【May/June】7D Wild Silk Road Adventure: Rainbow Mt. Desert, Chaka

Discover the beauty of China since 2005

（*部分图片源自网络；此原创路线与客人图片版权由 Silk Road Travel所属，如有涉嫌抄袭侵权将诉诸法律处理）

West China, the most mysterious part of China with various tour resources, especially tour for traditional Chinese cultures and ethnic groups, is attractive for its breathless scenes, which could not be found in the plain. 

This 7-day classic route can satisfy your imagination to West China. Explore the World Heritage Mogao Grottoes; experience camel riding on Echoing Sand Mountain; stay overnight at Mati Temple, where you can see starry sky at night; enjoy the splendid views of Danxia Landform; discover the beautiful Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake.

Travel Date & Price

May 11-17/18-24/25-31【￥6600 P.P】

June 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28【￥6800 P.P】

July 6-12/13-19/20-26【￥7500 P.P】

Single Supplement: from 1200RMB

Scan the QR Code for more information

A private tour is available

👇

Itinerary at a glance

D1: Dunhuang Arrival ✈️

Airport pick up & Hotel check in

D2: Dunhuang Sightseeing

Highlights: Mogao Grottoes, Echoing Sand Mountain, Shazhou night market

D3: Dunhuang🚗Danxia National Geological Park

Highlights: Jiayuguan Pass, Great Wall Museum

Distance:  

Dunhuang➡Jiayuguan Pass 375km, 4hrs

Jiayuguan Pass ➡ Danxia National Geological Park  215km, 2.5hrs 

D4: Danxia National Geological Park🚗 Mati Temple

Highlights: Mati Temple, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

Diatance: 90km, 2hrs driving

D5: Mati Temple🚗Xining

Highlights: Ta'er Monastery

Distance: 343km, 5hrs driving

D6: Xining🚗Qinghai Lake🚗Chaka

Highlights:  Qinghai Lake 

Distance: 

Xining➡Qinghai Lake  145km, 2.5hrs

Qinghai Lake➡Chaka 150km, 2.5hrs

D7: Chaka🚗Xining Departure✈️

Highlights: Chaka Salt Lake

Diatance: 323km, 4hrs driving

1

Mogao Grottoes

Pay a visit to the UNESKO-recognized Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, which is known as the essence of human civilization as well as one of the well-known ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China. 

2

Rainbow Mountain

The world's Top ten magical geographical wonders. It is the beat place for tourism, painting, photography and science education.

3

Chaka Lake

Nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go. Take a small train to explore the depths of Chaka Salt Lake and leave some fabulous photos in the Mirror of Sky Square Experience Area.  

4

Special Arrangements in Qinghai Lake

Qinghai Lake is unique for sunlight falling on it with sky in one at the horizon. The other side for tourists to explore is Tibetan culture about the lake. In Tibetan people's belief, walking around the lake is the worship of holy spirit. 

*Special Arrangement: 

① biking/hiking experience around Qinghai Lake

② having a nice time in Cole flower sea

Previous Groups

Itinerary

D1

Dunhuang Arrival 

• Meals: No

• Altitude: 1183m

• Hotel: In Dunhuang

Today your flight will touch down in Dunhuang. We will meet you at the airport exit with a welcome board and then transfer to the local hotel check in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this city.

D2

Dunhuang Sightseeing

• Meals: B

• Altitude: 1183m

• Hotel: In Dunhuang

Today we will have a full day sightseeing in Dunhuang, our first stop is the "cultural treasure" — Mogao Grottoes. Start with the 4D movie tracing back to the thousands of years Chinese history. Then we will visit 8 grottoes with the introducing of the professional guide. Here you can enjoy the magnificent grottoes and mural art, and get to know the history of Buddhism in Dunhuang through explanation and film display, which is the best option for tourists to travel here.

After lunch, then we will head to Echoing Sand Mountain. When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make a loud sound. There is also a Crescent Lake that has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand. The camel riding in the vast desert and sand sliding are highly recommended.

*Special Arrangement:

1 bottle cold beer for each person

In the evening, we will stroll around the Shazhou Night Market, where is a distinctive local attraction, you can taste the local cuisine and relax here. In addition to local specialties, there are many handicrafts waiting for you to discover.

After visiting, back to hotel and have some rest, tomorrow will be more exciting.

D3

Dunhuang-Danxia National Geological Park

• Meals: B

• Altitude: 1610m

• Distance: 570km, 6hrs driving

• Hotel: In Kaoshan Tent

After enjoying your buffet at hotel, today we're going to drive 4hrs to visit the Jiayuguan Pass. This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan Pass, at the western end of the Great Wall – this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. 

After that, we will head to explore the Great Wall Museum, which was opened to the public in October 1989 and it is the first one to exhibit the Great Wall culture in a comprehensive and systematic way.

Then say goodbye to Jiayuguan, drive about 2hrs to Danxia National Geological Park for  overnight stay. Amazing Starry night is waiting for you.

*Reminder: the climate in Jiayuguan may a bit dry, remember to drink water in time.

D4

Danxia National Geological Park-Mati Temple

• Meals: B

• Altitude: 1483m

• Distance: 90km, 2hrs driving

• Hotel: In Mati Temple

Get up early to catch the sunrise in the splendid Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is the most typical arid area of northern China. Ribbons of reds, oranges and yellows slice through the rock, to create a rainbow vista contained only by the contours of the jagged mountain peaks. So many people also call it "Rainbow Mountain".  

Continue our trip to Mati Temple, which was built in Jin Dynasty. We are about to drive 2hrs to the site. A series of horse shoe prints are visible in Grotto 9, which are said to be left by a heaven horse. Hence, the temple was named for the horseshoe prints left by the legendary heaven horse, which become the treasure of the temple. 

After the visiting, we will stay overnight under the foot of the mountains. The hotel is basic but full of the local style.

D5

Mati Temple-Xining

• Meals: B

• Altitude: 2295m

• Distance: 343km, 5hrs driving

• Hotel: In Xining

After enjoying your breakfast in the hotel, around 9am, we will drive along the Qilian Mountain with the splendid scenery to Xining. We will visit Ta'er Monastery at 16:00  (Kumbum Monastery) which is the most populous monks outside of Tibet. Standing on Thangka Sunning Terrace, you will have the bird-view of the monastery and surrounding scenery. 

Inside the monastery, apart from magnificent Buddha stupas and wall paintings, prayer wheels are also the must-see spot. The whole monastery is surrounded by wheels, walk along the corridor, rotate the wheels and pray for blessings.

Butter sculpture is one of the "Three Wonders of Art" of Ta’er Monastery. It is a variety of artistic boutiques, such as statues of Buddha, figures, landscapes, pavilions, birds, animals, flowers and trees, which are made of butter.

D6

Xining-Qinghai Lake-Chaka

• Meals: B

• Altitude: 3100m

• Distance: 340km, 5hrs driving

• Hotel: In Chaka

Another delighted day is coming. We will ride the bikes around the beautiful Qinghai Lake after 2hrs driving, or have the light trekking in the cole flower sea. It's no exaggeration to say that Qinghai Lake is a miracle that is endowed by a deity. 

*Special Arrangement: 

① biking/hiking 1-2 hrs around Qinghai Lake

② having a nice time in Cole Flower Sea

Every year from May to October, the nomadic tibetan family will move to the side of the lake, it is so great to visit their family and learn their lifestyle. After that, drive 2.5 hrs to Chaka for overnight stay.

D7

Chaka-Xining Departure 

• Meals: B

• Altitude: 2295m

• Diatance: 343km, 4hrs driving

• Hotel: No

Today is the last day of our journey, we are going to enjoy the beautiful Chaka Salt Lake, it's the largest saline in Qinghai Province,  “Chaka”  means "the sea of salt" in Mongolian. It lies in the centre of Qaidam Basin, which was nominated by the national tourist geography magazine as one of the 55 places to go.

*Special Arrangement: 

one-way train ride to Chaka Salt Lake

After that, your enjoyable Silk Road trip is about to end, we will drive 4hrs back to Xining to catch your flight. Wish you have a pleasant journey home!

Travel with locals

Travel Date & Price

May 11-17/18-24/25-31【￥6600 P.P】

June 1-7/8-14/15-21/22-28【￥6800 P.P】

July 6-12/13-19/20-26【￥7500 P.P】

Single Supplement: from 1200RMB

Scan the QR Code for more information

A private tour is available

👇

 Price Inclusion 

√ Private transportation with good AC

√ Excellent English speaking guide

√ 4star Hotel with breakfast (2 persons shared one room)

√ Entrance fee listed in the itinerary 

√ Allowance for the guide and driver

√ 2 bottles of water each person on daily use

√ Government tax

√ Travel insurance

 Price Exclusion 

× Personal expenses and tips to the guide and driver

× Full Board Meals

× Some activities such as boating, camel riding, culture show etc.

× Flight arrive in Dunhuang and leave from Xining

 How to Book the Trip 

1. 4 to 10 pax in a group (4 pax min, 10 pax max)

2. Typically we will take 2000 RMB per person as deposit when you book the trip (You can pay the deposit through WeChat/Alipay/bank transfer.)

3. Then the balance will be paid when you arrive. (Note: The balance needs to be paid 7 days before departure if your trip is just in the official Chinese holiday. E.g. Chinese New Year, Labor's Day, National Day)

2. You can pay the balance when you arrive in Kashgar.

4.You can also book this trip on our website👇 

http://www.silkroadtravel.com

 Cancellation Policies 

Our cancellation policies are very friendly.😄 

If you have to cancel your trip for some unexpected reasons, we have the following policies:

For Weekend Tour

1. FULL REFUND at least 2 days before departure date. (Note: except the cost of service fees paid for the third party, such as flight ticket refund service fees)

2. FULL REFUND if there is no flight and train to arrive resulted from extreme weather or government restrictions.

For Long-term activities for 3 days or more

1. FULL REFUND at least 5 days before departure date. (Note: except the cost of service fees paid for the third party, such as flight ticket refund service fees)

2. FULL REFUND if there is no flight and train to arrive resulted from extreme weather or government restrictions.

Please let us know immediately if your plans change!

▶If the trip is cancelled due to severe weather conditions or any government restriction, full refund will be offered.

▶In the rare event that we cancels a trip, or we are unable to serve you, all fees are immediately refunded, including the deposit.

Scan the QR Code for more details

Hotel Reference

Hotel in Xining

Hotel in Chaka

Hotel in Zhangye

Kaoshan Tent

Dunhuang Hotel