15 Days China Silk Road Tour with Holy Land Tibet

Uyghur Women at the Heavenly Lake

Cruise on the Heavenly Lake

Today after breakfast, we will drive to visit Tian Chi, which literally means "Heaven Lake". It is a very beautiful mountain lake formed more than million years ago in the 4th glacial epoch, covering about 5.9 square kilometers. On the east of the lake stands the Bogda Peak, the highest peak in Tianshan Mountain area, which is capped by glacier and snow glistening in the sun. Finely contrasted with blue lake water, the scenery is fabulous.

In the afternoon, we will drive back to Urumqi, visit the Xinjiang regional museum to see archaeological treasures from the Silk Road and culture in Xinjiang. Later you will visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You'll find a busy market filled with fruit, handcrafts, knives, carpets.

Jiaohe Ruins

The Hottest Flaming Mountain

After a unique breakfast set off to Turpan and see the largest wind power station on the way. Upon your arrival, our guide will take you to visit the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. After that you will visit the Karez Well, a special irrigation system, regarded as Three major projects in ancient China, along with Great wall, Beijing Hangzhou Grand Canal. Then the Jiaohe Ruins, with the history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers. The height of earth cliff is about 30 meters from the modern water surface. It is one of the best - preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, included in the World Heritage List.

Shazhou Night Market

The Crescent Lake of Dunhuang

Today you will take the train to Dunhuang. Upon arrival, your guide will escort you to visit the Singing Sands Mountain, along with the Crescent Lake, the most popular sites in Dunhuang. Singing Sands Mountain, as known as Mingsha Mountain, formed over 3000 years, soft as silk, quiet as a maiden. The ridge of sand is wavy in the sun. Walking on the sand, you will feel the long history of this land, where it is said that the sand mountains echo like Orchestra music in the sunny days, even if there is no wind. If you slide down from the mountains, you can hear the echoing sound more clearly. After that, continue to visit the Crescent Lake which is surrounded by sand mountains from different directions. It is a crescent-shaped lake in an oasis, with some well decorated traditional Chinese architecture, trees, flowers and a lake that has never dried up. After dinner, you can walk around the Shazhou Night Market, taste the local cuisine, buy some souvenirs in this largest night market in Dunhuang.

Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang

Jiayuguan Pass

Today, we drive to visit the Mogao Grottoes, which is the world's most important site of ancient Buddhist Culture. It is outstanding for its exquisite mural paintings and statues. 735 sandstone caves hold 2,415 colorful statues and 45,000 square meters mural paintings.

After visiting Mogao Grottoes, we will drive 5 hours to Jiayuguan, you will have a good rest.

The Camels outside of Jiayuguan Pass

Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park

After breakfast in your hotel, our tour guide will pick you up, and then escort you to visit the Jiayuguan Pass. Wander along the ancient city wall and feel the heartbeats of this “first pass under heaven”. Then move on to the Hanging Great Wall, which is an important part of the defensive work of Jiayuguan Pass. Viewed from a distance, the Great Wall appears very like a dragon overhanging the slope, hence the name.

Then transfer to visit the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, which remains seemingly untouched by and pollution in the Gansu Province. The Landform is known for its saturated color patterns. The unusual colors of the rocks are caused by red sandstone and mineral deposits laid down over the course of 24 million years. The formations carved into the park, such as valleys, pillars and waterfalls, were shaped over millions of years by rains and winds.

Zhangye Mati Temple

Grand Buddha Temple

Today first you will visit the Giant Buddha Temple where there is a large reclining Buddha so people also call it as the Reclining Buddha Temple. After lunch, drive about 58km to visit the Mati Temple (Horse’s Hoof Temple) in Sunan Yugu Tibetan region. This is a famous scenic spot integrating grotto art, mountain views and folk customs of the Yugu minority group. The temple got its name because legend has it that a Chinese Pegasus landed here, leaving a huge horseshoe imprint that can still be seen within the Mati Hall. In the afternoon, transfer to the train station to take the Bullet Train to Xining.

Our local guide would sent train ticket and Tibet Travel Permit to you before train departs. Please be sure to bring all your belongings and Tibet visa to Xining Railway Station one and a half hour ahead.

Please keep your train tickets safe as all the train tickets would be checked again before getting out of Lhasa Railway Station.

Take things easy and acclimate to high altitude gradually on the train, and look forward to your journey in Tibet.

Kekexili Grand Prairie

Lhasa Train Station

Upon your arrival in Lhasa, our tour guide will meet you and escort you at the Lhasa Railway Station to your hotel in Lhasa. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to have a good rest and acclimatize yourself to the high altitude at Tibet. Get prepared for your tour in Lhasa.

Potala Palace

Johkang Temple

After breakfast in your hotel, your personal private will pick you up to visit the splendid Potala Palace, the cardinal landmark in Lhasa. The whole morning is for you to appreciate this world-level architectural work.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet. Tibetan people from all over the world come here to kowtow in the front of the entrance with their pure heart.

Finally, you can spend some time walking on around the Jokhang Temple in Barkhor Street where is full of religious atmosphere.

Drepung Monastery

Scriptures Debating in Sera Monastery

After breakfast in your hotel, you will be picked up to visit Drepung Monastery, one of the "Great Three" Gelug monasteries of Tibet.

In the afternoon, you will head to visit Sera Monastery, another one of the "Great Three" Gelug monasteries in Tibet that founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey, to see the famous scriptures debating in this monastery.

Yamdrok Lake

Pelkor Monastery

Today, you will be driven to view the Yamdrok Lake, one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet which you can never have a panorama. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and fed by numerous small Himalayan streams. Just enjoy the breathtaking blue Yamdrok Lake.

Then, you will head to Gyantse and visit the Pelkor Monastery where displays sculptures, murals and carvings.

After that, you will drive about one hour to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. Upon arrival, you will visit Tashilumpo Monastery, the oldest and largest Gelugpa Monastery in Tibet.

Gawu La Pass

Rongbuk Monastery

After getting your Alien's Travel Permit, we will firstly drive to Lhatse and take lunch there.

After lunch, we will keep driving to Shegar, where you may see the Mt.Everest in the distance if the weather is clear.

After driving about 4 to 6 hours, you will reach to Rongbuk Monastery, the the highest monastery in the world with a height of 4,980 meters. On the way, you will pass Pang-la Pass at 5050 meters above the sea level, where you could see the whole five highest peaks in the world.

Rongbuk Monastery

Everest Base Camp

Get up in the early morning, you will view the sunrise over the Mt.Everest on a clear day. Then you may trek from tent to Base camp or go to EBC by local eco-bus.

After visiting base camp, you can visit Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world (5000m) and belongs to Nyingma sect.

Then, we will drive to Old Tingri where you can enjoy the beauty of whole Himalaya range.

Gyirong Port

Friendship Highway

Today, we will depart early in the morning to Gyirong Port, the China-Nepal border. On the way to Gyirong, you will pass a Nyalam Tong Pass at 5150 meters above the sea level.

Arriving in the border in the afternoon, our guide will drop you off at the border bridge and you will move to Kathmandu.