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Xi an to Dunhuang 12 Day Private Silk Road Tour

By Silk Road Horizons
Free cancellation available
Price is £19 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 12d
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup
  • Multiple languages

Overview

This private multi-day tour is designed for travellers seeking a deeper understanding of China’s Silk Road history with the comfort of a well-paced itinerary. Travelling with a dedicated guide and private vehicle, you enjoy flexibility, personalised attention, and smooth logistics throughout the journey.

The itinerary focuses on culturally significant sites across northwest China, with ample time at key locations rather than rushed visits. Carefully selected 4-star hotels, arrival and departure transfers, and included entrance tickets ensure a comfortable and hassle-free experience.

Optional experiences and special cave visits can be arranged in advance, allowing travellers to tailor the journey to their interests. This tour is ideal for those who prefer a refined, private travel experience over standard group sightseeing.

Activity location

  • Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
    • Xianyang, Shaanxi, China

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
    • Xianyang, Shaanxi, China

Check availability

Ride Camel （Option Activity）
  • Activity duration is 12 days12d
    12d
  • English

Ride Camel （Option Activity）
Pickup included

Starting time: 15:30
Price details
£19.49 x 1 Adult£19.49
Total
Price is £19.49
Xi’an to Dunhuang 12-Day Private Silk Road Tour
  • Activity duration is 12 days12d
    12d
  • English

Pickup included

Starting time: 08:30
Price details
£5,771.92 x 1 Adult£5,771.92
Total
Price is £5,771.92

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    12-day private tour with customised itinerary
  • What's includedWhat's included
    All entrance tickets to attractions listed in the itinerary
  • What's includedWhat's included
    11 nights accommodation in carefully selected 4-star hotels (double/twin occupancy)
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Lunches and dinners (local dining recommendations will be provided)
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Personal expenses and optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary.

Know before you book

  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Specialised infant seats are available
  • Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • In accordance with UK consumer law, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.

Activity itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Xi’an

  • 1 stop
  • Meals: Not included
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Xi’an, 4-star hotel

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport

Meet your private guide and driver upon arrival at Xi’an airport or train station. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy free time to rest or explore the surrounding area at your own pace.

Day 2: Xi’an – Shuilu’an Temple – Terracotta Army – Xianyang

  • 2 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Xianyang, 4-star hotel

Shuilu Temple

  • 2h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit Shuilu’an Temple, known as “Little Western Paradise,” famous for its well-preserved Ming Dynasty clay sculptures depicting Buddhist figures, heavenly guardians, and vivid narrative scenes. The temple is also recognised as a filming location for Black Myth: Wukong.

Xian Terracotta Warriors

  • 4h
  • Admission ticket included
Explore the Terracotta Army Museum, where thousands of life-sized clay warriors, horses, and chariots were buried to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor. Learn about their construction, military formations, and historical significance.

Day 3: Xianyang – Qianling Mausoleum – Famen Temple – Baoji

  • 2 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Baoji, 4-star hotel

Qianling Museum

  • 2h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit the only Tang Dynasty imperial tomb jointly buried by an emperor and an empress, Wu Zetian. Walk along the Spirit Way lined with stone statues and learn about Tang burial customs.

Famen Temple (Famen Si)

  • 3h
  • Admission ticket included
Explore Famen Temple, one of China’s most important Buddhist sites, known for housing the finger bone relic of Shakyamuni Buddha. Visit the underground palace and modern temple complex.

Day 4: Baoji – Baoji Bronze Museum – Maijishan Grottoes – Tianshui

  • 2 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Tianshui, 4-star hotel

Baoji Bronze Ware Museum

  • 2h
  • Admission ticket included
Discover ancient bronze ritual vessels and artefacts that illustrate the origins of Chinese civilisation and the development of early dynasties.

Maijishan Grottoes

  • 4h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit the Maijishan Grottoes, carved into a sandstone cliff and connected by walkways. Admire expressive clay sculptures and murals reflecting early Buddhist art styles.

Day 5: Tianshui – Lanzhou – Gansu Provincial Museum – Xiguan Grand Mosque – Yellow River Iron Bridge

  • 3 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Lanzhou New District, 4-star hotel

Gansu Provincial Museum

  • 3h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit one of northwest China’s most important museums, featuring Silk Road artefacts, Buddhist relics, ancient manuscripts, and the iconic “Flying Horse of Gansu.”

Lanzhou Xiguan Mosque

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit the Xiguan Grand Mosque in Lanzhou, an active place of worship that reflects the long-standing Muslim presence in northwest China. The mosque features a large prayer hall and Islamic architectural details, offering travellers a glimpse into the region’s religious traditions and daily community life along the historic Silk Road.

Iron Bridge of Yellow River

  • 1h 30m
Walk across the Yellow River Iron Bridge, a historic landmark in Lanzhou that once served as one of the most important crossings over the Yellow River. The bridge highlights Lanzhou’s strategic role as a transport hub along historic trade routes connecting central China with the northwest.

Day 6: Wuwei – Xixia Museum – Confucian Temple – Kumarajiva Temple

  • 3 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Wuwei, 4-star hotel

Wuwei Museum

  • 1h 30m
  • Admission ticket included
Learn about the Western Xia Dynasty through stone inscriptions, Buddhist sculptures, murals, and artefacts that reveal its culture, religion, and history.

Wuwei Confucian Temple

  • 1h 30m
  • Admission ticket included
Visit one of the best-preserved Confucian temples in northwest China, reflecting Wuwei’s historical role as a centre of education and scholarship.

Jiumo Luoshisi

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Explore the temple dedicated to the renowned Buddhist translator Kumarajiva, who played a key role in spreading Buddhism from India to China.

Day 7: Wuwei – Mati Temple – Ganzhou Market - Zhangye

  • 2 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye, 4-star hotel

Mati Temple

  • 3h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit Mati Temple, a scenic grotto complex set in the foothills of the Qilian Mountains, known for its cliffside caves, Buddhist sculptures, and the blend of Han and Tibetan cultural influences.

Ganzhou Market

  • 1h 30m
In the evening, explore Ganzhou Night Market, where you can stroll through lively streets, experience the local atmosphere, and sample regional snacks at your own expense.

Day 8: Zhangye – Giant Buddha Temple – Zhangye Danxia – Jiuquan Western Han Ruins – Jiayuguan

  • 3 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan, 4-star hotel

Dafo Temple of Zhangye

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
See the Giant Buddha Temple, home to Asia’s largest indoor reclining Buddha, and learn about its religious and artistic significance.

Zhangye Danxia Geopark

  • 3h
  • Admission ticket included
Explore the colourful Danxia landforms, known for its naturally layered, multicoloured rock formations.

Jiuquan Park of West Han Dynasty

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit the Jiuquan Western Han Dynasty Site, also known as the West Han Dynasty Jiuquan Park. This historic garden and cultural scenic area preserves ancient landscape features and traditional Han‑era architectural elements, including springs, lake views, pavilions, and classical walkways. The site highlights the historical importance of Jiuquan in the Western Han period and offers insight into local cultural development along the Silk Road.

Day 9: Jiayuguan Great Wall Sites – Jiayuguan

  • 3 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan, 4-star hotel

Jiayuguan Fortress

  • 2h
  • Admission ticket included
Begin the day at Jiayuguan Fort, the largest and best-preserved military pass of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. Explore its inner city, gates, and defensive walls while learning how the fortress controlled trade and military movement along the Silk Road.

Overhanging Great Wall

  • 1h 30m
  • Admission ticket included
The overhanging Great Wall was built along a steep mountain ridge. Unlike the flat terrain of the main fort, this section demonstrates how the Great Wall adapted to rugged landscapes and served as a strategic lookout point.

The First Beacon Tower

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit the First Beacon Tower, marking the point where the Great Wall meets the ancient Silk Road routes. From here, learn how beacon towers were used for signaling and early warning across the desert frontier.

Day 10: Jiayuguan – Suoyang Ancient City – Yulin Grottoes – Son of the Earth Sculpture – Dunhuang

  • 3 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang, 4-star hotel

Suoyang City Ruins

  • 1h 30m
  • Admission ticket included
Explore the ruins of Suoyang Ancient City, a key Silk Road military and administrative centre from the Han and Tang periods. Walk along remnants of city walls, watchtowers, and gates, and learn about its role in protecting desert trade routes. The site is also historically connected to Buddhist pilgrimages, including the journey of the famous monk Xuanzang (Tripitaka).

Yulin Grotto

  • 2h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit the Yulin Grottoes standard caves, a series of Buddhist cave temples with murals and sculptures dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Admire the well-preserved artwork reflecting religious, cultural, and artistic exchanges along the Silk Road.

Guazhou County

Stop at the “Son of the Earth” sculpture and memorial to Emperor Wu of Han, commemorating the region’s historical significance and cultural legacy during the Han Dynasty. The open-air sculptures provide insight into local art and the Silk Road heritage.

Day 11: Dunhuang – Mogao Caves – White Horse Pagoda – Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake

  • 3 stops
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang, 4-star hotel

Mogao Caves

  • 4h
  • Admission ticket included
Visit the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring extensive Buddhist murals and sculptures carved into desert cliffs. Explore selected caves with your guide and learn how Dunhuang became a major centre of religious art and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. Travellers may also choose to explore additional special caves for a deeper experience. This is an optional activity and tickets can be purchased on-site.

White Horse Pagoda of Dunhuang

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket included
Stop at the White Horse Pagoda, a historic monument commemorating the white horse that carried Buddhist scriptures brought by the monk Kumarajiva. The pagoda reflects Dunhuang’s important role in the transmission of Buddhist teachings along the Silk Road.

Mingsha Shan - Echoing-Sand Mountain

  • 3h
  • Admission ticket included
In the afternoon, visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, where towering sand dunes surround a natural desert oasis. Walk on the dunes and enjoy panoramic views of the crescent-shaped lake below. Optional activities such as camel riding or quad bike experiences may also be available at the scenic area for travellers who wish to participate.

Day 12: Departure from Dunhuang

  • 1 stop
  • Meals: breakfast
  • Accommodation: Not included

Dunhuang Airport

Private transfer to Dunhuang airport or train station for departure.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
    • Xianyang, Shaanxi, China

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
    • Xianyang, Shaanxi, China

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