China
Trip Overview
China road trip can be summarized in one line – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. In our China custom tour package, you will experience a unique journey through The Silk Route. It’s often thought of as the middle of nowhere today, but back in its hayday, it was once the trading hub linking up China, India, Persia, and Rome. Explore the evolution of the Silk Route with a drive through China, a country which is a living proof of ancient times and exchange of cultures. Get ready to witness the scenery and sights that are not just spectacular but also intriguing on this time honoured trade route. There are the cute Giant Pandas in Chengdu, a thousand-kilometre-long Great Wall of China in Jiayuguan, exotic customs and traditions in Xinjiang, the well-known Mogao Caves (Mogao Grottoes) in Dunhuang, the bustling Sunday Bazaar in Kashgar and more. Are you ready to experience the adventures on this ancient trade route?
About the trip
Duration
13 Nights / 14 Days
Trip Cost
INR 325000 Per Person (EMI Option available)
Excluding 5% GST Per Person (EMI Option Available)
Trip style
Solo / Family / Couple / Friends
Landscapes
Desert, Mountains
Activities
Road Trip, UNESCO Sites, Walking Tours
Upcoming Dates
Download
Brochure
Route Map
Itinerary
Chengdu [Fly-in] Nihao!
Time to familiarize yourself with a little Chinese as you fly to Chengdu, capital of the Sichuan province and the starting point of your Silk Route journey in this unique China road trip. Check-in at the hotel and rest for a while as you gear up to begin your two-week-long journey through the Silk Route in China. You will get enough time to acclimatize to your surroundings and get used to all things Chinese before you embark on one of the most memorable journeys of your life! After settling down in the hotel, head out to explore the city and start with a visit to one of the many famous local teahouses such as the He Ming Teahouse, a century old teahouse where you can experience a fascinating, entertaining, and authentic tea pouring ceremony.
Chengdu – Sightseeing
It would be a crime to come to Chengdu and not visit those black and white bundles of over‑flowing cuteness! Yes, you guessed it right, we are talking about Pandas (Fun Fact: 80% of World’s giant pandas live in Chengdu). Chances are that you are not going to visit Chengdu that often in life, so why not make the most of it? As a part of your custom tour package, visit the most popular attraction — the Panda Research Base. The giant pandas are a Chinese national treasure and are beloved by people worldwide. Visit the centre to learn about the breeding efforts and see the adorable baby pandas. Stop by the popular Kuan & Zhai Alley to sample some local snacks, then travel to Wenshu Temple. In the evening, attend a performance at the renowned Sichuan Opera.
Drive to Ruoergai
Your first day on the road in China is going to be a memorable one as it will treat you with lots of curated travel experiences. The remarkable scenery and mountain roads on the way will blow your mind. And chances are that you might encounter some snow as you travel towards the Tibetan village of Rouergai, a small town located high up in the mountains at an altitude of 12000 feet. The drive from Chengdu to Rouergai is full of gorgeous landscapes. As you start climbing the mountains, you will notice that the grasslands found here are dotted with rocky outcrops that are home to species such as the Tibetan gazelle. This, in turn, makes these grasslands the perfect habitat for some of China’s unique predators, including Tibetan wolf, Chinese mountain cat and Tibetan fox.
Ruoergai
Rouergai, a Tibetan town that falls on the eastern perimeter of the Tibetan Plateau, is in southwest China in a remote corner of the Sichuan province. If you open any map, chances are you will not find Rouergai in it. It is tiny, isolated, and almost disconnected from the rest of the world. Go out for a stroll in the village where you will meet friendly locals who are likely to ask you for a selfie and will be happy to show you around their idyllic village. The flat and wide Ruoergai grassland looks like a green carpet under the blue sky, with the back paved highway leading you to the end of the sky. Tibetan villages and yaks add much vitality on this carpet. After spending an exciting day, head back to the hotel for a local meal. If you think this trip has come to a level of saturation, hold your horses, as your China customized holiday packages tour has just started!
Drive to Xining
Today, as a part of your China custom tour journey, you will drive towards Xining, the largest and the capital city of the mesmerizing Qinghai province. It will be a long day on the road but you will find solace in the fluffy white clouds, untainted blue sky, and vast grasslands. Stop for lunch en route Langmusi or Xiahe depending on your progress and the number of photo stops you make along the way. The peaceful drive will give you ample opportunity to appreciate the beautiful, idyllic, and isolated countryside of the Qinghai province as you drive towards Xining. Once in Xining, if you are willing, jaunt your way to Dongguan Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in northwest China with a history of more than 600 years! Head to the hotel for an overnight stay and in the evening, go for a leisure stroll in the town.
Xining – Jiayuguan
It is going to be another long day on the road, so you will start early with your tour guide. Today is going to be another exciting day on the road so take a deep breath and enjoy the spectacular views as you cross the “Qilian Mountains”, which literally translates to “heavenly mountain”, en route to Jiayuguan. Qilian Mountains are located on the border of Qinghai and Gansu province in west-central China. Qilian grassland is 300 km from Xining and it would take about six hours to get there. The mountains can rise as high as 19,000 feet and if you look in the distance, you will spot snow covered mountain tops while travelling along livestock herds grazing in the well-watered valleys. If you are lucky, you might even get to experience a mesmerising snowfall en route.
Jiayuguan – Dunhuang
Today is going to be one of those days that you are going to remember for the rest of your life because you are going to climb the Great Wall of China as you visit the Jiayuguan Great Wall, the vital pass to the world’s oldest trading route. Do you know it took 168 years to complete the wall? Well, now you know! You may have seen the Great Wall of China from the east, but unlike millions of tourists, you are going to become a part of that rare group of travellers who have witnessed the Western end of the thousand kilometres long Great Wall of China! After exploring the Great Wall and the Jiayuguan Pass for half day, proceed to your next destination i.e. Dunhuang.
Dunhuang – Free day / Sightseeing
You have earned a rest day so ditch the road and take a walk! If you are itching to go out and explore the city, we recommend that you spend the day visiting the Mogao Caves. The mere fact that the world’s earliest printed dated book- Diamond Sutra was discovered here, should be enough to tick this place off your bucket list. But if you would rather do something far adventurous, then walk towards the dunes of the Gobi Desert and spend the entire day enjoying various activities such as dune bashing on a bike or a jeep, camel safari, quad biking in the sand or simply find an isolated spot on a dune to enjoy a sunrise or a sunset over the Gobi Desert.
Dunhuang – Turpan
Today morning, hit the road and head towards the town of Turpan. It is going to be the longest drives of your journey so you will need to make an early start. As you approach Turpan, you will also enter the Xinjiang Province. Officially known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, it is a provincial-level autonomous region of China in the northwest of the country. It is the largest Chinese Administrative division and the 8th largest country subdivision in the world, spanning over 1.6 million sq km. You will find it interesting to know that Xinjiang borders eight countries including Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Brace yourself for more security checks as you enter a unique and a truly unexplored part of the world.
Turpan – Kuerle
Compared to the day before, this day’s journey is going to feel like a walk in the park. Start the day at leisure and try the scrumptious kebabs of Turpan before hitting the road. We promise you that the kebabs of Turpan are the best kebabs you will ever eat in your lifetime! After eating to your heart’s content, hit the road and head towards Kuerle. As they say, the real charm of a city can only be experienced by those who really see it with their own eyes and feel it with their own heart. Explore all the attractive sights in Kuerle which simply cannot be described in words and don’t forget to try the exotic and famous ‘fragrant pears’ of Kuerle as you walk around the town.
Kuerle – Akesu
Post breakfast, you will be travelling from Kuerle to Akesu today. En route, you will visit the ancient town of Kuche. If time permits, you can also visit the Tianshan Grand Canyon Scenic Area to take in the spectacular landscape of China’s answer to the Grand Canyon of USA. The mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon is a canyon near Keziliya Mountain formed by wind and rain over billions of years. But depending upon your progress during the day considering the weather and the time spent on checkpoints on the highways, your guide will take a call about visiting the canyon. Continue travelling through the vast expanses of Xinjiang province, passing more obscure Silk Road stops and simply soak in the remoteness of this unique part of the world.
Akesu – Kashgar
Today is going to be another long day on the road as you will spend around 10 hours travelling from Akesu to Kashgar so make sure that your phones and cameras are charged and you have enough songs on your playlists to last the complete drive! Today’s drive will give you a good look at the lifestyle of those who live in the sparsely populated areas of western China, and you will get an idea of what it might have been like to travel the Silk Road in days gone by— in air-conditioned comfort, of course. Today also marks the last day on the road of your journey as you reach Kashgar, the final destination of your two week long Silk Route tour in China.
Kashgar – Free day / Sightseeing
Kashgar is a city in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in China’s far west. It used to be an important transit point on the Silk Route, with a history stretching over 2,000 years. Today it’s known for the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar, a daily market crammed with pashminas, spices, fur caps and more. Visiting Kashgar is like travelling back in time. We saved a day in your personalized itinerary of China to make sure you have ample time to enjoy the many charming places here like Abakh Khoja Tomb, Three Immortals Buddhist Caves, Stone City, and Karakul lake. One of the main attractions of Kashgar is the Id Kah Mosque – one of the largest mosques in China. A visit here is must not only for its beauty and religious sentiments but also for its grandeur.
Kashgar (Fly out)
You’ve not really travelled until you have explored! After two weeks of exploration, wonder, and adventures, it’s time to head back home. A journey through the Silk Route of China is not something that many travellers can claim to have experienced. It is said that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations and the last two weeks in China will echo this sentiment in your hearts and minds for many years to come. But if you are still yearning to explore more and wish to extend your programme in China for a few more days, we will be happy to assist you in making all the necessary arrangements.
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Useful information
Trip Inclusions
Accommodation on twin occupancy
All meals*
China visa support Chauffeur Driven / Self Drive Vehicle (4 people in one car)
Fuel Airport transfers in Chengdu and Kashgar
Driving permits and vehicle insurance
Trip Exclusions
International flights *Lunch and Dinner on Day 2, Day 4, Day 8 and Day 13
Travel Insurance
Chinese visa application fees
Any cost arising out of unforeseen circumstances
Additional accommodation charges due to unforeseen delays in the journey
Any charges for carrying video camera or still camera
Any additional fee for issuance of visa apart from the standard fee
International Driving Permit
5% GST
5% TCS
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Brochure
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