Caravans of Time: The Silk Road Journey

Leave the ordinary behind and follow the legendary Silk Road across China's most evocative landscapes, from surreal deserts to ancient imperial capitals.

16 Days • from A$3,499 per person (AUD) • including return flights from major Australian cities

Tour Highlights

  • Pause beside the serene waters of Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), a mirror of sky and snow-capped peaks
  • Arrive in Urumqi, the world's most landlocked major city, where cultures converge at the edge of the vast west
  • Uncover the grace of Emin Minaret, the last remaining Islamic minaret in China
  • Explore Turpan, a fertile oasis resting in the world's third-deepest inland depression
  • Witness the blazing beauty of the Flaming Mountains, where summer heat shimmers like a myth
  • Walk upon the singing sands of Mingsha Shan, where the dunes whisper ancient songs
  • Marvel at the spiritual artistry of the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
  • Discover Dunhuang, an enduring oasis known as the Pearl of the Silk Road

Itinerary at a Glance

  1. Day 1: Australia (or New Zealand) – Urumqi, China — Today, your journey begins as you depart Australia (or New Zealand) on an international flight bound for Urumqi, the distant gateway to China's far west. Upon arrival, you'll be warmly welcomed by you
  2. Day 2: Tianchi (Heavenly Lake) — Enjoy a leisurely morning before setting out for a visit to Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), a crystalline alpine lake formed within an ancient volcanic crater. Steeped in myth and legend, this sacred place i
  3. Day 3: Urumqi – Turpan — After breakfast, journey by road to Turpan, a lush green oasis unfolding from an otherwise stark and barren landscape. Famous for its sweet grapes and relaxed pace of life, this gentle town is shaded
  4. Day 4: Turpan Sightseeing — Today's journey reveals the quiet ingenuity and spiritual depth that once sustained life along the Silk Road. Begin with a visit to the ancient Karez Well System, an extraordinary underground irrigati
  5. Day 5: Turpan – Dunhuang (High-Speed Train) — Today, travel by sleek high-speed train to Dunhuang, an ancient oasis nestled within the vast, arid landscapes of Gansu Province. Long revered as the Pearl of the Silk Road, Dunhuang has stood at the
  6. Day 6: Dunhuang Sightseeing — Today's journey centres on one of the greatest artistic treasures of the Silk Road, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mogao Caves. First begun in 366 AD and expanded over more than a thousand years, th
  7. Day 7: Dunhuang – Jiayuguan — Today, set out on a journey across the vast Gobi Desert toward Jiayuguan, a historic gateway standing at the edge of the desert and beneath the distant peaks of the Qilian Mountains. Along the way, pa
  8. Day 8: Jiayuguan – Zhangye — Rise early this morning and set out on a scenic journey of approximately 250 kilometres to Zhangye. Upon arrival, explore the breathtaking Zhangye Qicai Danxia National Geological Park, often poetical
  9. Day 9: Zhangye – Wuwei — After breakfast, begin the day with a visit to the venerable Dafo Temple (Giant Buddha Temple), founded in 1098, housing the largest indoor reclining clay Buddha in China. Continue your journey by roa
  10. Day 10: Wuwei – Lanzhou — Today, journey some 300 kilometres to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province — a city where the ancient Silk Road meets a quietly modern pulse. Cradled by the Yellow River, Lanzhou is home to around 3
  11. Day 11: Lanzhou – Bingling Caves – Lanzhou — Today, drift along the timeless waters of the Yellow River to reach the secluded Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves — a sacred sanctuary revealed only by boat. Carved into sheer cliffs some 1,700 years ag
  12. Day 12: Lanzhou – Xi'an (High-Speed Train) — This morning, glide by high-speed rail into Xi'an, once known as Chang'an — the Eternal City where emperors ruled and caravans set forth toward distant horizons. As the eastern gateway of the Silk Roa
  13. Day 13: Xi'an – Terracotta Warriors — Today's highlight is an encounter with eternity at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum — one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Thousands of life-size warriors, char
  14. Day 14: Xi'an Free Day — Today is free at leisure to explore Xi'an at your own pace.
  15. Day 15: Xi'an – Australia (or New Zealand) — Relax and enjoy your final breakfast before travelling to the airport for your departure flight. Standard check-out time is 12:00 and luggage storage is available at the front desk for those with late
  16. Day 16: Arrive Australia (or New Zealand) — Welcome home after an unforgettable journey along China's legendary Silk Road — a passage through deserts, mountains and ancient capitals.

What's Included

  • Return international full-service flights (economy class)
  • 14 nights of 3 and 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Urumqi: Hantang Hotel or similar
  • Turpan: Ibis Styles Hotel or similar
  • Dunhuang: Fu Hua International Hotel or similar
  • Jiayuguan City: ChenFeng Grand Hotel or similar
  • Zhangye: Zhangye Xinshengyue International Hotel or similar
  • Wuwei: Tianma Hotel or similar
  • Lanzhou: Holiday Inn Express or similar
  • Xi'an: Metropark Huanyu Hotel or similar
  • Daily breakfast
  • 2 lunches
  • 1 welcome dinner
  • Private air-conditioned vehicles
  • High-speed bullet train from Turpan to Dunhuang
  • High-speed bullet train from Lanzhou to Xi'an
  • Return airport transfers