23 Days Xinjiang Panorama Tour

After breakfast, drive about 700km to Burqin. It will take 8-10 hours. En route, visit Multi-colored Bay, a typical Yardan landform, which is famous for its imposing views and and natural treasures.

After breakfast at hotel, head to Kanas Lake. Take 1-hour shuttle bus around the lake area.

After the shuttle bus tour, hiking along the kanas River and take a boat if you like(optional). Or visit watch tower to see the whole view of the Kanas Lake area, which takes around 3-4 hours.

Drive to Hemu village after breakfast. Located at the south bank of the Kanas Lake, Hemu village is the gathering of local Tuwa people. Hemu is a rather primitive village, with all wooden houses here. The most famous is the amazing scenery in autumn.

Morning, drive along the Gurbantunggut Desert to the Urho Ghost City. The strange shapes of the various strange landscapes were created by strong wind and erosion. Then drive to Karamay city.

After breakfast, drive to enjoy Sarym Lake and overnight in local Mongolian Yurt. It is the biggest and highest alpine lake in Xinjiang, a sparkling pearl along Silk Road. Located in a basin area between the northern stretch of the mighty Tianshan and picturesque Yili, this lake is a fusion of spellbinding natural beauty and rich cultural legacy.

Drive to Ili and visit Hurgos border and Fruit valley. Known as the “1st scene of Ili”, the Valley is a natural storehouse of plant species with a wide range of fruits and herbs growing wild.

Drive along the way to visit Naraty Grassland. Known as the Grassland in the Sky, the grassland has quiet streams, fresh air and abundant vegetation. Its landscape is covered with wild flowers, where flocks of goats, sheep and cows roam.

Morning after berakfast, drive about 3 hours to Bayinbuluk. Visit Bayinbuluk Grassland and Bayinbuluk Swan Lake Natural Reserve in the grassland. It is the second largest grassland in China, located in the Bayanbulak Basin of the Tian Shan mountains in northwest China, which is an important breeding and staging ground for birds and waterfowl, and is the highest-altitude breeding ground for swans in the world.

Today drive along the road to Kuqa. Enjoy the stunnign scenery of Tianshan Mountain.

Morning after breakfast, head to Subashi ruins. It is a large-scale temple with main temple hall, pagoda, monk’s dormitory and the residual wall. Then move on to Kuqa Mosque, the second largest mosque in Xinjiang right after the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar.

In the afternoon, visit Kuqa Old Town. It is one of those historically significant places to visit in China’s far western region of Xinjiang with its maze of narrow streets, mud brick houses, Arabic mosques and bazaar.

After breakfast, visit the Tianshan Great Canyon and Kizil Grottoes. Standing 1,600 metres high with its highest peak of 2,048 metres, Tianshan Great Canyon is made up of ranges of rufous massifs. The Kizil Caves are a set of Buddhist rock-cut caves which are said to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China occurring between the 3rd and 8th centuries.

After the visit, drive to Aksu.

Today we will drive about 7 hours to Kashgar and visit Id Kah Mosque and Handicraft street. Id Kah Mosque is one of the biggest mosque in China, built by Saqsiz Mirza in 1442 and Handcraft street is one of the most featured street in various local handicrafts in and around Kashgar Xinjiang China, full of unique and exotic goods.

After breakfast at hotel, drive on Karakorum high way to view the fantastic scenery of Karakul Lake. On the road, enjoy the scenery of the Mt. Muztag. Karakul Lake is the highest lake of the Pamir Plateau. Enjoy the crystal water, the peaks and blue sky, and also the creatures here.

Today we will visit the ruins of The Stone City and Honjirap Border.

Then head to visit Kashgar old town, a major stop along the Silk Road, where is full of Uygur style folk residences.

Today start the tour with Sunday Bazaar, the busiest part of the city, which covers a total area of 0.17 square kilometers with more than 5,000 stable stalls. Continue the tour to Abakh Hoja Tomb, the largest Islamic mausoleum of Xinjiang. It is most known as the Tomb of Xiang Fei, who is one of theimperial concubines of Emperor Qianlong.

Then head to Yarkant and visit Yarkant Old Town and Yarkant King Tombs. Yarkant King Tombs is the most attractive sight of Yarkant County. First built in 1533, its structural layout and wall decorations still remain intact in classic Uygur style which attracts multitudes of sightseers.

Visit the Karsu Desert in the morning. Then head to Khotan and visit the Atlas Silk Workshop. Atlas is the Uyghur word for silk. See this silk made in the traditional handmade process from cocoon to weaving.

After breakfast at hotel, head to visit Malikawat Ruins and Khotan Museum. Lying 25 km southwest of Hotan, majority of the Malikawat ruins are buried underground in the deep sands. Hotan Museum houses over 400 pieces of cultural relics excavated from the ancient cities of Niya, Mallikurwatur, and Yotkan.

After the tour, head to Mingfeng county.

Today drive about 8-9 hours to Korler. Enjoy the scenery along the way, especially the 2nd largest shifting desert in the world – Taklamakan Desert. Visit Diversifolious poplars Park on the way.

Today drive a long way to Turpan. Visit Iron Gate Pass, about 8 kilometers from the city center. Also called Tianmen Pass, the Iron Gate Pass connects the Yanqi Basin and Tarim Basin in central Xinjiang, which got the name ‘Iron Gate’ for its solid and firm just like an iron gate.

Then head to appreciate Bosten Lake, the largest lake in Xinjiang and one of the largest inland freshwater lakes in China.

Today we will visit Gaochang Ancient City, 46 kilometers southeast of Turpan. Built on the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert and to the south of the Flaming Mountains, its old palace and city ruins can be seen today as they’ve been well-preserved.

Then continue the trip to Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, a complex of Buddhist cave grottos. Move on to Astana Graves, an underground cemetery of ancient Gaochang residents, which is considered to be one of the humblest burial sites in China.

On the way back to Turpan, pass the Flaming Mountain and enjoy the flame-like landscape.

After breakfast at hotel, head to visit Jiaohe Ruins. It is a natural fortress located atop a steep cliff on a leaf-shaped plateau between two deep river valleys. Then move on to Karez Well System. Located in the Turpan Depression, it is a vertical tunnel system adapted by the Turpan people.

After that, continue the tour to Sugong Minaret. At 44 meters high, it is the tallest minaret in China.

After the tour, drive back to Urumqi.

Be transferred to the airport for your flight to next destination. Service ends.