Silk Road Explorer

Silk Road Explorer

820 Views
27 Days From

$7106

$6276

Silk Road Explorer

27 Days Starting in UK and ending in UK

Visiting: Xi'an, ሀመር።, Lanzhou, Xiahe County, Zhangye, Jiayuguan City, Dunhuang, Turpan, Kashgar Prefecture, Ürümqi, Great Wall of China, Beijing

Tour operator:

Wendy Wu

Tour code:

427

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

8 - 18

Physical rating:

Medium, Reasonable level of fitness required. A lot of time spent on your feet rather than covering long distances.

Age range:

16-

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Meat

Tour operated in:
English
Interests:

Cultural, History, Rail Tours

From:
$7106
$6276 (USD) including Flights from the UK Operator discount: -$500 The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$330 -12%
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Tour Overview

Follow in the footsteps of intrepid adventurers by journeying along one of the world’s most famous trading routes, the Silk Road. Beginning in ancient Xian, venture across this vast land to reach the fascinating outpost of Kashgar. Hike along the Jiayuguan area of the Great Wall and spend time exploring Imperial Beijing.

Highlights

  • Come face to face with the Terracotta Warriors.

  • Listen to the hum and whistle of the Singing Sand Dunes.

  • See the exhibits of Buddhist paintings, statues and sculptures at the Mogao Grottoes.

  • Visit the striking red sandstone Flaming Mountains and the elegant Emin Minaret.

  • Explore Kashgar's history.

  • Retire to the alpine banks of placid Tian Chi Heavenly Lake.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 - 2 : Fly Overnight To Xian

Location: Xi'an

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Fly overnight to Xian, the ancient former capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.



Day 1 - 2 : Fly Overnight To Xian

Location: Xi'an

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Fly overnight to Xian, the ancient former capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.



Day 1 - 2 : Fly Overnight To Xian

Location: Xi'an

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Fly overnight to Xian, the ancient former capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.



Day 1 - 2 : Fly Overnight To Xian

Location: Xi'an

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Fly overnight to Xian, the ancient former capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.



Day 1 - 2 : Fly Overnight To Xian

Location: Xi'an

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Fly overnight to Xian, the ancient former capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.



Day 3 : Terracotta Warriors

Location: Xi'an

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gaze over the ranks of warriors and horses, each one unique, whilst your guide introduces you to these life-like soldiers' fascinating story. Later, enjoy a gentle cycle ride that will take you the nine miles around the ancient city wall and take a walking tour of the narrow and winding streets of the Muslim Quarter. Tonight, enjoy a traditional dumpling dinner and take an optional 'Xian by night' tour.

Day 4 : Train To Lanzhou

Location: Lanzhou

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start the day with a visit to Xian Museum and the Little Wild Goose Pagoda. Later, board the bullet train to Lanzhou.

Day 7 : Tibetan Xiahe

Location: Xiahe County

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Conquer the scenic Jishi Mountain Pass to arrive at Tibetan Xiahe and spend time acclimatising to the altitude.

Day 8 : Labrang Monastery

Location: Xiahe County

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Giving a taste of the mysteries of Tibet, Labrang Monastery is a fascinating maze of prayer wheels, chapels and chortens. Dine on traditional Tibetan food for lunch, including Tibetan dumplings, known as momos.

Day 9 : Travel To Zhangye

Location: Lanzhou

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Return to Lanzhou and take the speedy bullet train to Zhangye, once an important commercial town along the Silk Road.

Day 10 : Rainbow Mountains

Location: Zhangye, Jiayuguan City

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rise early this morning to witness the sunrise over the kaleidoscopic mountains in Danxia National Park. Return to Zhangye and visit the Giant Buddha Temple before boarding your bullet train to Jiayuguan.



Day 11 : Great Wall At Jiayuguan

Location: Jiayuguan City

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Seen as China's western gateway, Jiayuguan is the perfect place to get to grips with your Silk Road history. Visit the Jiayu Fortress and take a walk on the western extremes of the magnificent Great Wall for panoramic views over the starkly beautiful Gobi Desert.

Day 12 : City Of Sands

Location: Dunhuang

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Dunhuang. Located on a major trade and cultural crossroads, Dunhuang, known as the 'City of the Sands', sits in a verdant oasis on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Visit the Shazhou Night Market where you can wander amongst the stalls.

Day 13 : Mogao Grottoes

Location: Dunhuang

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A system of temples and sanctuaries, visit the Mogao Grottoes that exhibit wonderful examples of Buddhist paintings and statues that span thousands of years.

Day 14 : Singing Sand Dunes

Location: Dunhuang

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit Crescent Moon Spring, nestled amongst rolling dunes and the famous Singing Sand Dunes, a phenomenon produced by the wind blowing through grains of sand.

Day 15 : Turpan

Location: Turpan

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Take the bullet train to Turpan, a lush green oasis set in a barren landscape. An easy-going town famed for its grapes, its pleasant streets are lined with lush vine trellises.

Day 21 : Explore Kashgar

Location: Kashgar Prefecture

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Its skyline punctured by minarets, Kashgar feels a million miles from China – in fact, it feels a million miles from anywhere! Although now a modern city, the sights and sounds of Kashgar's bazaar have remained unchanged for millennia. Sightseeing today includes a visit to Abakh Hoja Tomb, ID Kah Mosque and a stroll through the narrow atmospheric alleyways around ID Kah Square.

Day 22 : Kashgar Sunday Bazzar

Location: Kashgar Prefecture, Ürümqi

Dive headlong into Central Asia's largest bazaar. Within this riot of textures, vivid colours and traditional dress, you can browse hundreds of stalls selling anything from spices and carpets to boots and blenders. Later, fly to Urumqi.

Day 25 : The Great Wall

Location: Great Wall of China

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning is dedicated to China's most iconic sight – the Great Wall. In the afternoon, enjoy the idyllic landscapes of the Summer Palace as you wander through traditional Chinese gardens and see the exquisite architecture.

Day 26 : Imperial Beijing

Location: Beijing

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Head to Beijing's symbolic heart, Tiananmen Square and into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City where you will find a complex full of imperial treasures. Soak up the ambience of the Temple of Heaven before visiting Yandaixiejie, where you will have some free time to wander the hutongs. This evening, dine on Peking duck and enjoy a Chinese acrobatic show.

Day 27 : Fly Beijing To Uk

Location: Beijing

Meals Included: Breakfast

Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day.

What's Included

  • More Free Time

  • Accommodation

    25 nights in 4 star

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

  • All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)

  • Country Entry Visas

  • Fully Guided

  • International Travel

  • Local Taxes

  • Meals – Full Board

    Breakfasts: 24, Lunches: 23, Dinners: 24

  • Flights

    International flights and current taxes

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What's Not Included

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Yes

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    Yes

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    Yes

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    Yes

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.

  • Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?

    Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.

  • Do you allow children on your tours?

    We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.

Reviews of this Operator

Feefo Rated Customer  

Colours of Costa Rica

26-Mar-2020

This was our first tour with you and from start to finish we were guided by Isaac who made sure everything went smoothly. He was laid back - but on the ball - always available and very informative.

Excellent
Feefo Rated Customer  

Ultimate South America

21-Mar-2020

We were hoping this tour would be the holiday of a lifetime and it certainly was. Our guide, Corina, was fantastic and evry country we visited had something special. FANTASTIC

Excellent
William  

Japan Uncovered

12-Nov-2022

A superb trip which ticked all our boxes and covered all the main experiences you would wish for on a trip to Japan! We were looked after by excellent local guides. All of our accommodation was very good. With all meals included we got the chance to experience the local cuisine

Alastair  

Christmas in Vietnam

06-Jan-2023

Vietnam at Christmas, Excellent Experience From start to finish Vietnam at Christmas was amazing, The tour group, Local Guide Loc, we must have been blessed as the weather was excellent only one day of rain. Tour Group 11/10 Guide 11/10 Hotels 8/10 Food 8/10 Itineary10/10 Faboulous experience on Christmas in Vietnam

Feefo Rated Customer  

Highlights of Sri Lanka

24-Mar-2020

Great Country. Good range of different things to do and places to see - temples to beaches to wildlife. Hotels ranged from adequate to excellent. Food quality and variety was better than we expected A really good tour guide and our fellow travellers were excellent company. Would recommend despite the impact of Corona Virus cutting out a few later trips but that was beyond anyone's ability to control..

Excellent

Dates & Availability

tourhub Discount Available - Sign In

Sunday - Friday

May 05, 2024 - May 31, 2024
$7106 $6750 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$355 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

May 19, 2024 - Jun 14, 2024
$7106 $6750 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$355 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

Jun 02, 2024 - Jun 28, 2024
$7106 $6750 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$355 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

Sep 01, 2024 - Sep 27, 2024
$7106 $6750 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$355 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

Sep 15, 2024 - Oct 11, 2024
$7106 $6276 (USD)

Operator discount: -$500 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$330 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

Oct 06, 2024 - Nov 01, 2024
$7106 $6750 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$355 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

Oct 13, 2024 - Nov 08, 2024
$7106 $6276 (USD)

Operator discount: -$500 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$330 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

May 04, 2025 - May 30, 2025
$7480 $6632 (USD)

Operator discount: -$500 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$349 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

Jun 08, 2025 - Jul 04, 2025
$7480 $6632 (USD)

Operator discount: -$500 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$349 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

Sep 07, 2025 - Oct 03, 2025
$7480 $7106 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$374 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Sunday - Friday

Oct 05, 2025 - Oct 31, 2025
$7480 $6632 (USD)

Operator discount: -$500 (USD)

The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$349 (USD)

Including UK Flights

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Wendy Wu allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.

  • Low Deposit

    Wendy Wu requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wendy wu charges.

    Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

  • How we Keep you safe on our Tours

    Your safety and well-being will always be our Number 1 priority which is why we’ve instituted the most stringent COVID health and safety protocols on all of our tours. Here is a brief summary of the steps we are taking to ensure you will be safe, secure and satisfied when you travel with us.


    Guides and National Escorts
    Our National Escorts and guides will conduct a Health and Safety briefing with you before the tour begins and will help everyone ensure they adhere to social distancing, hygiene practises and local regulations. They will carry a supply of face masks and hand sanitiser for you to use free of charge and will, of course, observe the highest level of personal hygiene at all times.

    Should anyone on the group fall ill your National Escort will ensure the individual receives swift medical attention and can only return to the group once cleared to do so.


    Transport & Sightseeing
    Vehicles will be thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant after each excursion service, overnight and between different groups.

    You will always have at least one seat between you and your fellow tourers, hand sanitiser will be given to the group on each embarkation and vehicles will be thoroughly ventilated prior to passengers boarding.

    Drivers will always embark vehicles after clients, disembark the group vehicle prior to clients disembarking, and maintain social distancing and a high level of personal hygiene at all times.

    Your guides will assess the situation on the ground avoiding large crowds – where possible, alter timings and splitting the group into smaller sizes.


    Accommodation
    Wendy Wu Tours will only offer hotels that have undergone a detailed hygiene assessment, have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with government standards.

    We will ensure these protocols include staff practising social distancing and wearing appropriate PPI, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in all areas and food safety.


    Dining
    All the restaurants we visit will be researched and inspected regularly to ensure that they follow the strictest health, cleanliness and safety guidelines.

    All waiting staff will wear face masks and gloves and we will arrange à la carte dining, waiter-served meals or waiter-assisted buffets throughout the tour. We will not share open-buffet meals with other hotel or restaurant guests.

    Hand sanitiser will be provided to the group before and after every food and beverage service.

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