Day 1
Arrive in Urumqi and connecting flight to Kashgar.
Our professional tour guide and driver will welcome you at Kashgar airport and accompany you to Qinibagh Hotel (Former British consulate) or any other desired hotel you wish. Today is really an easy one to relax and settle in after a long flight. Our guide will give you a phrasebook to help you learn some common Uighur phrases. 
Day 2
Overnight a Karakul lake (In Kyrgyz Yurt)
Our experienced local guide and driver will pick you up from your Hotel at 7:00am local time or any desired time you wish, before we set out along the Sino Pakistan (Karakorum Highway) which is one of the most beautiful highways in the world. After an hour of driving we stop in Opal village to buy fresh fruit and Naan bread and finally enter into the surreal glaciated scenery of the Karakorum Highway.
Entering the world of the Kunlun Shan is an opportunity to experience one of the last truly unexplored places on Earth. The hues and colours of some of the world’s highest mountain ranges dominate every horizon on your journey towards Karakul Lake – The Kunlun Shan is known to contain 148 different kinds of minerals. About 125Km from Kashgar City, we must stop to check passports at a checkpoint before stopping at an ancient Caravan Sarai (former camping place of camping place for Silk Road Caravans).
Karakul Lake lies not long after. On the way keep a sharp look out for Kyrgyz Nomadic herds, small mountain and the hued mass of Sandy Mountain all accented by the high colorful peaks of the Kunlun mountain range. By lunch time we reach Karakul Lake and have lunch at a lake side restaurant there.
By lunch time we’ll arrive at Karakul Lake and have lunch in a lakeside restaurant at the feet of the notorious Muztagh Ata (7546m) and Kongur Shan (7719m) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountain and is one the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world. Besides the lake, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the surrounding culture, visit a local Kyrgyz family in their unique homes called yurts and also ride horses or camels (but don’t worry they don’t bite!).
People travel to experience the lives of another culture, which is why we spend the night in the yurt of a local Kyrgyz family and really experience another way of life.
Day 3
Karakul Lake to Kashgar
Get up early in the morning to welcome the sunrise between the peaks of Kongur and Muztagh Ata peak. After a typical local Kyrgyz breakfast, we’ll take a walk around Karakul Lake. Distance around the lake is around 13kms and takes 3.5-4 hours to complete. You can also visit Subash village which is about 7Km from Karakul lake if you want. Today’s morning is your own to trek, ride or simply snap away photos to your heart’s content. We’ll head back to Kashgar only when you’re ready and spend the night in Qinibagh Hotel.
Day 4
Explore Kashgar City
Explore the rich, endless culture of the Uighurs in Kashgar. Visit the largest bazaar in Central Asia at the Kashgar Sunday market, spend time by the Id Kah mosque, the largest mosque in China and marvel at the intricate architecture of Kashgar’s historic Apak hoja tomb. We’ll also spend time today in the Kashgar old town and have dinner with a local Uighur family.
Day 5
Kashgar to Hotan
We set out from Kashgar after breakfast, stopping first in the ‘knife-town’ of Yengisar, well-known for its handmade Uighur knives. Here you can visit a local knife factory and see the artisans in action as they sculpt another perfect tool. Then it’s on to Yarkand for a few hours to enjoy local culture and do some sightseeing. For example, the Golden Mosque (built in 1533) and its graveyard which includes several hundred year old tombs. Yarkand was once the capital of many Uighur Kingdoms in ancient times and an important station on the old Silk Road. It has more than 2000 years of history. After Yarkand we’ll call at Kargilik another former hub on the Silk Road. The Tibet highway starts from Kargilik and we’ll stop off at the grand mosque (1533) here, before moving on to Hotan for the night.
Day 6
Explore Hotan
Today we start at 7:00am local time with a trip to Malikiawat Ancient City, located on the west bank of the Yorungkash River 27kms from Hotan city. The city once belonged to the Han and Tang Dynasties. Inside are the ruins of houses and ancient tombs and to the West, behind a sand hill, lie three mystical caves. So far bronze Buddha figures, jade articles, clay Buddha sculptures, ancient Uighur styled wall decorations, fresco pieces, potteries and a large amount of old coins have been unearthed there. The trip should take around 2.5 hours.
Few surviving crafts from the time of the Silk Road have made it into the 21st Century and those that have are rapidly disappearing. Traditional paper making is a famous handicraft of the Uighur nationality, yet at present only one family in Hotan district still produces such paper. The family lives in Hotan city and the art has a history of more than 2,000 years. According to historical facts, this technique of paper making was practiced here more than a hundred years earlier than Ceylon’s invention of modern paper. The raw material for the paper consists of the bark of mulberry tree branches.
For lunch we recommend you to taste some Hotan local foods in the famous Kerouran Restaurant which provides various local style foods special from Hotan. Then we head to the Yorung Kash (White Jade River) to see how local people look for jade – and perhaps even find your own!. If you are interested we can also visit local Carpet, Silk and Jade factories. These three handicraft exports are known only to Hotan and have been in demand for thousands of years. 
Our next port of call is Hotan Museum where you can learn more about the ancient cities of the Silk Road and the culture, lifestyle and economic conditions of the most important trade route in history. The day then winds up with a stop at a 16th Century mosque in the Taklimakan desert around 30km away from Hotan city. There are several holy tombs around the mosque and everyday people from across the length and breadth of Xinjiang come here to visit and pray. It is said the tomb belongs to a Muslim missionary who was once a military officer in the 11th century AD. The tomb’s influence is very strong among local Muslims and every May more than 10,000 people visit to worship. You can ride camels across the sand dunes here and return back hotel after enjoying the beautiful sunset.
Overnight at Hotan Hotel
Day 7
Hotan to Aksu
An early start today as we set out for Aksu along the new desert highway. The word ‘Taklimakan’ means Sea of Death, (‘once you come in you can never go back.’). Today we drive about 420kms on a first class desert highway and 200km through local villages. You’ll love the drive today and we can stop whenever you like for photos. This will certainly be an unforgettable part of your trip. We arrive in Aksu in the afternoon and check in to the Aksu international Hotel
Day 8
Aksu to Kucha
Whilst on the road to Kucha, we’ll stop at the world famous Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves which sit on the cliffs on the North bank of the Muzat River, 75km (46miles) from Kucha city. The caves were built between the 3rd and 8th century A.D. and are the earliest Buddhist art treasure trove in China – in use one century before the more well-known Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. We’ll take our lunch at Kizil and keep driving until Aksu city in later afternoon. The route is a worthy photo opportunity as we pass through many interestingly shaped mountains along the way. Arrive in Aksu by dinner time and check into the Kucha Hotel.
Day 9
Kucha to Korla
Checking out of the hotel after breakfast we head over to the Ancient City of Subash dating from the 2nd-3rd centuries, followed by the ancient Kizil Kagha Beacon tower which was once an ancient military outpost. We’ll later spend time in Kucha’s old city and visit the Grand mosque. The mosque itself was built in the 17th Century and is the only to contain Shariya law (Islamic Court) in China. This roof of the mosque was constructed using 300,000 eggs & cement and bricks. Leave for Korla after lunch in an well-recommended local restaurant. Stay in Korla’s Petrol Hotel.
Day 10
Korla to Turpan
Leave for Turpan after breakfast and visit Bostan Lake on the way. Bostan Lake is called ‘Bagrax, Baghrash Kol’ in both the Mongol and Uighur languages respectively. It is the largest inland fresh water lake in China with flourishing reed and wild lotus. The lake is a paradise for waterfall enthusiasts. After lunch we’ll continue driving to Turpan.
In Turpan, we’ll begin our local tour at the Yargul Ancient city which is one of the best preserved ancient cities in China. The ruins of the buildings are divided into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices. Workshops and residential houses in the streets are still visible and time there is time spent in a world long disappeared.
After an hour of walking around the city area, we’ll push on to see the world famous Karez irrigation system, unique to this part of the world. The system is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Then visit the Emin Suliman minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient pagoda in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient pagoda in the country. Locals call it “pure tower.”
We’ll finish our tour with a nice dinner and local folk dancing & singing in Turpan’s ‘Grape Valley’ in the evening. Spend the night in the Oasis Hotel.
Day 11
Explore Turpan and drive to Urumqi
Following a hearty western breakfast at the Hotel we start our wonderful day in Turpan beginning with a visit the ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was first built in the first Century BC and later became capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th Century. You can take a donkey cart to visit the site if you like. We’ll stop in the city for about 40 minutes and then drive to Karakhoja Astana tombs, a Tang-dynasty burial ground which also known as the "Underground Museum". Astana means "capital" in the Uighur language and Karakhoja is the name of a legendary hero of the ancient Uighur Kingdom who conquered by killing a vicious dragon. 
Moving on, we journey to Toyup village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and eat lunch with a local family in their home. This could quite likely be the highlight of your tour.. After lunch we visit Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves which used to be an important center for Buddhist worship under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom.
Following lunch, we’ll then drive to Urumqi and check in to the Xinjiang Grand Hotel
Day 12
Day trip to Heavenly Lake and Xinjiang Museum
Leave for Heavenly Lake after breakfast and travel 115 kms (71 Miles) over two hours by vehicle. Your stay at the heavenly lake is your time to ride horses, go boating, take photos or simply trek around the lake for as long as you like. You can eat lunch together with a local Kazak family or just pay them a visit! This is certainly the easiest way to understand the life style of the Kazak people in such a short time. In the afternoon, visit the Xinjiang Museum which houses an impressive collection of exhibits, covering artifacts and relics from more than 12 minority groups. Head back to Urumqi and spend night in the Xinjiang Grand Hotel.
Day 13
End of the tour
Today is the last day of our tour, but it needn’t be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us one that you’ll always remember and if you’d like to book a longer tour please contact us for more information.