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The Great Wall, Beijing
Mingsha - The Singing Mountains, Dunhuang
Forbidden City, Beijing

Highlights of western China

14 days from £4,995pp

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Tour highlights

  • Visit the Terracotta Army in Xian.

  • Walking through the Mingsha Dunes in Dunhuang.

  • Look over the Flaming Mountains in Turpan.

  • Experience Kashgar's Sunday market.

  • Travel along the Karakoram Highway to Lake Karakul and Mount Muztagata.

Price includes:

  • Scheduled international and domestic flights
  • In-destination transfers
  • Activities and excursions as detailed
  • All accommodation
  • 24-hour support while you travel
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Itinerary idea in detail

With international flights from a choice of airports including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

  • Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Beijing.

  • Once you've arrived and cleared customs and baggage claim you'll be met by your private guide and driven to your hotel.

    • Forbidden City, Beijing
      Forbidden City, Beijing
    • Behai Park, Beijing
      Behai Park, Beijing
    • Gateway at the Forbidden City, Beijing
      Gateway at the Forbidden City, Beijing

  • You'll spend the whole day today out of the city visiting the Great Wall. You private driver and guide will meet you at your hotel and drive you out to the Great Wall. You'll have time with your guide to walk along the wall and learn more about its history before returning to Beijing.

    • The Great Wall, Beijing
      The Great Wall, Beijing
    • Great Wall at Jinshanling
      Great Wall at Jinshanling
    • Great Wall at Jinshanling
      Great Wall at Jinshanling

  • This morning you'll be collected from your hotel to have a private guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. You have the rest of the day at leisure. We'd suggest visiting Jingshan or Beihai Park just north of the Forbidden City or exploring one of the city's hutongs.

    • Forbidden City seal, Beijing
      Forbidden City seal, Beijing
    • In front of the Forbidden City
      In front of the Forbidden City
    • Forbidden City, Beijing
      Forbidden City, Beijing

  • Your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel this morning for your transfer to the station to take the high speed train to Xian, a journey of between four and a half to six hours. On arrival you'll be met by your new guide and transferred to your hotel. This evening is an excellent opportunity to explore the Muslim Quarter of the city a short walk from your hotel.

    • Terracotta Warriors, Xian
      Terracotta Warriors, Xian
    • Panda
      Panda
    • The Drum Tower, Xian
      The Drum Tower, Xian

  • This morning your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on your private guided tour of the Terracotta Army. In the afternoon they'll transfer you to the airport in time for your flight to Dunhuang. On arrival you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

    • The Terracotta Warriors, Xian
      The Terracotta Warriors, Xian
    • Mingsha singing sand dunes, Dunhuang
      Mingsha singing sand dunes, Dunhuang
    • The Terracotta Warriors, Xian
      The Terracotta Warriors, Xian

  • Today will be a full day of visiting the key sights around Dunhuang with your private driver and guide. These include the Mingsha 'Singing' Sand Dunes, the Mogao Caves, the Western Thousand Buddha Caves and the Yumen Pass.

    • Camel Owners, Dunhuang
      Camel Owners, Dunhuang
    • Camel Owner, Dunhuang
      Camel Owner, Dunhuang
    • Mogao Caves
      Mogao Caves

  • This morning you'll be collected from your hotel for the drive to Liuyuan station which usually takes around two hours. You'll then take the high speed train to Turpan, a journey of between five and a half hours and six hours. On arrival you'll be met and transferred to your hotel.

    • Turpan, China
      Turpan, China
    • Bezilik caves, Turpan
      Bezilik caves, Turpan
    • Gaochang, Turpan
      Gaochang, Turpan

  • You have another full day of excursions today. You'll be visiting The Tuyaq Valley — nestled within the Tuyaq Valley are several traditional ethnic Uighur villages, Gaochang — another time-eroded Silk Route garrison town and the Bezeklik and the Flaming Mountains.

    • Bezeklik, Turpan
      Bezeklik, Turpan
    • Flaming Mountains, Turpan
      Flaming Mountains, Turpan
    • Grape houses, Turpan
      Grape houses, Turpan

  • This morning you'll be collected from your hotel and taken to visit Jiaohe. You'll then be driven to Urumqi, a journey of around three hours, in time to take your flight to Kashgar. On arrival you'll be met and transferred to your hotel.

    • Kashgar, China
      Kashgar, China
    • Kashgar, China
      Kashgar, China
    • Kashgar, China
      Kashgar, China

  • This morning you'll visit Kashgar's Sunday livestock market, an essential Silk Route experience. In the afternoon you'll have a tour of the city visiting some of the other sights it has to offer.

    • Kashgar Sunday Market, Kashgar
      Kashgar Sunday Market, Kashgar
    • Kashgar Sunday Market, Kashgar
      Kashgar Sunday Market, Kashgar
    • Kashgar Sunday Market, Kashgar
      Kashgar Sunday Market, Kashgar

  • Today you'll drive into the mountains on the legendary Karakoram Highway to Lake Karakul where you get stunning views of Mount Muztagata.

    • Kashgar, China
      Kashgar, China
    • Kashgar, China
      Kashgar, China
    • Kashgar, China
      Kashgar, China

  • This morning you'll be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport in time for your journey to Beijing. This indirect flight usually includes a stopover in Urumqi.

    • Chairman Mao's Mausoleum, Beijing
      Chairman Mao's Mausoleum, Beijing
    • Tiananmen Square Statue
      Tiananmen Square Statue
    • Forbidden City, Beijing
      Forbidden City, Beijing

  • Today you'll be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport for your onward fight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.

    • Traditional temple in the midst of downtown Beijing
      Traditional temple in the midst of downtown Beijing
    • Woman in Hutong, Beijing
      Woman in Hutong, Beijing
    • The Great Wall at Jinshanling
      The Great Wall at Jinshanling

Accommodation options

While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, Audley trips are 100% tailor-made, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.

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Contact a China specialist

The specialist who designs your trip to China will have explored the country many times and, in some cases, lived there. Their first-hand knowledge gives us the belief that no other travel company can match our expertise in helping you plan your trip.

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When to go

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Place Daily max temperature (°C) Monthly rainfall (mm)
Beijing
 
Xian
 
Dunhuang
 

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