Grand Silk Road

Arrive at Beijing International Airport, where you will meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Start the Beijing city tour at Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square.  Next, step into the Forbidden City with elegant palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.  In the afternoon you will visit the Summer Palace, where you will enjoy a cruise on Kunming Lake (weather permitting between April and October). In the evening enjoy a delicious Peking Duck Dinner at a local restaurant.

In the morning you will transfer to the airport and fly to Urumqi, passing over two of the world’s biggest deserts along the way.  Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.  In the afternoon, visit the Xinjiang Museum. After the tour, transfer to hotel and check in for your stay.

After breakfast, travel northeast to Heavenly Lake at an elevation of 2600 meters on top of Tianshan. The beautiful lake is flanked by rugged pines and cypresses, with melted clear waters reflecting the surroundings of the snow-capped Boghanar Peak. You will also enjoy a boat ride on the lake. You will then return to Urumqi, visit the Old Town and Er Dao Qiao Bazaar.  In the evening, fly to Kashgar.

Arrive Kashgar, meet and transfer to hotel.  Rest of the evening at your leisure.

Today’s tour starts in Kashgar at the Idkah Mosque.  You will then visit the Great Sunday Bazaar, the area’s largest regional outdoor market.  You will then visit Abakhoja Tomb and the Old City at Gaotai.  Lunch and dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Depart Kashgar in the morning and fly to Urumqi.  Upon arrival, meet and transfer to train station for high-speed train to Turpan.  In the afternoon, visit the Ruined City of Jiaohe, with traces of a prosperous ancient trading cente.  Afterward, visit the underground Irrigation System at Karez Well.  Lunch and dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Your tour continues in Turpan with visits to Sugong Minaret, The Flaming Mountain and Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Grottoes. Enjoy lunch and dinner at a local restaurant.

In the morning you will take a high-speed train to Dunhuang.  Upon arrival, you will visit the Mingsha Hill and Moon Lake.  At sunset you will take a short camel ride en route.  Lunch at a local restaurant, dinner on your own.

Morning visit the Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Caves of Thousand Buddha.  The grottoes are home to more than 45,000 square meters of mural paintings and clay sculptures, which have been preserved for nearly a thousand years.  Lunch at a local restaurant.  In the afternoon, transfer and visit to the Yumen Pass which was the west terminal of the Great Wall. Here you will tour the westernmost remnants of the wall.  Return to downtown, visit the Night Market, then return to your hotel and the rest of evening at leisure.

Morning visit Dunhuang Museum.  After lunch, transfer to the airport for flight to Xian, one of the four ancient capitals of China.  Arrive in Xian and transfer to your hotel.  Dinner will be served at your hotel.

The highlight of today’s tour is a visit to see thousands of life-sized Terracotta Warriors and Horses at the Terracotta Warrior Museum.  Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.  In the afternoon you will return to Xian and visit the Shaanxi Historical Provincial Museum and Ancient City Wall and take an optional bicycle ride.  In the evening, enjoy Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty Show.

After breakfast transfer from hotel to airport for your return flight to Canada.

B – Breakfast          L – Lunch          D – Dinner          SD – Special Dinner