This tour will allow you to travel in the footsteps of one of the most famous travelers ever, Marco Polo. Turpan and Kashgar's vibrant oasis life will mesmerize your senses with their Middle Eastern atmosphere and colorful bazaars. Then explore the Karakuri lake fed by century-old glaciers and sits at the base of MuztaghAta. The trip out here from Kashgar takes travelers 200km through treeless sand dunes, past grazing camels and yaks until suddenly this dramatic and spectacular lake appears by the roadside, as if from nowhere.

About Xinjiang



Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Regions. It has served and is still serving as a main entry for those crossing into Central Asia. Today it becomes a lively metropolis with an urban population of 1.08 million (You will see Carrefour Shopping Mall). The main attraction now for Xinjiang is the exhibits of mummies and other artifacts of Uigur ethnic culture and treasures from Silk Road in Xinjiang Regional Museum. The Id Kah Mosque is the largest in mosque in China. It attracts more than 10,000 worshippers for Friday prayers.

Turpan, Xinjiang Province, is a city known for its grape and melon harvest and Uigur people good at songs & dance. The Turpan Basin lies 154 meters (505 ft) below sea level in the second largest depression in the world. But karez, an ancient irrigation system made this part of desert region fertile land for grapes, melons and cotton. (It is one of the hottest regions in China, so don't visit it during summer until the end of August). Tuyu Gully is a magical place at the foot of Flaming Mountain near Turpan. With great geographical and ecological contrasts, it is home to several ancient cultures, Buddhism and Islam, and is also home to the first Chinese who practiced Islam. Close to it you will find Keraz Well, an ancient Han irrigation project.

Jiaohe (Yarkhoto) Ancient City near Turpan, sits on a 30-meter cliff of plateau surrounded by deep, fertile valleys and used to be a flourishing state capital at the intersection of two rivers, dating back to Han dynasty (206BC - 220AD). Today rivers are gone, but the city ruins remain: high clay city walls, watchtowers, wells, temples and shacks..

Kashgar is in the heart of Chinese Islam, owns the largest Muslim community and best market in China! Kashgar was once the key trading post bridging the East and the West. Today they sell, bargain and trade everything ranging from camels and donkeys to embroidered caps and ornate knives. Situated at the foot of the impressive Pamir mountains, The ancient oasis city still retains the exotic feel of the Silk Road era

The Lake Karakuri; Kazakh Yurts & grassland

The Lake Karakuri is a majestic glacial lake fed by century-old glaciers and sits at the base of Muztagh Ata (7,545 meters). The trip out here from Kashgar takes travelers 200km through treeless sand dunes, past grazing camels and yaks until suddenly this dramatic and spectacular lake appears by the roadside, as if from nowhere. The surface of this huge lake reflects the snow-covered peaks of Mount Muztagata, which towers in the background. Continue from the lake, you will see Kazakh yurts and grassland.

Suggested itinerary

Day 1. Fly in Urumqi and connect flight to Kashgar

• Beijing-Urumqi by air  
  Shanghai -- Urumqi by air
•  Arrive in the afternoon in Kashgar, the heart of Chinese Islam, which owns the largest Muslim community and best market in China ! 
• Walking along the bustling street of Kashgar, and get to the square and see the Id Kah Mosque, the largest in mosque in China. It attracts more than 10,000 worshippers for Friday prayers.
• Stay the night in Kashgar.

Day 2. Khalkhas People, Lake Karakuri and Snow Mount. Muztagata / a Tajikistan County

• Take Kashgar's side trip to Lake Karakuri & Snow Mount Muztagata. It will be 4 hours' drive (one way), but you wouldn't feel bored on the bus as you will stop and take pictures of the magnificent landscapes with diversified lakes, mountains, field, wildflowers and plants. We will also meet Kazaks, Tajiks as well as Tibetans, Uighurs. On enroute we drive pass the border sentry to Pakistan, where we will have our baggage and documents checked).
• Arrive at the Lake Karakuri, a majestic glacial lake fed by century-old glaciers, which sits at the base of Muztagh Ata (7,545 meters). We take some walk in the area.
• Drive to a Tajikistan county on the highland and stay overnight.

Day 3. Tajikistan highland & village / Kashgar

• Explore the "stone city" - a castle ruin and then a Tajikistan village and visit local residents on the grassland. Have lunch.
• Drive back to Kashgar in late afternoon.
• Stay another night in Kashgar.

Day 4. Kashgar (Sunday Bazaar !) /Urumqi

• Visit the famous Bazaar, massive gatherings of thousands of farmers and merchants from the far corners of the region. At this colorful and lively market, you can find some of the Silk Road's most interesting souvenirs, from hand made leather boots, to traditional musical instruments, to bags of fresh spices.
• Explore the exciting Animal Market (live cattles, sheeps, etc.), where they barter and bargain for goats, cows and donkeys. 
  (please note that this itinerary will not meet the Sunday animal market, but CCC selects another one in a village, which is also exciting and even more authentic.)
• Join in the exciting animal market, where they barter and bargain for goats, cows and donkeys.
• Dine in a local Uigur family featuring their delicacies such as their yoghurt, Kebab and fruits.
• Fly in later afternoon  to Urumqi and stay the night.

Day 5. Urumqi / Turpan

• Drive 3 hours to Turpan, a city known for its grape and melon harvest and Uigur people good at songs & dance).
  The Turpan Basin lies 154 meters (505 ft) below sea level in the second largest depression in the world. But karez, an ancient irrigation system made this part of dessert region fertile land for grapes, melons and cotton. 
• Head to Tuyu Gully, a magical place at the foot of Flaming Mountain near Turpan. With great geographical and ecological contrasts, it is home to several ancient cultures, Buddhism and Islam, and is also home to the first Chinese who practiced Islam.
• Have meal with a local Uygur family under the grape shade.
• Visit the Keraz Well, an ancient Han irrigation project.
• Stroll under the shade of fruit trees and grape vines and try their 5-6 types of grapes which are grown there.
• Tour Jiaohe (Yarkhoto) Ancient City near Turpan.
  Jiaohe City sits on a 30-meter cliff of plateau surrounded by deep, fertile valleys and used to be a flourishing state capital at the intersection of two rivers, dating back to Han dynasty (206BC - 220AD). Today rivers are gone, but the city ruins remain: high clay city walls, watchtowers, wells, temples and shacks
• .Stay overnight in Turpan.

Day 6. Turpan / Urumqi / Fly out

• Take coach back to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Regions. It has served and still serving as a main entry for those crossing into Central Asia. Today it becomes a lively metropolis with an urban population of 1.08 million (You will see Carrefour Shopping Mall).
• Visit the the main attraction now for Xinjiang is the exhibits of mummies and other artifacts of Uigur ethnic culture and treasures from Silk Road in Xinjiang Regional Museum.
• Fly out in the afternoon.
  Urumqi - Beijing
  Urumqi - Shanghai
• Please note that the flights or timing of flights mentioned in the above itinerary may change subject to ticket availability and airline scheduling. Alternative hotels of similiar standards will be used if any of the hotels mentioned in the itinerary is unable to provide enough accommodation.