All the Way West

Special Notes

Reservations for the Mogao Caves, Sunday markets, and intercity transport all depend on your specific departure date. Please review the arrangements below before finalizing your dates.

• Booking and Written Confirmation — This route is now available for booking. Specific departure dates, flights and train schedules for the four intercity transfers, as well as Mogao Caves tickets and the opening status of other attractions, will be verified against the actual dates and listed in the written quotation and confirmation.
• Day eleven must fall on a Sunday — The itinerary schedules the Kashgar bazaar for Day 11 (Sunday). Departure dates must be planned backward from this constraint and confirmed alongside the availability of flights, trains, and hotels.
• National holiday week — no departures between October 1 and October 7. Visitor numbers at the Terracotta Warriors in that week run beyond what a single dedicated day absorbs, and we have no early-entry arrangement in place.
• November and December departures — Departure dates must be verified against the scenic area's winter opening hours, available reservation slots at the Mogao Caves, and actual transport schedules; bookable dates and prices are subject to the final written quote.
• The Mogao Caves reservation — admission runs on a capped daily quota. We apply for your timed slot and track it at no separate charge, and your balance is not collected until the reservation for your order is secured. If the quota will not give your date, we tell you before payment and move the date. We do not sell you the day and sort it out later.
• The Turpan to Kashgar connection — The route from Turpan to Kashgar is planned to connect via Urumqi; specific flights are subject to the written quote. If the actual departure time affects the Day 9 tour, Flaming Mountains can be rescheduled to Day 8. Any adjustments and associated costs must be specified in the confirmation form.
• In-scene transportation — Cycling on the Xi'an City Wall and bike rentals are included in the itinerary. Other scenic areas do not include in-park shuttle buses, camel rides, sand dune off-road vehicles, cable cars, or ropeways. Note that the Jiaohe Ancient City, the old town lanes of Kashgar, and the sand dunes have uneven or soft terrain.
• Id Kah Mosque — a working place of worship. The visit is arranged around prayer times and modest dress is asked of everyone. The prayer-time and dress details for your dates go into your written confirmation once our ground partners state them.
• Additional Sightseeing Options — If you'd like to spend an extra half day in Dunhuang, or visit local homes and workshops in Kashgar, share your travel dates and interests. We’ll check the available activities, required time, and any additional costs for that day, then provide a written quote for your consideration.
• Group — Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
• Visa window — This itinerary spans 13 days, which exceeds the 240-hour stay limit under the transit visa exemption policy. Therefore, this policy alone cannot cover the entire journey. Any other visa-exempt status or visa eligibility must be verified on a case-by-case basis based on passport, port of entry, travel dates, and official regulations in effect at the time.
• Departing from the U.S. or Canada — Please provide your actual departure point, passport details, and round-trip flight information. Before issuing a written quote, we will verify entry requirements and flight connections; the availability of this itinerary is not guaranteed until all details are confirmed.
• Confirmation and changes — The quote specifies the confirmation deadline along with change and refund terms. The itinerary includes three flight segments, one railway leg, and quota-limited bookings; the Kashgar market visit is also scheduled for Sunday. If the departure date is changed, all these flights and reservations must be re-verified.