Trace 3,000 years of commerce and culture on a private 12-day Silk Road circuit from Xi’an to Kashgar. This guided route links Terracotta Warriors, Mogao Grottoes, Turpan’s oases and the Karakoram Highway with practical travel notes for long drives, borderland landscapes and local encounters.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step out of Xi’an’s morning haze and the world of the Silk Road opens across a thousand miles of dunes, salt flats and mountain passes. The first day’s city wall and Terracotta warriors feel like chapters in an old atlas; by the third day the crescent of Dunhuang’s lake slices quiet always between wind and sand. Each night the tour moves you from city hotels to guesthouses that keep the road’s rhythm alive.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
12 days
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness recommended: able to handle several hours of walking in towns, short hikes, and repeated transfers.
Wildlife
History
The Silk Road linked China to Central Asia for millennia; cities like Xi’an and Kashgar were key trade and cultural hubs that shaped Eurasian exchange.
Conservation
Touring these fragile landscapes carries impact—stick to marked paths, avoid collecting artifacts and support local businesses to keep economic benefits local.
Reserve your spot on the 12-Day Silk Road Tours from Xi'an today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Carry local currency
Small rural vendors often accept cash only; bring yuan in small denominations for markets and rural stops.
Layer for extremes
Desert days can be hot while nights and mountain passes are cool—pack a lightweight insulated layer and sun protection.
Protect travel documents
Keep passports and visa copies in a waterproof sleeve and carry digital backups for flights and checkpoints.
Plan driving days
Expect long road stretches—use earplugs, motion-sickness remedies if needed, and schedule breaks at scenic or cultural stops.
Passport & photocopies
Required for domestic flights, hotels and checkpoints—keep copies separate from originals.
Lightweight insulated jacket
Warm, compressible layer for cool mornings at higher elevations and evening temperatures.
fall
Sun protection (hat, SPF 50)
Desert sun and high-altitude UV make durable sun protection essential for long outdoor days.
summer
Sturdy walking shoes
Comfortable shoes for uneven streets, archaeological sites and short hikes around lakes or ruins.