Silk Road Travel in Xinjiang
Xinjiang Tours
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Journey through Xinjiang’s Silk Road heartland, from Urumqi’s bustling bazaars to the Pamir Plateau’s glacial lakes. Explore 2,000-year-old ruins, UNESCO-listed sites, and diverse ethnic cultures while traversing deserts, mountains, and oasis towns.
What's included
Destination
Xinjiang Discover Xinjiang
Departure Location
Urumqi
Return Location
Kashgar
Additional Information
What is Special About This Tour?: Silk Road Time Capsules: Explore Jiaohe Ruins (world’s largest earthen city), Bezeklik Buddhist murals, and Stone City’s Han Dynasty fortress. Natural Extremes: Witness the Flaming Mountains’ 82.3°C record heat, Heavenly Lake’s glacial waters, and Karakul Lake’s mirror-like reflections of Muztagh Ata. Cultural Immersion: Haggle at Kashgar’s Livestock Market, sip yak butter tea with Kyrgyz herders, and taste Uyghur dapanji (spicy chicken stew). Engineering Marvels: Descend into Turpan’s ancient Karez Wells and drive the Karakoram Highway—the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
What to Prepare?: Documents: ID card + Tashkurgan Border Permit (arranged by your guide). Clothing: Sun hat, UV-protective clothing, fleece jacket (desert days exceed 30°C; mountain nights drop below 10°C). Medication: Altitude sickness pills (Tashkurgan reaches 3,100m), probiotics (for rich local cuisine). Gear: Power bank (3–6hr drives between sites), reusable water bottle, dust mask (Gobi Desert crossings).
Best Time to Visit: April–October April–June: Pleasant temperatures (15–25°C), blooming apricot orchards in Turpan. July–September: Lush Golden Grassland, ideal for hiking around Heavenly Lake. October: Autumn foliage in Kashgar’s poplar forests and harvest festivals.
Price includes
- Accommodation （Breakfast included）
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide
- Private air-conditioned vehicle/bus
- Train tickets
Price does not include
- Entrance fees to monuments/attractions(can be arranged if needed)
- International/domestic flights(can be arranged if needed)
- Meals (can be arranged if needed)
- Optional excursions not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, laundry)
- Tips for guide/driver
- Day 1 Arrive in Urumqi
- Day 2 Urumqi → Heavenly Lake (97km, 1.5hrs)
- Day 3 Urumqi → Turpan (187km, 2.5hrs)
- Day 4 Turpan → Fly to Kashgar
- Day 5 Kashgar City Tour
- Day 6 Kashgar → Tashkurgan (300km, 6hrs)
- Day 7 Tashkurgan → Kashgar (300km, 6hrs)
- Day 8
Day 1 Arrive in Urumqi
Highlights: Grand Bazaar
After airport pickup and hotel check-in, dive into the Grand Bazaar—Xinjiang’s largest market. Navigate 3,000+ stalls selling Kazakh embroidery, Uyghur knives, and dried figs. Watch live naan bread baking at the food court and sample samsa (lamb-stuffed pastries).
Overnight: Urumqi
Day 2 Urumqi → Heavenly Lake (97km, 1.5hrs)
Highlights: Xinjiang Museum, Heavenly Lake.
Begin at the Xinjiang Regional Museum to see the 3,800-year-old “Loulan Beauty” mummy—proof of the Silk Road’s ancient multiculturalism. Drive through the Fukang Desert Oasis to Heavenly Lake, boarding an electric shuttle boat to glide past Siberian pine forests with Bogda Peak’s glaciers mirrored in turquoise waters. Learn legends of the lake as the Queen Mother of the West’s mythical bathing pool.
Overnight: Urumqi
Day 3 Urumqi → Turpan (187km, 2.5hrs)
Highlights: Flaming Mountains, Tuyuq Village, Bezeklik Caves.
After breakfast, drive through the Gobi Desert to the Flaming Mountains, where infrared thermometers display ground temperatures up to 89°C. Pose beside the Golden Monkey Thermometer marking China’s highest recorded temperature (82.3°C). Continue to Tuyuq Village, a 1,600-year-old Uyghur settlement carved into cliffs. Climb to hilltop ruins for views of grape-drying houses, then explore Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves to study rare Manichaean murals of Uyghur nobles.
Overnight: Turpan
Day 4 Turpan → Fly to Kashgar
Highlights: Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Wells, Emin Minaret.
Explore Jiaohe Ruins, a 350,000㎡ mesa-top city built by the Cheshi people in 108 BC. Walk through Buddhist monasteries and residential quarters preserved in sun-baked earth. Descend into Karez Wells, a 2,000-year-old underground irrigation system channeling Tianshan snowmelt. Visit Emin Minaret, Xinjiang’s tallest Islamic tower adorned with 14 geometric Quranic patterns. Transfer to Urumqi for your flight to Kashgar.
Overnight: Kashgar
Day 5 Kashgar City Tour
Highlights: Livestock Market, Apak Hoja Tomb, Kashgar Old Town, Id Kah Mosque.
Start at the Sunday Livestock Market, where Uyghur herders trade yaks via secret hand signals. Practice bargaining for silver jewelry and feast on dapanji at food stalls. Visit Apak Hoja Tomb, the mausoleum of the Qing Dynasty’s “Fragrant Concubine,” famed for its 10,000 blue-green tiles. After lunch, wander Kashgar Old Town’s labyrinth of clay alleys, visiting dutar lute workshops and skywell courtyards. End at Id Kah Mosque, joining locals for afternoon prayers under its 140 poplar-wood columns.
Overnight: Kashgar
Day 6 Kashgar → Tashkurgan (300km, 6hrs)
Highlights: Karakoram Highway, Opal Village, Karakul Lake.
Drive the Karakoram Highway, stopping at Opal Village to stock up on walnut-stuffed nan bread and dried apricots. Traverse the Oytagh Valley’s rust-red cliffs, scanning for wild Bactrian camels. Pause at White Sand Lake, where wind “sings” through dunes, then circle Karakul Lake as sunset paints Muztagh Ata Peak pink.
Overnight: Tashkurgan
Day 7 Tashkurgan → Kashgar (300km, 6hrs)
Highlights: Stone City, Golden Grassland.
At dawn, climb Stone City’s 2,100-year-old fortress walls, imagining Han Dynasty soldiers signaling with beacon fires. Visit Golden Grassland, photographing amber-hued marshlands dotted with yurts. Accept a herder’s invitation for yak butter tea before retracing the Karakoram Highway to Kashgar.
Overnight: Kashgar
Day 8
Depart Kashgar
Transfer to Kashgar Airport (10km, 20 mins). Optional last-minute shopping for jade or silk scarves at Handicraft Street. Tour concludes with a farewell gift of rose tea and almonds.
More about Xinjiang
More about this tour
Customizable Itineraries
Your Journey, Your Way
Craft the perfect adventure with our fully flexible tours! Add or remove days, swap activities, or request unique experiences—we’ll tailor every detail to match your interests. Simply share your vision via email, and our experts will design a bespoke itinerary just for you.
Accommodation Options
Stay Your Way
Choose from a curated selection of lodgings to suit your style:
Luxury: 5-star international hotels in major cities.
Comfort: 4-star hotels with modern amenities.
Authentic: Charming 3-star stays for a local vibe.
All bookings include daily breakfast.
Private Transportation
Travel in Comfort and Style
Enjoy seamless journeys with our private vehicle fleet, tailored to your group size and route:
SUVs (1–2 guests)
MPVs (2–4 guests)
Vans (4–8 guests)
Coaches (9+ guests)
Need special requests? Just ask—we prioritize your safety and comfort.
Dining Flexibility
Savor Local Flavors, Your Way
Included: Daily breakfast at your hotel.
Lunch & Dinner: Explore freely! Our guides will recommend top restaurants based on your preferences
Let us know dietary needs or must-try dishes—we’ll ensure every meal delights.
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Email us your ideas, and we’ll create a trip as unique as you are.
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