12 Days Southern and Northern Xinjiang Group Tour: Kashgar-Urumqi-Kanas

Meals: B
Altitude: 3100m
Hotel: In Taxkorgan
Driving time: 320kms/6hrs

In the morning, enjoy your nice buffet breakfast. your guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby to start the adventure. Driving on the China and Pakistan highway about 4hrs to enjoy the landscape of Pamirs Plateau, Experience beautiful Karakul Lake where the herds of livestock around the lakeside are reflected in lake Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds before shuttling you onward to Taxkorgan. The following day will be spent exploring the stunning landscape surrounding the highway, and we will drive to Taxkrogan County for overnight stay.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1298m
Hotel: In Kashgar
Driving time: 320kms/6hrs

Before drive back to Kashgar, you will visit the Stone Fortress. The city is oval in shape and the city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 metres in circumference outside. Over the past few years, new wooden pathways have been constructed to allow tourist to walk these beautiful grasslands, known as the Golden Grassland. From here you can get even better photos of the Stone Fortress. Walking around the pastureland to see Local Tajiks customs.

Meals: B
Altitude: 836m
Hotel: In Urumqi
Air Journey: about 2hrs

Today meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby, then we will do full day Kashgar city excursion. we will visit the Idigar Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities. around 10:30 we have to visit the Old Town when the open ceremony ready to greeting all the tourists with the culture show, further exploration to the special culture and experience the lifestyle with the arrangements of the visiting to the local Uighur Family. Then we will pay a visit to the famous Sunday bazaar that is combined two section. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination. The outdoor Animal Bazaar is the first bazaar we visit, where the farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargain.Kashgar city tour ends with the wandering to the bustling Handicraft street, dazzling jewelry, primitive pottery,unique musical instrument, daily resources of the locals. The spare time in the tea-house is our special arrangement for you to relax and get a feel for the local culture and traditions. After visiting, say goodbye to Kashgar and you will be transferred to the airport to take the flight to Urumqi.

Meals: B
Altitude: 36m
Hotel: In Turpan
Driving time: 200kms/3hrs

Today we will drive to the histroical sites and oasis land of Turpan. A must and first visit is the oldest Uighur village Tuyoq Village located in the very center of Flaming Mountain Canyon. It is an ancient oasis-village in the Taklamakan, 70 km east of Turpan in Shanshan County in a lush valley cutting into the Flaming Mountains, with a well preserved Uighur orientation, and few tourists. It is famous for its seedless grapes and a number of ancient Buddhist meditation caves nearby containing frescoes. Afterwards let's pay a visit to the Jiaohe Ruins, one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China. According to the legend of the West Area of the Book of Han, the Near Cheshi Country ruled Jiaohe. The river water was distributed in different directions surrounding the city and therefore named Jiaohe, meaning ‘confluence of rivers. The Jiaohe Ruins is the capital of Near Cheshi Country, one of the thirty-six countries in the west region in ancient times. The existing site belongs to an architectural cluster from the Tang Dynasty and is the earth construction site with the largest existing area and best-preserved state in the country.

Meals: B
Altitude: 552m
Hotel: Hot Spring Hotel near the Heavenly Lake
Driving time: 270kms/3-4hrs

Today we will be moving towards the heavenly lake. On the way to stop for Karez Well, which is an important ancient irrigation system that is still used in Turpan. Karez is the Uyghur word for 'well', from the Persian for 'channel'. The tunnel system provides water for local people to drink as well as to water their crops. Locals dug wells and tunnels to transfer water from mountains miles away from their farmland. Then explore the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. Sugong Minaret is not only known for this legendary figure, but also for its unique architecture. Featuring a strong Islamic architectural style, it is made up totally of bricks with a height of 44 m. The diameter of its base reaches 10 m and the whole tower takes the shape of a cone with a wide base and a narrow top. In the afternoon, we will drive all the way to Fukang. Passing by Urumqi, enjoy a walking tour at the Xinjiang International Bazaar. There are over 3,000 booths in Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar for selling garments, musical instruments, potteries, jewellery, nuts, fruits, and carpets. Other than shopping, you may attend the Banquet and Performance Theatre, taste snacks at the food square, join the excitement at Merry Square, and get a bird's eye view of the whole bazaar from the No. 1 Sightseeing Tower. Tonight we will stay at a Hot Spring Hotel near the Heavenly Lake.

Meals: B
Altitude: 530m
Hotel: In Beitun
Driving time: 440kms/6hrs

Today you will enjoy the tour of the picturesque Heavenly Lake (approximately 1.5hrs), 2000m up in the Tianshan mountain range. It is surrounded by the snow mountains, blooming wildflowers, evergreen pine trees. The crescent-shaped water area deserves its name, Pearl of Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan Mountain). With melted snow as its source, Heavenly Lake enjoys crystal water. Then you can either walk to the lakeside in 10mins or take the electronic cart. There are 3 options suggested. Boating cruise to take the incredible view of Tianshan Mountain. Trekking along the lake in the fresh air. or you can explore further to the Maya Mountain by the cable car to enjoy the magnificent view of the Mountains. After the visiting, we will continue the journey to Beitun, Upon arrival, transfer to the downtown hotel for overnight stay.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1124m
Hotel: In Hemu
Driving time: 270kms/5hrs

In the morning, after a nice breakfast at the hotel. Then we will travel to the most beautiful Tuwa village Hemu, a peaceful and picturesque village, herds of cattle and sheep, warm and hospitable locals, What a beautiful and mysterious place! if you want to explore the life of Tuwa people, they will very welcome you to visit their family.

Tips: When arrive in Hemu, we will change the shuttle bus to the village, Please leave your luggage in the coach. Prepare a washing bag and just take your necessities.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1375m
Hotel: In Kanas
Driving time: 70kms/2hrs

Farewell to Hemu village in the morning, and then drive along the mountain road to Kanas Nature Reserve, China's only European-like ecological site that has been awarded the title of the "Pure Land of the World" due to its unspoiled natural scenery. En-route, visit Kanas Lake. Upon arrival change the shuttle bus to the inside of the Reserve to enjoy the beautiful scenery, head to the Fish Pavilion, enjoy a view of Kanas. Later afternoon back to Jiadengyu district to check into the hotel.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1463m
Hotel: In Burqin
Driving time: 180kms/4hrs

On the way to Burqin, enjoy the scenery of Five-colored Beach, Walk into the colorful Beach, you will feel as if in a dream world. The unique lava landscape consisted of purplish red, vandyke red, yellow and light green mudstone, sandstone and gravel. this is the most beautiful colorful Beach, masterpiece of nature, and miracle of Burqin.In the evening, you can walk around the street in Burqin, enjoy your leisure time and tasty snacks. And we will spend the night in Burqin.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1463m
Hotel: In Urumqi
Driving time: 180kms/4hrs

Say farewell to Burqin and travel along the Gurbantunggut Desert to the Urho Ghost City, also known as Wuerhe Wind City", a unique wind-eroded geological area commonly referred to as "wind city" because of the frequent howling winds.Thereafter, we will drive back to Urumqi in the late afternoon.

Meals: B
Altitude: 836m
Hotel: No Accommodation

Today you will be transferred to the airport and back to your sweet home, wish you have a pleasant home journey.