Day 1
Arrive in Dunhuang
- Activites: Pick up you from airport and transfer to your Hotel
- Meals: not included
- Hotel: Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Our professional local guide and experienced driver will pick up you from airport and transfer to your hotel. Stay in Dunhuang
Day 2
Dunhuang for whole day
- Activites: visit Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang Museum, Crescent Lake and Mingsha Echo-sand Mountain.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: On the Train (soft sleeper)
Details 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 to dinner Then drive to Liuyuan train station and take overnight soft sleeper train to Turpan On the train
Day 3
Turpan for whole day
- Activites: Pick up from train station and 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 grapes. Stay in Turpan
Day 4
Turpan to Urumqi
- Activites: visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system and Emin Minaret. drive to Urumqi
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Mirage 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 back to Urumqi 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 Urumqi Stay in Urumqi
Day 5
Trip to Heavenly lake, then fly to Kucha
- Activites: Drive to Heavenly lake for about 1.5 hours, stay there for about 2-3 hours and then drive to airport for your flight to Kucha which takes another about 1.5 hour.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: lidu Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Our guide and driver see you at the hotel lobby and Leave for Heavenly Lake after breakfast which is 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. Then drive to airport from the lake and fly to Kucha at 18:10/19:00 Stay in Kucha
Day 6
Kucha for whole day
- Activites: Visit Tianshan mysterious Grand Canyon, Kucha’s Grand mosque and old city, Subash Ancient Budha ruins and Kizil Kagha Beacon tower
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: lidu Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details In the morning visit Tianshan mysterious Grand 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. In the afternoon, we’ll spend time at old city area and visit Kucha’s 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. Then push 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. Stay in Kucha
Day 7
Kucha to Aksu
- Activites: Drive to Aksu and visit Kizil Thousand Buddha caves on the way
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Hongfu Jinlan Hotel or similar (5-star)
Details After breakfast, we set out for Aksu via Bay county and stop at Kizil Thousand Buddha caves (5th and 6th century AD), which lie 75km (46miles) from Kucha and form one of the earliest treasure troves of Buddhist art in China as well as one of the four largest cave systems in China. The caves were once hewn on the high cliffs of the Northern Bank of the Muzat River during the early 3rd to 8th Centuries of the first Millennium AD. There are presently 236 coded caves, divided into west and inner valley and rear mountain areas extending over 3 kilometers (1.86 miles). It takes about 2 hours to see the caves and learn about local Buddhist culture. After lunch keep driving to Aksu and arrive in late afternoon stay in Aksu
Day 8
Aksu to Hotan
- Activites: Drive through second largest shifting sand desert
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Western Lake Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details An early start today as we set out for Hotan 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 200km through local villages and 420kms on a first class desert highway. 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 Hotan in the afternoon and check in to the Hotel. stay in Hotan
Day 9
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. stay in Hotan
Day 10
Hotan to Kashgar
- Activites: drive to Kashgar along the Jade Road and stop in Kaghilik, Yarkant and Yingsar towns for local sight-seeing
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Tianyuan International Hotel or similar (4-star)
Details Leave for Kashgar early in the morning. Stop in Kaghilik for lunch and see the Grand Mosque built in 17th Century. Then stopping in Yarkand for a few hours to enjoy the local culture and do some sightseeing. For example; Golden Mosque (built in 1533) and its graveyard including several hundred year old tombs. Yarkand became the capital of many Uighur Kingdoms in ancient times and was an important station on the old Silk Road. It has more than 2000 years of history. Please don't miss out on a visit to a knife factory in the "knife town" of Yengisar. Pull into Kashgar and check into the Hotel. Stay in Kashgar
Day 11
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.First visit Livestock market which is the most interesting and traditional part of the Sunday market, then push to the largest bazaar in Central Asia at the Kashgar Sunday Main Bazaar, then 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. Stay in Kashgar
Day 12
Kashgar--Karakul Lake Tashkorgan
- Activites: Drive on KKH, stop at Upal Monday market, visit Karakul Lake, Stone fort, Tajik family. stay in Tashkorgan
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Hotel: Crown Inn (4 star standard)
Details 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 fruits and Naan bread and then 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 for Silk Road Caravans). Karakul Lake lies not long after the Bulongkol Valley (the white sand-mountain) . 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. stay in Tashkorgan
Day 13
Tashkorgan to Kunjirap Pass--Karakul lake
- Activites: drive to Kunjirap pass, China Pakistani Boder, then drive to Karakul lake
- 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 amphitheater 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. Stay at Karakul Lake
Day 14
Karakul lake to Kashgar
- Activites: Hiking around 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. Stay in Kashgar
Day 15
Kashgar to your destination
- Activites: see you off Kashgar airport
- Meals: not included
- Hotel: not included
Details Our guide and driver will take you to Kashagr airport and see off
