16 Days Xinjiang: Kashgar, Kanas, Ili

Today you will catch the flight to Kashgar. We will meet you at the airport. Transfer to your hotel and check in. Have a good rest.

Driving on the China and Pakistan Highway. You can enjoy the magnificent Bulongkol Lake also known as Baisha Mountain (white Sand Mountain) is located in the Pamir Plateau, a large plateau in the Pamir mountain range at an altitude of about 3500 to 5000m with mountains up to more than 7000m, located next to the Karakoram Highway, so it is one of the must stop spot on the way to Karakul lake and Taxkorgan. This view shows the central part of the plateau from the southeast covering Tajikistan  in the center, Eastern China on the right and Afghanistan as well as northern Pakistan on the foreground left. 

Experience beautiful Karakul Lake where the herds of livestock around the lakeside are reflected in lake Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds before shuttling you onward to Taxkorgan. The following day will be spent exploring the stunning landscape surrounding the highway, and we will drive to Taxkrogan County for overnight stay.   

Today we will drive back to Kashgar, on the way, you will visit the Stone Fortress. The city is oval in shape and the city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 metres in circumference outside. Over the past few years, new wooden pathways have been constructed to allow tourist to walk these beautiful grasslands, known as the Golden Grassland. From here you can get even better photos of the Stone Fortress. Walking around the pastureland to see Local Tajiks customs. 

Today meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby, then we will do full day Kashgar city excursion. we will visit the Idigar Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities. around 10:30 we have to visit the Old Town when the open ceremony ready to greeting all the tourists with the culture show, further exploration to the special culture and experience the lifestyle with the arrangements of the visiting to the local Uighur Family. 

Lunch arranged in the local Restaurant. We will pay a visit to the famous Sunday bazaar that is combined two section. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination. The outdoor Animal Bazaar is the first bazaar we visit, where the farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargain. Kashgar city tour ends with the wandering to the bustling Handicraft street, dazzling jewelry, primitive pottery,unique musical instrument, daily resources of the locals.

After visiting, say goodbye to Kashgar where you must have amazing experience and you will catch the flight to Urumqi.     

This morning we will drive you to the next stop Turpan. A must and first visit is the oldest Uighur village Tuyoq Village located in the very center of Flaming Mountain Canyon. It used to be the holy site of Buddhism and Islam. The village consists of four parts: Canyon scenery, Maza tomb and the old buildings of the ancient village. And pay a visit to the Jiaohe Ruins, with a history of 2,300 years lies between two rivers on a loess plateau atop a cliff of over 30m. It is one of the best preserved ruins of its ancient era in China, it was include in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014.

Morning depart from the hotel, we will head to the Karez Well, which is special kind of irrigation system, here you can not only visit this ancient irrigation system, but also get rid of the heat of summer. Then explore the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. In the afternoon, we will drive all the way to Urumqi. enjoy a walking tour at  the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine.

Today you will enjoy the tour of the picturesque Heavenly Lake (approximately 1.5hrs), 2000m up in the Tianshan mountain range. which is surrounded by the snow mountains, blooming wildflowers, evergreen pine trees. 40-minute scenic shuttle bus ride that twists though the dramatic mountains. Then you can either walk to the lakeside in 10mins or take the electronic cart. There are 3 options suggested. Boating cruise to take the incredible view of Tianshan Mountain. Trekking along the lake in the fresh air. or you can explore further to the Maya Mountain by the cable car to enjoy the magnificent view of the Mountains. After the visiting, we will continue the journey to Beitun, Upon arrival, transfer to the downtown hotel for overnight stay. 

In the morning, enjoy your breakfast at the hotel. Then we will travel to the most beautiful Tuwa village Hemu, tranquil village, herds of cattle and sheep, warm and hospitable locals, What a beautiful and mysterious place! if you want to explore the life of Tuwa people, they will very welcome you to visit their family. 

Tips: When arrive in Hemu, we will change the shuttle bus to the village, Please  leave your luggage in the coach. Prepare a washing bag and just take your necessities.

Your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning, and then drive along the mountain road to Kanas Nature Reserve, China's only European-like ecological site that has been awarded the title of the "Pure Land of the World" due to its unspoiled natural scenery. En-route, visit Kanas Lake. Upon arrival change the shuttle bus to the inside of the Reserve to enjoy the beautiful scenery, head to the Fish Pavilion, enjoy a view of Kanas. Later afternoon back to Jiadengyu district to check into the hotel. 

Today we will head to Burqin, enjoy the scenery of Five-colored Beach, Walk into the colorful Beach, you will feel as if in a dream world. The unique lava landscape consisted of purplish red, vandyke red, yellow and light green mudstone, sandstone and gravel. this is the most beautiful colorful Beach, masterpiece of nature, and miracle of Burqin.In the evening, you can walk around the street in Burqin, enjoy your leisure time and tasty snacks. And we will spend the night in Burqin.  

Say farewell to Burqin and travel along the Gurbantunggut Desert to the Urho Ghost City, also known as Wuerhe Wind City", a unique wind-eroded geological area commonly referred to as "wind city" because of the frequent howling winds.Thereafter, we will drive to Kuitun for overnight stay.

Today we are going to the most beautiful mountain lake Sayram Lake, the another highlight of your northern Xinjiang tour, which is known as the last drop of tears of the Atlantic. Sayram Lake is a fairyland with wonderful natural scenery. its water is very clear and pure. you can stroll on the shore, enjoy the blooming wildflowers and the beautiful grassland around the lake. then driving on the spectacular Guozigou Bridge, the largest and most important bridge in Xinjiang. 

Driving from Yining to Tekes, you will start your journey from the ingenious Kalajun Prairie, which is as beautiful as in a poem or a picture. There are springs densely distributed here. Every year, from May to September. The ideal place for people of the pasture to exchange materials and hold cultural activities. Kalajun, in Kazak, means "a dark wilderness". For generations, people on the grassland have lived a simple nomadic life. The traditional lifestyle exudes a unique charm. 

Today, your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning. We‘’ll head to the famous pasture Narati Air Grassland, The famous pasture has been famous pasture land ever since the ancient times, and there are wide river valley, high mountains, the crisscrossed deep gores, the flourishing foreset and open grassland. you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and explore the Kazakh way of life. Afterwards, we will transfer you to check in your hotel. Have a good rest.

Say farewell to beautiful Naraty and back to Yining. we will go to Kazanqi Folk Village, a blue fairy tale town in the city. This village in the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains is full of colorful Uyghur dwellings. It is a Soviet style with sky blue Color-based, colorful spire houses with wood-carved windows are like walking into Chefchaouen in Morocco. Next, pay a visit to the Accordion Museum, located in Liuxing street, According to reports, the museum has a collection of more than 800 accordions from more than 20 countries, attracting many tourists to take pictures here, and even music lovers come here.

Today you will be transferred to the airport and back to your sweet home, wish you have a pleasant home journey.