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HomeXinjiang Tours17 Days Xinjiang Silk Road Tour: Urumqi-Turpan-Korla-Hotian-Kashgar-Taxkorgan-Kuqa

17 Days Xinjiang Silk Road Tour: Urumqi-Turpan-Korla-Hotian-Kashgar-Taxkorgan-Kuqa

Taklimakan Desert
Heavenly Lake
Karez Irrigation System
Potala Palace
Ruoqiang Museum
Kashgar old town
Apa Hoja Mausoleum
White Sand Lake
Tianshan Canyon
Kizil Grottoes
  • Duration: 17 Days 16 Nights
  • Destinations: Heavenly Lake, Ancient Jiaohe city, Karez Irrigation System, Bosteng Lake, Luobu Village, Ruoqiang Museum, Taklimakan Desert, Zhagunluke Ancient Tombs, Kashgar old town, Id Ghar Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Karakul Lake, White Sand Lake, Stone City, Kizil Grottoes, Tianshan Canyon, Kuqa Mosque, Kizilcara Beacon Tower
  • Seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn
  • Group Type: based on clients’ number
  • Trip Level: 5 stars
  • Highlights:

    1) A whole route covers all classic sites of Southern Xinjiang
    2) Drive on the spectacular Pamir Plateau and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Karakul lake
    3) Drive through the China’s largest desert - Taklimakan

  • Tour Price: On Request
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  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • Inclusion & Exclusion
  • Addional Info
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17 Days Xinjiang Silk Road Tour is the panoramic tour of northern Xinjiang. Southern Xinjiang has well-preserved sites and ruins around the Taklimakan Desert, and this tour will let you explore the entire southern Xinjiang to acquire the entire knowledge about central part of Silk Road.

Day Route Attractions & Activities Accommodations Meals
1 Arrival in Urumqi Pick up and transfer to the hotel. In Urumqi /
2 Urumqi - Turpan 330kms/5hrs Xinjiang Museum, Heavenly Lake In Turpan B
3 Turpan Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City of Jiaohe, Karez Irrigation System, Emin Minaret In Turpan B
4 Turpan - Korla 360km/5.5hrs Bosteng Lake In Korla B
5 Korla Luobu Village In Korla B
6 Korla - Ruoqiang county 420kms/5.5hrs scenery In Ruoqiang B
7 Ruoqiang Ruoqiang Museum In Ruoqiang B
8 Ruoqiang - Qiemo county 300kms/3.5hrs Taklimakan Desert, Zhaguiluke Ancient Tombs In Qiemo B
9 Qiemo - Hotian 570kms/7hrs Taklimakan Desert In Hotian B
10 Hotian - Kashgar 500kms/6hrs Amaniza Mausoleum, Yarkand Kingdom Tombs In Kashgar B
11 Kashgar Apa Hoja Mausoleum, Kashgar old town, Id Ghar Mosque, Grand Bazaar In Kashgar B
12 Kashgar - Taxkorgan 320kms/6hrs Karakul Lake, White Sand Lake In Taxkorgan B
13 Taxkorgan - Kashgar Stone City In Kashgar B
14 Kashgar - Kuqa 710kms/8hrs Taklimakan Desert In Kuqa B
15 Kuqa Kizil Grottoes, Tianshan Canyon In Kuqa B
16 Kuqa - Urumqi Subash Temple, Kuqa Mosque, Kizilcara Beacon Tower In Urumqi B
17 Urumqi Departure See off to airport / B

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi

Meals: No
Altitude: 800m
Hotel: In Urumqi

Welcome to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. Upon arrival Urumqi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy your free time to explore.

Day 2: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Turpan

Meals: B
Altitude: 820m
Hotel: In Turpan
Driving time: 330kms/5hrs

This morning you will take 1-hour ride to Heavenly Lake, or Tianchi in Chinese, which is a high mountain lake with stunning scenery in the Tianshan Mountains. After lunch, 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.  

Day 3: Turpan

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.

Day 4: Turpan - Korla

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.

Day 5: Korla - Luobu Village - Korla

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

After hotel breakfast, 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.

Day 6: Korla - Ruoqiang

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.

Day 7: Ruoqiang

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.

Day 8: Ruoqiang - Qiemo

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 Zhagunluke Ancient Tombs, which were the family tombs. There are dried mummies and amazing relics unearthed from here, and renown for the angels pattern on their silk embroidery robe.

Day 9: Qiemo - Hotian

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.

Day 10: Hotian - Kashgar

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.

Day 11: Kashgar

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.

Day 12: Kashgar - Taxkorgan

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.

Day 13: Taxkorgan - Kashgar

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.

Day 14: Kashgar - Kuqa

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.

Day 15: Kuqa

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.

Day 16: Kuqa fly to Urumqi

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.

Day 17: Urumqi departure

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.

Inclusion & Exclusion

Inclusions:

1. Private transportation with good AC

2. Excellent English speaking guide

3. 4+ Hotel with breakfast (2 persons shared one room)

4. Entrance fee listed in the itinerary

5. 2 bottles of water each person on daily use 

6. Government tax

7. Travel insurance

8. Allowance for the guide and driver

9. Airfare from Kuqa to Urumqi


Exclusions:

1. Personal expenses and tips to the guide and driver

2. Full Board Meals

3. Some activities such as boating, camel riding, culture show etc.

4. Flight arrive in and leave from Urumqi

Addional Info

Knows before You Book

1. Book at least 7 days in advance for your Xinjiang tour so tour operator may make record for you.

2. Xinjiang is safe to visit. The local Uyghur people are very friendly.

3. Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level. Patients with serious hypertension, heart disease, asthma, bronchities, diabetes and cold should be restricted from going to Xinjiang.

4. Price is based on double occupancy. Single room supplement is subject to availability and additional charge.

5. Please read the Payment Methods, Terms and Conditions and Cancellation policies.

 

Knows after You Book

1. Travelers are required to provide photocopy of passports and China L visas at least 7 days prior to travel date, letting tour operator to have enough to make the record to Xinjiang.

2. You should wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes.

3. It is better to bring spending cash for a whole trip. In Kashgar and Urumqi, it is OK to withdraw money with foreign bank card or change your foreign currency into Chinese Renminbi (RMB, CNY).

4. The insurance is provided by The People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited (www.epicc.com.cn), which covers only tourist accident risks in China. We recommend that tourists purchase additional insurance on their own.

5. During your trip in Tibet, please obey the law; respect the local’s religion and customs.
Do not do things that are beyond your tourist identity, such as photograph military facilities, and other politically sensitive areas;
Do not accept any news media’s interview;
Do not collect secret intelligence;
Do not wave antisocial banners, yelling antisocial slogans;
Do not use aerial camera;
Do not venture into areas beyond planned itineraries.

6. When visiting religious sites such as mosques, women should wear long–sleeve clothes. At certain times women are not allowed to enter mosques.

7. When you shop at a market, bargaining is taboo if you do not intend to make the purchase.

8. Take precautions against pickpockets and opportunist thieves.

9. Some souvenirs like Knife, antique, animal skulls, etc. are not allowed to take out of China at custom, please don’t buy this kind of souvenirs.

FAQS

  • Is it safe to travel in Xinjiang?

    Yes, it is very safe to visit Xinjiang now. The Uyghur people are some of the most friendly you’ll ever meet. Most visitors feel it is totally safe in the main tourist areas, though there may be an elevated police presence.

  • Which tourist sites are what international travelers must visit for a private Xinjiang tour?

    Xinjiang covers a large area, accounting for about one sixth of China. Most of international travelers who come to Xinjiang at the first time, and I advise to visit these sites:
    In Urumqi and Turpan: Heavenly Lake, International Grand Bazaar, Karez Irrigation System, Ancient City of Jiaohe and Tuyoq Village.

    In Kashgar: Kashgar old town, Sunday Bazaar, Karakul Lake, Pamirs Plateau

    In Altay: Kanas Nature Reserve, Hemu Tuwa village, Five-colored Beach

    In Yili: Kalajun Prairie, Narati Air Grassland

  • How many days tour is the best choice for travelers travelling to Xinjiang?

    Well, the answer should depend on your time and interest. You can plan as the following:

    1 day each for Xinjiang arrival and departure;

    3 days tour in Kashgar and Taxkorgan;

    3 days tour in Urumqi and Turpan;

    3 days tour in Yili;

    3 days tour in Altay;

    3 days tour through Taklimakan Desert

    4-5 days Silk Road tour from Urumqi to Kashgar

    and so on.

  • How many members is the best group for a private Xinjiang tour?

    Because in a private Xinjiang tour, only your friends, family or colleagues are in a group. We will arrange the Xinjiang tourist vehicle according to your members, such as 5-7 seats car or van for 1-4 clients, 8-9 seats van for 5-6 clients, 14 seats van for 7-9 clients, 17-23 seats bus for 10-13 clients, 29 seats for more than 13 clients.

    If you want not only to save money and but also to enjoy better comfortable tour, we advise 7-9 clients in a private group.

  • When/ which months are the best time to visit Xinjiang?

    Traditionally, the months from March to October are the good time frame to visit Xinjiang.

    You can choose the best time to visit the most beautiful area:
    Late March to April: Apricot Flower in Yili, Kashgar and Turpan;
    Middle April: Apricot Flower in Yili river valley;
    June: Canola flowers and lavender in Yili;
    July and August: the whole Xinjiang;
    September and October: northern Xinjiang area, such Kanas, Hemu, Koktoghay

  • Which one is the better? By flight, by train or by overland Xinjiang?

    By flight: save time. You can fly to Urumqi from any one of mainland China cities within 4 hours and then start your Xinjiang tour.

    By train and by car: too long time to Xinjiang. But you will enjoy different landscapes on the road.

  • For private Xinjiang tour, how to choose Tibet hotel? 3-stars, 4-stars or 5-stars hotel?

    In Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi, hotel conditions are best and options are most. In remote cities, such as Kashgar, Yining, Kanas and Turpan, star-rated hotels might not be as good as the same rating of hotels in big cities due to local expectations.

    To ensure a comfortable hotel experience, we suggest booking 4- or 5-star hotels. They can offer Western-style breakfasts as well as simple English communication.

  • What food to eat in Xinjiang when taking a private tour?

    Usually, after you arrive at Urumqi or Kashgar, your tour guide will ask about your eating habits. He/she will recommend restaurants for your reference.

    We recommend the typical authentic Xinjiang meals, incl. a lot of meat such as mutton, beef, and chicken. Islamic rules forbid alcohol and pork. A breakfast might include melons, fruit jam, and milk tea. Nangs, Uyghur flat bread like Indian naans, are commonly eaten with meals.

  • Which is the better choice, small group tour vs private tour?

    Group tour refers to a group of tourists who have the same tour plan booking the same trip separately via the local travel agency in Xinjiang. They don’t know each other. The travel agency arranges travel date and route in advance. The tour cost is fixed and cheaper.

    Private tour means a group of tourists who are family or friends or colleagues book the same trip together through Xinjiang local travel agency. The travel agency design the tour according to traveler’s needs and interests. The tour cost is quoted based on different plans and relatively high.

    You can choose small group tour or private tour depend on your plan.

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