12 Days Exotic South Xinjiang Adventure tour

Detailed Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive at Urumqi (No meals)

  Take your flight from home to Urumqi airport. Start your wonderful adventure to China from the most important part of ancient Silk Road. Be transferred to hotel and have a good rest in our well selective hotel.

  Recommended Hotel:  Excemon Xinjiang Yilite Hotel ****

• Day 2:  Urumqi - Turpan (Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight: Tuyugou Village and Jiaohe Ancient City

  Today, you will be transferred to Turpan (2.5 hours). On the way to Turpan, you will visit Tuyugou Village in the late afternoon and experience the traditional lifestyle of the Uyghurs. Then the Ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City that is an underground city where you can stroll over.

  Recommended Hotel: Ji Hotel ****

  
  

• Day 3:  Turpan - Korla(Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight: Emin Minaret and Karez Well

  Visit Emin Minaret in the morning. A beautiful shadow is cast across the walls in the morning sunlight. Then you will go to explore the Karez Well System and discover the wisdom behind Turpan's ancient irrigation system and water supply by Uyghur people. After all, you will be transferred to Korla in the afternoon(5.5 hours).

  Recommended Hotel: Local Best

  
  

• Day 4:  Korla - Kuqa(Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight: Ruins of Subashi Ancient Temple and Kizilgaha Beacon Tower

  Go further to the southern Xinjiang from Korla to Kuqa. Kuqa is one of the most famous Buddhist centers along the Silk Road that ran along the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert . Visit the Ruins of Subashi Ancient Temple in the gravel desert - a representative Buddhist relic of the ancient Qiuci Kingdom. As part of China's ancient Great Wall defense system, Kizilgaha Beacon Tower played a vital role in safeguarding the passage of the Silk Road, and improving stability and development in the Western Regions. You will see a perfect combination of nature and handmade buildings. Stay overnight at Kuqa.

  Recommended Hotel: Local Best

  
  

• Day 5:  Kuqa(Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight: Great Grottoes and Grand Canyon

  Continue driving along the edge of the desert. Proceed to Kizil Thousand Buddha Cave(Great Grottoes), 70km from Kucha downtown. Kizil Caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art in Central Asia. It is not only popular among the regular tourists but also artists and researchers.  Then explore Tianshan Grand Canyon, which is the excellent geological park all over the world. The red sandstone mountains are a magic of wind and water erosion. You will feel the primitive, wild, and desolate temperament of Xinjiang.

  Recommended Hotel: Local best

  
  

• Day 6  Kuqa - Alear City (Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight: The Grand Mosque

  Enjoy the beauties of Kuqa Grand Mosque which is the combination of traditional Chinese culture and Islamic culture. Then visit the Kuqa Royal Palace that exhibits with some historical artifacts and displays related to the Uyghur rulers. Move your way on to Alear City in the afternoon. You would appreciate the Tarim River along the way, which is the longeast inland river in China.

  Recommended Hotel:Local best

  
  

• Day 7  Alear City to Khotan (Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight:  Driving across the Taklimakan Desert

  Today you will set off from Alaer to Hotan along the Desert Highway across the "Sea of the Death" — the Taklimakan Desert. On the way, we can see not only the desert but China’s longest inland river—Tarim River, and the famous Divers Leaved Poplar Forest (Huyang Lin) as well. Wheatgrass squares (China's secret for fixing the sands and reversing desertification) along the road display dividends from the wisdom and hard work of Chinese people.

  Recommended Hotel:Local best

  
  

• Day 8   Khotan (Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight:  Khotan Museum and Yuetegan Ancient City

  Have a city tour to Khotan Museum and Yuetegan Ancient City. The Khotan Museum offers a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the Khotan region. Besides wooden tablets, the main exhibition Khotan Historical Relics Exhibition displays potteries, wooden wares, textiles, sculptures and building components from ancient sites and tombs in Khotan area, totaling over 200 specimens. Later, you will visit Yuetegan Ancient City. It is a charming town steeped in history and culture. The town comes alive at night with a spectacular performance that runs from 8 PM to midnight. You should not miss the night town and show as well.

  Recommended Hotel:Local best

• Day 9   Khotan- Kashgar (Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight: Mausoleum of a Yarkant Princess

  Drive from Khotan to Kashgar via Yarkant County( 6 hours). You will visit the mausoleum of a Yarkant princess, Amani Shah Khan, in the halfway. This city forms an oasis at the western end of the Taklimakan desert as a trade center. The soft white of the building and its light blue and light green features might create an image of a gentle and beautiful lady in your mind.  Arrive at Kashgar and check in your hotel. Relax yourself from the long driving.

  Recommended Hotel:Local best

• Day 10   Kashgar (Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight: Id Kah Mosque and Handicrafts Street

  As the westernmost corner of China, Kashgar has been the last important exchange center in China for more than two millennia. To experience the western Asia culture, you will pay a visit to the Id Kah Mosque and the Handicrafts Street, which has an amazing range of local handicrafts, including copper, metal, porcelain, woodwork, and other types of goods.

  Recommended Hotel: Luxemon Qinibagh Hotel ****

  
  

• Day 11   Kashgar (Breakfast/Lunch)

  Highlight: Karakul Lake

  Drive to Kashgar’s nearby attraction- Karakul Lake a less famous but sparkling glacial lake today  (3 hours). You will enjoy the seldom-seen scenery along the China-Pakistan Highway and snow-capped Muztag Ata and other very tall mountains. You will gain many amazing photos after this day tour.

  Recommended Hotel: Luxemon Qinibagh Hotel ****

  
  

• Day 12: Depart from Kashgar (Breakfast)

  Be transferred to Kashgar airport to take a flight home. Your China tour will end soon but your memory of China will last for days.