10 days Urumqi-Kashgar trip
[ Overall Overview ]
This 10-day in-depth journey of the Silk Road in Southern Xinjiang adopts a one-way no-turn back route from Urumqi into Urumqi and out of Kashgar. It crosses the Tianshan Mountains all the way south, crosses the Taklimakan Desert Highway, and connects Korla, Kuqa, Hotan, Kashgar and many other ancient cities in the Western Regions. , go deep into the Pamir Plateau to visit Baisha Lake, Panlong Ancient Road, Karakuri Lake and other scenic spots on the western plateau of China.
The entire journey covers diverse landforms such as deserts, canyons, Yadan, snow-capped mountains, and lakes, integrating Silk Road monuments, intangible cultural heritage, and border customs. It is a panoramic journey to enjoy the nature and humanity of southern Xinjiang.
Experience Details
Trip Duration
10 days and 9 nights
May to October Annually
Best Time to Travel
Price
Starting from 11,500 yuan/person
[ Highlights ]Itinerary Highlights Explained
Crossing the Taklimakan Desert
Ride the southern Xinjiang desert road, running through the Taklimakan Desert from north to south. Along the way, you will encounter continuous sand dunes and thousand-year-old Populus euphratica forests, feel the vastness of the "Sea of Death", and experience the shock of the straight highway extending to the sky.
A tour of the secret realm of the Pamir Plateau
Go deep into the Pamir Plateau, the roof of the world, check in the blue ice-like white sand lake, the 600-turn Panlong Ancient Road, and the Karakuri Lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains, unlock the same filming location as "Visitors on the Iceberg", and have a panoramic view of the plateau snow-capped mountains and lakes.
Tracing the culture of the ancient Silk Road city
Visit Luobu Village, Yotgan Ancient City, Kashgar Ancient City, Stone City and other Western Region sites, stroll through Restan Old Street and Yarkand Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park, watch the performance of "The Music of All Directions in Khotan", and immersively experience the cultural heritage of the Millennium Silk Road.
Western Polar landmarks and geological wonders
Hiking the Xiata Ancient Trail directly faces the Muzart Glacier, goes deep into the original snowy spruce forest in Kurdening, drives the Nalati Sky Grassland and River Valley, and immersively experiences the agility and magnificence of Ili's "Jiangnan Beyond the Great Wall".
Tour Itinerary
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Days 1-2: Various places → Urumqi (Pick-up)
Day 1｜Departure → Urumqi
Arrive in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, pick up the airport and check into the hotel to rest. You can go to the International Grand Bazaar to taste grilled buns, hand-picked rice and other specialties, stroll through Hongshan Park overlooking the panoramic view of the city, or visit the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum to learn about the history of the Silk Road and prepare for subsequent trips.
Day 2｜Urumqi → Korla (about 490km)
Set off in the early morning and go south along National Highway 314, passing by Bancheng Wind Power Station and seeing the beautiful scenery composed of windmills all over the mountain. Climb the Tianshan Mountains all the way, enjoying the scenery of the Gobi, Salt Lake and Baishui Stream Road along the way. In the evening, you will arrive in Korla, known as the "Pear City". After checking in, you can go for a walk along the Peacock River to enjoy the night view.
Days 3-5: Qiuci searched on the Silk Road in the ancient city of Khotan Desert
Day 3｜Korla → Kuqa (about 300km)
In the morning, go to the Luobu village, step into the edge of the Taklimakan Desert, watch the Tarim River meander through the thousand-year-old Populus euphratica forest, and experience the simple paradise life of the Luobu people. In the afternoon, drive west to Kuqa, the ancient city of Qiuci, stroll through Restan Old Street, and feel the fireworks of the ancient Silk Road among the mottled old buildings and specialty shops.
Day 4｜Kuqa → Aksu/Alar (about 260km)
In the morning, check in at the Internet celebrity wonder Lieyan Spring to witness the magical scene of underground natural gas spurting and burning and water and fire coexisting for thousands of years. In the afternoon, we will go deep into Wensu Tomur Grand Canyon, walk through the rugged and steep red rock walls, and climb up to overlook the unique landforms like a city of thousands of mountains. In the evening, we will arrive in Aksu/Alar to check in and rest.
Day 5 | Aksu/Alar → Hotan (approx. 445km)
Through the Taklimakan Desert Highway throughout the day, you can go deep into the hinterland of the desert along the straight avenue. Along the way, you can admire the continuous sand dunes and scattered Populus euphratica forests, and feel the vastness of the desert. Arrive in Hotan in the evening and visit the ancient city of Jotgan.
Days 6-8: The secret place of snow-capped mountains and lakes in the Kashpamir Plateau
Day 6 | Hotan → Kashgar (approx. 525km)
In the morning, we passed by Yarkand, visited the Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park, and learned about the folk customs, costumes and handicrafts of various ethnic groups in the Western Regions in the palace-style courtyard. Arrive in Kashgar in the afternoon, apply for a border pass, stroll through the ancient city of Kashgar, sip a pot of fruit tea in a century-old teahouse, listen to Uyghur playing and singing, and visit the Kashgar Night Market in the evening to taste special delicacies.
Day 7｜Kashgar → Taxkorgan (about 300km)
Climb along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway to the Pamir Plateau, check in at the Baisha Lake known as the "Pamir Blue Eyes" along the way, take photos of an atmospheric blockbuster in the Snow Willow Cave, and stroll through the Taheman Wetland Grassland. Arrive in Ta County in the evening, visit Jincao Beach and the thousand-year-old Stone City ruins, and wait for the desolation and magnificence of the castle under the sunset.
Day 8｜Tashkorgan → Kashgar (about 400km)
In the morning, challenge the Wacha Panlong Ancient Trail and unlock the ritual sense of "after all the detours, the road will be smooth from now on" in more than 600 winding mountain bends. On the return trip, we passed through Bandir Lake. In the afternoon, we visited Karakuri Lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains, overlooking the white snow of Muztag Peak. In the evening, we returned to Kashgar city to check in.
Days 9-10: Exploration of the West Pole and the end of the Silk Road come to a successful conclusion
Day 9｜Kashgar → West Pole of China → Kashgar (about 480km)
Set off to the westernmost tip of China in the early morning, enjoy the colorful Yadan landforms along the way, and witness the geological wonders of the intersection of the Tianshan Mountains and Kunlun Mountains. Passing through the Smhana border village, we arrived at the West Pole Stone Monument to check in, wait for the latest sunset in China, and return to Kashgar in the evening.
Day 10｜Kashgar → Various places (departure)
After breakfast, pack your luggage, check out according to the flight time, and be taken to Kashgar Airport by the driver. The 10-day Silk Road trip to southern Xinjiang has come to an end, bringing with it full memories of deserts, ancient cities, plateaus and snow-capped mountains, ending this in-depth journey full of Western style.
[ Trip ]
Pricing Details
What's Included
Bilingual (Chinese & English) Tour Guide
Accommodation Throughout
Breakfasts + Selected Specialty Meals
Travel Insurance + High-Altitude Insurance
Medical Oxygen
Support Vehicle
What's Not Included
Round-trip Transportation to Lhasa
Single Room Supplement
Personal Expenses
Suggested Gratuity ¥50/person/day
Self-Driving Fuel, Tolls, and Parking Fees
Vehicle rental
Attraction Entrance Tickets
[ Travel FAQs ]
Frequently Asked Questions
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It is recommended to go in spring (April, May, June) or autumn (September, October). During these periods, the weather and road conditions in Western China are generally more stable.
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Entering and exiting Tibet is very convenient. Currently, there are flights, trains, and multiple overland driving routes available.
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Currently, Tibet is open to global tourists. However, when planning your trip, you need to be aware of the relevant restrictions: for example, you must apply for a Tibet Travel Permit in advance, and must participate in a fixed itinerary arranged by a travel agency; Tibet currently does not support independent travel.
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The cost includes SUV or motorcycle rental, hotel accommodation, licensed tour guide services, first entry tickets to attractions, and all administrative permit processing fees.
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You need to prepare your passport, a driver's license valid for more than 6 months, and the registration documents for your vehicle or motorcycle. We will be responsible for assisting you with all legal procedures required for driving in China.
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Yes, we do. We will arrange pick-up and drop-off services for your arrival and departure days, covering transfers between the hotel and the airport or station.
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Yes, you can. After an in-depth discussion with our travel consultant, we will arrange a customized China road trip itinerary for you based on your specific needs.
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