- Information
- Itinerary
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- Trip Notes
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Southern Xinjiang, a region rich in history, culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. This tour begins in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, and concludes in Kashgar, covering a total distance of approximately 2,000 kilometers. Along the way, you’ll traverse diverse terrains, including arid mountains, lush oasis towns, vast sand dunes, winding rivers, and towering snow-capped peaks. The Taklamakan Desert, surrounded by majestic mountains, provides a stunning backdrop to this adventure. These mountains supply water to the oases nestled between the desert and the peaks, each offering unique features such as exotic fruits, traditional cuisine, distinct landscapes, and even variations in the Uighur dialect.
This journey is not just about witnessing natural wonders and historical sites; it’s also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily lives, rich cultures, and intricate handicrafts of the local Uighur people, which are unparalleled in China. For instance, in Turpan, you’ll visit grape fields and traditional air-drying houses, where fresh grapes are transformed into raisins. In Kashgar, you’ll witness artisans crafting exquisite knives and musical instruments in their workshops.
Destinations
- Hotan
- Kuqa
- Xinjiang
Tour Price
Please Inquire Us !
Tailor Make Your Tour
- Your Schedule
- Your Interests
- Your Hotel Preference
Tour Start and End
Hotan, Kuqa
Additional Information
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Southern Xinjiang, a region rich in history, culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. This tour begins in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, and concludes in Kashgar, covering a total distance of approximately 2,000 kilometers. Along the way, you’ll traverse diverse terrains, including arid mountains, lush oasis towns, vast sand dunes, winding rivers, and towering snow-capped peaks. The Taklamakan Desert, surrounded by majestic mountains, provides a stunning backdrop to this adventure. These mountains supply water to the oases nestled between the desert and the peaks, each offering unique features such as exotic fruits, traditional cuisine, distinct landscapes, and even variations in the Uighur dialect.
This journey is not just about witnessing natural wonders and historical sites; it’s also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily lives, rich cultures, and intricate handicrafts of the local Uighur people, which are unparalleled in China. For instance, in Turpan, you’ll visit grape fields and traditional air-drying houses, where fresh grapes are transformed into raisins. In Kashgar, you’ll witness artisans crafting exquisite knives and musical instruments in their workshops.
Price Includes
- All necessary permits
- Accommodation in the hotels(5 star or the best in the region)
- Transportation during the trip
- Camels for riding and carrying gear (each person will have 1 camel to ride)
- Camel Guides
- All meals and water during the city tour and trek
- English speaking tour guide
- 2 local cook
- All necessary sleeping tents (2-share tents)
- A big mess tent for kitchen
- A big dinning tent
- All necessary dining tables, chairs
- A set of cooking gears
- Entrance fees
- Insurance services specially against any sudden accidents caused by traffic during your staying in China
Price Excludes
- All flights (we can provide assistant with flight bookings)
- Any other insurance and medical evacuation charges
- sleeping bag and personal clothing/equipment
- Hard & soft drinks except water, laundry, postage, telephone calls, anything not specified above
- Any expenses caused by beyond control events.
- Tips for tour guide, camel guide, driver, cook etc.
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Southern Xinjiang, a region rich in history, culture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. This tour begins in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, and concludes in Kashgar, covering a total distance of approximately 2,000 kilometers. Along the way, you’ll traverse diverse terrains, including arid mountains, lush oasis towns, vast sand dunes, winding rivers, and towering snow-capped peaks. The Taklamakan Desert, surrounded by majestic mountains, provides a stunning backdrop to this adventure. These mountains supply water to the oases nestled between the desert and the peaks, each offering unique features such as exotic fruits, traditional cuisine, distinct landscapes, and even variations in the Uighur dialect.
This journey is not just about witnessing natural wonders and historical sites; it’s also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily lives, rich cultures, and intricate handicrafts of the local Uighur people, which are unparalleled in China. For instance, in Turpan, you’ll visit grape fields and traditional air-drying houses, where fresh grapes are transformed into raisins. In Kashgar, you’ll witness artisans crafting exquisite knives and musical instruments in their workshops.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Urumqi
Activities: Upon arrival at Urumqi Airport, our guide will warmly welcome you and transfer you to your hotel.
Overnight: Urumqi.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 4 Star
Day 2
Urumqi – Heavenly Lake (120 km)
Highlights: Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), Urumqi Grand Bazaar.
Activities: Today, we’ll visit the stunning Heavenly Lake, a high-altitude glacial lake nestled in the Tianshan Mountains. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, lush forests, and snow-capped peaks, the lake offers a serene escape into nature. In the afternoon, we’ll return to Urumqi to explore the bustling Grand Bazaar, a vibrant marketplace where you can shop for local handicrafts, spices, and souvenirs.
Overnight: Urumqi.
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: 4 Star
Day 3
Urumqi – Turpan (200 km)
Highlights: Ancient City of Jiaohe, Karez Underground Irrigation System, Emin Minaret.
Activities: En route to Turpan, we’ll visit the ancient city of Jiaohe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back over 2,000 years. Next, we’ll explore the ingenious Karez underground water system, a testament to the region’s ancient engineering prowess. We’ll also visit the Emin Minaret, the tallest minaret in Xinjiang, and enjoy authentic Uighur cuisine at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Turpan.
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: best hotes in the city
Day 4
Turpan Tour
Highlights: Turpan Museum, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Flaming Mountains, Tuyuk Village.
Activities: Begin the day at the Turpan Museum, where you’ll learn about the region’s rich history and view precious cultural relics excavated from the area. Later, travel east to visit the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, an ancient Buddhist site adorned with intricate murals. We’ll also stop at the Flaming Mountains, famous for their striking red sandstone formations, and explore the traditional Tuyuk Village, one of the oldest Uighur settlements in Xinjiang.
Overnight: Turpan.
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: Camp in the Village
Day 5-10
Turpan – Korla (400 km)
The fist day will be a little bit longer waiting. The camel man have to balance the bags, they need to remember which bags should be together and on which camel everyday.
Everyday we trek about 7-8 hours, it is about 14-18kms, for each one hour trekking we stop for 5 minutes, for drink water, for toilet etc, the temperature is very different between day and night, which is about 15 Celsius.
In the desert, sometimes not like in the city, we sit on the sands, eat like local nomad ,I know it is a little bit difficult, after first few days you will love this.
At night, it is very quite with lots of stars in the sky, we can see the Milky Way very clearly.We can pick up some dry wood, and make fire at night, we often talk about the ancient myths, joke with camel man, drink local tea, a little bit wine.
The sand dunes get higher and higher, it need more power to trekking, sitting on the top of sand hill, you can enjoy fantastic sand views! Relax your mind during stay far away from city.
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: Camp in the Taklamakan Desert
Day 11
Arrival to the final end Mazar -Tagh
Mazar Tagh, an ancient military fort and Buddhist pilgrimage site, which kept watch over the trade route. Mazar-Tagh means” Tomb Mountain” in the local language, The fort is located on a bluff overlooking the Hotan River and the Taklamakan Desert, which allows for great views of the area.
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: Camp in the Taklamakan Desert
Day 12
Finish camel trek and drive to Kuche
Finish camel trek in the morning, then cross the Hotan River in a shallow area. Meet up with our driver and bus along highway G217 and then drive to Kuche. G217 cuts right through the heart of the desert. The desert highway G217 was completed in 2007, but it follows an ancient trade route that has been used for thousands of years. Constant maintenance, plastic mats, and vegetation is required along the highway to keep the desert sands at bay. Arrive in Kuche late afternoon/evening. Check into hotel and enjoy a celebratory dinner!
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: 5 Star
Day 13
Kuche Tour
Today, Kuqa is a small town in Xinjiang, but it was once home to the Kingdom of Qiuci and a very important center for trade and Indo-European culture. The famous Buddhist linguist and scholar, Kumarajiva is from here and played a very important role in translating Buddhist transcripts from Sanskrit to Chinese and spreading Buddhism from Central Asia into China proper. Kuchean music also heavily influenced Chinese music and was often played at the court in Chang’an (Xi’an).
After breakfast, being your exploration of Kuqa by visiting the Kizil 1000 Buddha Caves which were built between the 3rd and 10th centuries. The caves were a melting pot of the different cultures found during that time in Kuqa with influences from India, Greece, Rome, and Persia. Sadly, many of the best-preserved sculptures and murals were taken back to Europe by the early European explorers. After that, we drive to Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon，you will be astonished by the mountain landscapes, it is far more beautiful and reddish different, it is one of the 10 most beautiful Canyons in China. late afternoon, explore the local Bazaar in Kuqa, Enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Meals: B,L,D
Accommodation: 5 Star
Day 14
Depart Kuqa to fly back home
Our guide and driver will take you to airport, here we say goodbye with best wishes.
Meals: B
Accommodation: 5 Star
Client’s passports and other personal information should be provided 60 days prior to the tour departure in order to work out the special permits for the trekking.
The best season to do this tour is May, and between the end of September and the end of November.
Sleeping bags, Pad or air mattress, boots, wind proof cost and pants, necessary clothing including down jacket, sun glasses, wind glasses, hats, water bottles, sun cream, warm gloves, necessary medical staff, enough socks.
You can add or delete days or especial activities from the itinerary, services can be adjusted to your own interests, Please contact us via email and let us know your plan, we are ready to offer you the best customized tour!
Please tell us your hotel requests, we will book hotels accordingly, we have 5 star international hotels at bigger cities, 4 star hotels and 3 star hotels, our hotels include breakfast.
We offer you private transportation, we have all kinds of comfortable vehicles which are suitable for your journey, please feel free to let us know if you have especial requests for the vehicles.
