7-Day Silk Road Group Tour: Dunhuang to Xining

Day 1 — Arrival in Dunhuang

Welcome to Dunhuang! We’ll meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to relax or head out and start exploring.

Transportation: Airport pickup
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Dunhuang
Meals: None
Altitude: 1,138 m

Day 2 — Mogao Grottoes, Crescent Lake and Shazhou Night Market

This morning, we’re heading to the Mogao Grottoes—and they really are something special. Behind the simple cave entrances are centuries-old Buddhist paintings and statues, with the earliest caves dating back to AD 366.

After lunch, we’ll swap ancient art for desert landscapes at Echoing Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. Climb the dunes, look out over the little oasis below and listen for the strange sound that gave the mountain its name. We’ll even bring along a cold beer to enjoy with the desert view! 😉

Fancy following in the footsteps of Silk Road traders? You can also take an optional camel ride at an additional cost.

In the evening, we’ll wander around Shazhou Night Market. Come hungry—this is a great place to try Dunhuang yellow noodles, rangpi and refreshing apricot peel water, as well as browse the stalls for local crafts and souvenirs.

Transportation: Private vehicle, approximately 1 hour
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1,138 m

Day 3 — Dunhuang to Jiayuguan and Zhangye Danxia

This morning, we’ll take the train to Jiayuguan, home to the great fortress that once guarded the western end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall.

We’ll explore Jiayuguan Pass before walking along a rugged section of the wall itself. The landscape here feels completely different from the green hills around Beijing: dry, open and stretching towards the distant mountains.

We’ll then continue by road to Zhangye Danxia National Geopark. Tonight, we’re swapping a regular hotel for something more memorable—a traditional Kaoshan tent, similar to a yurt!

Transportation: Train and private vehicle; approximately 215 km and 2.5 hours by road
Accommodation: Kaoshan tent
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 1,610 m

Day 4 — Rainbow Mountains and Mati Temple

It’s an early start today, but sunrise over the Rainbow Mountains is worth getting out of bed for! As the morning light changes, the hills reveal their stripes of red, orange and yellow. 🌈 These colours come from layers of sandstone and minerals formed over millions of years.

We’ll then drive for approximately two hours to Mati Temple. This Buddhist grotto complex is carved directly into the cliffs, with caves, narrow stairways and temple rooms built high into the rock.

Its name means “Horse’s Hoof Temple” and comes from the legend of a celestial horse that left its hoofprint here. See if you can spot it during our visit!

Afterwards, we’ll make our way back towards Zhangye.

Transportation: Private vehicle, approximately 90 km and 2 hours
Accommodation: Local hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: Approximately 1,400 m

Day 5 — Zhangye to Xining and Ta’er Monastery

After breakfast, we’ll catch the bullet train to Xining and visit Ta’er Monastery, also known as Kumbum Monastery.

We’ll first take in the view from the Thangka Sunning Terrace before exploring the monastery more closely. Inside, you’ll find Buddhist stupas, colourful wall paintings and long rows of prayer wheels. You can walk alongside the pilgrims, spin the wheels and soak up the atmosphere of one of the region’s most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.

The evening is free for you to relax or explore Xining.

Transportation: Bullet train
Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Xining
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 2,260 m

Day 6 — Xining, Qinghai Lake and Chaka

Today, we’ll leave Xining and drive for around two hours to Qinghai Lake. At more than 3,000 metres above sea level, China’s largest saltwater lake is surrounded by wide-open grasslands and distant mountains.

Depending on the conditions, we’ll cycle beside the lake or walk through the surrounding fields. Between May and October, Tibetan nomadic families set up their seasonal homes here. If the opportunity is available, we may visit a local family and learn a little about daily life beside the lake.

We’ll then continue to Chaka, where we’ll spend the night.

Transportation: Private vehicle, approximately 340 km and 5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel in Chaka
Meals: Breakfast
Altitude: 3,059 m

Day 7 — Chaka Salt Lake and Departure from Xining

One final adventure before we say goodbye: Chaka Salt Lake!

Known as the “Mirror of the Sky,” the lake is famous for its bright white salt bed and beautiful reflections. When the water is calm, the sky and surrounding mountains appear on its surface—so keep your camera ready! 📸

We’ll take the small sightseeing train one way to the centre of the lake, then walk back and enjoy the landscape from a completely different perspective.

After our visit, we’ll drive to Xining Airport for your departure. The journey takes around four hours, so please book a flight leaving after 7:00 pm.

Transportation: Private vehicle, approximately 340 km and 4 hours
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast
Final altitude: 2,260 m

*The itinerary may be adjusted depending on the weather, local conditions or organisational requirements.