Day 1, Arrival in Urumqi

Activities:

Airport pickup and hotel transfer; optional visit to the International Grand Bazaar

Details:

Arrive at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport. Meet your guide and driver and transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early, take a leisurely visit to the International Grand Bazaar — one of the largest and most famous bazaars in Xinjiang. Here you can browse a dazzling array of Uyghur handicrafts, colourful silk fabrics and traditional musical instruments, and sample local delicacies such as naan bread, roasted lamb and fresh grapes.

Day 2, Urumqi to Turpan – Ancient Ruins & Karez Wells

Activities:

Drive to Turpan, visit the Ancient City of Jiaohe, the Karez Well System, and the Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda)

Details:

Depart from Urumqi and drive east to Turpan, one of the hottest and lowest cities in China, famous for its grapes and ancient Silk Road history. Your first stop is the Ancient City of Jiaohe, a remarkably well-preserved ruined city built on a leaf-shaped islet between two rivers. Founded over 2,000 years ago, it was once a major Silk Road garrison town.

Next, visit the Karez Well System — an ingenious ancient underground irrigation network that brings water from the Tianshan Mountains to the arid Turpan Basin. Learn how this remarkable engineering feat has sustained agriculture in the region for millennia. In the afternoon, visit the Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda), the tallest ancient minaret in China, built in 1778 with beautiful Islamic geometric patterns.

Day 3, Turpan to Kashgar – Gaochang, Flaming Mountains & Overnight Train

Activities:

Visit the Ancient City of Gaochang, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, and the Flaming Mountains; board overnight train to Kashgar

Details:

Start the day with a visit to the Ancient City of Gaochang, another major Silk Road ruin near Turpan. Founded in the 1st century BC, it served as a key caravan town and Buddhist pilgrimage site for over 1,300 years. Walk through the ruined streets, temples and palace remnants that evoke the city’s former grandeur.

Next, drive to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, a series of Buddhist cave temples carved into the cliffs of the Flaming Mountains. Admire the well-preserved murals and statues dating from the 4th to 14th centuries. Then stop at the Flaming Mountains (Huoyanshan), a dramatic range of red sandstone hills that inspired the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. In the evening, transfer to Turpan Railway Station and board the overnight train to Kashgar.

Day 4, Arrival in Kashgar – Bazaars, Mosques & Old Town

Activities:

Arrive in Kashgar, visit the Sunday Animal Market (if Sunday), the Grand Bazaar, Id Kah Mosque, and the Old City

Details:

Arrive in Kashgar in the morning, the cultural heart of Uyghur civilization and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. After checking into your hotel, start exploring this vibrant Silk Road oasis.

If your tour falls on a Sunday, don’t miss the famous Kashgar Sunday Animal Market, where farmers and herders from across the region gather to trade sheep, goats, cattle and camels — an unforgettable spectacle of traditional Central Asian life. Visit the sprawling Grand Bazaar, one of the largest in Central Asia, where you can find everything from spices and carpets to jewelry and musical instruments. Then visit the iconic Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China, and wander through the atmospheric lanes of the Kashgar Old City, a living museum of Uyghur architecture and culture.

Day 5, Kashgar to Tashkorgan – Karakoram Highway & Karakul Lake

Activities:

Drive the legendary Karakoram Highway to Tashkorgan, visit Karakul Lake and the Baisha Lake

Details:

Depart from Kashgar and drive along the legendary Karakoram Highway (KKH), one of the highest paved roads in the world, connecting China and Pakistan. The journey takes you through dramatic mountain landscapes, past towering snow-capped peaks and alongside glacial rivers.

Stop at the stunning Baisha Lake, known for its turquoise water and white sand dunes, framed by snow-capped mountains. Continue to Karakul Lake, a breathtaking high-altitude lake (3,600m) at the foot of Muztagh Ata — the “Father of Ice Mountains” (7,509m). Enjoy the spectacular reflections of the peaks in the lake. Arrive in Tashkorgan, a small town on the Pamir Plateau inhabited by the Tajik people, and check into your hotel.

Day 6, Tashkorgan to Kashgar – Stone City & Tajik Culture

Activities:

Visit the Tashkorgan Stone City, meet local Tajik families, drive back to Kashgar

Details:

In the morning, visit the famous Tashkorgan Stone City, an ancient Silk Road fortress dating back over 2,000 years. Perched on a rocky outcrop, the ruined walls and towers offer a glimpse into the town’s strategic importance as a caravan stop on the route to Central Asia and beyond.

Then visit a local Tajik family to learn about their unique culture, traditions and high-altitude lifestyle on the Pamir Plateau. You may have the chance to see traditional Tajik embroidery, taste local dairy products, and hear about their eagle-hunting heritage. After lunch, drive back to Kashgar along the Karakoram Highway, enjoying the mountain scenery once more. Arrive in Kashgar in the evening.

Day 7, Departure from Kashgar

Activities:

Breakfast, free time for last-minute shopping, private transfer to Kashgar Airport

Details:

Breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time for last-minute souvenir shopping in the Kashgar bazaar or a relaxed walk through the Old City. When ready, your guide and driver will transfer you to Kashgar Airport for your departure flight. End of your Xinjiang cultural journey.