Day 1
Arrive in Xian
- Activites: Pick up you from airport and transfer to the Hotel Meals: not included
- Hotel: Garden Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Our professional, friendly local guide will meet you with experienced driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel. It takes about two hours to your hotel from airport. Rest of the day is your time to explore this ancient city by yourself. Meals are not including today. Our guide and driver will recommend you good restaurants as your wish
Day 2
Xian for whole day
- Activites: visit famous Terra-cotta warriors, Bell Tower, Wild Goose Pagoda, Grand Hui mosque and their community area.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Garden Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details After breakfast we start our wonderful one day tour with visiting Terra-cotta warriors which is the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century. This site is about an hour driving distance from Xian city, we spend whole morning around there and push to Bell Tower after lunch. Bell tower is located in downtown area and is a Chinese traditional building and geographical center of the ancient capital, best preserved and largest wooden tower in China. After stopping here for about an hour we continue our tour to wild goose Pagoda which is well preserved ancient and holy building for Buddhism. Finally we visit the Hui grand mosque which is located Hui minority area, construction of the mosque has rich Chinese feature as well as combined with Arabic style. It is one of the oldest and largest mosques in China. Then walk around Cultural streets of Hui people before going to Dinner.
Day 3
Xian to Lanzhou
- Activites: Visit Xian city wall and provincial Museum, then catch a flight to Lanzhou
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: 4 star standard Hotel
Details After breakfast first we visit the city wall which is the symbol of Xian and most ancient city wall in China excising until today. We stop here for a few hours for walking around or riding bicycle as your desire. Then drive to provincial Museum which is a famous first-class museum in China with its outstanding architectural buildings, internal apparatus, and exhibits. Then take evening flight to Lanzhou. Our local guide and driver Waite for you at lanzhou airport and transfer to the hotel. It is 75km from Lanzhou airport to your hotel which takes about 1.5 hour
Day 4
Lanzhou to Xiahe
- Activites: Drive to xiahe and visit Bingling on the way
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: 4 star standard Hotel
Details Our guide and driver expecting you at the hotel lobby for giving you an exciting experience today. Start driving to Xiahe, first stop in Liujiaxia small town for visiting Bingling Grottos which filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. So we have to take a boat from Liujiaxia town to Bingling temple which takes about 1 hour to get there through Liujiaxia Reservoir and we stop there for about 2 hours for exploring the sculptures, carvings, and frescoes which are outstanding examples of Buddhist artwork. Our driver Waite for us at the other side of the Reservoir and continue driving to Xiahe through many small beautiful villages. Upon arrival at Xiahe at about 5:00pm first check into the hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant after short rest.
Day 5
Xiahe to Lanzhou, train to Jiayuguan
- Activites: visit Labrang Monastery , Tibetan family visit and then drive to Lanzhou for overnight train to Jiayuguan.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: 4 star standard Hotel
Details Our guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to Labrang Monastery which is the largest, most influential and major monastery of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The architectural layout follows true Tibetan style, while construction patterns are a mixed with Chinese styles. We spend for about 3 hours for exploring the monastery and have lunch at a local Tibetan family to learn more about Tibet culture and real life. Then leave for Lanzhou after lunch. It takes about 4 hours to get to Lanzhou and catch overnight first class soft sleeper train to Jiayuguan which is about 9 hours train journey
Day 6
Jiayuguan for whole day
- Activites: Arrive at Jiayuguan train station in the morning and transfer to the hotel, then visit Jiayuguan Fort, great wall museum, Over-hanging cliff Great Wall and Wei-jin ancient tomb
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: 4 star standard Hotel
Details Our friendly tour guide and driver Waite for you at Jiayuguan train station early in the morning. After picked up, you will be transferred to the Hotel and have breakfast before check in. After breakfast exploring some exciting sites around Jiayugaun, first visit Jiayuguan pass (Jiayuguan Fort) also known as the “Impregnable Pass under Heaven,” Jiayuguan is the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty as well as the most magnificent and well-preserved pass among over a thousand passes along the Ming Great Wall. Then stop over at great wall museum which is one of the first museums to give a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the history of the Great Wall, and then push to the Over-hanging cliff Great Wall which is situated 11 km away from the city, and 7 km away from the Jiayuguan Pass. The Suspended Wall is a part of the Great Wall built on a ridge with a 45 degree gradient. Before going back Hotel we also visit Wei-jin ancient tombs, Located about 15 kms northeast of Jiayuguan, Wei-Jin Mural Brick Tomb is a large tomb group with over 1,400 tombs built between the 3rd and 5th Centuries during the Wei and Jin dynasties. It is renowned as the largest subterranean art gallery in the world and houses a great deal of colorful murals.
Day 7
Jiayuguan to Dunhuang
- Activites: Drive to Dunhuang for whole day with stop at Yulin Grottoes for about 2 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details After breakfast driving to Dunhuang which is about 6 hours driving distance. We visit Yulin grottos which also called the ‘Ten-Thousand-Buddha Gorge,’ are situated in a valley along the Yulin River. The Grottoes are an integral part of the Dunhuang Grottoes, which also include the Mogao Grottoes, the West Thousand-Buddha Grottoes and the East Thousand Buddha Grottoes. The gorge was the dividing line between the West and East Thousand-Buddha Grottoes. Arrive in Dunhuang late in the afternoon and have a good rest for 2 hours before going to dinner.
Day 8
Dunhuang tours, then to Turpan
- Activites: Visit the World heritage Mogao Grottoes, the echoing-sand dunes of the Ming Shan Mountains, Crescent Lake and Dunhuang Museum. Take overnight train to Turpan
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: On the Train ( soft sleeper)
Details We spend the whole morning at World heritage famous Mogao Grottoes which were constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to 14th centuries. The caves are also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves have the double distinction of being one of the most notable grottoes in China as well as the best preserved treasure house of Buddhist art, sutras, murals and sculptures in the world. After lunch we push to Dunhuang Museum which exhibits relics excavated from the local area, including paper and coins. The museum is also home to an excellent reconstruction of the Great Wall during the Han Dynasty. In the end, Riding camels, sliding high sand duns or simply walking around and stop over at the mysterious crescent lake which no-one can explain the formation of such a geological oddity would be the great experience. Finally you take the overnight first class soft sleeper train to Turpan.
Day 9
Turpan for whole day
- Activites: visit Idikut (Gaochang) ancient city, Astana tombs, Toyup village, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves and Flaming Mountains
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Huozhou Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Arrive at Daheyan train station in the morning and journey to Turpan city. We our tour in Turpan 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. Finally, on the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Flaming Mountains which people claim are so hot and dry that "flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come”. Later, we’ll eat dinner in the Oasis hotel restaurant and the round the day off with an atmospheric song and dance festival under the grape.
Day 10
Turpan to korla
- Activites: visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system and Emin Minaret. drive to Korla
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Yinxing Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Following a hearty western breakfast at the Hotel we start our another wonderful day in Turpan. Our special itinerary today includes sightseeing in Turpan and drive to Korla after Lunch. First we visit Yargul (Jiaohe) 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.” After lunch we’ll leave Turpan to korla. it is about 400km from Turpan to Korla and it takes about 6 hours by car. arrive in Korla in the evening and stay overnight.
Day 11
Korla to Kucha (Kuqa)
- Activites: Drive to Kucha (Kuqa) and visit Kucha old city , Grand Mosque, Bazzar , Subash ancient city and Kizil Kagha Beacon tower
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: lidu Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Leave for Kucha after breakfast and arrive by lunch time. After lunch we’ll spend time at Kucha old city area which is a lovely community of friendly Uighur people. The Kucha's grand mosque is located in old city area and the mosque itself was built in the 17th Century, 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. then we’ll visit the ancient city of Subash dating from the 2nd -3rd Centuries as well as the ancient Kizil Kagha Beacon tower which was once an ancient military outpost.
Day 12
Kucha for whole
- Activites: Visit Kizil Thousand Budha caves and Tianshan mysterious Grand Canyon
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: lidu Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details In the morning visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha caves which sit high on the cliffs over the Northern bank of the Muzat River, 75km (46miles) from Kucha city. The caves were hewn between the 3rd and 8th century and form one of the earliest Buddhist art treasure troves in China. In fact the caves were in use one century before the famous Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang. we have lunch next to the caves and push to Tianshan mysterious Grand Canyon which is about a little more than an hours driving distance from the caves. The canyon is attractive not only for its color but also the shape of the mountains there. Today, Tianshan Great Canyon is regarded as one of the ten most beautiful in China. Drive back Kucha after a long and exciting one day trip and have dinner before going back hotel
Day 13
Kucha to Niya (Minfeng)
- Activites: Drive along the world longest desert highway, Toghraklik Park, villge in the middle of the Taklimakan desert and Imam Jafir Sadik Tomb, ancient Shrine of local
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Gongyu Hotel (3 star)
Details Set out for Niya after breakfast and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Taghraklik forest which is a kind special desert poplar trees only unique to this part of the world. then drive along the desert highway which is the longest in the world (522km), along the way you have a lot of opportunities to stop and walking around high sand dunces . The word ‘Taklamakan’ means Sea of Death: ‘once you come in you can never go back.’ We visit several towns in the middle of the desert and meet the unique cultures and people that live there. You would also have a chance to visit an ancient Shrine (a tomb of Imam Jafir Sadik) who was a holy person came from different part of world for preaching Islam and buried here after his death. Feel free to enjoy the beautiful scenery as long as you wish. This is absolutely certain to be an unforgettable part of your trip and we arrive in Niya by late afternoon and check into our hotel. Total Distance covered: 700kms (420 miles) *The Taklimakan desert covers a total area of 337,600km, (121,500 miles) and is the second largest sand shifting desert on Planet Earth
Day 14
Niya to Hotan
- Activites: Drive to Hotan and stop in Keriya town for local culture. once arrive in Hotan visit Yorong Kash River (white Jade River)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Western Lake Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details After breakfast Drive through many ancient villages and towns along the Southern Silk Roadand experience the unique culture and history . Our first stop is in Keriya town to enjoy the unique culture and traditional lifestyle of the local residents. Keriyan men wear a special kind of high cap while ladies here wear a hat, registered as the smallest in the world. Arrive in Hotan in the afternoon and first check into the hotel for refreshing up before going out for sight-seeing. This afternoon we visit Yorongkash river (white Jade river) where hundreds and hundreds locals digging jade and exploring the Jade Market next to the river side.
Day 15
Hotan to Desert trekking
- Activites: Drive to the desert, pack up camels and start camels trekking. everybody ride one camel.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Desert
Details Our tour guide and driver will collect you from your hotel at 8:00am local time to drive out into the Taklimakan Desert for giving you a chance to experience the adventure life of the Caravans in the Taklimakan desert several Thousand years ago. Upon arrival in the desert , we pack up everything on the camel and immediately begin trekking. You’ll enjoy beautiful high sand dunes during the trek. During the course of the day, we’ll eat a picnic lunch amongst the dunes and select a place on the summit of another as the sun sets and we make camp. Our guide will make desert kebabs for you as shooting stars light the sky and the desert welcomes you to rest. You never feel it is already midnight as you are listening the very interesting adventure life stories of Our camel man in the desert.
Day 16
Desert to Hotan
- Activites: Enjoy the Sunrise, keep Trekking out of the desert and back hotel
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Western Lake Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Get up early in the morning and grasp the opportunity of sunrise behind the high sand dunes. After breakfast Pack up camels again and continue trekking out of the desert where our driver awaits to escort you back to your hotel. A welcome shower in the hotel is always nice to rid oneself of two days of sand and grit, but the experience and memories will remain with you forever.
Day 17
Hotan to Yarkant
- Activites: Visit Imam Asim ancient mosque and Shrine, Atals Silk Fabric, Paper making family and drive to Yarkant
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Yarkand Hotel (3 star, local best)
Details Start another exciting day with visiting an old mosque and ancient Shrine located about 28 Km from Hotan city, then visit mulbery tree Skin traditional paper making family. finally visit local Carpet, Silk and Jade factories. These three handicraft exports are known only to Hotan. Set out Yarkant after lunch and stop in Kaghilik (Yecheng) for visiting Kaghilk Grand Mosque. arrive in Yarkant in the evening and check into Yarkant hotel
Day 18
Yarkand – Kashgar
- Activites: Visit Altunluk grand Mosque, Amannisahan tomb, Yarkant Royal graveyard, Qiltan tombs and old city area. then drive to Kashgar. also visit Yingsar knife town on the way.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Tianyuan International Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Yarkand was once the capital of several Uighur Kingdoms in ancient times and a vital station on the old Silk Road. Its history tops more than 2000 years which makes it an extremely interesting city to visit. After breakfast enjoy the local culture and do some sightseeing. For example; Golden Mosque (built in 1533) and its graveyard including several hundred year old tombs. Whenever you’ve had enough we will head back to Kashgar with your guide and driver. On the way to Kashgar, we can stop in the ‘knife town’ of Yengisar town, well-known for its hand-made knives. Here you can visit a local knife factory and see the artisans in action as they sculpt another perfect tool. Arrive in Kashgar by dinner time and check into the Hotel.
Day 19
Kashgar
- Activites: One day free day after a long driving tour
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Tianyuan International Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Our guide provide you a English Kashgar Map and suggest you some interesting places for walking around.
Day 20
Kashgar to Tashkorgan
- Activites: Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz Valley and check point, Ancient Caravan Saray, Bulungkol Valley (white sand mountain), Karakul lake, Tashkorgan Stone Fort, Tajik Family and Cultural Museum
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Crown Inn (4 star standard)
Details Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz Valley and check point, Ancient Caravan Saray, Bulungkol Valley (white sand mountain), Karakul lake, Tashkorgan Stone Fort, Tajik Family and Cultural Museum Details: 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. Karakul Lake (which means great lake) sits at the feet of the notorious Muztagh Ata (7546m) and Kongur (7719m) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountain and is one the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world. After lunch at by the lake, we push on to Tashkorgan, itself once an important hub on the old Silk Road. This whole area around the Tajik town borders Pakistan and Afghanistan and is connected to them via the Khunjerab Pass. On the way into Tashkorgan there are many Tajik villages and nomadic herdsman by the roadside. In the town you’ll have an opportunity to see the town's ancient stone fort - still standing after 1800 years! Tashkurgan is actually a translation of ‘Stone Fort.’ While there we also recommend you also visit the Tashkurgan Historical and Cultural museum. Then we’ll take a walk around the local pastoral land and villages of this historic town. This is a fantastic opportunity to try traditional Tajik food and immerse yourself in the culture of the Tajik community. In addition, Tashkurgan is surrounded by mountains and grasslands providing a great backdrop to the matchless life of the highlands. Spend the night in Tashkorgan’s top Pamir Hotel.
Day 21
Tashkorgan to Khunjerab Pass, then to Karakul Lake
- Activites: Drive as far as Pakistani Border and back to Karakul lake, stay at local Kyrgyz yurt
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Local Family Yurt
Details Leave for the Khunjerab Pass at 8:00am local time and travel 130Km from Tashkorgan into the peaks atop the nearby Karakorum Mountain Range. It takes 1.5 hours to summit the pass and it’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed. Entering into an amphitheatre of fluted peaks atop the highest international border in the world, you’re in a place few people on Earth can ever claim to have been. Khunjerab means ‘Valley of Blood’ in Uighur. Many Caravans once died summiting this pass on the old Silk Road and the area was famous for brigands and bandits. On top, you’ll also have opportunity to take your photo with the friendly Pakistani guards at the border. We’ll set off back to Karakul lake whenever you’re done and stay overnight in the yurt of a local Kyrgyz family, which is a great opportunity to experience the life of local people and temporarily slot into the life of another world
Day 22
Karakul Lake to Kashgar
- Activites: Hiking around Karakul lake and drive back Kashgar
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Tianyuan International Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Get up early in the morning to welcome the sunrise between the Kongur and Muztagh Ata peaks above your yurt. Eat a typical Kyrgyz breakfast and walk around Karakul Lake. Distance around the lake is around 13 kms and takes between 3 to 4 hours. We can also visit Subash village which is about 7km from Karakul Lake if you desire. Concluding our morning excursion, we return back to Kashgar in the afternoon after lunch. Return journey should take 3.5 hours
Day 23
Explore Kashgar city
- Activites: visit Idkah Mosque, Apak Hoja Mausoleum, Livestock market, Main Sunday bazaar, old city and local family dinner.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Tianyuan International Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details 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 24
Back Home
- Activites: see you off Kashgar airport
- Meals: not included
- Hotel: not included
Details 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 The transportation from Kashgar to your destination is not included. If you need our help for arranging the transportation, please let us know which city you want to go after the tour and we will help you book your airline or train tickets. 1. There are direct flights to Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen with short stop at Urumqi airport. 2. If you cross the border to Kirgizstan or Pakistan through Erkashtam Pass, Torugat pass or Kunjirap Pass, we can make armaments for you as well.
