Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi and transfer to Turpan
Our professional tour guide and driver will welcome you at Urumqi airport and accompany you to Turpan by car. Turpan is 180 kms from Urumqi city, and takes around 2.5-3 hours onto reach there. Upon arrival in Turpan, check in the Oasis Hotel and rest after a long flight and car journey.
Our guide will give you a phrasebook to help you learn some common Uighur phrases to use during your Xinjiang trip.

Day 2: Explore Turpan for whole day
Following a hearty western breakfast at the Hotel we start our wonderful day in Turpan beginning with a visit the ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was first built in the first Century BC and later became capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th Century. You can take a donkey cart to visit the site if you like. Well stop in the city for about 40 minutes and then drive to Karakhoja Astana tombs, a Tang-dynasty burial ground which also known as the 'Underground Museum'. Astana means 'capital' in the Uighur language and Karakhoja is the name of a legendary hero of the ancient Uighur Kingdom who conquered by killing a vicious dragon.
Moving on, we journey to Toyup village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and eat lunch with a local family in their home. This could quite likely be the highlight of your tour.. After lunch we visit Bizeklik Thousand Buddha caves which used to be an important center for Buddhist worship under the Xizhou Huigu government of the Idikut (Gaochang) Kingdom.
Finally, on the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Flaming Mountains which people claim are so hot and dry that 'flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come. Later, well eat dinner in the Oasis hotel restaurant and the round the day off with an atmospheric song and dance festival in the famous grape valley.
Stay in Oasis Hotel

Day 3: Overnight train to Kashgar
Our special itinerary today includes sightseeing in Turpan and take overnight train to Kashgar after Lunch. First we visit Yargul Ancient city which is one of the best preserved ancient cities in China. The ruins of the buildings are divided into temples, civilian dwellings and government offices. Workshops and residential houses in the streets are still visible and time there is time spent in a world long disappeared.
After an hour of walking around the city area, well push on to see the world famous Karez irrigation system, unique to this part of the world. The system is considered as one of the three great projects in China with the other two being the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Then visit the Emin Suliman minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient pagoda in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient pagoda in the country. Locals call it pure tower.
After early lunch drive to Train station and take overnight train to Kashgar

Day 4: Arrive Kashgar
Our guide driver will meet you at Kashgar train sation and transfer to the Hotel. Rest of the day is your own to explore the city as you will.
Stay in Qinibagh Hotel

Day 5: Day trip to Taklimakan desert
The Taklamakan desert is the second largest shifting sand desert in the world, covering an impressive 337,600 Square Kilometers. If you decide to make it a day-trip, the desert is only 160m (100miles) from Kashgar city. Starting at 8:00am (local time), we drive through lovely villages and arrive after 2 hours. Then youll have enough time to ride Camels or walk on the sand enjoying the beautiful scenery of Mother Nature. There is a famous lake just near the desert named Dakul Lake, which means that which can cure sickness'. In this area local people try to cure their illnesses by covering themselves in hot sand and swimming in the Lake. After riding Camels or just having fun in the desert, your swim in the Lake would be the most memorable and enjoyable feeling at the end of an exciting day.
Overnight at Qinibagh Hotel

Day 6: Day trip to Karakul Lake
Take evening flight to Urumqi and stay in Xinjiang grand Hotel Our experienced local guide and driver will pick you up from your Hotel at 7:00am local time or any desired time you wish, before we set out along the Sino Pakistan (Karakorum Highway) which is one of the most beautiful highways in the world. After an hour of driving we stop in Opal village to buy fresh fruit and Naan bread and finally enter into the surreal glaciated scenery of the Karakorum Highway.
Entering the world of the Kunlun Shan is an opportunity to experience one of the last truly unezplored places on Earth. The hues and colours of some of the worlds highest mountain ranges dominate every horizon on your journey towards Karakul Lake C The Kunlun Shan is known to contain 148 different kinds of minerals. About 125Km from Kashgar City, we must stop to check passports at a checkpoint before stopping at an ancient Caravan Sarai (former camping place of camping place for Silk Road Caravans).
Karakul Lake lies not long after. On the way keep a sharp look out for Kyrgyz Nomadic herds, small mountain and the hued mass of Sandy Mountain all accented by the high colorful peaks of the Kunlun mountain range. By lunch time we reach Karakul Lake and have lunch at a lake side restaurant there.
Besides the lake, youll have the opportunity to experience the surrounding culture. Well visit a local Kyrgyz family in their unique homes called yurts and take time out to ride horses and camels around the lake and surrounding scenery.
Back to Kashagr in the afternoon and overnight at Qinibagh Hotel

Day 7: Explore Kashgar city and evening flight to Urumqi
On the cross roads of Asia, a new day dawns as we explore one of the most important towns on the Silk Road. Our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel at 7:00am local time and begin the days activities at the Apak Hoja mausoleum, one of the most famous mausoleums in Central Asia. The tombs contain the remains of five generations of Abakh Khoja, who was a powerful ruler of Kashgar in the 17th century. The first tomb was built in 1640. It is said the concubine of the Chinese Emperor Qianlong was buried here which is why people call it the tomb of the fragrant combine.
After 1.5 hours well visit Kashgars famous Livestock market. The best time to visit the market is later morning when market activity is at its peak. Every deal conducted throughouth the market is done under the watchful gaze of a Salachi or middle-man who is responsible for ensuirng every deal concludes in a fair manner. Salachis are usually respected and elder members of the community. The chaos and furor of the market has to be experienced to be believed. Tradition has failed to relinquish its grip on the life of the market and everybodys experience here is unique.
After time at the market, well see the Eid Kah mosque , the largest mosque in China and symbol of Kashgar. About 10,000 people worship in this mosque every Friday and 50,000 people during festivals. The cool fresh air of the mosque can make a welcome respite to the dry heat of the summer here and your visit may be your best opportunity to learn some knowledge about Islam and the culture of Uighur people.
The doorway to the afternoon begins with a sumptuous lunch at the Altun Orda (Golden Palace) restaurant. In the afternoon, well spend time at the famous Sunday market, reputed to the largest in Central Asia. People journey to this extravaganza from all over Central Asia producing a motley collection of coloured hats, faces and voices. Locals often say that you can find everything except chicken milk on this market, and we encourage you to barter for local goods with the help of your phrasebook.
At 4:00pm local time well head together into the old town area. Whose history spans more than 2000 years. This area includes many antique shops and mud brick houses preserved from the past. You can visit a local family and have a cup of tea with them if you wish. The handicraft street just away from the old city contains many handicraft experts making Baby cradles, traditional musical instruments, knives, teapots, golden jewelry, wooden steamers and many other traditional tools of local people. Our days tour ends at the home of a local family in a nearby village. Here youll have lessons in Uighur culture and their way of life by complete emersion into it.
Take evening flight to Urumqi. Stay at Xinjiang Grand HOtel

Day 8: Day trip to Heavenly Lake and Xinjiang Museum
Leave for Heavenly Lake after breakfast and travel 115 kms (71 Miles) over two hours by vehicle. Your stay at the heavenly lake is your time to ride horses, go boating, take photos or simply trek around the lake for as long as you like. You can eat lunch together with a local Kazak family or just pay them a visit! This is certainly the easiest way to understand the life style of the Kazak people in such a short time. In the afternoon, visit the Xinjiang Museum which houses an impressive collection of exhibits, covering artifacts and relics from more than 12 minority groups.Stay at Xinjaing Grand Hotel

Day 9: End of the tour
Today is the last day of our tour, but it neednt be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us one that youll always remember and if youd like to book a longer tour please contact us for more information.