What's included in the price?

Hotels, domestic transport, guided experiences, most meals, entrance fees, and your Travel Designer support. International flights are optional.

Can I customize this itinerary?

Absolutely. Every detail — dates, pace, hotels, experiences — can be customized to your preferences.

How many people are in a group?

Max 12 travelers for our small group. Custom private trips can be as small as 2 people.

Do I need a visa for China?

Most Western passport holders need a tourist visa. We provide visa invitation letters for All-Inclusive bookings.

Is China safe for Western travelers?

Extremely safe. Violent crime against tourists is virtually nonexistent. Our concierge provides 24/7 support.

What about the language barrier?

All guides speak English. Your itinerary includes translation cards and On-Trip Concierge provides real-time translation.

How far in advance should I book?

3–6 months ahead for peak seasons (April–May, September–October).

What if I need to cancel?

Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. Rescheduling is flexible.

Silk Road Essentials: 10 Days from Beijing to Kashgar

Warum Sie diese Reise lieben werden

Reisen Sie einen vollständigen Bogen von Ost nach West vom kaiserlichen Peking über das Xi'an der Tang-Dynastie, die buddhistischen Grotten von Dunhuang und die Oasenruinen von Turpan bis hin zum Sonntagsbasar von Kaschgar – eine einzige 12-tägige Privatreise ohne Umweg über Shanghai und ohne Ausflüge in große Höhen.
Besuchen Sie BEIDE UNESCO-Grottenstätten von Dunhuang – die Mogao-Grotten mit ihrem 1.000-jährigen buddhistischen Kanon und die Yulin-Grotten mit den besser erhaltenen Fresken, die die Öffentlichkeit selten zu Gesicht bekommt.
Erleben Sie ein Schattenspiel aus der Ming-Dynastie im Gao's Grand Courtyard im muslimischen Viertel von Xi'an, wo die Puppenspieler Szenen aus der Reise nach Westen im Shaanxi-Dialekt aufführen – ein immaterielles Kulturerbe, das auf kürzeren Touren selten gezeigt wird.
Betreten Sie das Karez-Brunnensystem – 2.000 Jahre alte unterirdische Bewässerungskanäle, die neben der Großen Mauer und dem Kaiserkanal als eines der drei großen Bauwerke des alten Chinas gelten – und wandern Sie über die Han-Tang-Plateau-Festung Jiaohe Ruinen, die zwischen zwei Flussschluchten liegt.
Erleben Sie den Sonntags-Viehmarkt von Kaschgar – den größten Wochenmarkt Zentralasiens –, wo uigurische, kirgisische und tadschikische Händler über Ziegen, Kamele, handgeknüpfte Teppiche und Gewürze feilschen, wie es persische Kaufleute vor tausend Jahren taten.

Beijing · 4 Days

Peking

Beijing · 4 Days

Peking

Xi'an · 2 Days

Xi'an

Dunhuang · 2 Days

Dunhuang

Turpan · 1 Day

Turpan

Kashgar · 1 Day

Kaschgar

01.Imperial Capital & the Heart of Old China

4 Days · From Forbidden City to the Great Wall

Beijing

4Tage · Peking

Beijing is the trip's imperial bookend — the Han Chinese capital that every dynasty since the Yuan has ruled from, and the only place to grasp the scale of imperial culture before the Silk Road journey moves west.

Imperial Start
The Forbidden City, Tiananmen, Temple of Heaven, and hutongs frame the journey before it turns west.Wall Choice
Mutianyu Great Wall keeps the Wall scenic, accessible, and less crowded.Before the Rail
Keep arrival day light and palace tickets booked early with passport details.

Private transferpaced for arrival

Xi'an

02.Tang Capital & Buddhist Grottoes

4 Days · Terracotta Warriors to UNESCO Caves

Xi'an

2Tage · Xi'an

Xi'an and Dunhuang are the trip's cultural double anchor — the Tang capital where the Silk Road began, and the Buddhist grotto network where 1,000 years of Mahayana art survived in the Gobi.

Silk Road Gate
Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and Muslim Quarter connect empire, Buddhism, and trade.Old City Options
City-wall cycling and Gao's Courtyard shadow puppets add texture beyond the museum.Food Streets
Muslim Quarter keeps Xi'an lively with noodles, cakes, and cumin smoke.

Private transferpaced for arrival

Dunhuang

2Tage · Dunhuang

Xi'an and Dunhuang are the trip's cultural double anchor — the Tang capital where the Silk Road began, and the Buddhist grotto network where 1,000 years of Mahayana art survived in the Gobi.

Cave Temples
Mogao Caves or Yulin Caves carry the Buddhist art story of the Gobi.Desert Light
Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Spring work best near golden hour.Conservation Rules
No photography inside protected grottoes; keep cameras and bags simple.

Private transferpaced for arrival

Turpan

03.Oasis Crossroads & Underground Engineering

2 Days · Buddhist Cliff Caves and 2,000-Year Irrigation

Turpan

1Tag · Turpan

Turpan is the Silk Road's archaeological core — Bezeklik's cliff-face murals, Tuyoq's Sufi pilgrimage village, Jiaohe's plateau fortress, and the Karez tunnels still flowing beneath the city today.

Oasis Archaeology
Jiaohe, Bezeklik, Tuyoq, and the Karez wells show how desert cities survived.Heat and Water
Karez Well System makes Turpan's underground irrigation easy to understand.Timing Strategy
Visit exposed ruins early and leave the hotter hours for shaded or indoor stops.

Private transferpaced for arrival

Kashgar

04.Uyghur Heartland & Central Asian Crossroads

2 Days · Sunday Bazaar and Mud-Brick Old Town

Kashgar

1Tag · Kaschgar

Kashgar is the trip's geographic and cultural climax — Central Asia's largest weekly market, China's largest mosque, and the holiest Muslim site in Xinjiang, all within a single Old Town district that feels closer to Tashkent than to Beijing.

Far-West Finale
Old Town, Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Khoja Tomb, and craft lanes bring the route into Uyghur culture.Market Day
Sunday Bazaar is the strongest scene when timing matches.Local Etiquette
Dress respectfully near religious sites and allow time for airport routing via Urumqi.