13-day Essence of Xinjiang with Silk Road Exploration

Tour Code: TSR-X-04 , Tour Type: Private Tour

Words are but wind, but seeing is believing. This tour will show you a real Xinjiang by exploring some of the best destinations of North and South Xinjiang during a span of 13 days including Turpan, Urmqi, Korla, Kuqa, Hotan, and Kashgar. Some of the highlights of the tour include visit to world heritage sites, ancient cities, ruins, and mosques, explore in mysterious canyon, shopping at the popular bazaars, enjoy local food at night markets, visit to the Uigur villages.

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 Turpan

Transfer via: train - your arrangement

Activities for today: Train station to hotel transfer

Bullet train ride to Turpan from Lanzhou or other cities. Our representatives will meet you at Turpan train station and transfer you to your hotel.
DAY 2 Turpan

Activities for today: Jiaohe Ancient City, Karez Well, Emin Minaret

After hotel breakfast, enjoy a walk in the Ancient City of Jiaohe. With a history of over 2,300 years, Jiaohe is the largest, oldest and best-preserved earth city in the world. Then continue your tour to the Karez Well, an ancient underground irrigation system for basin. Later, you will pay a visit to Emin Minaret, which is a novel and unique Islamic mosque.
DAY 3 Turpan - Urmqi

Activities for today: Bizklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Tuyoq Village, Astana Tomb

Drive about 45 km east of Turpan downtown, the Bizklik Thousand Buddha Caves consists of 57 (originally 83) caves, housing more than 1,200 square meters of colorful murals. The Tuyoq Village is another famous place to walk in, you can still experience the previous lifestyle from local families. The Astana Tom is located next to the ruins of the ancient Silk Road city. It is famous for the mummies, murals and relics. After sightseeing, drive to Urumqi.
DAY 4 Urmqi

Activities for today: Heavenly Lake, Museum of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar

This morning, we will make an excursion to see the beautiful Heavenly Lake of Tianshan. It is an alpine drift lake shaped in the Quaternary Glacier period. Return to the city to visit Museum of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where houses many precious cultural relics and displays the history and civilization of Xinjiang. Later, have a walk at your own pace to find some local products at Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar.

Optional: Lake cruise, cable car to peak sightseeing.
DAY 5 Urmqi- Korla

Activities for today: Iron Gate Pass

Drive to Korla. Upon arrival, pay a visit to the Iron Gate Pass (aka Tiemen Pass). Lies at the mouth of a 14 kilometer long valley, it was an important strategic passage on the Silk Road in ancient China and is list as one of the 26 famous Passes. Nearby, there are still traces of an ancient barracks and military activities. Four Chinese characters are inscribed on the cliff beside the pass. The characters describe the steepness and precipitousness of the pass
DAY 6 Korla - Kuqa

Activities for today: Mansion of Kuqa Prince

After breakfast, we will drive about 300 km (4hrs) to Kuqa (aka Kuche). It was an ancient Buddhist kingdom located on the branch of the Silk Road that ran along the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert in the Tarim Basin and south of the Muzat River.

Upon arrival at the city, we will pay a visit to Mansion of Kuqa Prince. It was also a museum of Qiuci culture and relics.

Optional:
Dinner at vineyard with a local family; wine tasting at Chateau local minority stage performance at Grand Bazzar Theater; Heavenly Lake helicopter tour.
DAY 7 Kuqa

Activities for today: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon

This morning, pay a visit to Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves. Built since 3rd century, it was the center of Xinjiang Buddhism culture, Qiuci music and dance. It is the earliest Buddhist art treasure trove in China, even one century earlier than the famous Mogao Grottoes. Afternoon, move on to the Mysterious Grand Canyon of Mt. Tianshan to enjoy the breathtaking view of Yadan landform by nature and peaceful coolness shade at hot summer days.
DAY 8 Kuqa - Hotan

Activities for today: Rewak Temple Ruins

Drive to Hotan via the largest desert of China - Taklamakan Desert. We will drive along the beautiful cross-desert highway, en route we will visit the ruins of Rewak Buddhist Temple, which was discovered by Marc Aurel Stein, buried in the sand.
DAY 9 Hotan

Activities for today: Hotan Silk Village, Carpet factory, Hotan night market

Today your trip features Hotan Silk Village, Hotan Carpet factory and Hotan night market.

The atlas silk from Hotan Silk Village was famous since Silk Road trading began. It is the only place in China still hand making the products. Carpets factory uses traditional hand making technic to produce excellent quality woolen or silk carpets. Night market in Hotan city is the biggest in Xinjiang, which has almost all kinds of Xinjiang dishes and gets very busy after 9pm.

Optional: Camel ride in Taklimakan Desert; Camping in Taklimakan Desert.
DAY 10 Hotan - Kashgar

Activities for today: drive to Kashgar

Today drive about 500 km (7 hrs) to Kashgar, the far west city of China.
DAY 11 Kashgar

Activities for today: Id Kah Mosque, Aba Khoja Mausoleum, Kashgar Sunday Bazaar

The whole day will be devoted to a tour of Id Kah Mosque, Aba Khoja Mausoleum, and Kashgar Sunday Bazaar. The Id Kah Mosque is an ancient Islam architecture complex of strong ethnic flavor and religious color. The Aba Khoja Mausoleum is a typical Islam ancient tomb group. The marvelous and splendid main part of the tomb is located in its east part, which is one of the largest and most delicate tombs in Xinjiang. In Kashgar Sunday Bazaar, you will experience some Xinjiang Uygur folk customs.
DAY 12 Kashgar

Activities for today: Karakul Lake

Drive (190 km, 3-4 hrs) along the mountain road to Karakul Lake. At an altitude of 3,600 m, it is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Mt. Tianshan and Kunlun mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztagh Ata (7,546 m), Kongur Tagh (7,649 m) and Kongur Tiube (7,530 m). The lake is popular among travelers for its scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue.
DAY 13 Kashgar

Transfer via: flight - your arrangement

Activities for today: Hotel to airport transfer

Your vacation ends today with a transfer to Kashga International Airport.

Optional: An extra day stay at Pamir highland, visit Tajiks family; Local Uyghur family visit and banquet.

Price Details & Inclusions of this Trip

Price Includes

Entrance fees:: To scenic spots as listed above in the itinerary.
Meals:: All meals as specified in the itinerary. "B" stands for Chinese or western breakfast at your hotel. "L" for Chinese Lunch at local Chinese restaurant. "D" for Chinese dinner at local Chinese restaurant. If you have any special request about meals, like vegetarian, or Indian food etc, please inform us in advance.
Private Transfers:: Between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in the cities by the private air conditioned vehicle with driver.
Private tour escort for Sightseeing:: As outlined in the Itinerary will be escorted with English-speaking guide.
The English-speaking guide and driver of each city accompany you throughout the entire tour in that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.
Hotels:: Service includes standard rooms for your tour group.
All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
Transportation:: All the domestic airfare of economy class with airport tax/ or train ticket(s) as specified in the itinerary.
Service Charge & Government Taxes.
Arrangements:: The tour cost includes the planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

Price Excludes

Entry / Exit Airfare or train tickets..
Visa Fees; Trip Insurance; Credit Card Processing Fee;.
Excess Baggage Charges:: For checked luggage: Adult and children are entitled to a free checked baggage allowance in economy class of 20kg / 44. The size limit for each piece is 40x60x 100cmor 15.7x 23.6x 39.4 inches. For carry-on luggage: each economy class passenger is allowed one piece of 5kg / 11 lbs. The size limit for each piece is 20 x 40 x 55cm or 7.8 x 15.7 x 21.6 inches.
Personal Expenses:: Expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone call, optional activities and sightseeing.
Meals:: Any meals which are not specified with "B", "L" or "D".
Gratuities to guides or drivers.

Departure: Any day you want
Reply: Within 0.5~23.5 hrs.

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Our Advantages & Promise

One-on-one travel consultant service.
Flexible time schedule to suit your pace.
Selected and trained guides.
Western style service standard