$3999—China: save $1946 on 16-day Silk Road tour to Kashgar
Discover the ancient Silk Road from Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors to Kashgar’s spice-scented bazaars.
Why We Love This Deal
Few tours truly follow the Silk Road. Most turn back early. This 16-day small-group tour continues to Kashgar, the route’s true western edge. The journey traces China’s historic Hexi Corridor, the narrow passage caravans once followed west from Xi’an. For centuries, this desert corridor carried silk, spices, religion and ideas across Asia. Travelling here feels like stepping into the Silk Road story itself. Caravans. Deserts. Lost cities. People have read about it since school. Few ever go. The landscapes feel vast and cinematic. This is far western China. Big skies. Remote Silk Road frontiers. The route crosses the Gobi Desert and oasis towns that once kept caravans alive. Jiayuguan, the Great Wall’s final gate, guarded the empire’s western frontier. Soldiers called it the last outpost under heaven. Beyond it stretched the deserts that traders once crossed toward distant worlds. Then comes Kashgar, where markets still hum with traders, textiles and spice-laden air. High-speed rail, an internal flight and dedicated coach travel keep the distances comfortable. With just 16 travellers, the experience remains immersive throughout. Few itineraries reach this far along the Silk Road while it still feels this authentic.
At $3999 per person, Travelzoo members enjoy an exclusive 33% off Inspiring Vacations' usual prices. That's dollar savings of $1946-$1996 per person. There are also 17 other 2027 and 2028 departures discounted just for members.
What's included
- 15 nights in centrally located 4-star hotels
- Breakfast daily and 4 lunches
- Dedicated coach transportation
- Internal flight from Turpan to Kashgar
- High-speed rail tickets from Xi'an to Lanzhou / Lanzhou to Zhangye / Liuyuan to Turpan
- Internal flight from Turpan to Kashgar
- Escorted by English-speaking tour guides throughout
- Sightseeing, including entry fees as per itinerary
When
The featured $3999 fare is valid for travel on 30 August and 13 September 2026. 17 other departures from 14 March 2027 to 22 October 2028 are also discounted exclusively for Travelzoo members.
Book by 1 April 2026.
To find out more, see our partner's website.
Members Only: Continue beyond Kashgar on a longer Silk Road journey across China and the Five Stans. The 40-day journey follows the Silk Road across the Five Stans after completing the full 16-day route. The 42-day journey also visits Mary, gateway to the ancient ruins of Merv. Travelzoo members save an exclusive $5146 to $5246 per person on these tours.
Holiday snapshot
Xi’an - Lanzhou - Zhangye - Linze - Jiayuguan - Dunhuang - Liuyuan - Turpan - Dabancheng - Kashgar
Itinerary highlights
Begin in Xi’an, where the silent ranks of the Terracotta Warriors stand guard beneath vaulted earth, and ancient city walls encircle a capital that once marked the beginning of the Silk Road.
Follow the Yellow River to Lanzhou, a frontier city shaped by traders and time, where spice markets and riverfront promenades echo with the legacy of caravans that once crossed continents.
Arrive in Zhangye, gateway to the surreal Rainbow Mountains, where mineral-striped cliffs glow in shifting tones of crimson and gold beneath vast desert skies.
Pause in Linze, positioned at the edge of the Danxia formations, where wind and water have sculpted a landscape that feels almost painterly in its intensity.
Stand at Jiayuguan, the mighty western fortress of the Great Wall, rising from the desert like a mirage and marking the empire’s final threshold before the open steppe.
Reach the oasis of Dunhuang, where the Mogao Caves conceal centuries of luminous Buddhist art and Crescent Lake shimmers beneath towering dunes of drifting sand.
Cross the remote expanses of Liuyuan, where rail lines and desert roads trace ancient caravan paths through vast and unbroken horizons.
Discover Turpan, an emerald oasis in the furnace of the Taklamakan’s edge, famed for its ingenious karez irrigation system and the dramatic, flame-coloured mountains that ripple along the horizon.
Journey through Dabancheng, where wind-swept plains meet distant snow-dusted peaks, capturing the elemental beauty of China’s far west.
Conclude in Kashgar, where labyrinthine alleys, timbered houses and the intoxicating rhythm of the Sunday Bazaar reveal a Silk Road city still alive with colour, culture and trade.