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Tour Overview
Embark on a captivating 5-night private Silk Road journey from Dunhuang to Urumqi, exploring the rich cultural tapestry of China. Begin your adventure in Dunhuang, where you can wander through the vibrant night market and marvel at the Mogao Grottoes, famed for their ancient Buddhist art. Travel in comfort via bullet train to Turpan, a historic trade center, and savor a traditional Uyghur lunch under grapevines. Discover the ancient city of Gaochang and the ingenious Karez Irrigation System. In Urumqi, visit the Xinjiang Museum to see well-preserved mummies and enjoy the serene beauty of Heavenly Lake in the Tianshan Mountains. With private vehicle transfers and stays in 4-star hotels, this tour offers a seamless blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. ...more ...less
Highlights
Explore the vibrant night market in Dunhuang.
Visit the Mogao Grottoes, known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas.
Discover the ancient trade center of Turpan and its Emin Minaret.
Experience a traditional Uyghur lunch under grapevines in Turpan.
Explore the Ancient City of Gaochang and the Karez Irrigation System.
See the well-preserved mummies at the Xinjiang Museum in Urumqi.
Enjoy the serene scenery of Heavenly Lake in the Tianshan Mountains.
Itinerary
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Upon arrival at Dunhuang Airport or Dunhuang Rail Station, meet your guide at arrival lobby and go to the hotel for check-in. You may spend the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the streets of Dunhuang. Be sure to explore the night market nearby the hotel in the evening!
You will visit the highlight of Silk Road today, Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas), where you will be impressed by the fresco and statues in the caves. These caves are examples of rock-cut architecture of soft gravel conglomerate not suitable for either sculpture or elaborate architectural details. In the afternoon, you will catch a bullet train to Turpan arriving in approximately 4 hours and be transferred to Turpan hotel in about 30 minutes.
After breakfast, you will start to visit Turpan, the centre of a fertile oasis and an important trade center along the Silk Road that was once adjacent to the kingdoms of Kroran and Yanqi. You will visit Emin Minaret which is the symbol of Turpan before sampling an authentic local lunch at a Uyghur home under the grape vine in open air. Later in the afternoon, you will explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs and Karez Irrigation System before returning to your hotel.
After breakfast, you will take a 3 hours ride to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. In Urumqi, the impressive stop of the day is Xinjiang Museum where well-preserved Chinese mummies are exhibited. Among which, you will find the spectacular one standing out from the rest named "Beauty of Loulan," who was buried 4,000 years ago near the town of Loulan in Taklimakan Desert. "Beauty of Loulan" was remarkably preserved in an open coffin under hot desert sands of the Taklamakan when she was excavated in 1980.Later, you will head to stroll through the wonderful Erdaoqiao Bazaar before driving back your hotel.
Today you will take a one hour ride to Heavenly Lake, which is located on the north side of the Bodga Shan range of the Tianshan Mountains to enjoy fantastic mountain views and serene lake scenery. Then you will be taken back hotel.
Day 6
:
Depart Urumqi
Location: Ürümqi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transferred to Urumqi Airport where the tour ends.
What's Included
Accommodation
Accommodation as per itinerary is included.
Entrance Fees
Entrance fees to various attractions are included.
Local Guide
A local guide will be provided throughout the tour.
Private Tour
The tour is conducted as a private tour.
Transport
Transport by private vehicle is included.
Bullet Train
Bullet train from Liuyuan (Dunhuang) to Turpan is included.
What's Not Included
Passport
A valid passport is required for the tour.
Walking Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended but not provided.
Requirements
Passport
Please Note
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with private vehicle transfers and a scenic bullet train ride from Liuyuan to Turpan, offering a seamless and comfortable journey through the Silk Road's captivating landscapes.
Accommodation
Enjoy comfortable stays at 4-star hotels throughout your journey, including the Dunhuang Hotel, Huozhou Hotel in Turpan, and Xiangjiang Lihua Hotel in Urumqi, ensuring a relaxing retreat after each day's exploration.
Check out our Q&As
What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes comfortable stays at 4-star hotels throughout the journey, including the Dunhuang Hotel, Huozhou Hotel in Turpan, and Xiangjiang Lihua Hotel in Urumqi.
Is the tour conducted in a group or privately?
The tour is conducted as a private tour, ensuring a more personalized experience.
What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour includes private vehicle transfers and a scenic bullet train ride from Liuyuan to Turpan, providing a seamless and comfortable journey through the Silk Road's captivating landscapes.
Are entrance fees to attractions included in the tour package?
Yes, entrance fees to various attractions are included in the tour package.
Will meals be provided during the tour?
Meals are included as per the itinerary, with breakfast and lunch provided on certain days.
Is a local guide available during the tour?
Yes, a local guide will be provided throughout the tour to enhance your experience.
What is the highlight of the visit to Turpan?
In Turpan, you will visit the Emin Minaret, enjoy a traditional Uyghur lunch under grapevines, and explore the Ancient City of Gaochang, Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs, and the Karez Irrigation System.
What can I expect to see at the Xinjiang Museum in Urumqi?
At the Xinjiang Museum in Urumqi, you can see well-preserved Chinese mummies, including the 'Beauty of Loulan,' a mummy that was remarkably preserved in the desert sands for 4,000 years.
What is special about the visit to Heavenly Lake?
The visit to Heavenly Lake offers fantastic mountain views and serene lake scenery, located on the north side of the Bodga Shan range of the Tianshan Mountains.
Tipping in China
If you're happy with the services provided then a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. Tipping is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across China and other Asian countries. We recommend that any tips are given to the intended recipient by a member of your group, rather than collected and passed on by the group leader.
The following amounts are based on local considerations and feedback from our past travellers:
Restaurants: Tipping is not common practice at restaurants in China or Tibet.
Tour guides: Throughout your tour you may at times have local guides or national guide. We suggest CNY20-50 per person per day for guides.
Porters: In some hotels a porter may offer to carry your bag to your room. We suggest CNY10 per bag for porters.
Drivers: You may have a range of drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would suggest that you tip only those more involved with the group (for example those that help you with your bags etc). CNY10-30 per person per day is generally appropriate.
Can I travel to China without a visa?
US/UK/Australia/New Zealand/Canada citizens(actually most western country citizens) planning to visit China's mainland must apply for an entry visa through the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General. ... WithUS/UK/Australia/New Zealand/Canadapassport, citizens do not need a visa to enter Hong Kong, but travelers who plan to visit China's mainland while in the region will need a visa to travel from Hong Kong to China.
However, some cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Chengdu, Chongqing etc. that allow 24-hour/72-hour direct transit in China, also called the 24-hour/72-hour transit without visa, regulates that visa is not required for air, train, and ship passengers transiting in mainland China for a stay of no more than 24 hours/72 hours before heading for a third country or region formost western country citizens.
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
All of our tours are planned and operated on a twin-share basis, meaning that the standard cost is based either on individual travellers sharing accommodation with another group member of the same sex, or people who book together sharing accommodation. Silkroadtrips are pleased to offer travellers the option of pre-booking a guaranteed single room. Kindly note our single supplement do not include sharing cabins on the overnight trains or cruises.
Trains
Aboard the overnight sleeper train, berths are usually in 1st class ‘soft sleeper’ lockable compartments for 4 which have 2 sets of bunks with clean bedding provided. WC and washbasins are provided for shared use at the end of each carriage. Hot meals and snacks are sold to your berth on all overnight journeys. In times of large demand we may have to travel in 2nd class ‘hard sleeper’ which consists of sectioned off compartments for 6,leading off an open plan carriage.
Bullet trains are getting popular, it is very modern with a high velocity of 300km per hour. There are western toilets, dinning car on the bullet trains, and normally for short distance running 1—8 hours.
Silk Road Trips allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform silk road trips, 0 days before departure.
Low Deposit
Silk Road Trips requires a minimum deposit of
30%
or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of silk road trips charges.
Up to 31 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
5-Night Private Silk Road Trip from Dunhuang to Urumqi including Hotel Accommodations
6 Days Starting in Dunhuang, China and ending in Ürümqi, China
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