English
Price from: $559
Highlights: Zhangjiajie Nationa l Forest Park | Grand CanyonBaofeng Lake | Glass SkywalkCliff
Destinations: Hunan, International
- Country: China
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8 Days Qinghai, Chaka Lake and Gansu Silk Road
Tour highlights: Kunbum Monastery | Qinghai Lake Cycling | Chaka Lake | Zhangye Danxia Park | Matisi Temple | Pingshan Grand Canyon | Jiayuguan | Dunhuang Desert | Mogao Grottoes
English‑speaking local guide
Small Groups or Private Tours
Price of tour: $979*
* (Price can be 10% lower or higher depending on the season.)
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8 Days Qinghai, Chaka Lake and Gansu Silk Road
Tour summary
Begin your journey in Xining, where you’ll visit the impressive Kumbum Monastery, a major Tibetan cultural site. Enjoy a cycling adventure along the shore of the vast and beautiful Qinghai Lake, then spend time at the reflective Chaka Salt Lake, known as the “mirror of the sky.”
Continue by high-speed train to Zhangye. Discover the multi-colored layers of the breathtaking Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains, explore the ancient caves of Matisi Temple, and hike through the dramatic landscapes of Pingshan Grand Canyon.
Travel to the historic outpost of Jiayuguan, standing at the edge of the Gobi Desert and the end of the Great Wall. Climb the mighty fortress before heading deep into Dunhuang, a legendary Silk Road oasis town.
In Dunhuang, marvel at the incredible Mogao Grottoes, home to one of the world’s richest collections of Buddhist art, and walk the desert dunes of the Singing Sands. Add a camel ride for the full Silk Road experience!
Enjoy the comfort of local 4-star hotels, the guidance of an English-speaking tour leader, daily breakfast, all main admissions, curated experiences, and all transfers, including a scenic train ride. This tour blends culture, adventure, and history for the ultimate Silk Road discovery.
Tour Itinerary
Tour Table of Contents
Day 1: Xining Arrival
Picked up at airport/train station, transfer to hotel. The rest of the day is yours to rest, or walk around in the city.
Day 2: Xining- Kumbum Monastery-Qinghai Lake Cycling- Chaka 300km
After breakfast, drive to Kumbum Monastery(also known as Taer Temple), it’s ranked in importance as second only to Lhasa. Enjoy the “three wonders” of the monastery: lifelike butter flowers, colorufl murals and Tibetan embroidery. Later drive to Qinghai Lake, take a bike by the lake, enjoy the peaceful time. Finally, drive to Chaka town.
Day 3: Chaka Lake-Xining 300km & Xining- Zhangye Fast Train 2hrs
In the morning visit Chaka Salt Lake, it’s known as the “mirror of sky” by travelers, walk along the lake, you can see the crystal salt clearly. Ride on the sightseeing train back. Later, drive to Xining train station, take the high speed train to Zhangye.
Day 4: Zhangye: Matisi Temple, Pingshan Grand Canyon
Drive to Matisi temple, it translates as “Horse Hoof Monastery”. Admire a series of caves miraculously built in sheer sandstone cliffs, filled with carvings, temples and meditations room. Next drive to Pingshan Grand Canyon, it is the TOP5 grand canyon in the world, hike in the park for about 2 hours.
Day 5: Zhangye- Jiayuguan 260km
Drive to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, also named as the Rainbow Mountains, it is a geological wonder of the world. The mountains are of unbelievable colors, changing tone as with the height of the sun. After that, drive to Jiayuguan.
Day 6: Jiayuguan- Dunhuang 380km
This morning visit Jiayuguan Fort outside of the city, it is the last portion of Great Wall of China built from Ming Dynasty in 14th century, and an essential part of Silk Road to the west. 1hr’s climing up and down on the great wall can be experienced if you want. After that, drive to Dunhuang.
Day 7: Dunhuang: Mogao Grottoes, Singing Sands Dune
Drive to Mogao Grottoes in the morning, it is considered one of the most important collections of Buddhist art in the world. Started in 366 A.D, now it has 735 caves with beautiful murals and colored clay sculptures inside. In 1987, it was listed as world cultural heritage. In the afternoon, drive to Dunhuang Sands Dune, the wind blows the sand in the vast desert land, just as if it were singing. Camel riding can be experienced with extra fee.
Day 8: Dunhuang Departure
Drive to airport, tour finishes.
Included in the price
- airport and train station pickup and drop service
- experienced, knowledgable english-speaking guide
- transportation whilst on tour
- local 4 star hotels, based on double occupancy(one night economy hotel in Chaka)
- breakfast
- entrance fee
- bottle water
- lots of fun people
- xining to zhangye train ticket
- cycling experience at qinghai lake
- water, first-aid box
Excluded from the price
- flights or trains to Xining and out of Dunhuang
- other meals
- tips for guide and driver
- single room supplement fee 1200-2000rmb (If you are alone and willing to share, we shall put another solo taveler with you in same room. We can’t guarantee the roommate.)
Book directly with a local operator – no middlemen, no hidden fees.
Traditional travel agency service – real people, not bots.
Personalized planning – every tour can be adapted to your needs.
Direct communication with our local team before and during your trip.
Enquiry & Booking
Price from: $3394
Highlights: Cherry blossom viewing | Senso-ji Temple | Meiji Shrine | Shibuya & Shinjuku | Bullet train | Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) | Fushimi Inari Shrine | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove | Philosopher’s Path | Gion district | Nara Deer Park | Todaiji Temple | Osaka Castle | Dotonbori Street
- Country: Japan
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Authentic experiences led by local experts – not generic sightseeing.
Travel like a local, with guides who truly know the region.
Jessie | Founder
10 years experience in organizing expat tours in China.
Jessie first worked as travel consultant for many years, her excellent organizing skills and great travel route planning have won the trust of many customers. In 2018 she founded experiencetibet.org, an agency offering tours in Tibet autonomous region and other Tibetan areas in China such as Gansu, Yunnan and Sichuan. In 2020 she started yellowbirdtour.com, with destinations all over China.
Penny | China travel consultant
Penny has rich experience in organizing foreigners tours to many places in China, such as Tibet, Gansu, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Zhangjiajie. She is very responsive, always quick and patient. Customers like her, they always come back for more tours, and also recommend many of their friends to join.
Dawei | Tour guide / operator
Dawei is a Tibetan Buddhist, and comes from the most north edge of the Tibetan plateau in Qinghai province, Western China. He has travelled as a tour leader to many South Asian countries such as India, Bhutan and also nearly the entire country of China. He focuse especially on guiding in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Ningxia provinces and Tibetan regions. The activities of these various tour groups have included adopting family, horse racing, hiking, bird watching, cycling, camping, overseas students, cultural and religious sightseeing.
Andrew | Touir guide / operator
Andrew was born and grew up in a small village of Zhangjiajie, Hunan. From 2009-2012 he works for royal Caribbean International cruise as an onboard guest services officer. After that, he dedicates his life/time to guiding and operating tours in Zhangjiajie and around. As a native person, he knows all the corner of the scenic area, such as good restaurants, souvenir shops and cultures. He is very experienced and super flexible, he knows how to avoid the crowds and take advantage of the weather and offer the best travel experience to customers, all you need to do is just relax and enjoy!
