Silk Road Heritage Expedition | 12-Day Journey

NobleVoya · Less Road. More Xinjiang.

Silk Road Heritage Expedition

丝路文化探索

12 days · Private journey

Private MPV · High-Speed Rail · Intra-Xinjiang Flights

Three nights in Dunhuang for caves, hands-on art and desert light. Continue through Jiayuguan and Zhangye to Tianchi, Kashgar and the Pamirs, using rail and flights between distant regions.

Make this journey your own. We’ll confirm your stays, access and inclusions for your dates before you book.

Private MPV · High-Speed Rail · Intra-Xinjiang Flights

← Compare journeys

STAY FOR THE EXPERIENCE

Time for the stories and everyday life of the Silk Road.

Crescent Lake Desert Oasis Aerial, Gansu

Days 1–3 · Three nights

Dunhuang: art, hands-on craft & desert evenings

Stay three nights to connect the Mogao Caves with luminous-cup making or mural copying at Dunhuang Painting Academy, then wait for sunset at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake.

  1. Day 2Mogao Caves: approx. 3–4 hrs; desert visit: approx. 4–5 hrs.
  2. Day 3Art workshop, museum interpretation and Encore Dunhuang.
Overnight
Dunhuang hotel · 3 nights
Kashgar Old City colorful mural wall and historic street scene

Days 8–12

Kashgar & the Pamirs: city life and mountain light

Give Kashgar a full cultural day for the Old City, Id Kah Mosque, Xiangfei Garden and the Hundred-Year-Old Teahouse. Continue into the Pamirs, with a night in Tashkurgan, Stone City, Golden Grassland and a Tajik family visit.

  1. KashgarApprox. 7–8 hours for the cultural day.
  2. The PamirsBaisha Lake, Karakul Lake and views of Muztagh Ata.
Overnight
Kashgar: 3 nights · Tashkurgan: 1 night

Less Road. More Xinjiang.

Your journey, in five answers.

Who is this journey for?

Travellers drawn to Silk Road art, desert landscapes and heritage, travelling with their own companions.

Why is this route different?

Three nights in Dunhuang for caves, hands-on art and desert light. Continue through Jiayuguan and Zhangye to Tianchi, Kashgar and the Pamirs, using rail and flights between distant regions.

How do we make the most of your time?

TIME AT A GLANCE

Two cultural days, time to explore

Dunhuang
Travel time
Approx. 1 hour in total
Time to explore
Art workshop: approx. 2 hrs · Museum: approx. 2–3 hrs · Performance: approx. 1.5–2 hrs
Overnight
Dunhuang hotel
Kashgar
Travel time
Approx. 1–1.5 hours in total
Time to explore
Approx. 7–8 hours
Overnight
Kashgar hotel
See the daily arrangements ↓
Connections on this route
Rail connectionDay 4 · Dunhuang → Jiayuguan; local sightseeing by private vehicle
Rail connectionDay 6 · Jiayuguan → Urumqi
Flight connectionDay 8 · Urumqi → Kashgar

Your journey includes private transfers and local touring. Flight and rail connections depend on the services available for your dates.

Where do you sleep?

  • Dunhuang · 3 nights
  • Jiayuguan · 2 nights
  • Urumqi · 2 nights
  • Kashgar · 3 nights
  • Tashkurgan · 1 night

Your proposal names each hotel, cabin or permitted RV campsite and its facilities.

What does a day actually feel like?

Try a craft in Dunhuang, explore the museum with a lecturer and finish with an immersive performance. In Kashgar, leave a full day for the Old City, heritage sights and tea with music.

Explore the signature experiences ↑

Your itinerary, day by day

Routes, transport, time to explore and where you stay.

12 days · Detailed daily arrangements

Durations are approximate. Daylight and night-sky experiences vary with date and weather. Vehicle reservations, scenic access, campsites, flights and trains are confirmed before booking. RV stops and camping use permitted or designated areas. Sightseeing and transfer windows can overlap and should not simply be added into a daily total. Mogao reservations, performance times, workshops, guiding and family visits are specified in your proposal.

Day 01Arrive in Dunhuang
Transport & connections
Airport pickup in a private 7-seat vehicle
Transfer time
Approx. 0.5–1 hour
Overnight
Dunhuang hotel

Sightseeing & experience

A free day to explore Dunhuang independently.

Day 02Dunhuang ↔ Mogao Caves ↔ Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake
Transport & connections
Private vehicle transfers
Transfer time
Approx. 1–1.5 hours in total
Overnight
Dunhuang hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Visit the UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves in a reserved morning slot, allowing around 3–4 hours. In the late afternoon, continue to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake for camel riding, desert sunset and the evening scenery, allowing around 4–5 hours.

Day 03Dunhuang Painting Academy → Dunhuang Museum → Encore Dunhuang performance
Transport & connections
Private transfers within the city
Transfer time
Approx. 1 hour in total
Overnight
Dunhuang hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Visit Dunhuang Painting Academy in the morning for a luminous-cup-making or mural-copying workshop, lasting around 2 hours. In the afternoon, spend around 2–3 hours at Dunhuang Museum with an expert lecturer. In the evening, watch the immersive Encore Dunhuang performance, lasting around 1.5–2 hours.

Day 04Dunhuang → Jiayuguan by train → Jiayuguan Fortress → Overhanging Great Wall
Transport & connections
Private station transfer + train + private pickup in Jiayuguan
Transfer time
Train: approx. 2.5 hours; local transfers: approx. 1 hour
Overnight
Jiayuguan hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Take the train to Jiayuguan. In the afternoon, explore Jiayuguan Fortress, known as the First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven, and the Overhanging Great Wall. Allow around 4–5 hours to discover the history of this Silk Road frontier.

Day 05Jiayuguan ↔ Zhangye Rainbow Danxia ↔ Jiayuguan
Transport & connections
Return transfers by private vehicle
Transfer time
Approx. 2.5 hours each way; approx. 5 hours return
Overnight
Jiayuguan hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Visit Zhangye Rainbow Danxia National Geopark for its colourful landforms and sunset, allowing around 3–4 hours inside the scenic area. Return to Jiayuguan by private vehicle after the visit.

Day 06Jiayuguan → Urumqi by train
Transport & connections
Private station transfer + train / high-speed rail + private pickup in Urumqi
Transfer time
Train: approx. 6–6.5 hours; local transfers: approx. 1 hour
Overnight
Urumqi hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Travel by train across the Hexi Corridor towards Urumqi. On arrival, transfer privately to your hotel. The evening is free for a city walk or rest.

Day 07Urumqi → Tianshan Tianchi → International Grand Bazaar
Transport & connections
Return transfers by private vehicle
Transfer time
Approx. 3.5–4 hours in total
Overnight
Urumqi hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Visit Tianshan Tianchi in the morning, including the lake scenery and viewing platform, for around 4–5 hours. Return to the city in the evening for the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar and time to try local food independently, allowing around 2–3 hours.

Day 08Urumqi → Kashgar by air
Transport & connections
Private airport transfers + planned direct flight
Transfer time
Road transfers: approx. 1.5 hours; flight: approx. 2 hours
Overnight
Kashgar hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Transfer privately to Urumqi airport for the planned direct flight to Kashgar, where you are met and taken to your hotel. Allow around 2–3 hours to explore Kashgar independently.

Day 09Kashgar Old City → Id Kah Mosque → Xiangfei Garden → Hundred-Year-Old Teahouse
Transport & connections
Private transfers within the city
Transfer time
Approx. 1–1.5 hours in total
Overnight
Kashgar hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Spend the day exploring Kashgar’s culture: walk through the Old City and see its opening ceremony, visit Id Kah Mosque and Xiangfei Garden, then enjoy tea and music at the Hundred-Year-Old Teahouse. Allow around 7–8 hours for the day’s visits.

Day 10Kashgar → Pamir Plateau → Tashkurgan · Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake & views of Muztagh Ata
Transport & connections
Travel by private vehicle
Transfer time
Approx. 6–7 hours on the China–Pakistan Friendship Highway
Overnight
Tashkurgan hotel

Sightseeing & experience

Travel through the Pamirs, visiting Baisha Lake and its pale sand hills, Karakul Lake and viewpoints towards Muztagh Ata, the Father of Ice Mountains. Allow around 4–5 hours for visits and photographs along the way.

Day 11Tashkurgan → Stone City → Golden Grassland → Tajik family visit → Kashgar
Transport & connections
Travel by private vehicle
Transfer time
Approx. 6–7 hours
Overnight
Kashgar hotel

Sightseeing & experience

In the morning, explore the Stone City ruins and Alar Golden Grassland, then visit a Tajik family for eagle dancing, traditional milk tea and pilaf. Allow around 3–4 hours before returning to Kashgar in the afternoon.

Day 12Kashgar airport drop-off
Transport & connections
Private airport transfer
Transfer time
Approx. 0.5–1 hour
Overnight
None

Sightseeing & experience

Your airport transfer is arranged around your flight time, bringing the journey to a close.

Get to know your journey.

Your journey starts with a conversation

Make this journey yours.

Share your dates, group size and favourite experiences. We’ll confirm transport, stays, activities and a personalised quote.

We’ll tailor the route to your available time. Before booking, review your written itinerary, inclusions, price and payment and cancellation terms.

More time. More Xinjiang.Plan my journey ↗