10-Day Xinjiang Memorable Tours

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Daily Tour 10 day
Urumqi

Tour Highlights

  • Visit Karez underground irrigation channels one of the three Great Projects in China.
  • Experience the live ancient Tuyuk Village with a lunch at a local house.
  • Visit the picturesque scenery of Heavenly Lake at the Tianshan Mountains.
  • Experience one of the most lively Sunday Bazzar on the Silk Road.
  • Visit the vast grassland and stone fort in Tashkorgan roof of the world.
  • Explore the culture, history and see the real life of Kashgar in the Old City.
  • Enjoy ancient cities perspectives by walking in the streets of Jaohe and Gaochang.
Day 1, Arrive in Urumqi

Activities: Warmly welcome you at Urumqi airport and transfer to your hotel
Details:Our guide will pick you up from Urumqi airport and accompany you to your Hotel. For the first day in Xinjiang you are free to explore on you own as you will.
Urumqi is the capital city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of the people’s republic of China. It is located in the north – west of the country. Urumqi was a major hub on the Silk Road during China’s Tang dynasty and developed its reputation as a leading cultural and commercial center during the Qing dynasty. Literal translation of Urumqi means “beautiful pasture” in Mongolian language. It is the largest city in China’s western region. Since 1990s Urumqi has developed economically and now serves as a regional transport hub, educational,cultural and commercial center.

Day 2, Urumqi to Heavenly Lake

Activities: After breakfast drive to Heavenly lake and spend whole day around lake.
Details:Our guide and driver will see you at the hotel lobby and Leave for Heavenly Lake after breakfast which is 115 kms (71 Miles) over two hours by vehicle. This beautiful and crystal-clear waters of Heavenly Lake is guarded by the Tianshan mountains.
Once you are at the like, you will have free time to roam around the lake, simply trekking up the mountainsthrough the various valleys, go for boating or take cable car (own expense)up to the topof the mountain for full scenery of the lake.
spend the night at a local family yurt by the lake.

Day 3, Heavenly Lake to Turapn

Activities: After local breakfast at Kazak Yurt, spending a few hours around lake and then drive to Turapn
Details:Not many tourists spend a night at the lake, it is quiet and not touristy in the morning. Also,enjoy the sunshine in the early morning.
After local Kazak style breakfast at the yurt, you will have chance to hike around the lake for a few hours before it gets crowded.
Whenever you are ready, drive to Turpan which takes around 4 hours. Once you arrive check into your Hotel in Turpan.
Optional: you can walk around night market

Day 4, Turpan For Whole Day

Activities: Visit Idikut (Gaochang) ancient city, Astana tombs, Toyuq village, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves and Flaming Mountains
Details:After breakfast We start our exciting day in Turpan with a visit to 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. We’ll spend one hour in this ancient city and then drive to Karakhoja Astana tombs, a Tang-dynasty burial ground which is also known as the “Underground Museum”. Astana means “capital” in the Uighur language and Karakhoja is a name of a legendary hero of an ancient Uighur Kingdom who saved his people by killing a vicious dragon.
Move on to Toyuq village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and have lunch with a local family at their home. This could be the highlight of your tour of the day.
After lunch visit Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves which used to be an important center for Buddhist worshipers under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom.
On the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Flaming Mountains which people claimed to be the hottest and driest along the silk road that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come” (stop on the side of the road for photos)

Day 5, Turpan to Urumqi, Fly Kashgar

Activities: Visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigation system and Emin Minaret. After lunch Drive to Urumqi airport and take evening flight to Kashgar
Details:Following 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 airport 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, residential houses and the streets are still visible and time there is a time spent in a long lost world.
After an hour of seeing around the ancient city, we’ll head 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.
Finally visit Emin Sulaiman Minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient minaret in the country. Locals call it “pure tower”. 
After lunch we’ll leave from Turpan to Urumqi airport and take evening flight to Kashgar

Day 6, Explore Kashgar City

Activities: Visit Grand mosque, Apak Hoja tomb (which is also called Fragrant Concubine Tomb), Old city walking tours, livestock market, Sunday market and dinner at a local Uighur family
Details:Explore the rich, endless culture of the Uighurs in Kashgar. First visit livestock market which happens on every Sunday and people bring their horses, sheep, goats, camels,cows,bulls,yaks and donkeys to the market for sale. It provides a great opportunity to take photos of the faces of local people, study traditional local market culture, test-drive a donkey or horse or even make its shoes. Like opening a window, today is a real glimpse into a time lost in the annals of the Silk Road’s past and an opportunity not to be missed.
Later move on to Sunday market main Bazaar which is considered one of the largest market in Central Asia. From fluffy sheepskin hats to rugged camel-hide boots, not to mention beads, buttons and buckets of locals. Everything – including plenty of kitchen sinks – is for sale at this fairytale bazaar. It is the best chance to practice your bargaining skills.
After lunch spend some time by the Id Kah mosque, the largest mosque in China and marvel at the intricate architecture of Kashgar’s historic Apak Hoja Tomb which is also known as Fragrant concubine tomb).
We’ll also spend time in the Kashgar Old Town and have some walking tours through some ancient historical parts; Stop at a century-old tea house for a short break and taste local medicinal teas such as those containing rose, saffron, honey and many other ingredients.
Finally conclude our city tour with a dinner at a local family in old city area

Day 7, Kashgar to Tashkorgan

Activities: Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz Valley and check point, Bulungkol Valley (white sand mountain), Karakul lake
Details:We set out along the Sino – Pakistan Karakorum Highway, on the Pamir plateau (the roof of the world)visit Karakul Lake (3600m above sea level). The lake sits at the foot of the notorious, Muztagh Ata (7546m) and Gongur (7719m) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountain and is one of the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world.
Lunch will be at the lake side restaurant as your like.
You can stop along the way at good spots for photos as much as you like or hiking around Karakul lake for a few hours. Our driver and guide never mind for your many stops or spending time for hiking
Arrive Tashkorgan in the late afternoon and stay overnight.

Day 8, Tashkorgan For Whole Day

Activities: Visit stone fort, hiking around grassland, visit Tajik family
Details:After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll have an opportunity to visit the town’s ancient stone fort – still standing after 2200 years! ‘Tashkurgan’ means ‘Stone Fort.’ Walking around Tajik neighborhoods and spend some time at one of the family by the grassland.
For dinner our driver will take you to a restaurant with Tajik music and dance, which is a good chance to enjoy and try their traditional eagle dance.

Day 9, Tashkorgan to Kashgar

Activities: Drive to Kashgar and hiking around lake for a few hours
Details:After breakfast drive to Karakul lake and spend about 3-4 hours for hike around the lake.
The lake has an area of around 1o sqkms and takes around 3 to 4 hours.
then keep driving to Kashgar and arrive late afternoon

Day 10, Kashgar To Your Next Destination

Activities: See you off at Kashgar airport
Details:Today is the last day of your tour with us, so we hope this shouldn’t be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us the one that you’ll always remember and if you’d like to book some other tours please Contact us for more information

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