Day 1 - Arrival in Urumqi

Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you at the airport. Transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free fo you to get a first look at Urumqi.

Hotel: 3* hotel

Day 2 - Urumqi - Turpan (B)

This morning meet your fellow travelers and driver who will bring you to Turpan (~2hours). Start your visit of Turpan by the irriation system which is one of the three masterpiece of ancient Chinese engineering with an history of more than 2000years. After lunch, visit Jiaohe ancient city, the world biggest mud town. Numerous religious relics have been discovered in this town like buddism manuscripts. End your day with the visit of the Emin minaret built in 1777.

Hotel: 3* hotel

Day 3 - Turpan (B)

After breakfast, visit Gaochang ancient city, a bigger and better preserved version of Jiaohe. Then you will visit the Astana tombs where numerous mummies were exhumed. After lunch stop at the Tuyuk village, a peaceful village. Finish your visits with a view on the Flaming mountains who's name comes from their red color. Then end to the train station to take your night train to Kashgar.

Hotel: Night in the train

Day 4 - Kashgar

This morning pick up at the train station then check in at your hotel (rooms won't be available though before 2pm) and start your Kashgar visit with the Apak hoja Tomb, also know as the perfumed concubine. It is a very quiet place and a good example of the Uygur architecture. After lunch visit the Eid Kah Mosque, the biggest in China then walk in maze of the Old Kashgar. End your day in the handicraft street.

Hotel: 3* hotel

Day 5 - Kashgar - Shipton Arch (B)

Today you will have a day tour to Shipton's Arch site, a giant natural stone arch, maybe the biggest in the world (45 minutes’ walk). Go back to Kashgar in the afternoon.

Hotel: Tent (Qechua)

Day 6 - Kashgar - Taklamakan desert (B)

Today transfer to the desert of Taklamakan which is China's largest desert, situated in the middle of the largest Basin, Tarim in Xinjiang Province. This is reputed to be the world's second largest shifting-sand desert covering an area of over 33, 700 square kilometers (over 13,000 square miles). Today you will also have the opportunity to enjoy camel riding (not included). After the day tour, go back to Kashgar for the night.

Hotel: 3* hotel

Day 7 - Kashgar - Karakul Lake - Tashkurgan (B)

This morning take the beautiful Karakoram highway. On your way to Karakul Lake, stop at the Opale village, around one hour from Kashgar. We recommend you to try the pilaf rice. And head afterwards to the local market where you will buy the bread and fruits for the next days. Get back into the car and enjoy the scenery. After 30minutes you will arrive at the Red Oytagh Mountain. After a stop at the check point you will arrive at the Karakul Lake (3600 meters) located between the Gonger Mount (7719m) and the Mount Mutzgah Ata (7546m). Today is an easy walk along the lake and meadows under the watch of the Mutzagh Ata. Transfer to Tashkurgan for the night.

Hotel: Yurt (simple comfort)

Day 8 - Tashkurgan - Kashgar (B, D)

After breakfast you will visit Stone Fort, located in the center of Tashkurgan. As it is said, old more than 2000 years, it was formerly the royal residence of the Tajik kingdom. You will walk across the Tashkurgan grassland under the watchful gaze of Mt. Mutztah Ata and Mt. Pamir. Enjoy one last time the beautiful view, then head back to Kashgar. After your check in at the hotel and later enjoy altogether a farewell dinner.

Hotel: 3* hotel

Day 9 - Kashgar (B)

Free by yourselves till your driver comes to pick you up and transfer to the airport to take your flight to your next destination.