear lake at the top of the mountain range. Our evening meal includes traditional Uygur Lamb skewers. The next day visit the Xinjiang Musuem, home to mummies over one thousand years old. Fly to Beijing in the afternoon..

Day 21 : Temple of Heaven

Walk on the Great Wall and visit the unique Temple of Heaven where you can see locals gather to practice Tai Chi, sing folk songs and play chess.

Day 22 : Forbidden City

Sightseeing today includes a stroll through Tiananmen Square, past Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum to the treasure-filled Forbidden City, which is the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and houses over 8,000 rooms. Also tour the exquisite Summer Palace. Our farewell dinner will include the local delicacy, Peking duck.

Day 23 : Fly Beijing to UK

Fly to the UK arriving the same or following day.

Tour includes:

all international airfares
all domestic transportation, departure taxes and current fuel surcharges
all accommodation
all meals
entrance fees, guides and daily tours
visa fees for UK passport holders

Wendy Wu Tours is the leading independent specialist tour operator to China in the UK. They offer an extensive range of tour itineraries to enable you to visit famous tourist attractions such as the Great Wall, the Yangtze River or the Terracotta Warriors in China, Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Taj Mahal in India.

Many of their tours also take you off the beaten track, to emerald lakes and traditional villages, allowing you to enjoy the authentic China experience. Other unforgettable excursions include a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s traditional Hutongs, attending a Buddhist ceremony or cruising on a traditional junk boat. They also offer the opportunity to explore a bustling city like Hong Kong or Dubai en-route for a few nights.

Our Opinion
Wendy Wu Tours allow you to not only visit famous attractions but really discover the country’s culture, natural beauty and hidden treasures. Coupled with their affordable, all-inclusive style pricing, it’s no surprise that the company is growing from strength to strength and winning multiple industry awards along the way!