Itinerary
- Day 1
Kashgar
You'll arrive in Kashgar and get picked up from the airport, then head to your hotel. If your flight gets in early, there's time to walk around the city or just rest up before things get going tomorrow.
- Start point
- Kashi Diqu, Xinjiang, China (Kashgar airport, 08:00 - 22:00)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Green Oriental Hotel (Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area))
- Day 2
Kashgar to Karakul Lake to Tashkurgan
A 4-hour drive takes you to Karakul Lake sitting at 3,600 meters, where Muztagata mountain with its snow-capped peaks dominates the landscape. Along the way you'll stop at White Sand Lake and see yurts dotting the grassland. From there it's on to Tashkurgan near the China-Pakistan border.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Gemei Hotel (Tashkurgan China-Pakistan Friendship Road Branch))
Included Activities
- Visit Karakul Lake
- Stop at White Sand Lake
- View yurts on the grassland
Landmarks Karakul Lake Muztagata White Sand Lake 
- Day 3
Tashkurgan to Kashgar
Start the morning checking out the small town of Tashkurgan, then head to Stone City with its 2,000-year-old ruins that still show their original architectural details. You get nice views of the grassland around it before driving back to Kashgar for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Green Oriental Hotel (Kashgar Ancient City Scenic Area))
Included Activities
- Explore Tashkurgan town
- Visit Stone City (2,000-year-old ruin)
Landmarks Stone City - Day 4
Kashgar to Urumqi
Pack a lot in today with a local guide around Kashgar. See the Apa Hoja Mausoleum and its blue tile work, wander through the Old Town checking out shops and handicraft streets while tasting local snacks, then visit Id Ghar Mosque (the largest in Xinjiang). Lunch is authentic Uyghur food at a local house. If it's Sunday, the Animal Bazaar is also on the agenda. Wrap up with a flight to Urumqi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau at a local Uyghur's house)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Joyce Coffetel), Hotel (Atour Hotel Urumqi Minzhu Road)
Included Activities
- Visit Apa Hoja Mausoleum (built 1640)
- Explore Kashgar Old Town
- Visit Handicraft Street
- Visit Id Ghar Mosque (non-praying times)
- Authentic Uyghur lunch at local house
- Optional: Visit Animal Bazaar (Sundays only)
Optional Activities
- Taste local snacks (Nang Bread, grilled eggs, dried fruits)
- Visit Animal Bazaar (opens Sundays only, relocated near Kashgar Airport)
Landmarks Apa Hoja Mausoleum Kashgar Old Town Id Ghar Mosque Animal Bazaar 
- Day 5
Urumqi
A 1-hour drive gets you to Heavenly Lake in the Tianshan Mountains, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The water reflects the snow-capped peaks around it, and you'll see white Kazak yurts scattered on the hillsides. After exploring you head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Atour Hotel Urumqi Minzhu Road)
Included Activities
- Visit Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)
Landmarks Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) - Day 6
Urumqi to Turpan
Drive 3 hours to Turpan, a historic Silk Road city. Check out the Ancient City of Jiaohe, a massive ruin built on a terrace between two rivers. See the Karez Irrigation System that keeps water flowing to this dry area, the Emin Minaret built back in 1777, and the Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves in the Flaming Mountain valley. Grab traditional Uyghur lunch during the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Uyghur lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (James Joyce Coffetel), Hotel (Metropolo Jin Jiang Hotels Turpan)
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient City of Jiaohe
- Visit Karez Irrigation System
- View Emin Minaret
- Visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Landmarks Ancient City of Jiaohe Karez Irrigation System Emin Minaret Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves Flaming Mountain 
- Day 7
Turpan to Liuyuan to Dunhuang
Take a 3.5-hour bullet train from Turpan to Liuyuan, then a 2-hour drive to Dunhuang. Spend the afternoon walking through Minsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes) and seeing the crescent spring tucked in the dunes. Later in the evening you can explore the Dunhuang night market or catch a performance based on the Mogao Caves.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dunhuang Zhongzhou International Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Minsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes)
- View Crescent Spring
Optional Activities
- Explore Dunhuang night market
- Watch performance copied from Mogao Caves
Landmarks Minsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes) Crescent Spring 
- Day 8
Dunhuang to Jiayuguan
Head to Mogao Caves, the major Silk Road site with history going back to the 4th century. Look at the colorful frescoes and statues showing Buddhist stories. After lunch there's a 5-hour drive to Jiayuguan through the western Hexi Corridor, passing through Gobi Desert, oasis towns, and near the snow-capped Qilian Mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Jiayuguan Kaitong Building)
Included Activities
- Visit Mogao Caves
Landmarks Mogao Caves - Day 9
Jiayuguan to Zhangye
See Jiayuguan Fortress, which marks the western end of the Great Wall and sits in the narrowest section of the Hexi Corridor between two mountains. Climb the Overhanging Great Wall for good mountain views. Then visit the Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery to see brick paintings still bright with color. A 2.5-hour drive takes you to Zhangye after that.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zhangye Jiancheng Holiday Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Jiayuguan Fortress
- Climb Overhanging Great Wall
- Visit Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery
Landmarks Jiayuguan Fortress Overhanging Great Wall Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery 
- Day 10
Zhangye
Walk through Matisi Monastery to see the Tibetan Buddhism site. Then drive 1 hour to Zhangye Danxia and see the Rainbow Mountains, which feature impressive red, yellow, white, and black clay formations and are popular along the Silk Road route. Get back to your hotel in Zhangye by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Zhangye Jiancheng Holiday Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Matisi Monastery
- Visit Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains)
Landmarks Matisi Monastery Zhangye Danxia 
- Day 11
Zhangye to Lanzhou
Take a 3-hour bullet train from Zhangye to Lanzhou, the Gansu Province capital built along the Yellow River. Spend time exploring this historic Silk Road city, checking the Gansu Provincial Museum if tickets are available, seeing the Zhangshan Iron Bridge, walking through Water Wheel Park, and climbing to White Pagoda Hill.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel ( Mercure Hotel, South Tianshui Road)
Included Activities
- Visit Zhangshan Iron Bridge
- Visit Water Wheel Park
- Visit White Pagoda Hill
Optional Activities
- Visit Gansu Provincial Museum (if tickets available)
Landmarks Gansu Provincial Museum Zhangshan Iron Bridge Water Wheel Park White Pagoda Hill - Day 12
Lanzhou
Say goodbye to Lanzhou and get a ride to the airport for your departure flight based on your flight time. The tour ends here.
- End point
- Lanzhou Shi, Gansu, China (Lanzhou Airport, 08:00 - 22:00)
- Meals
- Breakfast
