The Silk Road & Beyond: From the Tianshan Mountains to the Yellow River

Sixteen days across four regions — Xinjiang, the Hexi Corridor, Qinghai and Gansu — along the greatest travel route in history.

16 Days • from A$4,799 per person (AUD) • including return flights from major Australian cities

Tour Highlights

  • One remarkable journey across four distinctive regions: Xinjiang, the Hexi Corridor, Qinghai and Gansu
  • Dunhuang in depth — the Mogao Caves, a camel ride at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring, and Encore Dunhuang
  • Turpan's oasis civilisation: Jiaohe, the Karez irrigation system, Emin Minaret and Grape Valley
  • Zhangye's rainbow Danxia landforms and the Giant Buddha Temple
  • Qinghai Lake by cruise, and the mirror-like Chaka Salt Lake by scenic train
  • The Yellow River Stone Forest by donkey cart and boat, and the Bingling Temple Grottoes by speedboat
  • A camel ride across the dunes, and a traditional Xinjiang whole-roasted lamb feast

Itinerary at a Glance

  1. Day 1: Australia – Urumqi — Depart Australia on your international flight to Urumqi, the historic gateway between China, Central Asia and Europe. Rest on board — the Silk Road story begins tomorrow.
  2. Day 2: Arrive Urumqi — Arrive in Urumqi, framed by the Tianshan Mountains, and transfer to the hotel. The evening is intentionally relaxed; a welcome dinner at a local restaurant closes the day.
  3. Day 3: Urumqi | Tianshan Tianchi & International Grand Bazaar — Travel into the Tianshan to Heavenly Lake at 1,980 metres, its deep-blue water backed by the Bogda peaks, then explore the colourful International Grand Bazaar. A Grand Bazaar dinner with music and da
  4. Day 4: Urumqi – Turpan — Drive to Turpan, the ancient oasis city in the Turpan Depression, one of the lowest and hottest inhabited places on Earth. Visit the Karez irrigation system, an underground network of wells and channe
  5. Day 5: Turpan | Jiaohe Ruins, Emin Minaret & Grape Valley — Explore the Jiaohe Ruins, an ancient city carved into a river-island plateau; the Emin Minaret, Turpan's tallest Islamic monument; and Grape Valley, where vines grow in the famous karez-watered vineya
  6. Day 6: Turpan – Liuyuan (rail) – Dunhuang — Board a high-speed train to Liuyuan, then continue by road to Dunhuang, the most celebrated oasis on the entire Silk Road, guarding the narrow corridor between the Taklamakan Desert and the Tibetan Pl
  7. Day 7: Dunhuang | Mogao Caves & Mingsha Sand Dunes — Visit the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 700 grottoes carved over a thousand years, housing some of the finest Buddhist murals and statues in existence. In the afternoon, ride cam
  8. Day 8: Dunhuang – Jiayuguan — Drive to Jiayuguan, the western end of the Ming Great Wall. Visit the Jiayu Pass Fort, the most complete surviving fortress on the Wall, and the Overhanging Great Wall, dramatically perched above the
  9. Day 9: Jiayuguan – Zhangye — Continue to Zhangye, an important garrison town on the Silk Road. Visit the Giant Buddha Temple, home to China's largest indoor reclining Buddha, then continue to the Danxia landforms.
  10. Day 10: Zhangye Danxia – Xining — Walk through Zhangye Danxia Geopark, where rainbow-coloured sandstone hills create one of China's most extraordinary landscapes. In the afternoon, board a high-speed train to Xining, capital of Qingha
  11. Day 11: Xining – Qinghai Lake — Drive to Qinghai Lake, China's largest saltwater lake at 3,200 metres, set against the Riyue Mountains. A cruise on the lake is included. Visit the Bird Island area (season permitting) and the lake sh
  12. Day 12: Qinghai Lake – Chaka Salt Lake — Continue to Chaka Salt Lake, the 'Mirror of the Sky', where a thin layer of water over the salt flat creates perfect reflections. Ride the scenic train across the lake and walk the salt paths.
  13. Day 13: Chaka – Lanzhou — Drive to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province, straddling the Yellow River. Visit the Yellow River Mother Statue and take a walk along the riverside. A hand-pulled beef noodle lunch — Lanzhou's most
  14. Day 14: Lanzhou | Yellow River Stone Forest — A day excursion to the Yellow River Stone Forest, where massive sandstone pillars rise above the river. Explore by donkey cart through the canyons and by boat along the Yellow River itself.
  15. Day 15: Lanzhou | Bingling Temple & Xiahe — Take a speedboat along the Liujiaxia reservoir to the Bingling Temple Grottoes, carved into a canyon wall overlooking the Yellow River. The Tang Dynasty sculptures are among the finest in western Chin
  16. Day 16: Lanzhou – Australia — Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Australia, carrying with you the memories of sixteen extraordinary days along the greatest trade route in history.

What's Included

  • Return international economy-class airfares Sydney/Melbourne–Urumqi and Lanzhou–Sydney/Melbourne
  • Adelaide and Brisbane departures add $400 per person
  • Fourteen nights in listed 5-star hotels or best available local standard, twin share with breakfast
  • Specified lunches and dinners, including special meals
  • Air-conditioned touring coach
  • Second-class rail Turpan–Liuyuan and Zhangye–Xining
  • All scenic shuttles, camel ride, electric carts, Chaka scenic train, Stone Forest donkey cart/boat, Liujiaxia speedboat as listed