13-daagse groepsreis langs de zijderoute: Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai

An amazing journey brought to reality by a company which ensured their clients had a wonderful time. They had very good, knowledgable guides (esp Tim) who were kind and attentive. The trip took us through mountains, forest reserves, lakes, desert, history and it left an indelible memory for me. Certainly a very different part of China and the most incredible, natural phenomenon for me is Rainbow Mountain and it is now ticked on y bucket list!

Everything was so nice. I enjoyed whole parts of tour. However, the schedule was a little too tight for 71 years old man. It’s maybe the best for young mon. But I will take senior course if you have one.

An unforgettable experience with Silk Road Group Tour! From beginning to end, the trip was extremely well-organized and enjoyable. Our tour guide, John, was outstanding — knowledgeable, friendly, and always attentive to the needs and well-being of every participant. He truly made the journey smooth, safe, and memorable. Special thanks also to the office team, especially Leah and Lesley, who were incredibly responsive and efficient in handling any unexpected matters. Their behind-the-scenes support made everything feel seamless, and it was clear they genuinely cared about each traveller’s experience. To top it all off, we were even gifted with delicious dried fruits — such a thoughtful gesture that reflects the warm hospitality of the whole team. This wasn’t just a tour — it was a meaningful, well-managed adventure. Huge thanks to John, Leah, Lesley, and the entire Silk Road Group Tour team. Highly recommended!

This trip completely and constantly exceeded our expectations! What struck us most was the sheer number of awe-inspiring highlights and their ever-changing diversity from day to day. The very well preserved ancient city of Kashgar, the unbelievable panorama of Mustagh Ata (7509 m) and its glaciers, the beautiful alpine scenery of Heavenly Lake, the Jiaohe Ruins situated in an arid area with a scorching 40°C in mid May. The awe-inspiring and serene Mogao Grottoes, the most amazing sand dunes towering all around Crescent Lake, the western end of the Great Wall with the fortress-like Jiayuguan Pass followed by the stunning Zhangye Rainbow Mountains. Finally the magnificent Ta’er Monastery and its astounding butter sculptures and last not least Chaka Salt Lake, its mirror like reflections and its salt sculptures. We did many travels all over the world but this tour really stands out as stated above, so we really fail to comprehend why these places are still fairly unknown in Europe and fairly devoid of visitors – though you encountered more and more as you head further east along this trip. However, this trip only worked this well due to the perfect and smooth travel organization by Silk Road Travel. The hotel accommodations were constantly great and of a high standard, with a highlight being the yurt camp in Zhangye. Every one of the regional tour guides was very motivated and enthusiastic, e.g. guiding us to various local restaurants for yummy lamb kebabs, delicious donkey meat, mouthwatering beef noodles or sweet yak milk. All the bus drivers made us feel safe and comfortable and the provided buses provided ample space for our group of max. 10 persons. And the very international tour group provided a most pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere with a great group spirit. So, in summary, we highly recommend doing this outstanding trip with Silk Road Travel! Last not least a special thank you goes to Xinyi (吴心逸) at Silk Road Travel, for patiently and expertly guiding us during our decision making process to finally booking this tour and staying in touch during the whole trip – even supported by a WeChat group for the whole group, sharing pictures. She even noticed my birthday and arranged for a birthday cake – what a pleasant surprise! With this company you really feel like an esteemed customer, rather than an anonymous “number” like maybe in some of the huge travel agencies.

This Silk Road tour exceeded all expectations. I was on the 14 day trip with a great group of people. For anyone wanting to see the Silk Road, this trip is a must, I highly recommend. The Itinerary was packed with some breathtaking locations and I really enjoyed learning from local guides about what life is like here and how the silk road was so developed. This was my first time attending a group tour for multiple days and I really enjoyed it for several reasons: 1. Group size was kept below 14, which was great as we got to ask our guide questions, had a comfortable ride on the bus and got to really know the group we were with 2. Hotels were to a high standard, I was impressed how even in some very remote locations on the silk road the hotels were to a good standard, with clean facilities and fast WIFI. 3. Clear communication, The evening before the next day we had a message with clear communication about what we would be doing the next day and timings, the guides were great at managing our expectations around timings and giving us tips (such as which side to sit on transport to get the best pictures and views) 4. The itinerary had a good mixture of historical sites of significance as well as exploring nature and seeing natural beauties (such as Heavenly Lake and White Sand mountains) 5. The guides, were friendly, helpful and willing to answer any questions we had whilst on our trip and recommend food places when we arrived at our hotel in the evening. For me, highlights included the ancient ruins of Jiaohe, the Gobi Desert, and exploring the vibrant bazaars of Kashgar. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ll never forget. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to understand more about this beautiful part of China.

Thank you Xinjiang China International Travel Co. Ltd for organising this Silk Road travel from 13-23 October 2023: On the whole we have enjoyed our trip very much although occasionally and for a short time some of us, including me, did feel unwell mainly due to the weather. I think because we have not been travelling for the past 3-4 years we were still not accustomed to the cold and dry weather overseas. Anyway, you and your staffs have helped us very much and made our stay as comfortable as possible. The itinerary was well arranged and executed. We were shown so many historical, cultural and scenic sites in the Silk Road which is amazing for a 11-day tour. Of special mention are the Crescent Lake, Mogao Grottoes, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, Qinghai Lake and Binglingsi Thousand Buddha Caves. All your staffs were very courteous and helpful. Mr William met and greeted as at the Lanzhou International Airport on our arrival although our flight was delayed. Ms Amanda, Mr Wan Ma and Eric are knowledgeable and eloquent in English. Your drivers are also careful and patient. All have discharged their duties professionally. The hotels are reasonably good and clean. Regarding food, there was a good varieties of spicy and non-spicy cuisines. The portions were rather too big for our small group of 10 persons. We speak for ourselves because we are all seniors!