25 Days Xinjiang Big Loop Tour: Urumqi - Kanas - Yining - Turpan - Korla - Hotian - Kashgar - Kuqa -

Meals: B
Altitude: 530m
Hotel: In Beitun
Driving time: 500kms/6-7hrs

Driving on the newly-built highway to Beitun. On the way, we can enjoy the stunning views of Ulungur Lake, It is an ideal home of migratory birds, famous for its abundance of fish. This Wetland park is vast in territory, rich in aquatic products, with the valuable wetland resources,the ecological system is typical,uniqueness and diversity.

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 Hemu Tuwa village, 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: 481m
Hotel: In Kuitun
Driving time: 460kms/5-6hrs

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 to Kuitun for overnight stay.

Meals: B
Altitude: 660m
Hotel: In Yining
Driving time: 460kms/6hrs

Today we are going to the most beautiful mountain lake Sayram Lake, the another highlight of your northern Xinjiang tour, which is known as the last drop of tears of the Atlantic. Sayram Lake is a fairyland with wonderful natural scenery. its water is very clear and pure. you can stroll on the shore, enjoy the blooming wildflowers and the beautiful grassland around the lake. then driving on the spectacular Guozigou Bridge, the largest and most important bridge in Xinjiang.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1388m
Hotel: In Naraty or Xinyuan
Driving time: 270kms/3-4hrs

Today, your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning. We‘’ll head to the famous pasture Narati Air Grassland, The famous pasture has been famous pasture land ever since the ancient times, and there are wide river valley, high mountains, the crisscrossed deep gores, the flourishing foreset and open grassland. you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and explore the Kazakh way of life. Afterwards, we will transfer you to check in your hotel. Have a good rest.

Meals: B
Altitude: 530m
Hotel: In Urumqi
Driving time: (460kms/9hrs)

After leaving from the beautiful Nalati today, drive on the well-known Duku Road in Xinjiang, which is only open for five months a year. The altitude along the Duku highway changes greatly, forming a special scenery of four seasons a day. The beautiful scenery along the way will make you forget the fatigue of the journey.

After finishing the Duku highway, we drive into Lianhuo expressway, the longest expressway in China. We return to Urumqi. You can walk around the urban area of Urumqi by yourself, experience the exotic customs of Uygur and Kazakh minorities, or taste the authentic Xinjiang cuisine in the traditional bazaar.

Meals: B
Altitude: 820m
Hotel: In Turpan
Driving time: 200kms/3hrs

This morning you will visit the renown Xinjiang Museum that is famous for the well-preserved mummies, particularly Loulan Beauty and Xiaohe Princess. 
Afterwards you will take 3-hour car ride to Turpan via the desert, grassland, and Tianshan highway.  

Meals: B
Altitude: 820m
Hotel: In Turpan
Driving time: 100kms/1hrs

Turpan is a hub on the ancient Silk Road, and there are lots of historical attractions that are renowned for its well-preserved conditions. Today you will visit Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret with a local guide. You will taste some dried fruits and eat Uyghur food.

Meals: B
Altitude: 940m
Hotel: In Korla
Air Journey: 360km/5.5hrs

Today you will take a 5-hour ride from Turpan to Korla through the middle part of Tianshan, view the imposing scenery. Visit the biggest inland fresh water lake Bosteng on the way.

Meals: B
Altitude: 940m
Hotel: In Korla
Driving time: 180kms/3hrs

After hotel breakfat, you will take 1 hour ride to Luobu Village which is located at the edge of Taklimakan Desert, there are traditional Uyghur living here. Afterwards you will be transferred back to Korla.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1500m
Hotel: In Ruoqiang
Driving time: 420kms/5.5hrs

Today you will take a 8-hour car ride along the ancient Silk Road from Korla to Ruoqiang, enjoy the scenery on the way.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1500m
Hotel: In Ruoqiang
Driving time: 50kms/1hrs

Today you will visit the new Ruoqiang Museum that is well-known for the relics exavated from Lop Nur and The Ancient City Loulan, the museum is closed on Mondays. Then you will wander around the local bazaar, and taste the local food. Note: You can not visit ruin of Milan for foreigners.

Meals: B
Altitude: 934m
Hotel: In Qiemo
Driving time: 300kms/3.5hrs

Take 5-hour ride by car to Qiemo along the east edge of Taklimakan Desert, enjoy the endless desert view. Upon arrival, you will visit Zhaguiluke Ancient Tombs, which were the family tombs. There are dried mummies and amazing relics unearthed from here, and renow for the angels pattern on their silk embroidery robe.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1300m
Hotel: In Hotian
Driving time: 570kms/7hrs

After breakfast, you will take 8-hour car ride to Hotian on the southern edge of Taklimakan Desert. Arrival Hotian, you will visit a local Bazaar that sells local food, fruits, cloths, and handicrafts etc. Moreover you will also visit the well-known Edilis silk factory.

Later you will be transferred to hotel.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1289m
Hotel: In Kashgar
Driving time: 500kms/6hrs

Today you will take a long ride for 8 hours to Kashgar. En route, you will visit Amaniza Mausoleum and Yarkand Kingdom Tombs in Shache (Yarkand). The road is well-constructed highway, and easy to drive, and you will see the sands from time to time from Taklimakan Desert on the road.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1289m
Hotel: In Kashgar
Driving time: 50kms/1hrs

Today it is a busy day to explore Kashagr with a local guide. You will take the city tour by the first stop to visit the Apa Hoja Mausoleum which was built in 1640 by local Imam for his father, and later it became a family graveyard to bury 72 people for 5 generations. The mausoleum is impressive for its delicate Uyghur architectural style including the blue tiles, the dome and the minaret.

Next, you will visit Kashgar old town to explore the interesting area where there are old houses for shops, workshops, restaurants, bakery, and tea houses etc. It displays the long history and vivid lifestyle in Kashgar from ancient Silk Road period to today.  Handicraft Street is a must-see section in the old town, where the huge music instruments and bronze vessels are very impressive. You might taste some local snacks here, such as Nang Bread, grilled eggs, dried fruits etc. before visiting the old Id Ghar Mosque, the biggest mosque in Xinjiang. Enter the mosque at non-praying time to appreciate its architecture and decor, please wear long pants and cover the shoulders for ladies while visiting this mosque.

Lunch is arranged at a local Uyghur's house for you to taste the authentic and traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau...etc.

In the afternoon, you will wander around the Grand Bazaar in Kashgar, which is well known in Central Asia for its colorful and lively market. As a Uyghur saying goes that you can buy everything except for your parents. There are more people in the afternoon, because the farmers will drive to here from different area in the morning and buy things in the afternoon at the market. Actually the bazaar opens every day, and more people on Sunday. The animal bazaar is relocated near Kashgar Airport and opens only on Sundays. If it is Sunday, you will also visit the Animal Bazaar.

When your tour is finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

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

Today you will take a 4-hour car ride to the pretty Karakul Lake which is situated by the renowned China-Pakistan friendship highway. Karakul Lake is a beautiful mountain lake with altitude nearly 3600 meters, it is an imposing picture to view the lake and the snow-capped mountains at the same time. The Muztagata(7546m) is just standing beside the Karakul Lake, creating a stunning picture. You will also visit the White Sand Lake on the way, and view the yurts spreading on the grassland.

Afterwards, you will drive on to Taxkorgan that is situated at the border between China and Pakistan.

Meals: B
Altitude: 1208m
Hotel: In Kashgar
Driving time: 3200kms/6hrs

Enjoy the small town scenery in Taxkorgan, then you will visit the Stone City that was built 2000 years ago, and the ruin still can trace back its original style. Enjoy the grassland view outside the town.

Later you will take a car to drive back to Kashgar.

Meals: B
Altitude: 3000m
Hotel: In Kuqa
Driving time: 710kms/8hrs

Today you will take 10-hour ride to Kuqa by car on the western edge of Taklimakan Desert, enjoy the desert view.

Kuqa is well-known for its splendid ancient Buddhism cultural as one of the 36 states in the history 2200 years ago. Kuqa, the old name Qiuci. used to be an important town on the Silk Road, and there are lots of historical sites here, including Kizil Grottos, Kizilcara Grottoes, Simsam and Kumtura Grottoes etc.

Meals: B
Altitude: 3000m
Hotel: In Kuqa
Driving time: 140kms/3hrs

This morning you will take one-hour ride along the ancient Silk Road to Kizil Grottoes, the earliest one in China, which was built 1700 years ago and still can see the colorful frescos and paintings in the caves. The Kizil is famous for its various Jataka stories that were painted on the diamond paintings.

Later, you will head another one hour to explore the red Tianshan Canyon, that is a 5-km long canyon in the southern Tianshan Mountains.

Afterwards you will be transferred back to Kuqa hotel.

Meals: B
Altitude: 800m
Hotel: In Urumqi

Today you will visit the Subash Temple ruin, which was a renown Buddhism temple in Tang Dynasty 1300 yeara ago. There are pagodas, halls, rooms, and walls that can tell this site used to be a huge temple. The famous monk Xuanzang in Tang Dynasty had stayed in Subash and described the temple in his journey Records of the Western Regions of the Great Tang.

Then you will visit the old town of Kuqa and Kuqa Mosque, which are different from the new city. Later you can wander around the local bazaar to view the fresh fruits, tea, snacks, and clothings etc.

Moreover, you will visit Kizilcara Beacon Tower that was built in Han Dynasty about 2000 years ago, which was the oldest well-protected beacon tower in Norther Silk Road.

In the evening you will catch flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, you will be transferred back to hotel.

Meals: B
Altitude: 800m
Hotel: No

Today you will depart from Urumqi. You will be transferred to Urumqi airport to catch your flight, where the wonderful tour concludes.