8-Day Classic Xinjiang Silk Road Tour

Xinjiang Impression
Xinjiang Impression
Red Hill
The Flaming Mountains in Turpan
Karakul Lake
Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar

Tour Outline: 8 Days & 7 Nights
Urumqi (3N) - Turpan (1N) - Urumqi (1N) - Kashgar (2N)

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

With three of the most popular destinations in Xinjiang - Urumqi, Turpan and Kashgar, this 8-day tour is the most classic tour allowing you to discover the best that Xinjiang has to offer.

You will start your tour from the capital of Xinjiang - Urumqi City by visiting the Red Hill, the Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar, Xinjiang Museum and the stunning Heavenly Lake. Then move to Turpan, to visit the Jiaohe Ruins, the Flaming Mountains and Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves. After touring in Turpan, fly to Kashgar to see the beautiful Apak Hoja Tomb, the Id Kah Mosque and the gorgeous Karakul Lake.

[Heavenly Lake] A beautiful blue lake with fabulous surrounding sceneries;
[Erdaoqiao Market] The biggest market in Urumqi where many commodities are sold, such as fruits, clothing, crafts, and carpets;
[Red Hill] The symbol of Urumqi standing erectly at the center of this city;
[Flaming Mountains] Harsh climate and hot temperature in the Summer, the hottest site in China;
[Apak Hoja Tomb] A very tranquil place and a beautiful example of Uyghur Islamic architecture;
[Karakul Lake] one of the most beautiful lakes in China, with beautiful natural scenery around and mirror-like peaceful waters;

Best Time to Visit

all year round
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Urumqi Arrival

Welcome to Xinjiang! Upon your arrival at the Urumqi Airport, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Urumqi. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to have a good rest or you can take a walk to explore the mysterious city on the Silk Road.

Drive 18km from the airport to hotel
High Altitude: Urumqi (680m)
Urumqi business hotel

Day 2: Urumqi

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum

Erdaoqiao Market of Urumqi

Today, your tour starts with the Red Hill, the symbol of Urumqi, formed by aubergine rocks. Then pay a visit to the Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar - the largest bazaar in the world, to buy some souvenirs and specialties.

In the afternoon, drive to visit Xinjiang Museum, a museum mainly collecting and investigating the unearthed cultural relics and specimens in Xinjiang, including stone steles, coins and currency, wooden articles, and paintings. It the best place to know the culture and history of minority groups in Xinjiang, and also along the ancient Silk Road.

Drive about 10km
High Altitude: Red Hill (910m)
Internet & Wifi
Urumqi business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Urumqi - Heavenly Lake - Urumqi (220km)

Uyghur Women at the Heavenly Lake

Cruise on the Heavenly Lake

Today after breakfast, we will drive to visit Tian Chi, which literally means "Heaven Lake". It is a very beautiful mountain lake formed more than million years ago in the 4th glacial epoch, covering about 5.9 square kilometers. On the east of the lake stands the Bogda Peak, the highest peak in Tianshan Mountain area, which is capped by glacier and snow glistening in the sun. Finely contrasted with blue lake water, the scenery is fabulous. In the afternoon, be transferred back to your hotel.

Drive 220km round trip to the Heavely Lake
High Altitude: Heavely Lake (2150m)
Internet & Wifi
Urumqi business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Urumqi - Turpan (200km)

Jiaohe Ruins

The Hottest Flaming Mountain

Today you will be picked up in your hotel and drive to Turpan. After checking in your hotel of Turpan, we will go to visit Jiaohe Ruins, the capital of the Anterior Jushi Kingdom. It includes city gates, streets and lanes, government office, temples, domestic houses, cave houses, and underground temple. Then move on to visit Karez Well, a local Turpan water system, which has been regarded as one of the greatest water projects of ancient China, together with Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Grand Canal.

In the afternoon, we will drive to visit the Flaming Mountains, which are barren, eroded, red sandstone hills. The climate of the mountains is harsh and the temperature is extremely hot in the Summer, the hottest site in China. Afterwards, transfer to visit Grape Valley, which is one of most famous scenic spots in Turpan.

Drive 200km to the Turpan
High Altitude: Urumqi (680m), Turpan (-154m)
Internet & Wifi
Turpan business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Visit in Turpan, drive back to Urumqi (200km)

Bozeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

Sugong Pagoda

Today after breakfast, we will visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, a group of Buddhist cave grottoes dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries, in which there a mural of Buddha. Then move on to Sugong Pagoda, an embodiment of the ancient architectural arts of the Uygur nationality. It is 37 meters high and 10 meters in diameter at the base.

In the afternoon, we go to visit Astana Tombs which covers an area of 10 square kilometers and is known as "the Underground Museum" with ten thousands of cultural relics. It is the graveyard of the residents who lived in the Gaochang City in the Jin-Tang period. Afterwards, be transferred back to your hotel in Urumqi.

Drive in Turpan, and 200km to Urumqi
High Altitude: Flaming Mountains (830m)
Internet & Wifi
Urumqi business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Urumqi - Kashgar

Apak Hoja Tomb

Id Kah Mosque

After breakfast, take early morning flight to Kashgar from Urumqi. Upon your arrival, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Kashgar for a short rest.

After lunch, you will begin your trip by visiting the Apak Hoja Tomb, also called Xingfei Mu in Chinese, which is a very tranquil place and a beautiful example of Uyghur Islamic architecture. Then we will wander through the narrow winding streets of the historic old town to visit Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China. Step into it to know a bit more about the Islamic life of the Uyghur people.

Drive 20km
High Altitude: Kashgar (1,290m)
Internet & Wifi
Kashgar business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Kashgar - Karakul Lake - Kashgar (400km)

Karakul Lake

The Tent beside the Karakul Lake

Today after breakfast, we will drive to visit Karakul Lake on Karakoram highway (renowned as the highest paved border crossing in the World and one of the World's most beautiful highways). Well-known as "the father of glaciers", Karakul Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in China, with beautiful natural scenery around and mirror-like peaceful waters. Seen from different distance, you can witness different colors of the water, changing from light to dark.

Drive 400km round trip to Karakul Lake from Kashgar
High Altitude: Kashgar (1290m), Karakul Lake (3600m)
Internet & Wifi
Kashgar business hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Kashgar flight to Urumqi, Urumqi Departure

Today, you will be escorted to airport to take a flight first to Urumqi, and then depart.

Kashgar flight to Urumqi
High Altitude: Urumqi (680m)
Breakfast

Price Details & Guide

Price Inclusions

Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;
Lodging: four nights in Urumqi business hotel, one night in Turpan business hotel, two nights in Kashgar business hotel;
Private experienced English-speaking trip leader;
Airport/railway station pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals listed in the itinerary ( 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches );
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Urumqi (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Urumqi from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availibility and cost with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
China Entry visa fees;

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!