6 Days Classic Urumqi and Kashgar Tour of Xinjiang

Tour Overview

From breathtaking mountain scenery to rich Uyghur culture, this 6-day Urumqi and Kashgar tour in Xinjiang allows you to capture the essence of the region’s unique heritage.

Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang, is an important node on the ancient Silk Road. Here you can get an insight into Xinjiang’s history and also appreciate beautiful natural beauty like the Heavenly Lake. While Kashgar boasts deep Islamic elements, giving you a chance to explore its landmark mosque, bustling bazaar, ancient tomb, and old town.

Highlights of this tour

Cruise on the breathtaking Heavenly Lake to enjoy snowy peaks and lush trees.
Experience Southern Pasture’s grasslands, high-altitude forests, grazing herds, and ethnic traditions.
Glimpse Uyghur heritage at the Id Kah Mosque and the legendary Abakh Khoja Tomb.
Stroll through winding alleys of Kashgar Old Town to discover traditional handicrafts.
Experience the vibrant Sunday Bazaar.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Urumqi-Kashgar-Urumqi

Travel Length: 6 Days and 5 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, nature lovers, adventurers

Departure: Any day you want

Your tour – quick look

Day 1-3 Arrival, Urumqi Tour, Flight to Kashgar

Enjoy 2 full days exploring Urumqi’s best attractions: the Heavenly Lake with a leisurely cruise, Southern Pasture, a local family visit, and Xinjiang Regional Museum. After all visits, take a flight to Kashgar.

Day 4-6 Kashgar Tour, Fly Back to Urumqi, Departure

In Kashgar, visit the highlights of the old city including Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Khoja Tomb, Kashgar Old Town, and Sunny Bazaar. Then fly back to Urumqi for departure.

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Urumqi

Welcome to Urumqi for a 6-day private Xinjiang tour package! After landing at the airport, a local driver will meet you at the exit of the Arrival Hall and transfer you to the city center for check-in. For the remaining of the day, you can wander freely around the mysterious city on the Silk Road.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Day 2 Heavenly Lake Tour from Urumqi
Enjoy Beautiful Mountain & Lake Views and Local Legends

After breakfast, start your guided Urumqi tour with a 1.5-hour drive to the beautiful Heavenly Lake, located on Tianshan Mountain. In ancient fairytales, it was the fairyland where the Queen Mother of the West lived. It is the best summer resort in Xinjiang. Cruising on a boat, you can enjoy the breathtaking picturesque views of inverted reflections of snow mountains, flourishing plants and blooming flowers around the lake. After the tour, drive you back to Urumqi hotel for rest.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Day 3 Urumqi to Kashgar Tour by Flight
Appreciate Grassland Scenery, Learn Xinjiang’s History

Today, continue your Urumqi trip to Southern Pasture, which takes approximately 50 minutes by car. It was a famous hunting area during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and a famous pasture during the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). This place has received many heads of state and leaders from various countries, and enjoys a certain reputation both domestically and internationally.

Located in the heartland of Asia, Southern Pasture is characterized by its ice and snow landscapes, lush forests and grasslands, unique mountain rocks, high-altitude forest pastoral scenery, and rich ethnic minority customs. Appreciate the beautiful grassland scenery and herds of cattle and horses. The tour guide will also take you to visit a local family and learn about their living habits.

Drive back to Urumqi for a visit to Xinjiang Regional Museum. Here you will have a glimpse of Xinjiang’s history and costume by admiring the ethnic and historic artifacts and some well-preserved mummies. After the visit, take a flight to Kashgar for the night.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Kashgar

Day 4 Kashgar City Tour
Admire Islamic Architecture Including Mosque and Tomb

In the morning, your Kashgar tour takes you to the Id Kah Mosque. Founded in 1442, it is one of the largest mosques in Xinjiang.The mosque is not only an important place for Muslims to conduct religious activities, but also an important window to understand Islamic culture and Uyghur traditions in Xinjiang.

Afterward, we visit the Abakh Khoja Tomb, aka the Fragrant Concubine’s Tomb, actually a family mausoleum blending history and legend. It is named after Fragrant Concubine, a beloved concubine of Qianlong, who is buried here. The tomb is a magnificent building, incorporating traditional Uyghur architectural art, with glazed brickwork.

After the tour, drive you to the hotel for check-in.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Kashgar

Kashgar Abakh Hoja Tomb — Abakh Hoja Tomb

Day 5 Kashgar Old Town Tour, Flight Back to Urumqi
Experience the Local Life in Old Town and Bazaar

After breakfast, continue today’s tour in Kashgar to Kashgar Old Town, a great place to learn about Uyghur culture and history. The ancient city is crisscrossed with streets and alleys, and most of the dwellings are of adobe and brick structures, which are simple and elegant. It is a place where traditional Uyghur handicrafts and cuisines are gathered. You can stroll through the alleys and feel the rich ethnic flavor. If you are interested, you can walk into the Century-old Teahouse to enjoy a cup of tea (at your own expense).

Sunday Bazaar, as a place where merchants from Central and South Asia gather, has a long history and was built in the Tang Dynasty. It is a great place for shopping and savoring authentic flavors as it gathers all kinds of handicrafts and cuisines. The bazaar witnessed the prosperity of the Silk Road. After the visit, you will be transferred to take a flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival in Urumqi, met by a local driver and be transferred to your hotel.

After the visit, take a flight back to Urumqi.‌

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Kashgar old town xinjiang — Kashgar Old Town

Day 6 Departure from Urumqi

After breakfast, a local private driver will escort you to Urumqi train station or airport for your departure to next destination. Your 6-day Xinjiang trip to Urumqi and Kashgar ends here.

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?

5 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