Best of Xinjiang 18 Days: Urumqi, Kanas, Yili, Kuqa, Hotian, Kashgar etc.

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.

Today you will take morning flight to Kanas, a lake located near the border among China, Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. 

Upon arrival, you will transferred to the stunning Kanas Lake for a visit including Wolongwan, Shengxianwan, Yueliangwan, and Guanyu Pavilion. Kanas Lake, one of the prettiest lakes in China, presents different colors in different seasons for yellow, blue and green. 

Afterwards you will be transferred to check in the hotel.

Take a sighseeing bus to Hemu Village that is one of the 10 prettiest villages in China. With old wooden houses, the village looks like a paradise in the valley. Afterwards you will take 3-hour ride to Buerjin where you will enjoy the amazing Multi-colored Bay by the Ergis River. You can visit the night market in Buerjin to taste the barbecued fishes.

Today you will take about 8-hour ride through the gobi desert, farm and view the snow-capped Tianshan mountains. Visit the Urho Ghost City on the way, which is a Yardan Landform that makes loud noise and sounds like ghost yelling when wind blows at night. 

Today you will take about 6-hour car ride, and visit the amazing Sayram Lake on the way. If you are interested, you can visit Khorgos that is a border city between China and Kazakhstan, where you can buy souvenirs from central Asia.

Today you will take 4-hour ride to Narati Grassland, where you will view the mountain grassland and meet the Kazakh people in the yurt. 

After breakfast, you will take car heading to Kuqa through Tianshan Mountains along the southern Duku highway. Visit Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon that is impressive for the red-rock formations, and Big & Small Dragon Pools en route. View the cute sheep on the Bayanbulak Grassland. Arrive in Kuqa in the afternoon, check in the hotel.

Today you will explore Kuqa including Kizil Grottoes, Subash Monastery Ruins, and Kizilkara Beacon Tower.

Kizil Grottoes – Ancient Buddhist caves (older than Mogao).  

Subash Monastery Ruins – Remains of a 3rd-century temple.  

Kizilkara Beacon Tower – Silk Road watchtower.

Today you will visit Kuqa Old Town, local bazaar and Kuqa Museum to learn the history of the Kuqa(close on Mondays).  

After lunch, you will head to Alar, an oasis town.

Today you will will take a long ride for 6 hours to go across Taklamakan Desert, the biggest desert in China, and arrive in Hotian in the afternoon. Enjoy the fantastic desert scenery on the way. Visit Hotian bazaar and night market.

Today you will visit the Yaotegan City Ruin in the morning to learn the history about Hotian area.

Then you will take 5-hour car ride on the express highway to Kashgar, the hub city along the ancient Silk Road in the history. 

Check in the hotel when arrival in Kashgar.

Today you will take a 4-hour car ride to the pretty Karakul Lake which is situated by the renowned China-Pakistan friendship highway. 

Firstly you will visit the White Sand Lake beside the highway, which is located by the White Sand Mountain.

Then you will get to the Karakul Lake, 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. There are yurts spreading on the grassland near the lake.

Afterwards, you will head to Tashkurgan that is situated at the border between China and Pakistan.

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

Later, you will take the car ride back to Kashgar.

Today it is a busy day to explore Kashgar 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.

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. 

The animal bazaar is relocated near Kashgar Airport and opens only on Sundays. If it is Sunday, you will also visit the Animal Bazaar.

Later, you will be transferred back to Kashgar airport to catch flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, transferred to hotel. 

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. 
Afterwards you will take 4-hour car ride to Turpan via the desert, grassland, and Tianshan highway.  

Turpan is a hub on the ancient Silk Road, and there are lots of historical sites that are renowned for its well-preserved conditions. 

Today you will visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret with a local guide. 

You may taste some dried fruits and eat Uyghur food at the lunchtime.

After breakfast, you will take 3-hour ride to Urumqi where you will visit Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar where you can buy all sorts of local souvenirs. Later you will be transferred to your hotel in Urumqi. 

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