20 Days Grand Xinjiang to Lhasa Adventure

Welcome to Kashgar, which means "green glasshouse" or "jade city". The city has played a crucial role in the history of Xinjiang, facilitating the exchange of Eastern and Western cultures. It is a stunning land teeming with adventure, wildlife, magnificent scenery, and a rich culture. You will be transferred to the hotel for some rest.

Today, we will be going on a full-day excursion in Kashgar city. At around 09:00, we will visit the Idigar Mosque, which is the largest mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practice their Islamic activities. We will also explore the Old Town to experience the special culture and lifestyle, and we'll arrange a visit to a local Uighur Family. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. The Kashgar city tour will end with a visit to the bustling Handicraft street, where we can see dazzling jewelry, primitive pottery, unique musical instruments, and the daily resources of the locals.

In the morning, enjoy a buffet breakfast. Your guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby to start the adventure. Then, driving on the China-Pakistan Highway, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Pamirs Plateau – a large plateau of the Pamirs Mountains, with altitudes ranging from 2500m to 3500m and mountain peaks as high as 7000m along the way. You can also see the magnificent Oytag Glacier Park.

Today, we will explore the Sunday bazaar, which is divided into two sections. The covered bazaar sells clothing, nuts, household goods, and many other items. The outdoor Animal Bazaar is the first place we'll visit, where farmers and buyers arrive by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike, or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively, and cheerful as they arrive. It's quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargaining. After that, we'll take a morning flight from Kashgar to Aksu. After lunch, we'll explore the Kuqa Old Town, say hello to the kids playing, give a smile to the senior man resting under the tree, and taste the local cuisine. Kuqa Old Town will create an unforgettable memory for us.

Today, our first stop in Kuqa will be the Kizil Grottoes. It is one of the four grottoes in China and the oldest one. Many architectures and murals are well preserved here, and you will learn more about the culture and history of Buddhism and the ancient Qiuci Kingdom. After the visit, you will have lunch and then begin the tour from the Tianshan Great Canyon, which is an excellent geological park known worldwide. It records the entire process of crustal movement in Xinjiang over the past 400 million years.

Today, we will explore the Duku highway and drive about 3 hours into the depths of the Tianshan mountain to reach the Wild Dragon Lake. Afterward, we will head back to Kuqa to visit the Kuqa Grand Mosque and Kuqa Palace, where you can get a sense of the local way of life. You will also have the chance to appreciate the unique architectural style of South Xinjiang.

Morning flight to Yining and then drive to Naraty Grassland

Today we visit the Narati grassland, which is a subalpine meadow plant area of one of the four steppes in the world. It has been a famous pasture since ancient times. With the combination of beautiful grassland scenery and local Kazakh folk customs, it has become a famous tourist resort in Xinjiang.

Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel, and then we will head to the next destination, Tekes, which is about 3 to 4 hours away by driving. There, you will see the Kalajun Prairie, which is as beautiful as a poem or a picture. The prairie is densely distributed with springs and is an ideal place for people of the pasture to exchange materials and hold cultural activities from May to September every year. Kalajun means "a dark wilderness" in Kazak, and the area has been home to generations of people living a simple nomadic life. The traditional lifestyle exudes a unique charm. After the visit, you will spend the night in this beautiful town.

In the morning, we will drive to the beautiful Qiongkushitai. It was designated as a famous historical and cultural village in China on December 13, 2010. Qiongkushitai Village is located 90 kilometers away from the county seat. It is an animal husbandry village with more than 300 households and over 1700 residents, mainly Kazakh. The village is surrounded by mountains, and the houses are built according to the water source. Both drinking water and domestic water for people and livestock come from the Kurdai River, which has a wide valley and flows throughout the year.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Yili to enjoy its beauty and have dinner at local Uighur restaurants in Kazanqi Village.

We will visit Sayram Lake, the highest, largest, and most beautiful alpine lake in Xinjiang, which is also the last place visited by the warm and humid airflow in the Atlantic Ocean, so there is a saying that "the last tear in the Atlantic Ocean". We will drive around the lake and climb to the top of the view platform to enjoy the bird-view of Guozigou Valley and Bridge. Afterward, we will drive to Shihezi.

We will start the trip with a 2-3 hour drive to Turpan, passing by the wind power station, which is the largest one in Asia, spreading at the foot of Tianshan Mountain. We will also catch a glimpse of Salt Lake in Dabancheng. In Turpan, we'll be amazed by the historical sites and oasis landscape. Then, we will drive to enjoy the scenery of Jiaohe Ruins. These ruins, with a history of 2,300 years, lie 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 and was included in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. Next, we will head to the Karez Well, a special kind of irrigation system. Here, you can not only visit this ancient irrigation system but also escape the summer heat. Lastly, we will explore the Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China, built-in 1778.

Enjoy breakfast and start the trip by driving to Aksu. Our first visit will be to the oldest Uighur village, Tuyoq Village, located in the heart of Flaming Mountain Canyon. This village used to be a holy site for both Buddhism and Islam. It consists of four main parts: Canyon scenery, Thousand Buddha Caves, Maza tomb, and the old buildings of the ancient village.

Afterward, we will drive to Shanshan to explore the Kumutag Desert. Along the way, you can't miss the Dabancheng Wind Power Station, where rows of wind fans create a magnificent sight. After driving for 2-3 hours and getting close to the desert, you might be shocked to see that the Shanshan County desert remains unburied by sand. Thousands of miles of yellow, shifting dunes undulate like flying dragons. It is recommended to take a camel ride to experience the same journey that the old caravans took along the Silk Road.

In the morning, depart from the hotel and take the fast train to Urumqi. From there, head to Heavenly Lake and enjoy a picturesque tour of the lake, approximately 2000m in the Tianshan mountain range. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, blooming wildflowers, and evergreen pine trees. A 40-minute scenic shuttle bus ride takes you through the dramatic mountains. Once there, you can walk to the lakeside in 10 minutes or take the electronic cart. 

There are three suggested options for activities: take a boating cruise to enjoy the incredible view of Tianshan Mountain, go trekking along the lake in the fresh air, or explore further up to Maya Mountain by taking the cable car to enjoy the magnificent view of the mountains. 

In the afternoon, return to Urumqi and have dinner at the night market of International Bazaar.

In the morning, you will depart from the hotel and catch a flight from Urumqi to Lhasa. Upon arrival in Lhasa, your travel experience will begin with a welcome meeting at Lhasa airport. After checking in at the hotel, the rest of your time is free for you to explore Lhasa, a city with a long history and colorful culture. There are many historical sites worth visiting.

Today you'll visit the Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Situated at 12,139 feet above sea level, this 13-story building contains over 1,000 rooms, various statues, stupas, murals, and artifacts.

Next, we will visit the Jokhang Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site and a spiritual center for Buddhists in Tibet. Adjacent to the temple is Bakhor Street, which is filled with pilgrims and street vendors. Here, traditional Tibetan items such as prayer wheels and jewelry are sold.

Today, we will experience the local Tibetan lifestyle. After driving for about 1 hour, we will arrive at the original nomad village: Akdunba Farmland. Here, you can experience their daily life and even take part in activities such as milking, making tea, and making butter. You will also have the opportunity to dress in traditional Tibetan clothes and ride yaks. Afterward, we will have lunch in a local home and participate in Guozhuang Dancing with the locals. We will then return to Lhasa in the evening after a full day of experiencing the nomadic lifestyle of the local Tibetan people.

Drive from Lhasa to Gyantse and admire the Gampala pass (4790 m) on the way. Get a glimpse of Yamdrok-Tso (4400m), which is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains. You will have the chance to visit the wild Glacier, which few people can access. If interested, you may take a short walk. Then continue to drive west towards Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet.

Drive to Lhatse where tourists can take lunch. Then drive to Shegar. If the weather is clear enough, tourists can view Mt. Everest in the distance on the way back down. After 4 to 6 hours, arrive at Rongbuk Monastery, but on the way there, clients will pass Pang la Pass, one of the highest passes in Tibet at 5050m. From that pass, enjoy a view of all of the five highest peaks in the world. 

In the morning, you can see the sunrise of Everest Peak if weather permits at the lodging area. Then we will visit the Rongbuk Monastery - the unique highest monastery with nuns and monks living together. Finally, we will drive back to Shigatse.

Today, explore the Tashilunpo monastery of Gelug Sect, the seat of the Panchen Lama, built-in 1447. The monastery houses a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha - the biggest gilded statue of Maitreya (Buddha of the future) in the world and a tomb of all the Panchen Lama, containing jewels and gold. In the afternoon, you will drive back to Lhasa, which will take around 6 hours.

Transfer clients to the airport or train station.