Covering a great distance and landscapes, it combines culture, history, and nature into one great adventure. Primarily traveling by airplane, car or 4-wheel drive, you will experience the threatening Taklamakan and Gobi deserts and the intimidating Pamir and Tianshan mountain ranges. You will see stunning terrain and diverse wildlife, from sheep and mountain goats to wolves and mountain cats. Also you could see some of the wildest parts of the Silk Road from the back of a yak, camel, or horse. Further more, we will arrange home stays for an authentic life experience.
Itinerary
Day 1 Xian
Arrive in Xian. When you arrive at Xian Airport, your local guide and driver will meet you there and take you to downtown City.
Xian is claimed to be “Museum City”. You will be able to visit the Shannxi Historic Museum, one of the best museums in China, with collections from 1.7 million years ago. Your next stop will be at the symbol of Xian, Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists.
As for the dinner, you will be able to enjoy the Special Dumplings Dinner to taste more than10 types of different dumplings. After the dinner, you can enjoy a Tang Dynasty Performance, a veritable Tang dynasty show, reminding you the most prosperous empire 1400 year ago.
Meals: lunch & special dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Day 2 Xian
In the morning you will visit a prehistoric settlement at Banpo, to see the early settlements’ life. Then you will visit the highlight of Xian trip-- the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. It was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the world cultural heritages.
In the afternoon you will be driven to the Great Mosque, established in AD742 for Muslim traders from Central Asia who settled in Xian, which is still an active place of worship in the present. The area surrounding the mosque has a distinct Muslim atmosphere, crowded with shops.
Tonight, if you like, you can enjoy a special treatment—Chinese herbs feet massage（optional, RMB150/p/60min）, to relax your sore feet from a whole day walk, and give you a good sleep. Try it! You will be indulged in it!
Meals: lunch
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Day 3 Xi’an/Dunhuang/Yangguan
Today the tour guide will take you to Xian City Wall, the best preserved city wall in China.
Then you will fly to l fly to Dunhuang. This small desert oasis is the site of the largest complex of ancient Chinese art-- religious art. The Mogao Caves contain hundreds of hand dug caves containing murals and statues relating to the life of the Buddha. This site is both a “Chinese Cultural Treasure of National Importance” and a “UNESCO World Heritage Site”.
After a visit to the Mogao Caves you will drive through the Gobi to Yangguan. Here you will visit Yangguan Pass, one of the far western gates of the Great Wall, all but dilapidated from the harsh environment. You will visit a local tree farm and learn about global desertification from an environmental engineer.
Meals: lunch & dinner
Accommodation: 4-star hotel
Day 4 Yangguan/Kashigar
Today you will fly to Kashigar. Relax in the evening.
Meals: lunch
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Day 5 Kashigar/ Taklimakan Desert
Drive 2 hours to the edge of the Taklimakan Desert (literal translation, “if you go in, it is hard to get out”) and feel the blazing sun from the back of a camel. The afternoon and evening will be spent exploring the endless stalls at a local bazaar before touring one of Xinjiang’s oldest mosques.
Meals: lunch & dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Day 6 Taklimakan Desert/Tashikulkan
Travel by bus to Tashikulkan at 3,000m (10,000ft) altitude. You will stop to take photos and enjoy the spectacular scenery. Plateau Lake and the 7,546m (24,757ft) high peak of Mushitake (Glacier Peak’s Father) are the highlights of the journey. The bus trip will take the majority of the day.
Meals: lunch & dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Day 7 Ancient Stone City
In the morning tour the town and the Ancient Stone City. After lunch you will be driven to the Tajikan village at 3,400m (11,100ft). In the afternoon and evening you are free to explore the town, speak with locals, and share their quiet and simple.
Meals: lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Home stay
Day 8 Pamir Plateau
Travel by Yak or Horse for a full day’s safari on the Pamir Plateau. View wildlife, such as the Marco Polo Argali (the largest wild sheep with longest long horns in the world), the Himalayan Ibex, the Blue Sheep, and if lucky, you can see the Wolf and Snow leopard. A local expert guide will take us into mountains 3,300- 4,000m (10,000-13,000ft) or higher. Ride back to the village for another night in a local’s home. (Camping in the mountains is optional and additional days for the tour are available).
Meals: lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Home stay
Day 9 Pamir Plateau/ Hongqilapu Pass/Kashgar
Drive to the breathtaking Hongqilapu Pass on the border with Pakistan before heading down the mountains into Kashgar for the night (an extended driving tour over the pass to continue into Pakistan is optional)
Meals: lunch & dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Day 10 Departure
Depart from Kashgar for home or combine other tour programs to continue.
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Not included
Independent Group Price (2-5 People)
USD2,290 /per/ person
Group Discount
|
Group Size
(Adults Only)
|
The Discount You Will Get
|
|
6
|
50% of your tour cost
|
|
7
|
60% of your tour cost
|
|
8
|
70% of your tour cost
|
|
9
|
80% of your tour cost
|
|
10
|
90% of your tour cost
|
|
11
|
Your tour free!
|
Accommodation:
-4 star hotels arranged (in some remote areas, best hotels offered like 2 or 3 star hotels)
-Hotels standard changes acceptable