16 Days Silk Road: Uzbekistan & China

Tour Overview

East meets West on this extraordinary 16-day odyssey spanning China and Uzbekistan — the two greatest civilizations of the ancient Silk Road. Begin in Beijing, China's imperial capital, and follow the trade route westward through Xi'an, the Hexi Corridor, and the desert oases of Xinjiang. Cross into Uzbekistan to explore the turquoise domes of Samarkand, the sacred heart of Bukhara, and the timeless walled city of Khiva. This is the Silk Road as it was meant to be experienced — a grand journey connecting empires, cultures, and millennia of history.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

• 1Day

  Arrive in Beijing

  Arrive at Beijing Capital Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Evening welcome dinner featuring Peking duck, the capital's signature dish.

  🏨 Beijing 4★🍽 Dinner
• 2Day

  Beijing — Great Wall & Forbidden City

  Morning drive to Mutianyu Great Wall for a walk on the world's most famous fortification. Afternoon visit to the Forbidden City — the imperial palace of 24 emperors across 500 years.

  🏨 Beijing 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 3Day

  Beijing ✈ Xi'an

  Morning flight to Xi'an, the ancient capital where the Silk Road began. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and stroll through the Muslim Quarter. Evening Tang Dynasty music and dance performance.

  🏨 Xi'an 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 4Day

  Xi'an — Terracotta Warriors

  Full morning at the Army of Terracotta Warriors — 8,000 life-sized soldiers guarding China's first emperor for over 2,200 years. Afternoon cycling on the ancient City Wall with panoramic views.

  🏨 Xi'an 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 5Day

  Xi'an → Lanzhou (High-speed train)

  High-speed train to Lanzhou (approx. 3.5 hours). Afternoon walk along the Yellow River waterfront and visit the iconic Iron Bridge. Evening sampling of Lanzhou's famous hand-pulled noodles.

  🏨 Lanzhou 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 6Day

  Lanzhou → Jiayuguan

  Drive through the Hexi Corridor to Jiayuguan (approx. 6 hours with scenic stops). Afternoon visit to the Jiayuguan Fortress — the western terminus of the Great Wall, standing at the edge of the Gobi Desert.

  🏨 Jiayuguan 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 7Day

  Jiayuguan → Dunhuang

  Morning at the Overhanging Great Wall. Drive through the Gobi to Dunhuang (5 hours). Evening free to explore the Dunhuang Night Market.

  🏨 Dunhuang 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 8Day

  Dunhuang — Mogao Caves & Singing Sand Dunes

  Full UNESCO day. Morning at the Mogao Caves exploring a millennium of Buddhist art. Afternoon camel ride on the Singing Sand Dunes and sunset at Crescent Moon Spring.

  🏨 Dunhuang 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 9Day

  Dunhuang → Turpan → Urumqi

  Morning high-speed train to Turpan (4 hours). Visit the Jiaohe Ruins and Karez irrigation system. Continue to Urumqi by evening. Stroll through Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar.

  🏨 Urumqi 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 10Day

  Urumqi ✈ Kashgar

  Morning flight to Kashgar. Afternoon exploration of the Old City — a living museum of Uyghur culture. Visit the Id Kah Mosque and watch the sun set from a rooftop teahouse.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 11Day

  Kashgar — Sunday Market

  Experience the legendary Kashgar Sunday Market — sheep, silk, spices, and the ancient rhythms of Central Asian trade. Afternoon at Abakh Khoja Tomb. Free evening to explore the Old City.

  🏨 Kashgar 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 12Day

  Kashgar ✈ Tashkent

  Morning flight across the Pamirs to Tashkent, Uzbekistan's modern capital. Afternoon city tour: Khast Imam Complex (home of the ancient Quran of Caliph Uthman), Chorsu Bazaar, and Independence Square.

  🏨 Tashkent 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 13Day

  Tashkent → Samarkand (High-speed train)

  Morning Afrosiyob high-speed train to Samarkand (2 hours). Afternoon at Registan Square — three magnificent madrasahs with turquoise domes. Visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, resting place of Tamerlane. Evening light show at Registan.

  🏨 Samarkand 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 14Day

  Samarkand → Bukhara

  Morning at Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis and Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Afternoon train to Bukhara (1.5 hours). Evening walk around Lyab-i Hauz — the city's central pool surrounded by ancient madrasahs and teahouses.

  🏨 Bukhara 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 15Day

  Bukhara → Khiva (via desert drive)

  Morning at the Ark Fortress, Kalon Minaret, and the domed trading bazaars. Drive through the Kyzylkum Desert to Khiva (6-7 hours), the most remote of Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities. Arrive in this open-air museum frozen in time.

  🏨 Khiva 4★🍽 B/L/D
• 16Day

  Khiva — Itchan Kala & Depart

  Morning exploration of Itchan Kala — the perfectly preserved inner walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk the city walls for panoramic views. Transfer to Urgench Airport for departure. Your epic Silk Road journey concludes.

  🍽 B

What's Included

What's Excluded