7-Day South Xinjiang Itinerary

Day1

Day 1: Arrival in Urumqi

Meet guide and driver at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport

Activities

Meet guide and driver at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport

Details

Your guide and driver will greet you at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport.

Day2

Day 2: Urumqi to Turpan Overland Journey

Drive to Turpan Visit Tuyuq Village Explore Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves Enjoy Uyghur family dinner

Activities

Drive to Turpan
Visit Tuyuq Village
Explore Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Enjoy Uyghur family dinner

Details

Depart after breakfast for the approximately 3-hour drive to the Turpan Depression, one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth. Explore Tuyuq Village, an ancient Uyghur village in a stunning canyon with adobe architecture and 2,600-year history. Visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, famous for murals dating back over 1,500 years. In the evening, enjoy an authentic dinner with a local Uyghur family, and join in cooking traditional dishes like polo (pilaf) or laghman (hand-pulled noodles).

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Meals

Breakfast, Dinner

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Driving Time

3 hours

Day3

Day 3: Turpan to Kashgar via Evening Flight

Visit Karez Underground Irrigation System See Emin Wang Minaret Explore Jiaohe Ancient City Take evening flight to Kashgar

Activities

Visit Karez Underground Irrigation System
See Emin Wang Minaret
Explore Jiaohe Ancient City
Take evening flight to Kashgar

Details

Visit the Karez Underground Irrigation System, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and learn about ancient water channels. See Emin Wang Minaret, Xinjiang's tallest minaret built in 1778. Explore the ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City, a 2,300-year-old Silk Road hub. Transfer to Turpan Airport for an evening flight to Kashgar, then transfer to your hotel.

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Meals

Breakfast

Day4

Day 4: Full-Day Kashgar City Tour

Visit Sunday Livestock Market Walk through Old City Visit Id Kah Mosque Experience Ancient Tea House Explore specialty bazaars Visit Apak Hoja Tomb Enjoy Hanbaza Night Market

Activities

Visit Sunday Livestock Market
Walk through Old City
Visit Id Kah Mosque
Experience Ancient Tea House
Explore specialty bazaars
Visit Apak Hoja Tomb
Enjoy Hanbaza Night Market

Details

Start at the famous Sunday Bazaar, a vibrant open-air market. Wander through Kashgar's Old Town, visit Id Kah Mosque (largest in China), step into a traditional tea house, and explore specialty bazaars (hat, spice, tea markets). Visit Apak Hoja Tomb, an architectural gem with turquoise tiles. In the evening, enjoy the lively Hanbaza Night Market for local street food.

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Meals

Breakfast

Day5

Day 5: Karakoram Highway to Tashkorgan

Drive along Karakoram Highway Stop at Opla Village & Oytagh Red Mountain Visit Baisha Lake See Karakul Lake Photo stop at Tahgarma Wetland

Activities

Drive along Karakoram Highway
Stop at Opla Village & Oytagh Red Mountain
Visit Baisha Lake
See Karakul Lake
Photo stop at Tahgarma Wetland

Details

Embark on a spectacular drive along the Karakoram Highway into the Pamir Plateau. Stop at scenic viewpoints including Oytagh Red Mountain, Baisha Lake with white sand dunes, and Karakul Lake at 3,600 meters with views of Muztagh Ata and Kongur Tagh. Continue to Tahgarma Wetland for golden hour photos. Arrive in Tashkorgan for the night.

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Meals

Breakfast

Day6

Day 6: Tashkorgan to Kashgar Return

Visit Stone Fort Explore Golden Grassland See Bandir Blue Lake Drive Panlong Ancient Road Return to Kashgar

Activities

Visit Stone Fort
Explore Golden Grassland
See Bandir Blue Lake
Drive Panlong Ancient Road
Return to Kashgar

Details

Visit the ancient Stone Fort (Tashkurgan), a 2,000-year-old Silk Road stronghold. Explore the Golden Grassland wetlands at its foot. Drive to Bandir Blue Lake, known for its vivid blue color. Experience the Panlong Ancient Road with over 600 hairpin turns. Retrace the Karakoram Highway back to Kashgar, checking into your hotel upon arrival.

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Meals

Breakfast

Day7

Day 7: Kashgar Departure

Airport transfer

Activities

Airport transfer

Details

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel. At the scheduled time, your guide will transfer you to Kashgar Airport for your departure flight, concluding your journey through Xinjiang.

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Meals

Breakfast