8 Days Classic Southern Xinjiang Tour

Tour Overview

You will be led to explore three of the most classic destinations – Urumqi, Turpan, and Kashgar on this 8-day private Xinjiang tour package. From Urumqi, visit the beautiful Heavenly Lake. Then, drive for around 2.5 hours to Turpan. This is the place to explore the ancient city ruins, ingenious underground irrigation systems, and exquisite Islamic mosque.

Finally, fly to a major commercial hub on the Silk Road, Kashgar. Here, follow your tour guide to explore the rich cultural heritage in Kashgar Old Town. Throughout the Xinjiang journey, enjoy expert tour guides, authentic Xinjiang cuisine, and relatively comfortable accommodations.

Highlights of this tour

Enjoy peaceful moments with an optional cruise on the Heavenly Lake.
Explore the world’s largest earthen city – Jiaohe Ruins.
Visit Astana Tomb Group and Bizeklik Thousand Buddha Caves to learn about the history of Turpan.
Experience the local folk customs at Sunday Market.
Marvel at the ancient architectures of Abakh Hoja Tomb.
Appreciate the natural beauty of Karakuli Lake near Kashgar.
Wander through the ancient streets of Kashgar Old Town to see lively markets and rich Uyghur heritage.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Urumqi-Turpan-Kashgar-Urumqi

Travel Length: 8 Days and 7 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, families

Departure: Any day you want

Your tour – quick look

Day 1-2 Urumqi Arrival, Urumqi Tour

Arrive in Urumqi and admire the beautiful Heavenly Lake.

Day 3-4 Turpan Tour

The two-day Turpan highlights tour takes you to Karez Well, Jiaohe Ancient City and Sugong Pagoda. Also explore Astana Tomb Group, Bizeklik Thousand Buddha Caves and Flaming Mountain.

Day 5-8 Kashgar Tour, Urumqi Departure

Take a flight from Urumqi to Kashgar. Visit Sunday Market and Abakh Hoja Tomb. Spend a day in nature at Karakuri Lake. Afterwards, visit Id Kah Mosque and Kashgar Old Street to experience the local culture. Finally, depart from Urumqi.

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Urumqi

Welcome to our 8-day private southern Xinjiang tour! Upon your arrival at Urumqi airport, the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name. Then, you will be escorted to your hotel in the downtown area.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Day 2 Heavenly Lake Tour from Urumqi
Enjoy the Natural Landscapes Surrounding the Heavenly Lake

After breakfast, meet your tour guide at the hotel lobby and head to Heavenly Lake. 100 kilometers away from Urumqi, Heavenly Lake gives the impression of nobleness, elegance, and beauty. Clear lake, snow mountains, and soaring trees compose the charming scenery of the Heavenly Lake. If interested, you can take a boat trip on the lake (optional, at your own expense). Then, go back to the hotel in Urumqi.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Day 3 Urumqi to Turpan Tour
Explore the Earth City Construction and Admire an Islamic Pagoda

After hotel breakfast, you will be escorted to Turpan and visit the highlights in the city. The first stop will be Karez Well. The amazing irrigation system takes advantage of the snow-melt water from Tianshan Mountain to make Turpan an oasis in the desert.

Then, continue your Turpan tour to the ruins of Jiaohe Ancient City which existed from 2BC to 5AD. It is the largest, the oldest, and the best-preserved earth construction in the world. The last stop of today is Sugong Pagoda. It is an exquisite Islamic architecture built in the 1800s in the Qing Dynasty.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Turpan

Day 4 Turpan to Urumqi Tour
Buddhist Culture and Natural Wonders

In the morning, you will be taken to visit Astana Tomb Group. According to excavation, there are 400 independent tombs from the West Jin Period (265-316) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Then drive to visit Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, located at the foot of Flaming Mountain. Throughout the Gaochang Kingdom, the Buddha Caves were the religious center of Buddhism.

Last, go to visit the Flaming Mountain, the hottest place in China in summer. The Chinese novel Journey to West makes the mountain known to everyone. After the tour, return to your hotel in the Urumqi city area.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Xinjiang Flaming Mountain — Flaming Mountain

Day 5 Urumqi to Kashgar Tour by Flight
Witness the Bustling Livestock Market

Today, you will take the early morning flight to Kashgar. Upon your arrival, your local guide and driver will greet you at airport and start your Xinjiang tour in Kashgar at the famous Sunday Market. This place is bustling and a great place to experience the local folk customs.

Afterward, visit the Abakh Hoja Tomb, which is a 350 year old Islamic ancient architectural complex. Legend has it that this place is buried with Emperor Qianlong’s beloved concubine, Fragrant Imperial Concubine, hence its name. After the visit, check in at the local hotel.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Kashgar

Kashgar Abakh Hoja Tomb — Abakh Hoja Tomb

Day 6 Lake Karakuri Tour from Kashgar
Excursion to the Beautiful Karakuri Lake on Pamirs

Today, we will do a full-day tour to Karakuri Lake. The lake is 190 km from Kashgar and has an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by icebergs and the white cape of the iceberg reflects their images in the lake. Visitors could optionally have a rest in the yurt and try some local specialties. In the afternoon, go back to the hotel in Kashgar.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Kashgar

Day 7 Kashgar Old Town Tour, Kashgar to Urumqi Tour by Flight
Stroll the Old Town to Feel the Local People’s Life

Before flying back to Urumqi, we will visit two more highlight sites in Kashgar. The first one is Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in China. It is not only an important spot for religious activities but also an important institute to spread Islam and train religious personnel.

Then take a walk on Kashgar Old Street where you can see the traditional folk houses and local people’s real life. After the visit, take the flight back to Urumqi.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Kashgar old town xinjiang — Kashgar Old Town

Day 8 Departure from Urumqi

Our driver will meet you in the hotel at the confirmed time and then escort you to the airport for departure.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: N/A

Request a Custom Quote Today

The price varies based on the activity, number of people, date of trip, and selected hotel. Kindly get in touch with us for a precise cost according to your specifications.

What’s included?

7 nights’ accommodation in well-selected hotels;

Meals listed in the itinerary;

Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

Excellent local English-speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary;

Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary;

Second-class train tickets and economic-class flights mentioned in the itinerary;

1 bottle of mineral water per person per day;

China Travel Insurance.

What’s excluded?

Flight/train tickets to/off Urumqi;

Any optional activities inside the attractions;

Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

Single Room Supplement;

All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

What You’ll Receive at Chinasilkroadtours

At the heart of Chinasilkroadtours is the seamless service offered together by our 1-on-1 travel consultant, meticulous tour operators, expert local guides, and attentive local drivers. Our service is therefore made to be as unique as you are.

1-on-1 Travel Advisor

Your Silk Road experience starts with telling us your travel wishes and your one-on-one travel advisor designing the unique trip for you with their insider expertise.

Once we receive your request, one of our travel consultants will get back to you ASAP, typically within 24 hrs. Your travel consultant will then listen and learn about your travel style, your schedule, your budget, and your aspirations for your Silk Road travel plans. Based on this, she/he will provide you with a custom itinerary or a small group journey that suits your needs perfectly.

Plus, know your trip is taken care of by your 1-on-1 travel advisor with round-the-clock support should you need to alter your itinerary anytime.

Best Local Guides

Our locally-based guides narrate the Silk Road’s history and stories. They also provide with you insider tips, show you all the secret places, and introduce you to the locals.

Our best-selected guides are local people living in the cities along the Silk Road. During your trip, be it a private tour or a small group, they offer more than just things you can learn from the guidebooks, they try to give you a real insight into the Silk Route.

Whether you are traveling with kids or seniors, our guides are very patient and always pay close attention to every detail.

Local Drivers & Vehicles

All our Silk Road tours use well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles. Different types of vehicles, from cars to vans are selected depending on your group size and tour style. We also offer off-road vehicles for desert adventures.

Our experienced local drivers are familiar with the local road conditions of rough terrain, including desert highways and mountainous areas. They can easily navigate the roads, guaranteeing a comfortable and safe journey. Plus, they are well trained in a professional manner, being friendly and helpful.

Handpicked Hotels

Checking in and checking out the accommodations along the Silk Road every year, we hand-pick the best collection of accommodations.

The accommodations we choose include luxury, boutique, or comfortable hotels in major cities, comfortable or basic hotels in remote towns, and caravanserais and camping sites that offer a unique experience.

It’s your decision about where to stay that best suits your tastes and budget. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Silk Road Foods

We also hand-pick restaurants with a variety of local cuisines, from Uyghur cuisine to Shaanxi Cuisine, to enrich your Silk Road travel experience.

Savor authentic Northwest Chinese, Uyghur, and Central Asian cuisines with the signature dishes and snacks. From delicious mutton soups to a wide range of noodles and a taste of the local “bread” like Roujiamo and naan, enjoy an expansive menu featuring local flavors.

Please let us know if you have any dietary allergies or what foods (e.g. Western foods) you or your kids enjoy.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Our 10-day mid Oct Silk Road trip was magical. Lenna at China Silk Road Tours took us through 3 customized our itinerary. We witnessed breathtaking sights along the way, including a Lake in a desert, snow-capped mountains, unreal layer-cake hills, ancient Silk Road ruins, Buddhist grottoes, museums… We enjoy the good meals, nice hotels and comfortable transport with professcional English-speaking guides.
Traveler634605
December 2024
It was a really great Silk Road trip with varying sights and experiences. W love the beautiful alpine mountains..and enjoy the desert experience with camel riding and the full Monti. The
Food arranged was great again. We always like the travel experience, together with different regional cuisines.
Bigg Caesar
October 2024
In Thailand, I run a travel agency. When travelling to the Gansu Silk Road, always use this agency. I think Sophia is an excellent trip operator. quick to respond to messages and attentive to every detail. We are unable to plan quality travel without a competent tour operator. Sally is the best guide as well; she is incredibly knowledgable and pays close attention to every aspect. I’d want to give these two girls a big thank you.
Anothai L
October 2024
Silk Road Tours was able to deliver with both excellence and value—thank you for a wonderful trip! Sophia responded to all requests with excellent suggestions and follow-through. We are a couple of over 60 years old who are very experienced travellers. Our travel style is to find good local guides and/or tours that offer excellent guidance with good value. We were able to travel efficiently with both high speed trains and a comfortable and private car.
Travel745
September 2024
In September, Sophia organised a party of 11 of us to travel the Silk Road from Urumqi to Lanzhou. The vacation was fantastic; the hotel accommodations, the history of each area we visited, and the scenery were all thoughtfully prepared for us. Sophia, thank you!
BYTKWAN
September 2024