Retrace the Desert
Retrace the Desert - 5-Day Round-Trip Flight
Overview
This 100% pure-play journey takes you through the Silk Road’s highlights, including Zhangye’s colorful Danxia landforms, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, and Mingsha Mountain · Crescent Spring. Enjoy upgraded local cuisine, stay in quality hotels, and immerse yourself in the magnificent desert landscapes and profound cultural heritage of northwest China.
What To Expect
Day 1: Beijing → Lanzhou
· Morning/Afternoon: Depart Beijing for Lanzhou by flight (specific flights to be confirmed upon booking).
· Evening: Upon arrival, staff will transfer you to the hotel. Explore Lanzhou freely—visit Zhongshan Bridge, the Yellow River Mother Statue, or savor local snacks like Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles at Zhengning Road Night Market.
· Meals: None
· Accommodation: Lanzhou
Day 2: Lanzhou → Zhangye → Jiayuguan
· Morning: Breakfast included. Travel to Zhangye (known as the "Oasis on the Silk Road").
· Noon: Lunch included (local specialties).
· Afternoon: Explore Zhangye Colorful Danxia Landform, a UNESCO-listed wonder with vibrant red, yellow, and orange rock formations. Visit Danxiakou Tourist Town (complimentary) to experience Silk Road culture.
· Evening: Travel to Jiayuguan and check into the hotel.
· Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
· Accommodation: Jiayuguan
Day 3: Jiayuguan → Dunhuang
· Morning: Breakfast included. Visit Jiayuguan Pass (the "First Pass Under Heaven") and the Great Wall’s First Pier, a historic fortress on the ancient Silk Road.
· Noon: Lunch included.
· Afternoon: Journey to Dunhuang, passing through the Gobi Desert. If the group has 4+ people, stop to view the Son of the Earth sculpture, a striking art installation in the desert.
· Evening: Arrive in Dunhuang. Free time to explore Shazhou Night Market for local snacks like donkey meat noodles.
· Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
· Accommodation: Dunhuang
Day 4: Mingsha Mountain · Crescent Spring → Mogao Grottoes → Lanzhou
· Morning: Breakfast included. Visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring, a magical oasis where sand dunes surround a crescent-shaped lake.
· Noon: Lunch included.
· Afternoon: Tour Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 1,600-year-old Buddhist murals and statues (entry includes shuttle bus and guide).
· Evening: Board an overnight train to Lanzhou (hard sleeper).
· Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
· Accommodation: Train sleeper
Day 5: Lanzhou → Beijing
· Morning: Arrive in Lanzhou.
· Afternoon: Transfer to Lanzhou Airport for your return flight to Beijing.
· Meals: None
What's Included
· Transport: Round-trip flights (Beijing-Lanzhou); air-conditioned vehicles (5-9-seat vans for 2-8 pax, 15-19-seat buses for 9-14 pax, 2+1 luxury buses for 15+ pax); overnight train (Dunhuang-Lanzhou, hard sleeper).
· Meals: 3 breakfasts + 3 lunches (featuring Zhangye braised noodles, Jiayuguan stir-fried pork slices, and Dunhuang desert wind chicken).
· Accommodation: 3 nights in 4-diamond/4-star hotels (Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang).
· Tickets: Entrance fees for all attractions (Danxia, Jiayuguan Pass, Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain · Crescent Spring) and complimentary visits to Danxiakou Town and the Great Wall’s First Pier.
· Services: Professional guide (driver assists for groups under 8 pax); complimentary bottled water and Dunhuang souvenirs.
What's Not Included
· Single Room Supplement: Required for solo travelers (no triple rooms available).
· Optional Activities: Camel rides at Mingsha Mountain (starting from ¥100), hot air balloon rides at Danxia (starting from ¥200), and Dunhuang performances (e.g., Dunhuang Grand Ceremony: ¥238-588).
· Personal Expenses: Hotel deposits, laundry, souvenirs, and meals not specified.
· Insurance: Travel accident insurance (recommended to purchase separately).
Meeting and Pickup
· Departure: Gather at the designated location in Beijing (details confirmed upon booking) for your flight to Lanzhou.
· Arrival: Staff will greet you at Lanzhou Airport and assist with transfers.
· Return: Transfer to Lanzhou Airport for your flight back to Beijing.
