Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Kashgar to Xi'an
Premier
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- See the crumbling remains of Kashgar's enigmatic Old Town and the busy Sunday Market
- Camp beneath the stars in the Taklamakan Desert
- Overnight in a yurt beside the pristine waters of Heavenly Lake
- Follow the ancient Silk Road through Far Western China
- See where the Great Wall meets its end in the Jiayuguan Desert
- Discover the discipline of Tibetan monks in Xiahe
- Be stunned by the beauty of Kongtong Mountain
Short Description
Discover China away from the tourist trail. Beginning at the famous market town of Kashgar, this trip will explore China's remote west. Our route skirts the edge of the isolated Taklamakan Desert, stopping along the Silk Route at the oasis of Turpan. Many travellers to China visit the Great Wall, but few see the remote western end of it at Jiayuguan, 3000 miles from Beijing. From here the road climbs up to the Tibetan Plateau, and we visit the pilgrimage site of Xiahe before descending to the historic city of Xi'an, home of the Terracotta Warriors.
Theme
Overland JourneysDestinations
ChinaAttractions & Cities Visited
N/AActivities & Interests
N/AItinerary
Day 1 Kashgar
Travel to the westernmost end of China and visit Kashgar, an exotic fusion of Chinese, Uzbek and Kyrgyz cultures. Wander the streets that weave through the Old Town and discover the markets and bazaars of this diverse city.
Day 2-3 Kashgar
Day 4-5 Bayanbulak
Leave Kashgar and head to the outskirts of the enormous Taklamakan Desert. Travelling into seemingly unchartered terrain, spend two days on an overland adventure.
Day 6-7 Heavenly Lake
Travel towards the Tian Shan mountain range, and arrive at the pristine Heavenly Lake. Located at the top of a mountain - and in the middle of a desert - this is a remote spot, perfect for relaxation.
Day 8-9 Turpan
Escape the desert sands in the laidback town of Turpan. Explore the famous Jiahe ruins, visit the night market or perhaps soak up the lively energy among locals in the town square.
Day 10-11 Dunhuang
Continue the Overland adventure towards the ancient Silk Road town of Dunhuang. Spend the night wild camping beneath the desert stars.
Day 12 Jiayuguan
Day 13 Zhangye
Drive to Jiayuguan and discover deserted sections of the Great Wall.
Day 14 Liujiaxia
At the crossroads of Qinghai and Gangsu, arrive at Liujiaxia. Visit the Bingling Si Buddhist grottoes to see intricate cliff-side carvings.
Day 15-17 Xiahe
Travel to the Tibetan monastery town of Xiahe, often described as one of the most enchanting places to visit in China.
Day 18 Lanzhou
Make tracks to Lanzhou and relax beside the rushing waters of the Yellow River.
Day 19-20 Pingliang
Overland to lovely Pingliang, located at the base of the verdant Kongtong Mountain. If feeling energetic, climb through five lush terraces to the scared site of Mount Kongtong, passing temples and shrines along the way.
Day 21 Xi'an
Admire the 2,000-year-old army of Terracotta Warriors at the end of this journey from Kashgar to Xi'an.
Day 22 Xi'an
Availability
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4,327 Intrepid Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings
Kashgar to Xi'an
Company Reviews
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I was excited to visit a country on the Silk Road and it exceeded my expectations.
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All flights went like clockwork and the tour was terrific.
The sites were amazing, but our guide's affable demeanor and extensive knowledge ensured that every step of the way was both educational and enjoyable. Moreover, he extended his support beyond the tour, tracking our well-being until we safely returned to our respective countries which added an extra layer of depth to the journey.
I will be most definitely be using Intrepid again and can highly recommend.
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Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
Roundtrip air to/from trip start & all internal transport Overland vehicle
Group Size
Intimate Group - 12 max
Maximum Number of People in Group: 22
Maximum of 22 travellers per group.
Solo Notes
Our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and don't involve a compulsory single supplement. Single travellers share with people of the same gender in accommodation ranging from twin to multishare. Some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on a mixed gender share basis and where applicable this will be specified in our Trip Notes. On a selection of our trips, you have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure that you have your own accommodation (where available). Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the tour - pre-trip and post-trip accommodation will be booked on a single room basis.
Accommodations
Hotel (12 nts), Bush camp (no facilities) (3 nts), Guesthouse (3 nts), Yurt (2 nts), Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)
Guides
On all of our Dragoman-operated Overlanding trips you will be accompanied by two Western crew members who are responsible for the group and the overall organisation of the trip. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad knowledge of the places visited and to offer suggestions of things to do and see. Dragoman trips use local guides who may stay with us for just a few hours or will actually travel with us for some or all of the journey. In these cases they become a third crew member and are able to offer their local knowledge as well as a real insight into the lives of the local people. Our crew are chosen for their leadership skills, and most importantly have a passion for the region and its people. We endeavour to provide the services of an experienced leader and crew; however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders On any Overland trip, there are a number of tasks that need to be done. Our overland trip leaders will organise the group into smaller groups of two or three who will take turns in the daily shopping and cooking, vehicle cleaning, disposing of rubbish, etc. There are also a number of other jobs that need doing e.g. collecting water and firewood, luggage loading, supervising the kitty and food stores, which may be assigned to particular people or on a rota system according to group size, make-up, and so on. You must come prepared to 'pull your weight' and share in these duties; you will become very unpopular with other group members if they have to do your share. The more you put into a trip, the more you'll benefit.
Additional Information
Style descriptions
Our Basix style trips are designed for travellers who want exceptional value, plenty of free time and having the flexibility to choose where and how their time and money is spent. By working plenty of free time into the itineraries and keeping many of the activities optional, we aim to make travel possible for those on even the most slender of budgets. After all, why pay for an activity or excursion you wouldn’t otherwise be interested in? Or a level of comfort you don’t require? As a wise person probably once said, a bed's just a bed when there's exploring to be done.
Finish point
- Jianguo Hotel Xi'an
- No.2 Huzhu Road, Beilin District,
- Xi'an
- Xi'an
- CHINA
Physical Requirements
Be prepared for some serious physical activity. The majority of activities included on this trip will be challenging. The fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy your holiday.
Trip ID#:
intrepid-CDOK
Meals Included
Meals introduction
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. On our camping trips we often cook the region's specialities so you don't miss out. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.
Meals
All meals when camping
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