Xinjiang Best Classic Silk Road Tour with Locals
This tour begins in Kashgar and ends in Urumqi that you can experience the all the must see places in xinjiang by visiting top silk road destinations along the south and north Silk Road by driving across the Taklimakan desert Taklimakan second largest shifting desert in the world, as well as you can also experience the one of the world's most adventurous Karakoram highway which goes into Pakistan at the end through beautiful snow capped landscape Xinjiang which has more dry and continental landscape in the south with snow capped high mountains peaks as well as there is planty of Historical ruins and archiological sites . This could be your lifetime experience to follow the track of Marco Polo
ItineraryDay 1: Kashgar City Cultural Walking TourStop At: Kashgar, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, China
Kashgar has been claimed "the best-preserved example of a traditional Silk Road city to be found anywhere in Central Asia", although the city is becoming more developed.
Being the cultural center of China, Kashgar is one of the top silk road destinations in China
So far today we will do full day excursion in this city, and visit Kashgar Sunday livestock Market, Apak Hoja tomb, Idkah Mosque and Kashgar old town, and enjoy the Uyghur local cuisines like kebab, hand pulled noodle in best Uyghur food restaurant in kashgar.
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: Kashgar Live Stock Market, Kashgar 844000 China
our guide will take you to livestock market and you will see the real life of uyghur farmers and their way of business
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Abakh Hoja Tomb, 421 County Rd, Kashgar 844504 China
it is one of the best preserves shrines in kashgar and it has unique architecture style from 17th century , you will have live show of Uyghur wedding and dancing performance
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: this Tour cost includes breakfast in the hotel , lunch and supper would be on your own expenses
Accommodation included: Chinibagh hotel (former British consulate hotel ) which has best location in the city of kashgar
Day 2: Kashgar-Tashkorgan via Karakoram highway/5hr driving Stop At: Karakul Lake, Karakoram Highway ,foot of Mushitage Peak The new road to Karakul lake is compeleted and is now all paved., Kashgar 844000 China
Karakul Lake: it is rare highland lake in the world at the elevation of 3600m, located on the side of Karakoram highway ,200km south west of Kashgar, it is surrounded by many snowcapped high mountains like Mt Muztagh Ata(7546m) and Konggur (7649m). You will have chance to hike around the lake if our time allows
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Tashkurgan, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, China, 845252
Tashkorgan is only western most Entry and Exit gate of western China, mountain Tajik people live in surrounding area and it is important town in the Karakoram, located south west of Kashgar, borders with Badakhshan province of Tajikistan, Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan and Pakistani Kashmir where Karakoram, Pamir and Hindikush mountain ranges are connected. therefore, it has outstanding scenery of mountains,
After breakfast in hotel , spend about an hour there to visit the Ethnic Tajik Museum, best preserved ruin Stone forte which dates back to 7th century, and visit the Pamir Grass land(goldden grassland),
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Muztagata, Akto County, Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, China, 845253
once we arrive at karakul lake we can see muztagh ata peak which is one of the famous peak in the world which the evlevation of 7546m ,
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Bulunkou Lakes Marsh, 120 Km Southwest Of The City, Kashgar 844000 China
on the way to tashkorgan , we ll visit baisha lake also called bulunkul lake ,it is a lake surrounded by sand mountains
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Tashkurgan Fort, Tashkurgan County 845250 China
it is stone city ruine that has history of 2000 years ,
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Shitou City Ruins, Just one hundred metres of north county, Tashkurgan County 845250 China
visit stone city ruine
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast: Dinner and lunch will be on your own expenses
Accommodation included: Overnight in best 3*-4* hotel in Tashkorgan
Day 3: Tashkorgan -Back to Kashgar via Karakoram Highway /5hr drivingStop At: Kashgar, Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur
Today early in the morning we will drive on the dragon road which recently became famous must see road in xinjiang ,then drive back to kashgar , on the way back also see taheman grassland ,karakul lake ,sand mountain lake on the karakoram highway , we will back to kashgar in the evening
Duration: 8 hours
Pass By: Mushitage Mountain, Boundary line of Akeletao County and Tashikuergan, Tashkurgan County 845250 China
on the way back to kashgar , we will see muztagh ata
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Chinibagh hotel (former British consulate hotel ) which has best location in the city of kashgar
Day 4: Kashgar-Shache -Heitan/Hotan(Khotan/和田）/6hr driving Stop At: Hotan, Hotan, Xinjiang Uygur
Today we will drive to Hotan from kashgar ,we will drive towards southern silk road city hotan by crossing the oasis , villages and towns ,arrive Hotan in the evening and check in hotel , then we will go to visit Hotan night market which is one of the largest food market in Xinjiang where you can see hundreds of varies of xinjiang foods , drive back to hotel and rest ,
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Ye'erqianghan Mausoleum, North of Aledundeerwazi, Shache County 844700 China
it is the old tomb area of shache and we will visit shache old town ,and muqam world heritage center ,
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: overnight in hotel in Hotan 3*-4* hotel
Day 5: Hotan tours/2hr drive Stop At: Hotan, Hotan, Xinjiang Uygur
hotan was very important city in the southern silk road, and also was one of the earliest Buddhist states in the world and a cultural bridge across which Buddhist culture and learning were transmitted from India to china, khotan was establishes as city in 300bc and completely Islamitized in 1006 ad, so you can visit some ancient Buddha ruins, as well as it's thousand years old of historical major products such as its famous nephrite jade,Hand made silk factories carpet and pottery factories. today we will visit Hotan grand market ,hotan Jade market , hotan Silk factory ,handcraft carpet factory where regular hotan people work ,and also we will visti Malik Awat accient buddha city , after the visiting the sites , we will go to hotan night food market again for dinner and enjoy the best of xinjiang foods ,
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: Hetian Nightly Market, Hotan 848000 China
it is one of the best local food market in xinjiang worth visit for few hrs for dinner ,
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Hetian Museum, No.342 Beijing West Road, Hotan China
hetian museum is one of best museums in xinjiang , can see the relics found in tarim basin ,
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Yuetegan Ruins, Ailaman Village, Bageqi Country, Hotan County 848006 China
we will visit Yuetegan old city
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Malikewate Ancient City, West Shore of Yulongkashi River, Hotan County 848000 China
ancient city ruins are not best preserved but some ruins are preserved ,
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: overnight in hotel in Hotan 3*-4* hotel
Day 6: Hotan-Kuqa(Kucha,库车）via crossing Taklamakan desert from south to north/9hr driveStop At: Taklamakan Desert, Talimu Basin Centre, 848000 China
Today is going to be very exciting and adventurous part of our trip, we drive across the vast Taklamakan desert from south to north via Desert highway , Taklamakan is second largest shifting sand dune desert in the world, full day driving on the new desert highway to reach Kuqa northern oasis city in the middle silk road , located north of Taklamakan , we will get our lunch prepared in the morning and drive on the highway cross the desert stop for photos and walk on the sand dunes ,arrive kuqa in the evening
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: Rewake Fosi Relic Site, 925X+PPR, Lop County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, China, 848011
it is the budha tower which was preserved from 5th century ,located in the middle of the desert
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in hotel 4* in kuqa
Day 7: Kucha Tours-night train to TurpanStop At: Kuqa County, Kuqa County, Xinjiang Uygur
Kucha is Another ancient Buddha cultural city on the middle silk road located north part of Taklimakan desert ,Kucha was called Kusan (Qiuci in Chinese) in ancient times , today we will first visit Kizil Buddha caves for 3-4hr and visit Tianshan grand canyon 2hr ,after the excursion we will drive back to kuqa to visit the subash ancient city ,kuqa king palace and kucha grand mosque , then we will have dinner and back to hotel for rest , we can take you to night market in kuqa if you would like to walk around the foods markets again ,
Duration: 9 hours
Stop At: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves (Kezi'er Qian Fo Dong), Kizil Town, Baicheng County 842300 China
it is one of the best preserved buddha ancient art in china ,our professional guide will take you all the caves and explain each buddha paintings ,
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Subashi Gucheng Temple, Beishan Mountain, Suburbs, Kuqa County 842000 China
it is silk road ancient city ruin in kuqa
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon, Near of 217 National Rd North, Kuqa County China
canyon located in the middle of tianshan ,red mountains surrounded the valley
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kuche Royal Palace, Linjilu Street, Kuqa County 842000 China
it is royal palace of kuqa from 16th centuries
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in Train
Day 8: Arrive Turpan and start tour Stop At: Turpan, Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur
after breakfast in one of the local reasturants in turpan , we will start tour in turpan , visit karez well ,tuyuq valley ,bezaklik thousand caves ,gaochang ancient city ,emin minarete ,and turpan museum
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: Turpan Museum, Gaochang Road, Turpan 838000 China
one of the best museums in xinjiang with tarim mummies
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Turpan Kariz underground water system, About 30 minutes from Turpan, Turpan China
under ground irrigation system which has been built in turpan for thousand of years ,
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, XG4R+WWH, Gaochang District, Turpan, Xinjiang, China, 838015
visit another one of the best budha cultural site in turpan
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tuyugouxiang, Shanshan County, Turpan, Xinjiang, China, 838205
it is unique old village ,and best place to see the culture of local turpan people
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ancient City of Gaochang (Kharakhoja), Sanpu Country, Turpan 838000 China
one of the best preserved ancient city ruin in xinjiang
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta), Munage Village, Putao Country, Turpan 838000 China
it is only the minarate mosque in the China's silk road
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in hotel in Turpan
Day 9: Turpan Tours then drive to Urumqi Stop At: Turpan, Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur
Turpan is located in the Turpan Basin which is deepest basin in China, northeastern part of Taklimakan desert. it is the Key city on the Middle Silk Road and unique Uyghur Buddha cultural City throughout the Buddha cultural period in the history of Uyghur’s until the 14th century ,then Islam became completely dominant religion in this area after middle of 14th century , that’s why Turpan has considerably best preserves Buddhist historical sites and some of them very well preserved ancient ruins that protected by UNESCO
Today spend the whole day to visit historical sites in Turpan, visit Emin Minaret, Karez well Museum, Bezaklik buddha caves ,jiaohe ancient city , Gaochang ancient city ,Tuyuq village, and have traditional lunch in local Uyghur family in Tuyuq village ,
Emin Minaret (sugong Ta in Chinese): only mosque with tallest minaret in China (44m, 144ft), built in 1777, an elegant and circular Uyghur traditional architecture
Karez Wells: More than 5000km long Karez was one of the greatest constructions of China ,Turpan's Karez water system is made up of a horizontal series of vertically dug wells that are then linked by underground water canals to collect water from the watershed surface run off from the base of the Tian Shan Mountains and the nearby Flaming Mountains. The canals channel the water to the surface, taking advantage of the current provided by the gravity of the downward slope of the Turpan Depression. The canals are mostly underground to reduce water evaporation.
Jiaohe (Yarghul in Uyghur )ancient city: it is called Yarghul ancient city Uyghurs and well preserved, excavated mud ancient city ruin in the world . earliest settlers of this city was no later than 1800 years BC, it is abandoned in 14th century AD when the Islam became dominant in the area ,All the houses, even few floor high, were built by excavating the clay ground .that’s the distinctive part than any other ancient cities throughout the silk road .The city was built on a large islet (1650 m in length, 300 m wide at its widest point) in the middle of a river which formed natural defenses, which would explain why the city lacked any sort of walls. it is recently protected by UNESCO
Tuyuk valley: lovely old valley in which the small typical Uyghur village located, when we walk around the village we can absorb the Uyghur old residential lifestyle in Turpan
Bezaklik Thousand Buddha caves: complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries. There are 77 rock-cut caves at the site. Most have rectangular spaces with rounded arch ceilings often divided into four sections, each with a moral of Buddha. The effect is of entire ceiling covers with hundreds of Buddha murals. Some ceilings are painted with a large Buddha surrounded by other figures, including Indians, Persians and Europeans. The quality of the murals varies with some being artistically naive while others are masterpieces of religious art.
Night in hotel in Turpan
Duration: 8 hours
Stop At: Ancient City of Jiaohe (Yarkhoto), Jianggelemaisi Village, Ya'er Country, Turpan 838000 China
our guide will take you all parts of this ancient city and explain you the history of this ancient city
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Xinjiang Int'l. Dabazha Scenic Spot, Xin Jiang Guo Ji Da Ba Zha Jing Qu, Tian Shan Qu, Wu Lu Mu Qi Shi, Xin Jiang Wei Wu Er Zi Zhi Qu, China, 830094
after arriving at urumqi ,visit international grand bazaar ,
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Overnight in hotel in urumqi
Day 10: Urumqi -Museum -Heavenly lake Stop At: Urumqi, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur
Today we drive from turpan to Urumqi ,Xinjiang's capital city for few hrs and we will enjoy the fascinating scenery of tianshan mountain range and thousands of wind power plants , after we arrive in urumqi , check in hotel , and do walking tour in international grand bazaar ,
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Mt. Tianshan and Tianchi Lake Scenic Resort, Fukang County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture 831500 China
one of the most beautiful lakes in xinjiang , guide accompany you for hiking for few hrs around the lake ,
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
•
Accommodation included: Overnight in hotel with good location in Urumqi
Day 11: Departure from Urumqi ,guide and driver will drop you off at train station ,Stop At: Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport, 1341 Ying Bin Lu, Xin Shi Qu, Wu Lu Mu Qi Shi, Xin Jiang Wei Wu Er Zi Zhi Qu, China, 830000
guide and driver take you to airport to end your tour
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
•
No accommodation included on this day.
Informacion Adicional
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"Stroller accessible"
"Near public transportation"
"Infant seats available"
"Most travelers can participate"
"This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund"
"This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund"
"This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate"
"Confirmation will be received at time of booking"
Hora de Inicio:
08:30 AM
Duración: 11 Days
Lugar de comienzo: Traveler pickup is offered
Our tour guide and driver will meet you at the airport or train station exit with sign of your name
Airports- Kashi Airport, Kashgar China
- Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport, 1341 Ying Bin Lu, Xin Shi Qu, Wu Lu Mu Qi Shi, Xin Jiang Wei Wu Er Zi Zhi Qu, China, 830000
Ports- Torugat pass
- Irkeshtam Pass
- Khunjirap pass
Cancelaciones y devoluciones:
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
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