Private Day Trip to Turpan from Urumqi including Bezklik Grottoes
- 12–13 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Begin your day with an 8:30am hotel pickup in Urumqi and enjoy a scenic 3-hour drive to Turpan, passing dramatic windmill farms, shimmering salt lakes, and the rugged beauty of the Tianshan Mountains. Step back in time at the atmospheric Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, where 15th-century Buddhist frescoes whisper tales of the past, then explore the sprawling ruins of Gaochang Ancient City, a once-thriving Silk Road kingdom. Marvel at the elegant Emin Minaret, a masterpiece of Uyghur architecture, and discover the ingenious Karez Irrigation System, an ancient engineering marvel that turned the desert into fertile land. Savor authentic local flavors during lunch. After a full day immersed in Turpan's rich history and stunning landscapes, relax on your return journey to Urumqi, arriving at your hotel with unforgettable memories of Xinjiang's cultural treasures.
Inclusions
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Local guide
- Bottled water
- Private tour
- Lunch
- Transport by private vehicle
What's not
- Gratuities
Itinerary
At 8:30am, your guide will pick you up in the lobby of your centrally located hotel in Urumqi. Then, you will take a 3-hour ride in a private vehicle from Urumqi to Turpan. On the way, you will see windmill farms, saltwater lakes, and valley of Tianshan. After arriving in Turpan, visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which is an abandoned site that has ruins of fresco and statues from 15th century.
Afterwards, you will go to ancient city ruin of Gaochang which was one of the most renowned kingdom along the Silk Road in the history. You can wander around to visit temples, stupas, city walls...etc among the ruin.
Lunch will be provided in the local restaurant. Next, you will go to Emin Minaret that was built in 1777AD with a typical Uyghur architectural style.
Later, before you head back to Urumqi, you will learn why Turpan could sustain itself in long history by visiting the Karez Irrigation System. After the irrigation system visit, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Urumqi where this wonderful day trip concludes.
tour operator
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 56
- 41
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 7 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- SilkRoadTrips
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Please wear comfortable shoes
How it compares in Urumqi
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 8 day trips we list in Urumqi.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 1 of 8.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Urumqi
Urumqi, the capital of China's Xinjiang region, lies beneath the Tian Shan mountains, a Silk Road crossroads among the cities farthest from any sea.
Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang in the far north-west of China, at the foot of the Tian Shan range and among the cities farthest from the sea anywhere in the world. Uyghur, Han, Kazakh, Hui and other communities live here, and its markets, mosques and restaurants show it. The regional museum displays Silk Road finds, including desert mummies thousands of years old.
Top-ranked sights in Urumqi: Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (Tianchi), Xinjiang Autonomous Region Museum.
