Silk Road Adventure
Overview
Highlights
- Follow the route of the ancient Silk Road, travelling in the footsteps of countless generations of nomads and traders
- Explore the incredible World Heritage site of Maijishan, and try to work out how statues, reliefs, and 194 caves were carved into the side of this mountain 1,500 years ago
- Discover the unreal, ancient rainbow-coloured landscape of Zhangye, a UNESCO site that looks like countless pots of bright paint have been spilled across sandstone mountains. You won't be able to put your camera away!
- Uncover the ‘other warriors’ in Xi’an’s Han Yang Ling Museum, an authentic and more personal burial site that’s home to tens of thousands of buried pottery figures
- Experience the unique atmosphere of Kashgar’s Sunday Market, maybe the largest bazaar on the continent
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Itinerary
Nimen Hao! Welcome to China. The capital of the most populous country on earth, Beijing is quickly shedding its historical face in favour of modernity. However, there are still plenty of places that give an insight into the nation's ancient past, as well as sights tha...
Today is a free day to explore Beijing. There are no activities included here, and there's only limited time here on this trip. Those wishing to visit the Great Wall and sites outside Beijing sites are recommended to arrive a few days early. Maybe make your way to the...
Arrive in Xi’an – once the imperial centre of China for 2,000 years, it’s now a vibrant, modern city dotted with many interesting historical sites to explore. Today starts with a short drive to the lesser-known Han Yang Ling Museum with a local guide. This is a Han dy...
Leave Xi’an and climb aboard a day train to Tianshui (approximately 4 hours). Situated on the route of the Silk Road and on the Wei River, Tianshui is located near one of the legendary cradles of Chinese civilisation, renowned for its culture and history dating back o...
The main draw of Tianshui is the World Heritage site of the Maiji Mountain Grottoes (45 kilometres southeast of Tianshui). This is one of the largest Buddhist cave complexes in China, nestled in beautiful surroundings of lush green vegetation-filled forests and hills....
You’ll arrive into Zhangye in the early hours this morning. Check into your Guesthouse and take an leader-led orientation walk around the leafy town of temples and parks. The city was established 1,000 years ago as the headquarters of General Huo when he controlled th...
Today pack your sunscreen, hat and water as you head to see the unreal landscapes of Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, where it looks like millions of pots of coloured paint have been spilled across the sandstone mountains. This 400-square-kilometer World Herit...
Arrive into Turpan early in the morning, (around 6:45am). Once an important staging post on the Silk Road, Turpan is an attractive oasis town famous for its vineyards, stone fruits, melons and the nearby Flaming Mountains. The Turpan Depression is second only to the D...
Today you take your last train journey, to Kashgar, leaving between 11am and 13:00 (approximately 24 hours). Please note that while this is a hard sleeper train journey, the carriages used are often double-decker with compartments for four people. The compartments are...
Arrive into Kashgar around midday today. Kashgar is very much a frontier town, quickly developing to take advantage of its geographical location right in the heart of Central Asia. There are few signs that you are still in China, other than the country's largest Chair...
Kashgar's main attraction is undoubtedly the Sunday Bazaar, which you’ll visit today. It’s said to be the biggest market in Asia, and on its main day it can feel like everyone from hundreds of miles around has converged on the city. It’s alive with traders selling all...
Catch a flight from Kashgar to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (approximately 1 hour 45 minutes). This is a multi-national province with many languages, customs, cultures and colourful ethnic traditions. It's also China's gateway to Central As...
There are no activities planned for today and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. It is possible to extend your stay in Urumqi, please get in touch with your booking agent.
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.
Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.
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Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.
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Transportation & flights
Finish point
- Boer Tala Hotel
- No 219, Changjiang Road, Shayibake District 博尔塔拉大酒店 (乌鲁木齐)
- Shayibake District
- Urumqi
- CHINA
- Phone: 860 09915571188
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