Day 1
Arrive in Kashgar
- Activites: pick you up from Kashgar airport and transfer to your hotel
- Meals: not included
- Hotel: Tianyuan International Hotel or similar (4-star
Details Our professional tour guide and driver will welcome you at Kashgar airport and transfer to your Hotel . Have a good rest after a long flight journey. Our guide will give you a phrasebook which helps you learn some common Uighur phrases
Day 2
Explore Kashgar city
- Activites: Visit Sunday Market, Livestock Market, Apak Hoja tomb, Idkah Mosque, 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 both livestock market and main bazaar), 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 3
Day trip to Karakul Lake
- Activites: Drive along the KKH, Opal Village, Gaz Valley, White sand mountain and Karakul Lake
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Tianyuan International Hotel or similar (4-star
Details We set out along the Sino - Pakistan Karakorum Highway, on the Pamirplateau (the roof of the world) for your visit to Karakul Lake (3600m above sea level). The lake sits at the feet of the notorious, Muztagh Ata (7546m) and Gongur (7719m) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountain and is one the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world. Return by late afternoon back to Kashgar.
Day 4
Kashgar to Hotan
- Activites: Stop in Yingsar, explore Yarkant and Kaghilik
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Western Lake Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details We set out from Kashgar after breakfas t, 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 5
Hotan for whole day
- Activites: Visit Hotan Museum, paper making family,Grape corridor,ancient water power mills, Silk Fabric,Old Desert mosque and Ancient Shrine out of the desert
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Western Lake Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details We start our another exciting tour around Hotan after breakfast and first visit Hotan Museum where you learn a lot about history of the buried cities under Taklimakan desert and ancient life along the Silk Road. Then push to Mulberry skin traditional paper making family, Few surviving crafts from the time of the Silk Road have made it into the 21st Century and those that have are rapidly disappearing. 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. After lunch we drive along the Grape Corridor which is the witness of the intelligence and hard work of Hotan Farmers, The total length of the Grape Corridor in Hotan area is about 1700km which is as long as the distance between Hotan and Urumqi.then visit old water power mills and Silk Fabric before driving out of the desert to visit the old mosque which was built in the 16th century. 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.
Day 6
Hotan to Aksu
- Activites: Drive through second largest shifting sand desert
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Hongfu Jinlan Hotel or similar (5-star)
Details An early start today as we set out for Aksu after breakfast and driving into the New desert highway. This desert highway was built from 2005 to 2007 and opened in 2008. Today we drive about 420kms on a first class desert highway and 200km through local villages. You’ll love the drive with the outstanding scenery of Sand dunes and we can stop whenever you like for photos, walking around or fun . The word ‘Taklamakan’ means Sea of Death: "once you come in, you can never go back", This will certainly be an unforgettable part of your trip. We arrive in Aksu in the afternoon and check in to the Hotel
Day 7
Aksu to Kucha
- Activites: Drive to Kucha via Bay county and visit Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves on the way
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: lidu Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details We set out after breakfast and 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 Kucha city in later afternoon. The route is a worthy photo opportunity as we pass through many interestingly shaped mountains along the way. Arrive in Kucha by dinner time and check into the Kucha Hotel.
Day 8
Kucha to Turpan
- Activites: Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon , Kucha grand mosque, old city, Bazaars, Subash Ancient Ruins and Kizil Kagha Beacon tower. Then take overnight train to Turpan
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Huozhou Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details In the morning visit the Tianshan Great Canyon which is located about 70km from Kucha city. 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. Lunch will followed by a visit to the ancient city of Subash (2nd-3rd century A.D.) as well as the Ancient Kizil Kagha Beacon tower which is an ancient military outpost. Before going to dinner we’ll also return to Kucha to spend time in the old town area , local bazaars and visit Kucha grand mosque which was built in 17th century and is the only mosque to have preserved the Shariya (Islamic Court) in China. In the evening take 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 start 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 Dunhuang
- Activites: visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system and then take overnight train to Dunhuang
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Silk Road Dunhuang 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 take overnight train to Dunhuang. 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 the tour drive to Daheyan train station for overnight first class soft sleeper train to Dunhuang. the train journey is about 10 hours.
Day 11
Dunhuang for whole day
- Activites: Arrive in Dunhuang train station in the morning and visit Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Museum, Crescent Lake and Mingsha Echo-sand Mountain
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Our Dunhuang local guide will be holding your name in the front of the Dunhuang train station and transfer to your Hotel for breakfast and then go for sight seeing. we spend the whole morning at 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. Aafter lunch, visit Dunhuang Museum which exhibits relics excavated from the local area, such as paper, coins, a model of the Great Wall as it appeared during the Han Dynasty. Then drive to Mysterious Crescent lake which's name derives from the crescent moon shape taken by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Here you also have chance to ride camels across the sand dunces to Sounding Sand mountain which can make sounds when the wind passes. we highly recommend you to stay till Sunrise behind the high sand dunces before going back hotel.
Day 12
Dunhuang to Xian
- Activites: Take morning flight to Xian and visit Xian city wall and Provincial Museum
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Garden Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Our guide and driver from Dunhuang see you off at Dunhuang Airport and another very Knowledgeable and friendly local guide will meet you with experienced driver at the airport and transfer to to Xian city which is about two hours from airport. First have lunch at a very good restaurant and then drive to Xian 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 Push to provincial Museum which is a famous first-class museum in China with its outstanding architectural buildings, internal apparatus, and exhibits
Day 13
Explore 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 14
Back Home
- Activites: see you off Xian 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.
