Day by day
- Day 1 — Arrive Lanzhou, riverside hotel, evening beef-noodle crawl with your guide.
- Day 2 — Boat to the Bingling Temple grottoes, drive on to Xiahe on the plateau edge.
- Day 3 — Labrang Monastery with a monk guide; afternoon with a nomad family on the Sangke grassland.
- Day 4 — Cross the Qilian foothills to Zhangye; sunset on the Danxia viewing platforms.
- Day 5 — Giant Buddha Temple and the Mati Temple cliff caves, then west to Jiayuguan.
- Day 6 — Jiayuguan fortress and the Overhanging Great Wall; evening train or drive to Dunhuang.
- Day 7 — Mogao Caves with a specialist guide, Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake at dusk.
- Day 8 — Dunhuang night market and departure transfer.
What is included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- English-speaking local guide throughout
- Hotel accommodation with breakfast (twin share)
- All entrance tickets listed in the itinerary
- Airport / railway station transfers
- 24/7 WhatsApp support line during the trip
Not included
- International flights and China visa
- Lunches and dinners not listed
- Travel insurance (required)
- Tips for guide and driver
Best months: May–June and September–October. The route can run in reverse from Dunhuang.
