Call us 1-888-831-7526
Email Us!
Reserve This Trip

From Xian, the ancient starting point for the great trade caravans, you'll follow the traditional route across western China, stopping at way stations lining the age-old routes: from Dunhuang, where the greatest repository of Chinese Buddhist cave art resides in the Mogao Grottoes, to Kashgar, once Britain's most remote listening post in Central Asia. Then, it's off across the Taklimakan Desert, so forbidding to travelers, but once the center of Buddhist civilization (its name means "who goes in, does not come out"!), for visits to oases of the Uygur people. Throughout, you'll gain fascinating insights into the region's rich cultural heritage, featuring classic sites of Buddhist, Mongol, and Muslim antiquity. What an incredible adventure! Marco Polo would have been impressed.

A five-day extension to Beijing is available, offering a glimpse of China's past and present. See detailed itinerary for more information.

This trip has been discontinued. Please call one of MTSobek’s travel experts at 888-831-7526 to learn about similar trips currently offered.

Day 1 - Meet in Beijing, China.

Days 2-3 Fly to Xian. Tour the city, including the famed Terracotta Warriors. Evening flight to Dunhuang on Day 3.

Day 4 - Visit the Mogao Buddhist Caves and the sand dunes at Mingsha. Optional camel ride to Crescent Lake, then drive to the train station at Liuyuan. Overnight train to Turpan.

Day 5 - Morning arrival in Turpan. Visit the remains of Gaochang, the Bezeklik Buddhist Caves, and the red sandstone hills of the Flaming Mountains.

Day 6 - Explore the Karez wells and the fortress of Jiao He. Drive to Ürümqi and fly to Kashgar.

Day 7 - All day to explore Kashgar and its important sites.

Day 8 - Visit Kashgar's colorful Sunday bazaar.

Day 9 - Drive to Karglik via the Silk Road oasis of Yarkand.

Day 10 - Continue to Hotan, famous for its jade, carpets, embroidery, and silk.

Day 11 - Visit local artisans, then drive to Niya.

Day 12 - Cross the heart of the Taklimakan to Kuche.

Day 13 - Visit Kuche's Friday market, a huge local event attended by thousands of Uygur people. Afternoon tour of the ruins of Subashi, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Guici.

Day 14 - Tour the Kizil Buddha Caves, which once contained some of the finest examples of Buddhist art in Central Asia.

Day 15 - Fly to Ürümqi and connect with flight to Beijing.

Day 16 - Fly home.

Photo Credits
©Narendra Gurung (MTS staff)