12 Days Xinjiang Private Tour: Kanas Lake and Kashgar

Welcome to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and the farthest land from any ocean. It is the heaven of travelers for its beautiful natural scenery, profound cultural deposits and special local customs and practices. Upon arrival, be transferred to the hotel and check in. The rest of day is free at leisure.

After enjoying the nice buffet breakfast at the hotel, and then our professional tour guide will bring you to head to Burqin, enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way or take a short break. We will transfer you to the hotel upon arrival.

Exciting day! we will drive along the mountain road to the amazing Kanas Nature Reserve,  is one of the best places in Xinjiang where you can not only enjoy the magnificent mountains and lakes, but also visit the snow-capped icebergs. and then you will have plenty of time to trek around the well-known Three Bays (Moon Bay, Dragon Bay, Immortal Bay), enjoy the most beautiful mountain lake you have never seen. The lake takes on different colors following the four seasons of the year, sometimes it's crystal blue, sometimes it's dark green or even gray.

When we get off the shuttle bus, we can continue the shuttle bus tour to Fish Pavilion for a bird's eye view of Kanas Lake and its surrounding. or you can experience the cruise if you are interested. later afternoon we will check into the hotel. dinner and rest.

After breakfast, we’ll take the coach to Hemu village passed through some beautiful grasslands and zigzag mountain roads line up by pine trees. Upon arriving Hemu Village. Stroll along the Hemu river to the deep of the vast grassland. You can experience the particular life of Tuwa people and appreciate the original charming scenery here. It is fancy experience to stay a night in the house  built with rough timber which has a primitive taste.

After buffet breakfast in the hotel, then you will take a 4 hours ride to Burqin, enjoy the sunset 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.

After breakfast, we will back to Urumqi, travel along the Gurbantunggut Desert to the Urho Ghost City, one of the famous yardang landform in China, caused by strong howling wind and erosion. The various strange shapes formed by the wind erosion make you connect them with pagodas, temples, animals, etc.

Afterwards, we will drive back to Urumqi.

With an early start today at 08:00. Drive all the way to Oasis Turpan that we will pass by the wind power station and vast Gobi desert in 3hrs.

Our first stop Tuyoq Valley, an ancient oasis-village. We will have lunch in the local Uygur family before exploring this traditional village surrounded by the impressive grape trellis and the stories of the adventurers all of the world.

Then we make our way to Bezekilik Thousand Buddha Caves which are a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the northeast of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley. 

Today's tour end up with The Ruins of Ancient City of Gaochang, which was a political, economic and cultural center of Xinjiang in ancient times. The existing parts of it consist of three parts built in different times.

Morning head up to the Karez Well irrigation system that produce the best melons and grapes in China. Following is the visiting to Sugong Minaret, a conduit for cultural exchange between different ethnic and religious groups. 

Back to Urumqi and head to Xinjiang Regional Museum, where are many archaeological treasures of the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. You will learn about the history of Xinjiang and its peculiar ethnic customs. If time allowed, you will visit Grand International Bazaar and have dinner there.

We will drive 1.5 hours to entrance of the Heavenly Lake about 08:30, following is the 40-minutes shuttle bus twisting through the picturesque Tianshan mountains to the edge of the Lake. Either Trek around the lake, enjoy the boating cruise, or even take the cable car to the explore the Maya Mountain for the incredible view of Bogoda Peak. Lunch will be arranged in the Yurt of the local Kazakhs. 

Say goodbye to Urumqi, be transferred to take the flight to Kashgar. Upon arrival, pick up to check in the hotel.

Today we will adventure to the 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 Kashgar.

We will drive back to Kashgar in the late afternoon.

Today you will enjoy a full day excursion of Kashgar. Pay a visit to Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities at 09:00. Continue the visiting to Old Town at 10:30 with the open ceremony of Maxilap show. Come and Join the exciting movement in this well-preserved Uighur residential area.Our speciality: Relaxing in the Hundred-years Tea house,taste the local rose tea and nang-bread!

After Lunch in the local Restaurant. Continue to visit the Handicraft street, it gathered hundreds of handicraft workshops, which has become a boutique exhibition for handicraft in Kashgar and Central Asia.

Then drive to Sunday Bazaar that is combined two section. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargin.  Return to hotel for the night and have a good rest!

There are no activities planned for Kashgar today. You will be transferred to take flight based on your schedule. Look forward to your next journey China.