Retrace the ancient Silk Road in a private car: from Xi'an, the Tang capital and Terracotta Warriors, northwest along the Yellow River through Lanzhou and Jiayuguan (the western end of the Great Wall), across the Gobi Desert to Dunhuang — oasis of the Mogao Caves and the echoing Mingsha Sand Dunes.
This is the most romantic way to experience the Silk Road: your own vehicle and driver across 1,100 km of desert and oases, stopping wherever the scenery or a teahouse catches your eye. From $300 per day (multi-day charter, 5-7 days recommended).
Distances & Driving Time
| Route | Distance | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| Xi'an to Lanzhou | ~650 km | ~7 hours |
| Lanzhou to Wuwei to Zhangye | ~500 km | ~5.5 hours |
| Zhangye to Jiayuguan | ~220 km | ~2.5 hours |
| Jiayuguan to Dunhuang | ~380 km | ~4.5 hours |
Private Car Rates
Multi-day per-day charter across the Gobi. Includes driver, fuel, tolls, and driver accommodation. You book hotels along the way (we recommend). 5-7 days recommended.
| Vehicle | Seats | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| VW Passat / Toyota Camry (Sedan) | 1-3 pax | $300 /day |
| Buick GL8 MPV | 4-6 pax | $340 /day |
| Mercedes V-Class | 7-8 pax | $420 /day |
Why Choose a Private Car
- One dedicated vehicle and driver for the whole road trip
- Stop at Zhangye Danxia, Jiayuguan Fort, Yadan Ghost City
- Flexible pacing — linger in an oasis as long as you like
- Driver handles long Gobi highway driving safely
- All fuel, tolls and driver hotels included per day
- English support on WhatsApp throughout the journey
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Xi'an Terracotta Warriors, depart west to Baoji
Day 2
Baoji to Lanzhou, Yellow River and beef noodles
Day 3
Lanzhou to Wuwei to Zhangye Danxia sunset
Day 4
Zhangye to Jiayuguan Fort, Great Wall's western end
Day 5
Jiayuguan to Guazhou to Dunhuang Mingsha dunes sunset
Day 6
Dunhuang: Mogao Caves in the morning, free afternoon
Day 7
End in Dunhuang (or fly out)
What's Included / Not Included
Included
- Private car for the full road trip
- Same professional driver
- All fuel, tolls, parking
- Driver accommodation on long days
- Bottled water
- 24/7 English support
Not Included
- Your hotels along the route
- All entrance tickets (Mogao, Danxia, Jiayuguan)
- Meals
- Internal flights or train back
- Tips
Rated 4.9/5 by 528+ travelers • Free cancellation up to 48 hours • English support on WhatsApp
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