ChinaPac International Travel - 14 Day Silk Road Explorer (SILK) Itinerary |
| Travel back in time as you retrace the Chinese leg of this ancient and legendary trading route, credited with establishing the great civilizations of China, Egypt, Arabia and India and laying the foundation for the modern world. |
| Day 1 Home City - Beijing The mysterious dragon beckons you on board your transpacific flight to Beijing. |
| Day 2 Beijing Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China and home to more than 15 million people. Transfer to a 4-star hotel. |
| Day 3 Beijing - Urumqi Take a morning flight to Urumqi. On this unique air route, you will see two massive deserts, high red-rock and snow-capped mountains, valleys, and canyons. In the afternoon, travel to the Nanshan Grassland, where you will visit Kazakstanian, Uzbekistanian and Kyrgyzatanian minority families and chat with them in their yurts while drinking strong Milk Tea and local home-made snacks. (B/L/D) |
| Day 4 Urumqi Today, drive northeast to Heavenly Lake, which is at an elevation of 2600 meters. The beautiful lake is flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, with its clear waters reflecting the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Then, visit the Provincial Museum to see the incredible mummies from 2,000 years ago. If time permits, explore Red Hill Park and the Bazaar, which is believed to be the largest outdoor market in Xinjiang. (B/L/D) |
| Day 5 Urumqi - Turpan In the morning, drive to Turpan, an oasis surrounded by desert and dry mountains. Upon arrival, visit the mysterious ruins of Jiaohe city, which has traces of a prosperous ancient trading centers and military bases from sixteen-hundred years ago. Then, visit the underground water supply, irrigation system and museum of Karez. Viair grape valley and try some delicious fruits in Turpan, which is famous throughout China for its large, sweet grapes and gourds. (B/L/D) |
| Day 6 Turpan - Urumqi - Kashgar In the morning, visit Sugong Pagoda, the Flaming Mountain and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Grottoes, Have lunch with a local family. In the afternoon, drive back to Urumqi and take the evening flight to Kashgar. (B/L/D) |
| Day 7 Kashgar - Urumqi On Sunday morning, watch the Muslims pray. It is incredible to see thousands of Muslims kneeling down in the streets and squares. Then, visit the Sunday Bazaar - the largest outdoor market in mid-Asia. In the afternoon, drive to see the tombs of the Fragrant Concubine and the old town of Kashgar, which will bring you back 500 years. Take the evening flight back to Urumqi. (B/L/D) |
| Day 8 Urumqi - Dunhuang Take a morning flight to Dunhuang. In the afternoon, visit the world heritage site, Mogao Grottoes. It is the world's most important site of ancient Buddhist Culture. The grottoes preserve nearly a thousand years of Buddhist cave-temple architecture, clay sculpture, mural paintings, and manuscripts, dating from the 5th to 14th centuries. (B/L/D) |
| Day 9 Dunhuang Drive west across the desert to Yumen Pass, or the Jade Gate Pass, which was the west terminal of the Great Wall built in Han Dynasty 2,100 years ago. Then, drive back and visit the Crescent Moon Lake and Sand Singing Dune. Ride a camel and watch the marvelous sunset. (B/L/D) |
| Day 10 Dunhuang - Xian Fly to Xian in the morning. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, tour the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, and Xi Guan Street. (B/L/D) |
| Day 11 Xian Visit the 2000 year-old army of Terracotta Warriors guarding the tomb of China's first emperor. Afterwards, tour the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. In the evening, savour a delicious dumpling dinner and Tang Dynasty Performance. (B/L/D) |
| Day 12 Xian - Shanghai Fly to Shanghai in the morning. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is leisure time. (B) |
| Day 13 Shanghai Today's sightseeing includes the Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum and a stop at either the People Square, Nanjing Road or Xintiandi. In the evening, watch a Shanghai Acrobatic Show. It is an unforgettable experience. (B/L/D) |
| Day 14 Shanghai - Home City Take some time to finish shopping or packing in the morning and transfer to the airport for a flight home. (B) |