14 Day Classic Silk Road Tour
Australian Owned Company
Return International Flights
7 Day Change of Mind
Fully Escorted by English speaking guide
Day by Day Itinerary
Urumqi, Turpan, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Wuwei, Lanzhou, Xian
Highlights
Discover this Silk Road with the best experience with AVG Travels.
“WOW” Points
- Explore eight splendid ancient towns along the silk road.
- Shopping at the world largest bazaar
- Witness the wonder of Buddhist art and valuable cultural heritage of the Silk RoadAdmire the ‘Oriental Louvre’ — the Mogao Caves
- Touch the west end of the Great Wall
- Meet the “Color Palette Overturned by God”— the Rainbow Mountains.
- Experience riding on a camel as ancient silk road merchant did
- Most efficient and cost-saving destination connection plan
Itinerary
Home 
Urumqi Arrival
Upon arrival in Urumqi Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you will head to the world’s largest international Grand Bazaar and be amazed by the dazzling array of goods.
Meals: In-flight
Accommodation: Han Tang Hotel 4* or similar
Urumqi 
Turpan (200km/2h)
Begin your day with escaping to the tranquility of Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), formed in a crater. A mythological and legendary holy place where King Mu meet with the Queen Mother of the West. After lunch you will drive to Turpan, a fascinating city noted for its lowest position below the sea level and a lush green oasis set in a barren landscape. There you will visit the Emin Minaret which is the only ancient Islamic minaret left in China.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Heng Yi Hotel 4* or similar
Turpan
Today’s adventures take you to the Karez Well system which has played an important role in irrigation and potable water supply of this area for 4,000 years. You will then get to explore the Ancient City of Jiaohe. You can still find the past glory from the 2300-year-old city ruins. En route, visit the Flaming Mountain where the temperature on the surface can reaches 48 degrees in the summer. End the day at the famous Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which lean against the cliff, boast Buddhist grottoes and religious frescos.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Heng Yi Hotel 4* or similar
Turpan 
Dunhuang (3.5h)
In the morning you will take the bullet train to Dunhuang. Upon arrival, you will go to the Singing-Sand Dunes to reach the Crescent Moon Spring. As its name indicates, the sand dunes echo when wind blows or when you slide down the slope. Amongst the endless sands, there forms a lake between two huge sand dunes. Take the opportunity to ride on a camel, and imagine what it was like to travel in a caravan on the Silk Road.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Fu Hua International Hotel 4* or similar
Dunhuang
Today’s highlight is the noted Mogao Caves treasuring exquisite murals and Buddhist statues. Discover the story behind this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site from an experienced local tour guide. It was first constructed in 366AD and the construction lasted for over 1000 years. Now 492 caves are presently preserved, housing about 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,000 painted Buddhist sculptures. Immerse yourself in Dunhuang Museum where you will learn more about the development of the ancient Silk Road. The museum has duplicate caves with exquisite murals and statues that you can take photos of. In the evening, head to the famous night market of Shazhou to sample local cuisine and shop for souvenirs.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Fu Hua International Hotel 4* or similar
Dunhuang Jiayuguan (380km/4h)
Today, embark on a day tour to drive through the Gobi Desert for Jiayuguan. Take photo stop at the Son of the Earth, Emperor Hanwudi, and Silk Road Sculptures. In the afternoon you will visit the Hanging Great Wall -the last part of the Great Wall which is built in the Ming Dynasty about 1539. Next, you will climb the famous Jiayuguan Pass. Reputed as ‘the Greatest Pass under Heaven’, Jiayuguan Pass is the west end of the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty and a well-preserved ancient military fortress.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Chen Feng Hotel or similar
Jiayuguan Zhangye (220km/3h)
Rise early this morning to visit the ‘Color Palette Overturned by God’ — the Zhangye Qicai Danxia National Geological Park, which is home to the Rainbow Mountains. Many artists admire this masterpiece as it appears like a perfect painting on canvas. The Danxia Landform is surrounded by kaleidoscopic mountains, which seemed to rise and fall like waves, with rock strata of different colors mixed in graceful disarray.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Xin Sheng Yue International Hotel 4* or similar
Zhangye Wuwei (239km/3h)
After breakfast, enjoy a tour of Giant Buddha Temple. Built in 1098, the temple is said to be where Kublai Khan was born, collecting the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha, the rare hand-written classics of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) and thousands of cultural relics. Continue driving to Wuwei and visit the 1800- year-old Leitai Han Tomb, which is famous for the bronze statue Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow. Today’s last stop is the Confucius Temple which is the largest and best-preserved of its kind along the silk road.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Tian Ma Pearl Hotel 4* or similar
Wewei Lanzhou (270km/3h)
Travel to Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province. Upon arrival, discover the wonders of Lanzhou on a guided city tour, taking in the stunning Gansu Provincial Museum, Yellow River Mother statues, Waterwheel Park, Yellow River Iron Bridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express 4* or similar
Lanzhou Binglingsi Temple Lanzhou
Today you will take an intensive visit to the Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves, which can only be accessed by boat. The construction of the caves could be dated back to about 1,700 years ago. Now you can see well-preserved 183 niches, 694 vivid Buddha statues, 82 clay sculptures and about 900 square meters of colorful murals.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express 4* or similar
Lanzhou Xian (3h)
In the morning you will board the innovative high-speed train to Xian, home to the famous Terracotta Army of the first Chinese Emperor. Relax and refresh yourself in the hotel for a good rest. Then explore the incredible Wild Goose Pagoda, a five-story Buddhist pagoda built during the Tang Dynasty, before visiting the remarkable Great Tang Everbright City Pedestrian Street.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Mercure Dazhai Road 4* or similar
Xian
Kick off your morning with a day tour to the site of the famed Terracotta Army – a massive collection of sculptures depicting the armies of the e armies of the of the first emperor of China and dating back to the third century BC. Afterwards, head to the famous Moslem Street to sample local cuisine and shop for souvenirs. Finish today’s memorable tour at the Ancient City Wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in China.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 4-star Mercure Dazhai Road or similar
Xian Home
Relax and enjoy your final breakfast before travelling to the airport for your departure flight.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: In-flight
Home
Arrive at your home today and we believe you enjoy your holiday with AVG Travels
Included
- Return International Flights
- 12- night accommodation in 4-star brand new hotel
- Daily buffet breakfast and 11 lunches
- Professional English-speaking tour guide
- Dedicated air-conditioned coach transportation
- All bullet train tickets as mentioned in the itinerary (Standard seating)
- Incredible sightseeing, including all entry fees as per the itinerary
- 2 bottle of water per sightseeing day
Excluded
- Meals and drinks are not mentioned in the program
- Visa fee in China if you have not hold the Australian/New Zealand Passport
- Compulsory Tipping for driver and tour guide (AU$12 per person/day). This is collected by our tour guide when you arrives in Beijing.
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance (we strongly recommend you hold a valid travel insurance policy for all domestic and overseas travel)
- Trip delay or interruption by airline schedule change
- Extra cost or missing tour caused by flight delay or cancel
- Any service not clearly mentioned in the program
Fine Print
How to book and Payments
Asia Vacation Group offers you a “ 3 instalment payment plan”, you will be required to settle a small deposit followed by a series of instalments when you select to book your departure tour
- First payment: You will be required to settle $300 per person deposit online through our website link or bank transfer option.
- Second payment: You will be collected $2,000 per person after 7 days deposit.
- Final payment: You will be required to settle the final payment in 120 days before your departure.
And you will have a 7-day cooling off period to change of your mind to receive a full refund. Please refer to “Flexible Cancellation” section.
Flexible Cancellation:
If you change your mind within 7 days of making your booking online, you can request a refund of your initial deposit payment. Once your purchase date falls outside of the 7-day period, our standard terms and conditions will apply.
Please ensure that any request to cancel your booking is received via email to [email protected], including the reason for cancellation.
Flight Information
This package includes return flights from Sydney/Melbourne.
Flights from Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth attract a $400 surcharge.
Airline Selection: We book the best available airlines for your journey, which may include a mix of full-service and low-cost carriers. Specific airline requests can be made at the time of purchase. This includes upgrades to your preferred carrier, premium economy or business class cabins or specific seats. Whilst we will try our best, not all requests can be confirmed.
Flight Conditions: Flights may not be direct and could involve a maximum of two transits.
Ticketing Information: Once issued, tickets are non-refundable. Changes are subject to airline rules, airline change fees, and an Asia Vacations Group change fee of $250 per person.
Passenger Details: Please ensure all traveller names are as per passports. This includes all middle names. Errors may incur a name change fee of $150 plus airline charges, or require the purchase of a new ticket.
Flight Schedule Changes: Any changes or cancellations to airline schedules are outside our control. We recommend staying updated with airline schedules before departure. Additional expenses for extended transits or alternative arrangements are the traveller’s responsibility.
Internal Airfares: Local flights included in your itinerary may utilise low-cost carriers without meals or entertainment. Checked baggage is included; any additional baggage fees are payable at check-in.
Booking Considerations: If travelling with others on separate bookings, we may not be able to guarantee all flights are the same due to availability.
Luggage and Fees: You are responsible for your luggage at all times. Excess baggage fees, if incurred, are payable directly to the airline. All tickets will include 20 kg checked baggage per person, plus 7 kg of hand luggage. We recommend travelling with a max 20kg per person due to restrictions on internal flights (where applicable), as well as coach and train transportation. Please note, you will be responsible for handling your luggage at all times as the services of porters are not included.
No-Show Policy: Missing your flight may result in fees including a no-show fee, airline reissue fee, and possible new ticket purchase. Asia Vacations Group charges a $250 admin fee for re-booking assistance.
Price Adjustments: Prices are final at the time of ticketing. Any subsequent changes may result in additional costs due to factors beyond our control, such as currency fluctuations or airline surcharges.
Important Information
Physical Requirements
A reasonable level of fitness is required but it’s more about spending time on your feet rather than covering large distances. You’ll be getting on and off coaches and boats, walking around the sights and climbing some steps.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Please be advised that tipping for tour guides, drivers and bellmen are required and will be collected by our tour guide when you arrives in China. A compulsory gratuity of AUD12 per person/day can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry as they have done an impeccable job to serve you through your holiday.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is AU$600 per person in addition to the twin share price.
Paired Solo Traveler
Not available.
Group size: min from 10 pax
Triple Share
Not available for this one.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
We have partnered with NibTravel Insurance to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply with us.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return and must have more than 2 blank pages.
A tourist visa for China is a strict requirement if travelling on an Australian Passport. Please note as of today you are required to attend a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in person to apply for a visa. China Visa Application Service Centres can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Please visit https://www.visaforchina.cn/ for more information.
You will be able to start your visa application process once you receive your final travel documentation approximately 6 weeks prior to departure.
Important:
- Please start arranging your visa three weeks before departure to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours.
- Visa rules may have changed since Covid-19. Some countries and airlines may require you to obtain an additional visa before arrival. Please check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you’re entering.
Please note:
- Passengers who are not Australian citizens must also check with the respective consulate or visa agency to determine what their visa requirements are and what personal identification is required.
- It is also important to note that some areas of employment, such as journalism, government authorities and charity organizations, may have additional restrictions in applying for Visas. This may, in turn, affect the type of application required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ for up-to-date information in terms of entry requirements.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation, including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Children
This tour is friendly with child and children accepted for this tour.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent on land.
How to Extend Your Stay
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
AU$150 per room, per night based on double/twin room share
AU$150 per vehicle per way
Post Tour Accommodation
AU$150 per room, per night based on double/twin room share
AU$150 per vehicle per way
Please select the number of extra nights required in the ‘Additional Nights Accommodation’ field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
Dates & Prices
Real Travelers Reviews
Wide variety of well priced Tours of Asia. I found the Tours available to choose
Our holiday was an amazing experience we enjoyed the scheduled tours all were very interesting.
We were very happy and had no problem at all when booking
This is the 2nd time that I have booked with Asia Vacation
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