9-Day Tours Of Urumqi, Turpan, Hotan And Kashgar

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Daily Tour 9 day
Urumqi

Tour Highlights

  • Enjoy horse or camel ride at the Karakul Lake with splendid views of snowcapped mountains.
  • Discover hand made silk textiles, carpets, papers and unique Jades of Hotan.
  • Visit Karez underground irrigation channels one of the three Great Projects in China.
  • Experience the live ancient Tuyuk Village with a lunch at a local house.
  • Visit the picturesque scenery of Heavenly Lake at the Tianshan Mountains.
  • Explore the ancient city of Jiaohe, which was built by dug down the ground.
  • Enjoy the diversified cultural relics and mummies in Xinjiang Regional Museum.
  • Visit Royal family Tombs of Yarkend.
Day 1, Arrive in Urumqi

Activities: Warmly welcome you at Urumqi airport and transfer to your hotel
Details:Our guide will pick you up from Urumqi airport and accompany you to your Hotel. For the first day in Xinjiang you are free to explore on you own as you will.
Urumqi is the capital city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of the people’s republic of China. It is located in the north – west of the country. Urumqi was a major hub on the Silk Road during China’s Tang dynasty and developed its reputation as a leading cultural and commercial center during the Qing dynasty. Literal translation of Urumqi means “beautiful pasture” in Mongolian language. It is the largest city in China’s western region. Since 1990s Urumqi has developed economically and now serves as a regional transport hub, educational,cultural and commercial center.

Day 2, Day Trip to Heavenly Lake, Visit Xinjiang Museum and Dongkuruk Grand Bazaar

Activities: Visit Xinjiang Provincial Museum, then Drive to Heavenly lake; Spend time around Dongkuruk Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar in the evening.
Details:After breakfast Our guide and driver see you at the hotel lobby and visit the Xinjiang Museum which houses an impressive collection of exhibits, covering artifacts and relics from more than 12 minority groups. By this way you have some understanding about Xinjiang and the Silk Road
Then Leave for Heavenly Lake after which is 115 kms (71 Miles) over two hours by vehicle.
This beautiful and crystal-clear waters of Heavenly Lake is guarded by the Tianshan mountain and once you are at the like, you will have free time to roam around the lake, simply trekking up the mountains through the various valleys as long as you want. You can go for boating or take cable car (own expense) up to the top of the mountain for full scenery of the lake.
whenever you are ready at the lake, drive to Urumqi city and spend time around Dongkuruk Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar which which is the Minority center of Urumqi.

Day 3, Urumqi to Turpan

Activities: Drive to Turpan after breakfast and visit Idikut (Gaochang) ancient city, Toyuq village and Flaming Mountains.
Details:After breakfast, drive on the first-class highway to Turpan for about 2:30-3:00 hours. Once you arrive Turpan first check into the hotel, then we start our wonderful day in Turpan with a visit to the ancient city of Idikut (Gaochang). The city was built in the first Century BC and later became capital of the Idikut (Gaochang) Uighur Kingdom in the 8th Century.

We enjoy seeing this ancient city for about 40 minutes and then drive to Toyuq village, an old, beautiful and timeless village with a friendly Uighur community. Here we visit several local families and have tea with a local family in their home. This could be the highlight of your tour today.

On the way back to the hotel we will stop on the roadside for photos of Flaming Mountain which people claimed to be the hottest and driest along the silk road that “flying birds even a thousand miles away dare not to come”.

Day 4, Turpan to Urumqi/Hotan

Activities: Visit Yargul (Jiaohe) Ancient city, Karez underground Irrigations system and Emin Minaret, after lunch drive to Urumqi and catch evening flight to Hotan
Details:Following breakfast at the Hotel we start our wonderful day in Turpan. Our special itinerary today includes sightseeing in Turpan and drive back to Urumqi after Lunch for your flight to Hotan.
First we visit Yargul (Jiaohe) 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 residential houses and the streets are still visible and time there is a time spent in a long lost world.
After an hour of touring around the ancient city, we’ll drive on to see the world famous Karez Underground 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 Emin Suliman minaret which is a magnificent combination of ancient Uighur and Islamic architecture. It is the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang and the only Islamic ancient minaret in the country. Locals call it “pure tower.”
After lunch leave for Urumqi airport which is about 3-4 hours driving distance for your flight to Hotan. a different local guide from Hotan meet you at Hotan airport and transfer to your hotel.

Day 5, Hotan For Whole Day

Activities: Visit Grand Market, Kok Marim Cave and Hotan Museum.
Details:After breakfast, see around Hotan grand Bazaar for a few hours; then visit Hotan Museum.
after lunch Visit Kok Marim Cave (which means ‘snake mountain.’) 。 It is a two-floor cave which is connected by stairs and a ladder. The cave is at the foot of a hill beside river. It has beautiful scenery and below the cave the roaring Karakash River (jade river)is flowing. On the opposite side of the river there are farming fields, trees and villages. The river from above looks like a dragon, its water comes from melting snow from the Kunlun Mountains.

Day 6, Hotan to Kashgar

Activities: Drive to Kashgar along the Jade Road and stop in Kaghilik and Yarkant and towns for local sight-seeing
Details:Leave for Kashgar early in the morning. Stop at Yarkand for lunch and a few hours to enjoy the local culture and do some sightseeing.
Yarkand became important city in ancient times and was an important station on the old Silk Road. It has more than 2000 years of history.
Arrive Kashgar in the evening and check into the Hotel

Day 7, Day Trip to Karakul Lake

Activities: Drive along the KKH, Stop at Opal Village, Oytagh Kunlunshan Colorful mountain range, Gaz Valley and check point, Bulungkol Valley (white sand mountain), Karakul lake and local Kyrgyz family visit.
Details:We set out along the Sino – Pakistan Karakorum Highway, on the Pamir plateau (the roof of the world) visit Karakul Lake (3600m above sea level). The lake sits at the foot of the notorious, Muztagh Ata (7546m) and Gongur (7719m) mountains. ‘Muztagh Ata’ means Father of the Ice Mountains and is one the most beautiful and mysterious mountains in the world. Return by late afternoon to Kashgar.

Day 8, Explore Kashgar City

Activities: Visit Grand mosque, Apak Hoja tomb (which is also called Fragrant Concubine Tomb), Old city walking tours, livestock market, Sunday market and dinner at a local Uighur family
Details:Explore the rich, endless culture of the Uighurs in Kashgar. First visit livestock market which happens on every Sunday and people bring their horses, sheep, goats, camels,cows,bulls,yaks and donkeys to the market for sale. It provides a great opportunity to take photos of the faces of local people, study traditional local market culture, test-drive a donkey or horse or even make its shoes. Like opening a window, today is a real glimpse into a time lost in the annals of the Silk Road’s past and an opportunity not to be missed.
Later move on to Sunday market main Bazaar which is considered one of the largest market in Central Asia. From fluffy sheepskin hats to rugged camel-hide boots, not to mention beads, buttons and buckets of locals. Everything – including plenty of kitchen sinks – is for sale at this fairytale bazaar. It is the best chance to practice your bargaining skills.
After lunch spend some time by the Id Kah mosque, the largest mosque in China and marvel at the intricate architecture of Kashgar’s historic Apak Hoja Tomb which is also known as Fragrant concubine tomb).
We’ll also spend time in the Kashgar Old Town and have some walking tours through some ancient historical parts; Stop at a century-old tea house for a short break and taste local medicinal teas such as those containing rose, saffron, honey and many other ingredients.
Finally conclude our city tour with a dinner at a local family in old city area

Day 9, Kashgar To Your Next Destination

Activities: See you off at Kashgar airport
Details:Today is the last day of your tour with us, so we hope this shouldn’t be the last. We strive to make every day of your time with us the one that you’ll always remember and if you’d like to book some other tours please Contact us for more information

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