Explore China’s ancient Silk Road on a private journey through Xi’an, Gansu and Xinjiang, with routes continuing as far west as Kashgar. Along the way, discover the Terracotta Warriors, Zhangye Rainbow Mountains, Jiayuguan Pass and Mogao Grottoes, as well as desert landscapes and historic oasis cities.
Our China Silk Road tours range from shorter trips around Dunhuang in Gansu to longer journeys across Xinjiang, including Turpan, Kashgar and southern Xinjiang. For a first trip, 10–15 days is a practical range for experiencing the main Silk Road highlights.
All our Silk Road tours are private and can be customized around your travel dates, interests and preferred pace. You can also combine the Silk Road with Qinghai, Tibet or other parts of China, or extend your journey into Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Plan My Private Silk Road Tour
Discover our most popular China Silk Road tours, from the Rainbow Mountains and Mogao Grottoes to the ancient oasis cities of Turpan and Kashgar. These private journeys combine the Silk Road’s history, culture and landscapes, with routes ranging from short Gansu trips to complete journeys from Xi’an to Kashgar.
Experience Buddhist art, ancient history, and breathtaking landscapes on this 5 Day Dunhuang Jiayuguan Zhangye Tour. Visit the Mogao Caves, explore the Jiayuguan Great Wall fortress, and marvel at the rainbow-colored Zhangye Danxia Landform. A perfect Gansu tour filled with culture and natural beauty.
Experience a classic China Silk Road tour from Xi’an to Urumqi in 10 days, traveling through Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang and Turpan to discover ancient cities, Buddhist grottoes, desert landscapes and Xinjiang culture.
Travel from Lanzhou to Kashgar on a 12-day Silk Road tour through Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang and Turpan, exploring Buddhist grottoes, ancient oasis cities, desert landscapes, Kashgar and the spectacular Pamirs.
Experience the highlights of China’s Silk Road in 14 days, traveling from Xi’an to Kashgar through Tianshui, Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang and Turpan, before continuing into the spectacular Pamirs.
We help 3,000+ international travelers each year explore China, with extensive experience planning private Silk Road journeys across Gansu and Xinjiang in western China.
Your dedicated travel advisor coordinates your guides, drivers, trains, flights and hotels across the entire Silk Road journey.
Explore Xi’an, Gansu and Xinjiang with knowledgeable local guides who bring the Silk Road’s history, culture and local life into your journey.
Know what’s included before you book, with transparent pricing, no forced shopping stops, no compulsory tips and no hidden costs.
Discover Xinjiang along China’s ancient Silk Road, from the oasis cities of Turpan, Kuqa and Kashgar to the desert landscapes of southern Xinjiang and the Pamir Mountains. Experience ancient ruins, Uyghur culture and some of western China’s most spectacular scenery.
This Xinjiang Highlights Tour covers Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar and Karakul Lake. Experience ancient Silk Road cities, Uyghur culture, desert ruins, alpine lakes and dramatic mountain landscapes along the Karakoram Highway.
This Xinjiang Silk Road Cultural Tour travels from Urumqi to Turpan, Hotan, Yarkand, Kashgar, and Tashkorgan. Experience desert camping, oasis ruins, the Karakoram Highway, Karakul Lake, and rich Uyghur and Tajik culture.
Travel from Lanzhou to Urumqi on this 14-day China Silk Road and Kanas Lake tour. Explore Maijishan and Mogao Grottoes, Zhangye Danxia, Jiayuguan Pass, and Turpan’s ancient oasis culture before heading north to Kanas Lake for turquoise waters, alpine forests, and Tuva villages.
Explore Southern Xinjiang on a 12-day Urumqi to Kashgar tour. Cross the Taklamakan Desert, ride camels, camp under stars, and visit ancient Silk Road cities, Uyghur villages, and scenic highlands on this immersive desert highway journey.
Combine China’s Silk Road with Beijing, Shanghai, Tibet, the Yangtze River or Qinghai for a longer journey across China. These itineraries bring together the history and landscapes of the Silk Road with some of China’s most iconic cultural and scenic highlights.
Journey from Urumqi to Shanghai on this 15-day China Silk Road and Yangtze Cruise tour. Explore Turpan, Dunhuang, Lanzhou, and Xi’an, then sail through the Three Gorges to Yichang before finishing in modern Shanghai.
Travel from Beijing through Kashgar, Turpan, Dunhuang, Zhangye, Xi’an, and Shanghai on this 15-day Silk Road tour. Explore ancient trading cities, desert landscapes, Buddhist grottoes, and China’s cultural highlights.
Journey across Western China on this 15-day Silk Road tour through Xinjiang, Gansu and Qinghai. Explore Kashgar, Turpan, Dunhuang, Zhangye Rainbow Mountains, Labrang Monastery, Xining, Qinghai Lake and the stunning Chaka Salt Lake.
Travel from Urumqi to Lhasa on this 15-day Tibet & Silk Road tour, visiting Turpan, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan Pass, Zhangye Danxia, Xining, and Qinghai Lake before riding the Qinghai–Tibet Railway to explore Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse.
Explore the regions and landscapes surrounding China’s ancient Silk Road, from the historic corridor of Gansu and the oasis cities of Xinjiang to the high-altitude scenery of Qinghai. Discover more tours and travel ideas for each destination.
The Silk Road was once regarded as the longest road in the world. In fact, it’s not precisely one road, but a combination of different trade routes that became central to the overall economic, religious, and cultural interactions between the West and the East. Primarily, the Silk Road is a series of land routes that run throughout Central Asia as well as Southeast Asia, and connect with Southern Europe, all the way to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The name is derived from the excessive silk trade that was once carried through these routes, beginning in the early years…
Read more >
Xinjiang, officially Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, is located in the northwest corner of China. As the largest province-level division of China, it covers over 1.66 million square kilometers (640,00 square miles), about one-sixth of the country’s total territory, with the longest borderland and most adjacent countries. Whether you prefer exceptional natural beauty or enchanting Central Asian history and culture, Xinjiang is the place for you. There are so many absolutely beautiful places throughout Xiangjiang, that you will be kept busy photographing it all. From the vast grassland, crystal lakes, and golden birch forests, to the endless desert, unbearable hot flame…
Read more >
For travelers who are fascinated exploring the Tibetan area, the Amdo area would be definitely on their must-see list. Because this land bred the most authoritative Tibetan Buddhist Academy – Labrang Monastery, the world-famous Hoh Xil (Kekexili Nature Reserve), the uninhabited area of Changtang, and the prestigious Regong Thangka art. It’s also the place of the 10th Panchen Lama birth. Among the 10 Tibetan autonomous prefectures in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces, Amdo Tibetans occupy 7 and are mainly inhabited in Qinghai and Gansu. People here are all good at riding horses as the beautiful and vast expansive grasslands…
Read more >
Thinking about spending two weeks in China? Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning to discover more, 14 days is a great amount of time to experience China’s iconic cities, natural wonders, and cultural highlights. In this easy-to-follow China itinerary 2 week guide, we’ll introduce four top China travel ideas. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing vacation, a scenic escape, a family-friendly experience, or a deeper dive into Chinese history and culture, this guide will help you find the perfect fit. These 2-week China itineraries are designed for smooth travel across 3 to 5 destinations, connected by high-speed…
Read more >
The Silk Road was the legendary trade route that connected China with Central Asia and the West for more than a thousand years, beginning as early as the Han Dynasty. More than just a road, it was a cultural crossroads where merchants, monks, and explorers exchanged goods, religions, and traditions that shaped civilizations. In China, the Silk Road traditionally started in Xi’an (Shaanxi Province), the ancient capital, and stretched westward through the Hexi Corridor in Gansu, across the Ningxia plains, and into the highlands of Qinghai. From there, it entered Xinjiang, passing through famous oasis towns such as Turpan, Kuqa,…
Read more >
Terracotta Army (兵马俑; bīngmǎ yǒng in Chinese pinyin), also known as Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, is a collection of soldier and horse funerary statues discovered in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. It’s buried along with Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇; the first emperor of China) as his corps to help guard the…
Read more >
Zhangye Danxia Landform GeoPark, a flurry of rainbow mountains created by natural formation, showcases the stunning geology of northwest China. Among China’s most beloved national parks, it is a major draw for photographers, geologists, and visitors. Perhaps nowhere are the forces of natural formation more incredible than at this UNESCO-listed…
Read more >
Jiayu Pass is the western end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) and is widely recognized as the most well preserved military fortress along the Great Wall today. Overall, the construction work lasted 168 years, contributing to its lasting status as one of the…
Read more >
The Mogao Caves (莫高窟), or Mò gāo kū in Chinese, are reputed as the most valuable cultural discovery in China in the 20th century. Located outside of Dunhuang city in Gansu province, the caves quickly gained fame around the world for their intricate frescos and delicate Buddhist statues. In 1961, it was listed as a…
Read more >
Turpan, also known as Tulufan (吐鲁番), is a legendary Silk Road oasis city nestled in the eastern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, China. It is famous for its extreme climate, rich cultural heritage, ancient ruins, and sweet grapes. With a total area of approximately 69,700 square kilometers (26,900…
Read more >
Located in the heart of Kashgar city in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Kashgar Old Town (also known as Kashgar Ancient City or Kashgar Gaotai Residential Area) is one of the most historically rich and best-preserved traditional Uyghur neighborhoods in China. It’s also recognized as the largest existing earth-structured settlement in…
Read more >5–7 days: Focus on one region of Silk Road, such as Dunhuang, Jiayuguan and Zhangye in Gansu, or Turpan and Kashgar in Xinjiang.
10–14 days: A good choice for covering the main Silk Road highlights from Xi’an to Kashgar, traveling through Gansu and Xinjiang with stops such as Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang and Turpan.
2–3 weeks: Explore the Silk Road at a slower pace or go deeper into Xinjiang, adding the Taklamakan Desert Highway, Kanas Lake or Yining grasslands.
3+ weeks: Take a more in-depth Silk Road journey through China, with the option to continue into Central Asia.
The right length depends on your interests and travel pace, and our private Silk Road tours can be customized around the time you have available.
For a first Silk Road trip, the classic route is Xi’an → Zhangye → Jiayuguan → Dunhuang → Turpan → Urumqi, combining the route’s major historical sites, desert landscapes and oasis cities. For a more complete journey, continue west to Kashgar and Tashkorgan to experience Uyghur culture and the Pamir Mountains.
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are generally the best times to travel the Silk Road, with comfortable weather across much of Gansu and Xinjiang. Summer can be very hot in desert areas such as Dunhuang and Turpan, but is a good time for Xinjiang’s mountain and grassland regions, including Yining and Kanas Lake. Winter is cold but brings fewer visitors to many Silk Road destinations.
Because China’s Silk Road covers long distances, most trips use a combination of high-speed trains, private vehicles and domestic flights. High-speed trains are convenient for traveling through Gansu between cities such as Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang. Private vehicles are used for local sightseeing and places outside the cities. In Xinjiang, where distances are much greater, domestic flights can save considerable travel time between places such as Urumqi and Kashgar.
Foreign travelers need a valid passport and either a Chinese tourist visa (L visa) or eligibility under China’s visa-free entry policy. No special tourism permit is required for destinations in Gansu or Xinjiang. If you combine your Silk Road tour with Tibet, you’ll also need a Tibet Travel Permit, which we can arrange as part of your Tibet tour.
If your trip continues into Central Asia, such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, check the latest visa requirements for each country based on your nationality.
Yes. Private Silk Road tours work well for families, seniors and small groups because the pace, transportation and hotels can be adjusted to suit the travelers. We can reduce long driving days, add more rest time and arrange conveniently located hotels.
Some extensions, especially Tashkorgan and the Pamir Mountains, involve higher elevations and longer drives, so we recommend planning these sections according to the travelers’ age, mobility and comfort level.
Start planning your China/Tibet holiday with 1-to-1 help from our travel advisors. Travel with joy!
