8 Days Classic join-in Xinjiang Small Group tour from Kashgar to Urumqi

Today you will catch the flight to Kashgar. We will meet you at the airport with a welcome board, then bring you to the downtown hotel and check in. Have a good rest.

In the morning, after the breakfast, our guide will meet you and let's start today's journey! We will drive on the Sino-Pakistan Highway where you can appreciate the beautiful scenaries for Pamirs Plateau - snow mountain, lake. Experience beautiful Karakul Lake. The lake lies about 200 kilometers from Kashgar City, at the foot of Mt. Muztagata. At an altitude of 3,600 meters, it is the highest lake on the Pamir Plateau. The lake is 30 meters deep and covers an area of 10 square kilometers. "Karakul" means "black sea" in the local language as the lake looks dark when the clouds block the sun. Later we will drive to Taxkrogan County. 

In the morning after check-out, we will visit the Stone Fortress. Located on north side of Taxkorghan Tajik Autonomous County, Stone Fortress is a famous ancient city ruins on the ancient road in Xinjiang. The fortress is built on a high mount with very precipitous topography. Outside the city are multilevel or scattered walls, between which overlapping stone mounts form a unique stone city landscape. Later we will drop by the Golden Grassland. where you can have a better view of the Stone Fortress. There are yurts and frame houses of Tajik ethnic group providing rooms and board for visitors. Time permitting, you can check the  reception center which facilitates rentals, yachts, camels, horses etc. and maybe choose some optional programs if you are interested. Today we will drive back to Kashgar and stay the night.

Today we will have a  full day in Kashgar city. Let's explore this ancient city together! In the morning we will visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities. Every day, 2-3 thousands of worshippers come here to pray, and 6-7 thousands on Friday afternoons. On festivals the numbers can surge to 20-30 thousands. On the Corban at prayer time, the mosque, the square, the streets, and the roads all around are full of piously kneeling Muslims. Around 10:30 we will go to visit the Old Town when the open ceremony ready to greeting all the tourists with the culture show. Then we will visit the famous Kashgar Sunday Bazaar. Find a late moring to walk into the incredible Kashgar Sunday Bazaar that used to be a great place to meet locals, merchants and travelers along the Silk Road. Nowdays, still many local will shif the sheeps and cow to exchange in the local market. They will talk and bargin with hand language cover by sleeves that outsider can not understand at all. Afterwards we will go to the bustling Handicraft Street. You will see various shops selling different kinds of jewelry, pottery, local musical instrument, daily necessieities, traditional clothes, etc. If you want to, we can also take some relax time at the local teahouse and feel the authentic life here. Later we will proceed to the airport and fly to Urumuqi (air ticket included). After landing, our guide in Urumuqi will pick you up and transfer to the hotel for rest.

Start the trip off with the 2-3hours driving to Turpan, passing by the wind power station which is the largest one in Asia spreading at the foot of Tianshan Mountain. Following glimpse of Salt Lake in Dabancheng. We'll be amazed by the histroical sites and oasis land of Turpan. A must and first visit is the oldest Uighur village Tuyoq Village located in the very center of Flaming Mountain Canyon. It used to be the holy site of Buddhism and Islam. The village consists of four parts: Canyon scenery, Thousand Buddha Caves, Maza tomb and the old buildings of the ancient village. 

Morning depart from the hotel, we will head to the Karez Well, which is special kind of irrigation system, here you can not only visit this ancient irrigation system, but also get rid of the heat of summer. Then explore the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. Then drive to enjoy the scenery of Jiaohe Ruins with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, it was include in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. After the visiting, drive back to Urumqi for overnight stay. 

Driving to the picturesque Heavenly Lake, which is surrounded by the snow mountains, blooming wildflowers, evergreen pine trees. Trekking along the lake in the fresh air. or you can explore further uo to the Maya Mountain by the cable car to enjoy the magnificent view of the Mountains. Afterwards, transfer back to Urumqi about the other 1.5hrs, visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine. 

Say farewell the most charming place Xinjiang . Then you will be transferred to the airport and back to your destination. Wish you a pleasant journey home!