Tour Type: Private Tour
Tour Price: From *** Note!
Destinations: Zhangye - Alax youqi - Zhangye
Free Inquiry Get a free quotation.Arrival at Zhangye train station / airport and be transferred to the hotel.
Zhangye is located in north - west Gansu province, the middle part of Hexi corridor. It was once called “Gan” state and is the origin of the name for “Gansu” province. Zhangye enjoys anther name “Golden Zhangye” among Chinese people. It’s an oasis with fertile land and rich products.
After breakfast at the hotel, be transferred to the Matisi Grottoes. Matisi Grottoes is also known as the Horse’s Hoof Temple. It is a very popular scenic spot which integrates Yugu minority group’s folk customs, mountain views and grotto art. The temple received its name due to the legend that a Chinese Pegasus had landed in the area and had left a large horseshoe imprint which can be seen even today in the Mati Hall.The area has grasslands and mountains with many temples and beautiful pine forests. Around the main Matisi Temple are stairwells leading to beautiful balcony views, temples, caves and winding passageways.
After lunch, visit the Danxia Landform of Seven Colors which is also known as the eye candy of Zhangye. Many artists admire this masterpiece as it appears like a perfect painting on canvas. This 400-square-kilometer attraction is located 45km south-west of Zhangye city. It is composed of lots of precipitous cliffs, most of which are several hundred meters high. All of these cliffs are smooth and sharp, standing in the plains and riversides, looking grand and magnificent, vigorous and virile. Even the low pinnacles look powerful.
After breakfast drive 1 hour to visit Pingshanhu Grand Canyon which has been praised as "comparable to Zhangjiajie" and "on par with the Colorado Grand Canyon" by China Geography Magazine and well-known geological experts. Then drive to Alax youqi for lunch. After lunch we will take a four wheel drive to Bardain Jaran desert. This is one of the most beautiful desert in China, is also called" the curves drawn by god". You will have a chance to see several beautiful lakes and the highest sand dune of the world, which know as the desert Mount Everest. In the evening arrive at the camping site. You can stroll along the lake bank and visit the Bardain Jaran monastery. After dinner, you can sleep in the Mongolian yurt and walk out to see the beautiful stars.
After breakfast we will drive across the desert to the entrance of the Bardain Jaran Desert, along the way you have chance to see more beautiful sand dunes and lakes. Then we will have lunch at Alax youqi. In the afternoon we will drive from Alax youqi to Zhangye city and visit The Giant Buddha Temple which is well known as the biggest indoor clay Nirvana Buddha of Asia. The Temple was initially built in 1098 AD. It’s the only preserved temple of Western Xia Dynasty in China.
After breakfast, be transferred to airport or train station and the tour end.
Price Includes
- Air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- A 4x4 vehicle with driver needed in the desert
- Land transfers between airport / train station / hotels and scenic sites
- Hotel accommodation with breakfast (4 stars with nice breakfast, except in the desert.)
- Professional English speaking tour guide
- Lunch and dinner as listed in the itinerary
- Entrance fee as listed in the itinerary
- 24 H / 7D English speaking telephone service
- Government taxes
Price Excludes
- Personal expenses such as laundry, drinks, phone bills and optional activities …
- Gratitude for guides and drivers as international practice
- China Entry Visa
- Travel insurance (full coverage travel insurance from you country of origin)
For all standard tours, The Silk Road China Tours will choose the best 4 stars hotel in different destinations. The hotel was evaluated comprehensively by its room size, cleanness, location, service and breakfast. It can well satisfy most western travelers and brings you relaxation, comfort and convenience.
If you want to upgrade the hotel to Deluxe standard or you have some special requirements, please inform us in the booking form or email us.
At some remote regions or ethnic area, there are no 4 stars or 5 stars hotels available. So we will arrange the best local hotel and notify the situation in advance.
Normally The Silk Road China Tours provides two meals each day: Breakfast and Lunch. You will have the freedom to make your own dinner choice.
Breakfast
It is normally served at the hotel where you stay. Depending on the hotel, the breakfast would be in western style, Chinese style, or a combination.
Lunch
When plan your lunches, we consider the balance of food quality, dining environment and tour convenience. We will provide lunch in a local restaurant whenever possible. The meal will give you an opportunity to eat at local restaurant, follow local customs, and taste local dishes. However in some remote regions where it’s simply hard to find a non-tourist restaurant, the meal could be arranged at a local tourist restaurant or a local family
Your own dinner choice
Dinners will not be included in your meal plan unless you have that requirement. Enjoying the local food could be one of your best experiences in China. This is why we provide you this flexibility of food choice. Your private guide will always give you good suggestions based on your preferences.
If you have certain food allergies or special requirements such as vegetarian food, let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
You will have a private tour guide, private driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle escorting you at every destination you travel. This will provide you with maximized personal care, security, and flexibility.
All of our tour guides are qualified professionals and registered English Speaking Tourist Guides in China who are reassessed annually. All of our tour vehicles are clean and in excellent condition, manned with licensed safe drivers.
Private Tour Guide
You will always be greeted punctually on arrival at each destination airport. At every departure, your guide will stay at your side until you have checked in and passed through the security checkpoint.
All of our travel guides in every destination are locals, who know the area well, they are very good at guiding you around and telling background stories of the tour sites, as well as showing you the secret spots for taking your best photos.
When changing your itinerary is needed due to unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you have a wonderful experience.
Private Transportation
When plan your lunches, we consider the balance of food quality, dining environment and tour convenience. We will provide lunch in a local restaurant whenever possible. The meal will give you an opportunity to eat at local restaurant, follow local customs, and taste local dishes. However in some remote regions where it’s simply hard to find a non-tourist restaurant, the meal could be arranged at a local tourist restaurant or a local family
Your own dinner choice
With our comfortable and safe private transportation, your tour will be more relaxing and less tiresome, keeping you in the best spirits to make the most of your experience in China.
In every destination visited, your vehicle is air conditioned, clean, and expertly maintained. Your private driver is licensed, insured, and very experienced.
To maximize your comfort, we use vehicles with extra space for you and your luggage. Depending on how many are traveling together, we generally use sedans or mini vans (7 seats) for 4 people or less, large vans or small coaches (12-22 seats) for 5-12 people, medium coaches (33 – 37 seats) for 13 – 25 people, and large coaches (45 seats over) for more than 25 people.
We realize that tipping is a sensitive subject for all travelers. While tips are widely accepted, we would like to stress that this is at your own personal discretion.While everyone is recommended to tip based on services rendered, our clients often ask we provide some basic guidelines.
1 person: $20-30/day • Group of 2: $15-25/per person/day • Group of 3-5: $15/per person/day • Group of 6-10: $10/per person/day
Some outstanding guides receive twice or three times as much depending on service quality and also the size of the group. Guests are welcome to tip more if they feel the services were exceptional. The driver may sometimes receive a tip 50% of what the guide receives. In places where roads are rough and dangerous, the driver may sometimes receive an equal amount of tipping as the guide.