16 Days Silk Road & Yunnan Tour

Tour Overview

Where the golden sands of the Gobi meet the emerald rice terraces of Yunnan — this 16-day journey is China's ultimate contrast tour. Start on the ancient Silk Road through Dunhuang, Turpan, and Kashgar, then fly south to Yunnan, the "Land of Eternal Spring." From the Mogao Caves to Lijiang's cobblestone alleys, from camel rides to tea ceremonies, this tour captures China's staggering diversity in one seamless adventure.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

• 1Day

  Arrive in Dunhuang

  Fly into Dunhuang, the gateway to the Silk Road's greatest treasure. Airport transfer, hotel check-in. Evening stroll through Shazhou Night Market. Try local specialties: donkey meat noodles and apricot tea.

  🏨 Dunhuang 4★🍴 D
• 2Day

  Dunhuang — Mogao Caves & Singing Sand Dunes

  Full UNESCO World Heritage day. Morning at the Mogao Caves — 492 grottoes with 45,000 sqm of Buddhist murals spanning 1,000 years. Afternoon: camel ride across the Singing Sand Dunes to Crescent Moon Spring at sunset.

  🏨 Dunhuang 4★🍴 B/L
• 3Day

  Dunhuang → Turpan (High-speed train)

  Morning at Yumen Pass and the Han Dynasty Great Wall ruins. Afternoon high-speed train to Turpan (4 hrs). Arrive in China's hottest city, 154m below sea level.

  🏨 Turpan 4★🍴 B
• 4Day

  Turpan — Flaming Mountains & Grape Valley

  Visit Jiaohe Ancient City — the world's best-preserved earthen city. Marvel at the Karez irrigation system, an engineering wonder. Afternoon: wander through Grape Valley's shaded vineyards. Evening Uyghur dance show.

  🏨 Turpan 4★🍴 B/L
• 5Day

  Turpan → Urumqi ✈ Kashgar

  Morning drive to Urumqi, visit the Xinjiang Museum to see 3,800-year-old Tarim mummies. Afternoon flight to Kashgar — the legendary crossroads of the Silk Road.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍴 B/L
• 6Day

  Kashgar — Sunday Bazaar & Old City

  The iconic Sunday Bazaar — thousands of traders, camels, carpets, and spices. Afternoon: explore the Old City's mud-brick alleys. Visit Id Kah Mosque. Evening tea at a century-old teahouse with Uyghur musicians.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍴 B/L
• 7Day

  Kashgar — Karakoram Highway to Karakul Lake

  Drive the legendary Karakoram Highway to Karakul Lake (3,600m). Panoramic views of Muztagh Ata (7,546m) and Kongur Tagh (7,649m). Visit Kyrgyz nomad settlements along the lake.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍴 B/L
• 8Day

  Kashgar → Abakh Khoja Tomb ✈ Kunming

  Morning visit to Abakh Khoja Tomb — the "Fragrant Concubine's" mausoleum. Afternoon flight to Kunming, Yunnan. The climate shift from desert to spring-like weather is dramatic!

  🏨 Kunming 4★🍴 B
• 9Day

  Kunming — Stone Forest

  Day trip to the Stone Forest — a UNESCO karst landscape of towering limestone pinnacles, sacred to the Yi people. Afternoon: Green Lake Park and Yunnan cuisine (Across-the-Bridge Noodles).

  🏨 Kunming 4★🍴 B/L
• 10Day

  Kunming 🚆 Dali (High-speed train)

  Morning bullet train to Dali (2 hrs). Afternoon: explore Dali Old Town — cobblestone streets, traditional Bai architecture, and the iconic Three Pagodas reflected in the water. Sunset at Erhai Lake.

  🏨 Dali 4★🍴 B/L
• 11Day

  Dali — Erhai Lake Cycling & Xizhou Village

  Morning bicycle ride around Erhai Lake (20 km, flat, easy). Visit Xizhou Bai Village for traditional tie-dye workshop and three-course tea ceremony. Afternoon free to explore.

  🏨 Dali 4★🍴 B/L
• 12Day

  Dali → Lijiang

  Drive to Lijiang (2.5 hrs) through terraced farmland. Afternoon: explore Lijiang Old Town — a UNESCO site of cobblestone alleys, wooden bridges, and flowing canals. Night view from Lion Hill.

  🏨 Lijiang 4★🍴 B/L
• 13Day

  Lijiang — Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

  Full day at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Cable car to 4,506m for views of 13 peaks and glaciers. Watch Zhang Yimou's "Impression Lijiang" outdoor performance. Afternoon: Baisha murals and Naxi villages.

  🏨 Lijiang 4★🍴 B/L
• 14Day

  Lijiang → Tiger Leaping Gorge → Shangri-La

  Drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge — one of the world's deepest river canyons. Hike a section of the high trail for breathtaking views. Continue to Shangri-La (Zhongdian) at 3,200m.

  🏨 Shangri-La 4★🍴 B/L/D
• 15Day

  Shangri-La — Tibetan Paradise

  Visit Songzanlin Monastery — the "Little Potala Palace." Explore Dukezong Ancient Town with its giant prayer wheel. Afternoon: Pudacuo National Park — pristine lakes, meadows, and forests. Farewell Tibetan hotpot dinner.

  🏨 Shangri-La 4★🍴 B/L/D
• 16Day

  Depart from Shangri-La or Lijiang

  Airport transfer to Diqing Shangri-La Airport or return to Lijiang for departure. From the Gobi Desert to Tibetan Shangri-La — what a journey! 再见!

  🍴 B

What's Included

What's Excluded