10-Day Qinghai & Gansu Silk Road Private Tour
Overview
The 10-Day Qinghai and Gansu Silk Road Private Tour is a 10-day private tour on a round trip from Lanzhou via Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Dunhuang. Its main experiences are Qinghai Lake and its lakeside scenery, Erlangjian Scenic Area and Chaka Town, and the salt-lake landscapes and desert road toward Dunhuang.
This is a round trip from Lanzhou, with the route continuing through Xining, Delingha, Golmud, Dunhuang before returning.
Built around Qinghai Lake and its lakeside scenery, with Erlangjian Scenic Area and Chaka Town as another main focus, this itinerary is best suited to travelers who prefer a guided route with flexible pacing and private transfers. Private transport keeps the local and regional transfers in a clear order from the Lanzhou base.
Tour Highlights
- See Qinghai Lake and its lakeside scenery, boat or viewpoint section that best fits current conditions.
- Explore Erlangjian Scenic Area and Chaka Town as core stops rather than brief photo stops.
- See the salt-lake landscapes and desert road toward Dunhuang for the accessible paths, viewpoints or boat service listed that day.
- See Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring while protecting enough time for the mountain road and the next overnight check-in.
- Visit the Child of the Earth sculpture and Jiayuguan Pass, with the order adjusted to the day's opening hours and local traffic.
Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Place | Main plan |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Lanzhou to Xining | Travel from Lanzhou to Xining |
| Day 2 | Xining | Xining to Chaka via Qinghai Lake |
| Day 3 | Delingha to Golmud | Chaka Salt Lake to Golmud via Delingha |
| Day 4 | Golmud to Dunhuang | Golmud to Dunhuang via Qarhan Salt Lake |
| Day 5 | Dunhuang | Sightseeing and local activities in Dunhuang |
| Day 6 | Dunhuang to Jiayuguan to Zhangye | Dunhuang to Zhangye via Jiayuguan |
| Day 7 | Zhangye | Sightseeing and local activities in Zhangye |
| Day 8 | Xining to Zhangye | Zhangye to Xining |
| Day 9 | Lanzhou to Xining | Xining to Lanzhou |
| Day 10 | Lanzhou | Hotel check-out and departure transfer |
Tour at a Glance
| Travel style | private tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 days |
| Route | Round trip from Lanzhou |
| Activity level | Moderate, with substantial travel between overnight stops |
| Best for | travelers who prefer a guided route with flexible pacing and private transfers |
| When to go | Spring or autumn; other seasons depend on the route |
Good to Know Before You Go
Pace and Physical Demands
Moderate, with substantial travel between overnight stops. Protect road and rest time instead of adding attractions to already long days. Use the daily plan to understand the walking required around Qinghai Lake and its lakeside scenery and the travel time between overnight stops.
Season and Reservations
Spring and autumn are usually comfortable. Check public-holiday crowds, summer heat or rain, and seasonal opening hours against the exact travel dates. For the 10-Day Qinghai and Gansu Silk Road Private Tour, confirm current access and any timed entry for Erlangjian Scenic Area and Chaka Town after choosing the dates.
- Before booking the 10-Day Qinghai and Gansu Silk Road Private Tour, check current opening hours and reservation rules, especially around Chinese public holidays.
Related Destinations and China Travel Guides
- Lanzhou
- Xining
- Delingha
- Golmud
- Dunhuang
- Best Time to Visit China
- How to Pay in China
- First Trip to China: Where to Go
Customize This China Tour
Use Plan My Trip to send your dates, group size and preferred pace, including any special request around Qinghai Lake and its lakeside scenery. Hotel level, pace and selected activities can be adjusted while keeping the travel sequence realistic. We will verify availability and return with a trip-specific plan and price.
Daily Itinerary
Make the journey from Lanzhou to Xining and keep the sightseeing limited to what fits the travel window. Before reaching Xining, allow time for Arrival transfer and hotel check-in. Leave a workable arrival buffer before Xining to Chaka via Qinghai Lake.
Leave Xining for Qinghai Lake and spend time at the listed Erlangjian scenic area before continuing to Chaka Town. The day moves from the lake to the next overnight base, so include both the sightseeing and the plateau road in the schedule. Check in at Chaka ready for the salt-lake visit and onward journey through Delingha.
Visit Chaka Salt Lake in the available morning light, then continue west through Delingha to Golmud. Treat Delingha as the named route stage on the long plateau transfer rather than omitting it from the daily plan. Rest stops, weather and road conditions determine the arrival time; the overnight is in Golmud before the Qarhan Salt Lake section.
Leave Golmud for Qarhan Salt Lake, making the starting city explicit after the previous night's Golmud stay. Use the confirmed salt-lake visit, then continue across the desert-road section toward Dunhuang. The day contains two supported elements—Qarhan's landscape and the onward journey—so do not add another desert attraction or promise a fixed arrival time.
Set aside a proper visit window for Dunhuang rather than moving immediately to another attraction. Check the current access and opening time for Dunhuang before setting the local pickup. Additional time is set aside for Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring.
Leave Dunhuang and travel east through the Hexi Corridor, stopping at the listed Child of the Earth installation and Jiayuguan Pass where the confirmed timing allows. Continue to Zhangye for the overnight. This is a substantial road day, so Jiayuguan is shown as the principal en-route heritage stop rather than being hidden inside a generic Dunhuang-to-Zhangye transfer.
Make Zhangye the main plan for day 7, with local transfers, walking and a comfortable break included in the sightseeing window. Check the current access and opening time for Zhangye before setting the local pickup. Additional time is set aside for Great Buddha Temple and Colorful Danxia.
Make the journey from Zhangye to Xining and keep the sightseeing limited to what fits the travel window. The sightseeing between Zhangye and Xining includes Mati Temple and Qilian Grassland. Leave a workable arrival buffer before Xining to Lanzhou.
Use the main travel window for the transfer from Xining to Lanzhou. En route from Xining to Lanzhou, stop for Kumbum Monastery and Yellow River scenic belt. Allow for luggage and hotel check-in on arrival in Lanzhou.
Complete the departure arrangements in Lanzhou after Xining to Lanzhou. Set the pickup from the booked flight or train rather than using a general morning estimate.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- The guide and driver services shown for the route beginning in Lanzhou
- Accommodation for the 9 overnight stops shown in the itinerary
- Admission or activity arrangements for Qinghai Lake and its lakeside scenery, plus Erlangjian Scenic Area and Chaka Town, when listed for the departure
- Local transport needed for the round trip from Lanzhou
The service summary issued for the travel date is the reference for hotels, transport, guides and tickets.
Not Included
- Flights, trains or other services outside the route for the round trip from Lanzhou
- Travel documents, visa costs and travel insurance
- Unlisted meals, optional activities and hotel upgrades
- Personal spending and costs following a missed or changed connection