9 Days Xinjiang Silk Road Travel

Today your flight will touch down in Dunhuang, a historic and cultural city. be met and transfer to the hotel check in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this city.

This morning, we will come to the first site Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the great artistic and religious wonders of the world and it is famous for its exquisite murals and various sculptures inside the caves, which was built in different dynasties, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. 

Thereafter, proceed our journey to Echoing Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. Echoing Sand Mountain or “Mingsha Mountain” is one of the Four Great Singing Sands of China. Completely piled by sands, When there is wild wind, the sands will be blown up and make loud sound, while the sound sounds like being produced by some ancient musical instrument when blew by breeze, hence the name. Surrounded by the Mingsha Mountain, Crescent Lake, is named after its crescent-like shape. According to historical record, the lake has been in existence for hundreds of years without ever being buried by the sand; it is really a geological wonder.

Coming out from the Echoing Sand Mountain, bus transfer to Dunhuang Liuyuan station and catch the express train to our next stop Turpan. Upon your arrival, be met and transferred to the hotel check in.

Enjoy your delighted breakfast at the hotel and then we will head to the first stop Bezekilk Grottoes which is located in the middle of the Flaming mountain, 1hrs visiting to the Buddhist Center of Gaochang Kingdom in 5 Century. you can also see the Flaming Mountain en route.

Then 20 minutes driving to Tuyoq Village which is the saint site for the Muslim and also called Mecca in Xinjiang. Walking in this old and relaxing village surrounded by the grapes and mountains, you get to know the story of the famous adventurers Von Lacoq from German. The lunch will be arrange in the local Uighur family (the expenses will be on your own 10-15usd/person)

After lunch, we will head to Turpan, the oasis in the desert holding the hottest,lowest,sweetest and driest features.I hour's driving to visit the Jiaohe Ruins which is better reserved and resembles Pompei, but it is 300years older.

After delighted buffet breakfast, Visit the Sugong Minaret it was built in 1777 to commemorate and praise Turpans ruler, Emin Khoja, who had achieved brilliant military success in suppressing the armed rebellion. After the ONE hours visiting, the weather getting hotter and now we will head to Karez underground irrigation system that people produce the best grapes and melons from it in China. Cool yourselves when walking under the ground by the side of the well.

Having lunch in the local restaurant, Say goodbye to this amazing town, we will drive back to Urumqi, we will pass by the Wind power station at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in 1hr, stop 10 minutes here for photo and rest. We can visit the Salt lake en route. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and have a rest.

Breakfast time in the hotel is from 7am to 11am, enjoy your delighted buffet breakfast and our nice and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby around 08:30, then we will drive 1hr to the entrance of the park. 40 minutes shuttle bus driving in the mountains, you will visit the Kazakh village en route. After the shuttle bus, 10mins walking up to the lakeside. You will have 2hrs to do some trekking around the Heavenly lake, either enjoy the boating cruise,or even take the cable cart to the top of the mountain so that close to Bogda Peak-the highest peak in the east part of Tian Shan Mountain, which is capped by glacier and snow glistening in the sun, finely contrasted with blue lake water, forming a fabulous scenery.

Lunch (15usd/pax pay on your own) will be arranged in the local Kazakh yurt by the side of the lake. Afterwards back to Urumqi to visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum which is the main institution to collect and investigate the unearthed cultural relics and specimens in Xinjiang. After the visiting, transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Kashgar.

Our nice guide and driver will meet you at the train station and then we will drive along the Karakom Highway which is twisting in the valley of the mountain to visit the Karakul Lake. In the next 2 hours thrilling journey, we will have stunning views of the great Pamir Plateau as we drive across the vast plain, you'll pass by sand dunes, mountains, and sandstone valleys before we reach the Karakul Lake that Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds. You can pay to visit the yurt of local nomadic Kirghiz tasting the milk tea and snack when talking with them. In the afternoon, we will head to Taxkorgan County with about 6 hours driving. Upon your arrival, have a good rest.

In the morning, we are going to today's first site Stone Fortress, which is located on a tableland northeast of the county seat of Taxkorgan. The city is a strategic castle on the ancient Silk Road and now has been designated as a key cultural relic protection unit in the autonomous region. There are snow peaks, grass beaches, rivers around the castle, as welll as the Tajik Ethnic customs. You can also stroll around the local pasture, to explore the lifestyle of Tajik.

After the visiting, you will say goodbye with Taxkorgan, and bus transfer to Kashgar with the beautiful scenery along the way. 

After breakfast, around 9am, our guide will bring you to visit the Idigar Mosque which is an architectural treasure built in 1442. As the largest mosque in Xinjiang，It is not only the holiest mosque for the Muslims to pray, but also the center of religious activities. Then it is the time to visit the Kashgar Old Town that the ceremony of welcoming the tourist held at 10:30am, come on join the Maxilap show to dance with performers. Afterwords, walking in the street to explore the special culture,art character and the customer of their daily life. You are suggested to pay the visiting to the local Uighur family and having lunch is also highly recommended. 

Highlight of Kashgar visiting is to experience the livestock trades of the farmers in the Sunday bazaar which is the biggest one in the World. Continue the visiting to the Central Asia market displayed numerous varieties of the goods from neighbouring countries.

After visiting the famous livestock market, We are going to start our Kashgar city tour with the 1hr visiting to Apak Hoja Tombs, which is an architectural and artistic treasure Built in 1640. Then enjoy the easy walking in the Handicraft street where displayed not only the various products,handicraft etc, but also the fruits, vegetables and food of the daily life resources. Hundred years of the Tea House will be our special arrangement for you, Tea and nang bread will be served, Musical instrument performance of the local Uighur might be enjoyed if lucky. 

Say goodbye to Kashgar and you will end your Xinjiang Silk Road tour here. we will arrange the airport or train transfer for you. Wish you a pleasant journey home.