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Silk Road Explorer
Operated by Wendy Wu
Tripcode: CSR_AU
Overview
Destination:
China,
Duration:28 days
Type:Group tour (max 18)
Travel Period
September 2026 - October 2028
Follow in the footsteps of adventurers by journeying along one of the world's most famous trading routes, the Silk Road. Beginning in ancient Xian, venture across this vast land to reach the fascinating outpost of Kashgar and its famous Sunday market.
Tour highlights:
- Xian, Come face to face with Xian's most famous army, the Terracotta Warriors
- Magao Grottoes, See the exhibits of Buddhist paintings, statues and sculptures
- Xinjiang, Visit the striking red sandstone Flaming Mountains and the elegant Emin Minaret
- Tian Chi, Relax and unwind at the alpine banks of placid Heavenly Lake
Tour experiences:
- Tibetan Lunch, Sample Tibetan foods and flavours with a traditional Tibetan lunch, featuring 'momos', the tasty steamed and stuffed dumpling whose popularity has spread from the Tibetan Plateau throughout Asia.
- Visit a Traditional Nomadic Yurt, Visit a traditional, nomadic home of a family of the Kazakh minority community, and spend some time with them, learning about their culture, and get a glimpse of life living in a yurt.
- Shazhou Night Market, Wander amongst the packed stalls of the atmospheric Shazhou Night Market in the Silk Road frontier city of Dunhuang, browsing delicious foods, fascinating local wares and a wealth of souvenirs.
Places visited:
- Xian (2N)
- Lanzhou (3N)
- Xiahe (2N)
- Zhangye (1N)
- Jiayuguan (2N)
- Dunhuang (3N)
- Turpan (2N)
- Kurla (1N)
- Kuqa (1N)
- Aksu (1N)
- Kashgar (2N)
- Urumqi (2N) – Beijing (3N)
Price notes:
- Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 June 2025. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
- Customary tipping amount of approximately RMB1,360pp (AU$296pp) is paid locally in China.
- Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
Highlights:
Standard inclusions
- International flights and current taxes (excluded if a land only option is selected)
- All Meals (refer to itinerary)
- Domestic transportation
- Touring with guides and entrance fees
- 3-4 star accommodation
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allDAYS 1-2: Fly overnight To Xian
Fly overnight to Xian, the ancient former capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
DAY 3: Terracotta Warriors
Gaze over the ranks of warriors and horses, each one unique, whilst your guide introduces you to these life-like soldiers' fascinating story. Later, enjoy a gentle cycle ride that will take you the nine miles around the ancient city wall and take a walking tour of the narrow and winding streets of the Muslim Quarter. Tonight, enjoy a traditional dumpling dinner and take an optional 'Xian by night' tour.
DAY 4: Train To Lanzhou
Start the day with a visit to the ancient City Wall Park and Sculptures of Silk road. Later, board the bullet train to Lanzhou.
DAYS 5-6: Explore Lanzhou
Begin today with a leisurely walk along the Yellow River and then head to the hilltop Baita Temple for a moment of tranquillity. Along the river and in Baita Park you can see locals practising tai chi. Later, tuck into some delicious Lanzhou-style noodles made with hand stretched dough. The next day, cross Liujiaxia Lake by speed boat and head into the green hills around Liujiaxia to explore the extraordinary Thousand Buddha Caves of Bingling Temple and their wealth of Buddhist murals, statues and sculptures. Also visit the statue of Maitreya.
DAY 7: Tibetan Xiahe
Conquer the scenic Jishi Mountain Pass to arrive at Tibetan Xiahe and spend time acclimatising to the altitude.
DAY 8: Labrang Monastery
Giving a taste of the mysteries of Tibet, Labrang Monastery is a fascinating maze of prayer wheels, chapels and chortens. Dine on traditional Tibetan food for lunch, including Tibetan dumplings, known as momos.
DAY 9: Travel To Zhangye
Return to Lanzhou and take the speedy bullet train to Zhangye, once an important commercial town along the Silk Road.
DAY 10: Rainbow Mountains
Rise early this morning to witness the sunrise over the kaleidoscopic mountains
in Danxia National Park. Return to Zhangye and visit the Giant Buddha Temple before boarding your bullet train to Jiayuguan.
DAY 11: Great Wall At Jiayuguan
Seen as China's western gateway, Jiayuguan is the perfect place to get to grips with your Silk Road history. Visit the Jiayu Fortress and take a walk on the western extremes of the magnificent Great Wall for panoramic views over the starkly beautiful Gobi Desert.
DAY 12: City Of Sands
Drive to Dunhuang. Located on a major trade and cultural crossroads, Dunhuang, known as the 'City of the Sands', sits in a verdant oasis on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Visit the Shazhou Night Market where you can wander amongst the stalls.
DAY 13: Mogao Grottoes
A system of temples and sanctuaries, visit the Mogao Grottoes that exhibit wonderful examples of Buddhist paintings and statues that span thousands of years.
DAY 14: Singing Sand Dunes
Visit Crescent Moon Spring, nestled amongst rolling dunes and the famous Singing Sand Dunes, a phenomenon produced by the wind blowing through grains of sand.
DAY 15: Turpan
Take the bullet train to Turpan, a lush green oasis set in a barren landscape. An easy-going town famed for its grapes, its pleasant streets are lined with lush vine trellises.
DAY 16: Explore Turpan
Visit the ruins of ancient Jiaohe and see the elegant Emin Minaret, the tallest in China.
DAY 17: Kurla
Learn about the fascinating 2000-year-old Kerez irrigation canals and drive to Kurla.
Day 18: Kurla to Kuqa
Over the next 3 days travel along the original Silk Road through the Xinjian Region, viewing ruins and sights largely unvisited by tourists. Today, drive to Kuqa where you will visit the Subashi Ruins, a lost city of the Silk Road.
Day 19: Kuqu to Aksu
Drive to Aksu, stopping en-route at the Kyzil Thousand Buddha Caves, a spectacular caves built between 3rd and 8th centuries.
DAYS 20: Aksu to Kashagar
The journey continues through the Taklamakan Desert, along the ancient Silk Road, all the way to Kashgar.
DAY 21: Explore Kashgar
Its skyline punctured by minarets, Kashgar feels a million miles from China – in fact, it feels a million miles from anywhere! Although now a modern city, the sights and sounds of Kashgar's bazaar have remained unchanged for millennia. Sightseeing today includes a visit to Abakh Hoja Tomb, Id Kah Mosque and stroll through the narrow atmospheric alleyways around Id Kah Square.
DAY 22: Kashgar Sunday Bazaar
Dive headlong into Central Asia's largest bazaar. Within this riot of textures, vivid colours and traditional dress, you can browse hundreds of stalls selling anything from spices and carpets to boots and blenders. Later, fly to Urumqi.
DAY 23: Heavenly Lake
Escape to the tranquillity of Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), formed in a crater. Visit a Kazak minority family in their yurt and spend some time learning about their way of life.
DAY 24: Urumqi
Make a short visit to the Xinjiang Museum before flying to Beijing, China’s historic capital.
DAY 25: The Great Wall
This morning is dedicated to China's most iconic sight – the Great Wall. In the afternoon, enjoy the idyllic landscapes of the Summer Palace as you wander through traditional Chinese gardens and see the exquisite architecture.
DAY 26: Imperial Beijing
Head to Beijing's symbolic heart, Tiananmen Square and into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City where you will find a complex full of imperial treasures. Soak up the ambience of the Temple of Heaven, and in the evening, dine on Peking duck and enjoy a Chinese acrobatic show.
DAYS 27-28: Fly Beijing To Australia
Fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day.
DAYS 27-28: Fly Beijing To Australia
Fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day.
Dates
Select a date or submit general enquiry
Operator
Wendy Wu
Wendy Wu Tours is Australia's leading touring specialist, offering extraordinary tours throughout Asia, Latin America, Eurasia, the Middle East – and most recently, Australasia. Since Wendy sent her very first tour to China in 1994, we've grown from strength to strength and are proud of the multiple awards we've won throughout the years and the unique travel experiences we offer to an expanding range of destinations.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
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27 nights
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