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FrontierPrivate journey
The Ancient Silk Road
Thirteen days from Beijing and Xi'an to Dunhuang, Turpan and Urumqi — desert, cave art and the old caravan routes.
The journey
The Ancient Silk Road
The Silk Road is a journey of distances, and we use internal flights to make it comfortable without losing the sense of travel. The route focuses on the Chinese northwest: the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang, the desert dunes, the oasis towns of Turpan and the markets of Urumqi.
Expect early starts, big skies and some of the most important Buddhist art in Asia. A specialist guide accompanies the cave visits.
- Mogao Caves
- Mingsha sand dunes
- Turpan's grape valleys
- Tian Shan foothills
- Shanghai finale
Day by day
The shape of the days.
Day 01Arrive in Beijing
Transfer and rest.
Day 02Beijing
Forbidden City and hutong lunch.
Day 03Great Wall
Day on the Great Wall.
Day 04To Xi'an
High-speed train, afternoon city wall.
Day 05Terracotta Army
Morning at the warriors, afternoon free.
Day 06Fly to Dunhuang
Flight to Dunhuang, evening at the night market.
Day 07Mogao Caves
Morning in the Mogao Caves with a specialist guide, sunset on the dunes.
Day 08Dunhuang to Turpan
Flight or high-speed rail to Turpan, via Hami.
Day 09Turpan
Jiaohe ancient city, grape valleys and the karez irrigation system.
Day 10To Urumqi
Drive to Urumqi, visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum.
Day 11Tian Shan
Day trip to Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) beneath the Tian Shan.
Day 12Fly to Shanghai
Flight to Shanghai, evening on the Bund.
Day 13Departure
Transfer to the airport.
Included
What is part of the journey.
Included
- Private English-speaking guide and driver throughout
- Hand-picked hotels with daily breakfast
- Internal flights and high-speed rail as listed
- Entrance fees to all listed sites
- Airport, station and hotel transfers
- Visa invitation letter and current entry guidance
- Alipay / WeChat Pay setup before you arrive
- 24/7 support from our team in China
Not included
- International flights
- China visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (required for all guests)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Personal spending, drinks and gratuities
Good to know
The practical details.
AccommodationBoutique hotels with western Xinjiang character
Group sizePrivate journey · 2–6 travellers
Activity levelEasy to moderate
Best time to travelMay–October
This journey runs on your dates. We will check lodge and flight availability before confirming anything.
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