7 Days Southern Xinjiang Group Tour
Tour Overview
Experience the integration of Silk Road history, ethnic cultures, and stunning natural landscapes of Southern Xinjiang during this 7-day small group (max. 15 travelers) tour. Journey through ancient sites like Jiaohe Ruins and Tuyugou Valley Uyghur villages, witness Karakul Lake’s scenery of an alpine world, and go inside Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar Old Town.
Experience Kumutag Desert’s “singing sands” and savor Uyghur cuisine in lively bazaars. A local expert guide enriches your trip with insights into traditions and Silk Road lore. Conclude at Heavenly Lake, where myth meets Tianshan Mountain beauty. Ideal for culturally curious explorers, this tour blends adventure, history, and intimate group camaraderie.
Highlights of this tour
- Enjoy the beauty of alpine lake mirroring snow-capped peaks at the Karakul Lake.
- Admire China’s largest mosque – Id Kah Mosque which blends Islamic architecture with Uyghur culture.
- Explore the Uyghur village life in Tuyugou Valley.
- Experience fun thrilling desert activities at the Kumutag Desert.
- Discover the Pompeii of the East, Jiaohe Ruins.
- Heavenly Lake
- Take an optional leisurely cruise on the turquoise waters cradled by Tianshan peaks.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Kashgar-Tashkurgan-Urumqi-Turpan
Travel Length: 7 Days and 6 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture & history explorers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-3 Kashgar to Tashkurgan Tour
Two full days exploration of the beautiful Karakuli Lake for free time to stroll around. On the way, also see the White Sand Lake. Arrival in Tashkurgan, be guided to visit Stone City, Golden Grass Beach, and Muztagh Ata Glacier Park.
Day 4 Kashgar Tour & Flight to Urumqi
Today you will visit the essence of Kashgar from Id Kah Mosque, to the welcome ceremony of Kashgar Old Town and the busy Sunday Livestock Bazaar. Then take a flight to Urumqi.
Day 5-7 Turpan Tour, Urumqi Departure
Drive for 3 hours to Turpan to explore the highlights including Sugong Pagoda, Tuyogou Valley, Karez Well, Kumutag Desert, and Jiaohe Ruins. Travel back to the Heavenly Lake, enjoying a peaceful boat ride amidst stunning scenery of clear waters, snow-capped mountains, and lush trees.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Kashgar Arrival
Visit the Bustling Night Market and Taste Specialty Snacks
So happy to see you on our 7-day south Xinjiang group tour! When you reach the airport, a driver native to your locality will pick you up and send you to our choice of hotel.
During the night hours, you’ll be picked up from your hotel by your tour guide and escorted to a busy night market, which is opposite to the Id Kah Mosque. From here, you can see nearly all of the foods in Xinjiang typical of those from the locality such as Hami melon, watermelon, walnuts, grilled meat skewers, lamb-stuffed intestines, grilled buns, yogurt shaved ice, and grilled fish.
Note: you are advised to arrive at Kashgar around 2 pm, 4 pm, or 6 pm for fixed pick-up.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 2 Drive from Kashgar to Tashkurgan
Drive Towards Karakul Lake for Scenic Beauty, and Relax by Lakeside
After breakfast, drive along Karakoram Highway to Baisha Lake. Along the way, you can stop and visit some local villages.
Arriving at Baisha Lake, you will feast your eyes. Also known as White Sand Lake, it is surrounded by sand dunes, with dense clusters of reeds growing in the center, shores, and surrounding areas of the lake. The snow-capped peaks there are reflected on the blue-green lake surface. Keep pressing your shooting button.
Continue driving towards today’s highlight – Karakul Lake. In Kyrgyz language, its name means ‘Black Lake’. Located at the foot of the Muztagh Ata, Lake Karakul is the largest natural lake in the East Pamir Plateau, forming a triangular shape. The lakeside is lush with aquatic plants, with herds of cattle and sheep. Take a walk along the lake and record this amazing scenery with your eyes and heart.
After that, drive to Tashkurgan for the night. On the way, make a stop at Tagharma Village to visit a local Tajik family if you like.
Tip: Xinjiang travel policy changes daily. If it is impossible to organize a local Tajik family visit for travelers, our tour guide will give you a sightseeing of the exterior of Tagharma Village.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Tashkurgan
Day 3 Tashkurgan back to Kashgar
Explore History of Stone City Ruins & Muztagh Ata Glacier Park for Icebergs
Today you will visit the Stone City ruins, located on a solitary hill about 20 meters high with a history of over 2,000 years. The castle is entirely built of stones, with a total area of over 100,000 square meters. Stone City was once a necessary place for communication between the East and the West, and many historical figures have stopped here, such as the monk Faxian and Marco Polo.
Under the castle is the Golden Grass Beach. Here, water and grass are abundant, and cattle and sheep are everywhere. Together with the snow mountains, white clouds and blue sky in the distance, they form a beautiful picture.
After the visit, drive to the Muztagh Ata Glacier Park, known as the ‘father of icebergs’. Tourists can see magnificent glaciers, colorful ice towers, ice caves, as well as strange rocks, flowers, grasses, and precious wildlife.
In the late afternoon, continue driving back to Kashgar for the night.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Kashgar
Day 4 Kashgar to Urumqi by Flight
Enjoy Uyghur Dance, Visit the Livestock Bazaar
Today is a whole day of exploration in Kashgar. After breakfast, the tour guide will first take you to visit the Id Kah Mosque, a famous Islamic mosque built in 1442. It is divided into seven parts such as the main hall, scripture hall, courtyard, minaret, gate, etc. It is the largest mosque in Xinjiang. Entering the mosque, you can see many exquisite cultural relics. The guide will explain some key ones to you.
At around 10 o’clock, the welcome ceremony of Kashgar Old Town begins. Performers will wear brightly colored ethnic costumes and exquisite headwear. Appreciate traditional Uyghur dance performances, exciting instrument performances, and the Zhang Qian’s Westward Travels.
Next, enter the ancient city for a visit. Strolling among the earth yellow rammed earth buildings, feeling the clinking sound of Uyghur craftsmen striking bronze utensils and the aroma of samsa. Browse the local bazaar and discover some little souvenirs and authentic snacks.
Afterward, be transferred to visit the busy Sunday Livestock Bazaar. It is the largest live animal trading market in Central Asia, open every Sunday. You can see thousands of sheep, camels, and horses. The herdsmen wearing colored hats bargaining with gestures and coded language is very novel.
Say goodbye to Kashgar and take a plane to Urumqi.
Note: The Sunday Livestock Market in Kashgar operates only on Sundays. If your travel dates do not coincide with a Sunday, the market may remain closed. In such instances, your guide will adjust the itinerary to the Local Handicraft Market.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Urumqi
Day 5 Urumqi to Turpan by Van
Visit Uyghur Village, Enjoy Thrilling Jeep Ride or Camel Trek in Kumutag Desert
The car ride from Urumqi to Turpan requires around three hours. After lunch in the urban core, drive eastward for an additional hour to Tuyugou Valley – one of the most popular attractions in Turpan. Follow your guide to Uyghur village, tracing its origins back 1700 years ago. Remarkably, this place maintains intact Uyghur customs: daily communication in their minority language, donkey-drawn carts for transportation…
After that, continue driving to Kumutag Desert, where visitors can opt for an exhilarating jeep safari across the undulating sand dunes or experience riding a camel to enjoy the sunset (additional fees apply). On the way back to Turpan, you can see the Flaming Mountains, featuring vibrant red hues.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in Turpan
Day 6 From Turpan Back to Urumqi
Explore the Underground Irrigation Marvel and 2,000-Year-Old City
In the morning, go to explore the Karez Wells, a irrigation marvel that demonstrates ancient ingenuity in water management. Next, admire the Sugong Pagoda, 44 meters tall, the largest existing ancient pagoda in Xinjiang. It is conical in shape and covered with geometric decorations.
Before driving back to Urumqi, visit the world’s largest, oldest, and best preserved earth city, the Jiaohe Ruins. This city was founded from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century BC and reached its peak during the Southern and Northern Dynasties and Tang Dynasty.
After the visit, you will be sent to the hotel near the Heavenly Lake for the night.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: near Heavenly Lake
Day 7 Departure from Urumqi
A Scenic Stroll by the Lake or a Peaceful Boat Ride
After breakfast, pack your belongings and head to the last attraction on this 7-day Xinjiang tour – Tian Chi, aka the Heavenly Lake.
Board the shuttle bus for a 35-minute transfer to the edge of Tianchi. Upon arrival, enjoy the pristine alpine landscape when you stroll along the crystal waters and breathe in the fresh mountain air. If you want a unique perspective, you can pay on sit for a leisurely cruise. Get a close-up views of the surrounding forests and snow mountains.
Your guide will also share with you the legendary tale of the Heavenly Lake – once the bathing pool of the Queen Mother of the West.
After the sightseeing, your group tour in Xinjiang ends here. Your driver will escort you to the airport for departure. You should book a flight after 6 pm. Hope you had a great time with us! Safe travels!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
8 Days Xinjiang Urumqi Korla Kuqa Aksu Kashgar TourUrumqi – Korla – Kuqa – Aksu – Kashgar – Urumqi
