Taklamkan Desert Highway Adventure

13th,April

UrumqiHeavenly Lake   (120kms, 1.5hrs driving)

Heavenly Lake

Morning arrive at Urumqi, we will meet you at the train station and transfer you to the hotel check in. Then tour at the Xinjiang regional museum to see archaeological treasures from the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. drive about 120kms (1.5hrs) to visit the Heavenly Lake which is located in the deep of the Tianshan Mountain Ranges. Later, drive back to Urumqi. Visit the Xinjiang International Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi.
Heavenly Lake,110 kilometers from Urumqi, the Heavenly Lake is a long and narrow gourd-shaped moraine lake, 3400 meters long, about 1500 meters wide, 105 meters at the deepest point, with an average depth of 40 meters, covering an area of about 5.9 square kilometers. There are eight beautiful scenic spots in the lake scenic area, they are “A Ray of Stone Gate”, “Dragon's Pool and Green Moon”, “Magic Needle for Guarding the See”, “Three Stones Bearing the Sky”, “the Snowcapped Southern Mountain”, “Pine Billows in Western Mountain”, “the Hanging Waterfall”, and the “Sea Peak's Sunrise”.
Accommodation: In Urumqi
 

14th,April

UrumqiTurpan   (200kms, 3hrs driving)

Tuyoq Valley

Today we will drive about 3hrs to Turpan, upon arrival, head to our first stop Tuyoq Valley,  This is a 12 km long primitive Uighur agricultural valley about 70 km from Turpan, with vineyards and fields in the northern and southern valleys and a narrow ravine that connects them. It is a Muslim religious pilgrimage site. Sugong Minaret, the largest Islamic minaret in China built in 1778. Karez Well, which is a special irrigation system in desert areas. And 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.
Accommodation: In Turpan
 

15th,April

TurpanKorla     (380kms, 5-6hrs driving)

Iron Gate

Morning breakfast at the hotel, drive in the deep of Tianshan Mountain, enjoy the beautiful scenery and drive to Korla, known as the "City of Pears" and the "City of Petroleum". Visit the Iron Gate upon arrival which was a very important pass in the ancient Silk Road. and then Walking along the Peacock River after dinner to feel the local’s city life style. 
Accommodation: In Korla
 

16th,April

KorlaKuqa   (350kms, 5-6hrs driving

Kuqa Bazaar

Today we will drive Kuqa and take you to visit the Kuqa Mosque, which is the second Mosque in Xinjiang. Walk around the Kuqa Bazaar.
Kuqa Bazaar: There are wonderful, offerings of dried fruit and delicacies, clothes, shoes, leather, textiles, rugs and carpets as well as scarves, souvenirs and other goods in an eclectic mix that appeals to traveler and native alike. Open on Friday, the big day when the farmers come to town, and those who still prefer to shop at the market rather than city shops.
Kuqa Mosque: It is located in the north of the old city of Kucha and covers an area of 1165 square meters. With a capacity of 3000 people, it is the second largest mosque in Xinjiang. The mosque consists of a main worshiping hall, a small worshiping hall, a minaret, a qubbah, a religious court and hostels, etc. The mosque is a representative of Uygur architectural art of the Qing Dynasty.
Accommodation: In Kuqa
 

17th,April

Kuqa

Kizil Grottoes

Morning tour at Kizil Grottoes, which is a typical representative of Qiuci Grottoes. The contents of the cave paintings are very rich, including jataka stories, Buddha’s life story and the stories about karma. The Kizil Caves complex is the largest of the ancient Buddhist cave sites that are associated with the ancient Tocharian kingdom of Kucha, as well as the largest in Xinjiang. Subashi Ruins: Located 23 kilometers northwest of Kuqa County, Xinjiang Province are the ruins of the Subashi Temple. The Ruins are divided by Kuqa River into eastern and western areas. These large area ruins reflect the temple's past brilliance. 
Accommodation: In Kuqa
 

18th,April

KuqaMinfeng  (600kms, 10 hrs driving)

Taklamakan Desert Highway

In the morning, breakfast at the hotel, then we will drive to Hotan, along the Taklamakan Desert Highway, It is the longest and earliest desert highway in the world that runs through the floating desert. It is also the center of the ancient Silk Road.
Accommodation: In Minfeng
 

19th,April

MinfengHotan  (300kms, 5-6hrs driving)

Malikawat Ruins

After breakfast, we will drive to Hotan, take you to visit Malikawat Ruins, which is located on the western bank of the Yurung-kash River, 25 kilometers to the southwest of Khotan City, with a mountain on the west and the Kunlun Mountains on the south. Later on, we are going to Hotan Museum, has a floor space for exhibition of about 200 square meters. Besides wooden tablets, the main exhibition “Khotan Historical Relics Exhibition” displays potteries, wooden wares, textiles, sculptures and building components from ancient sites and tombs in Khotan area, totaling over 200 specimens. Among them the Kharosthi and Hotanese tablets, wool fabrics and various sculptures are of distinctive Khotan feature.
Accommodation: In Hotan
 

20th,April

HotanYarkentKashgar

Yarkent King Tombs

After breakfast, we will drive to Yarkent, visit the Yarkent King Tombs, This city forms an oasis at the western end of the Taklimakan desert as a trade center. Mainly inhabited by Turkic-speaking Muslims, it has more than 120 mosques. The Uygurs are excellent at dancing. The "12 Mukams" (opera) is an epic comprising more than 340 classic songs and folk dances. After liberation, this musical treasure, which was on the verge of being lost, was collected, studied and recorded by Amannisha who is the concubine of Yarkent King.She died aged 34. then head to Kashgar for rest.
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

21st,April

Kashgar

Handicraft Street

Morning breakfast at the hotel. we’ll visit Sunday Bazaar, (livestock Market) with 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, eat breakfast, set up their animals and check out the action. the Apak Hoja Tomb, which is the holiest place in Xinjiang and an architectural treasure. Stroll around the Old Town. Visit the Idigar Mosque, It is the largest Mosque in China and most famous one in Xinjiang. Afterwards, your guide and driver will take you to visit the Handicraft street, it gathered hundreds of handicraft workshops, which has become a boutique exhibition for handicraft in Kashgar and Central Asia. 
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

22nd,April

KashgarTaxkorgan  (320kms, 6hrs driving)

Karakul Lake

Morning driving on the China and Pakistan highway to visit the Karakul Lake and enjoy the Pamir landscape. Then back to Taxkorgan for rest.
Karakul Lake is situated at an altitude of 3,600 m. It is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tien Shan and Kunlun Mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztag Ata (7 546m), Kongur Tagh (7 649m) and Kongur Tiube (7 530 m). 
Accommodation: In Taxkorgan
 

23rd,April

TaxkorganKashgar

Stone Fortress

After breakfast visit Stone Fortress,and walk around the pastureland to see Local Tajiks customs.Afternoon back to Kashgar and transfer to the hotel.
Stone fortress Located on a tableland northeast of the county seat of Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, the covers an area of 100 thousands square meters and consists of ruins of city and temple of the Tang times and government office of the Qing Dynasty. A temple occupied the eastern part of the city. In the western and southeastern parts are found ruined houses. On the ruins of the temple the Pulitin Office of the Qing Dynasty was built. The city is oval in shape. The city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 meters in circumference outside.
Accommodation: In Kashgar
 

24th,April

Kashgar

After breakfast, airport transfer based on your flight schedule.