Tour Overview
This five-day private tour takes you to the far western edge of China, where the Silk Road meets the Pamir Mountains. You begin in Kashgar, a city that has been a crossroads of empires for over two thousand years. Here, the old town is not a museum but a living neighbourhood of mud-brick lanes, copper workshops, and tea houses that have served travellers for generations. With your private guide, you will visit the fragrant Apak Khoja Mausoleum, stand in the courtyard of the Id Kah Mosque, and wander through the Sunday livestock market — a spectacle of donkeys, sheep, and Uyghur traders that feels unchanged by time. The pace is unhurried, with time to sit in a century-old tea house and watch the world pass by.
On day three, you leave the city and climb into the Pamir plateau. The road to Tashkurgan is one of the most dramatic in Asia, passing the red sandstone of Oytagh, the white sands and turquoise water of Baisha Lake, and the mirror-like surface of Karakul Lake at 3,600 metres. You will stop at the Tashkurgan Stone City, a ruined fortress that once guarded the southern Silk Road, and walk on the golden grasslands of Jincaotan. The following day, you return via the twisting Panlong Ancient Road and the deep blue of Bandir Lake, a route that offers some of the finest mountain photography in Xinjiang.
Throughout the journey, you travel in a comfortable private vehicle with a driver and an English-speaking guide. Accommodation is in the best available hotels in Kashgar and Tashkurgan, and meals feature local Uyghur and Tajik cuisine. This tour is designed for travellers who value comfort, culture, and authentic encounters, and who are ready for a taste of high-altitude scenery without sacrificing a good night's sleep.
Accommodation
In Kashgar, you stay in a comfortable 4-star hotel in the city centre, within walking distance of the old town. In Tashkurgan, accommodation is the best available in town, a simple but clean hotel with heating and private facilities. All rooms are en-suite, and Wi-Fi is available in the lobbies, though speeds can be slow in the mountains.
Travel Notes
Best season: May to October, when the Pamir roads are clear and the weather is mild. Tashkurgan sits at 3,100 metres; Karakul Lake is 3,600 metres. Take it easy on the first day at altitude, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol. Evenings in the mountains are cold, so pack layers, a windproof jacket, and comfortable walking shoes. Photography: the light is best in the early morning and late afternoon; bring a polarising filter for the lakes. Cash is essential in markets and small shops; ATMs are scarce outside Kashgar. Internet access can be limited in Tashkurgan; download offline maps and translation apps. A small daypack is useful for the long drive days.