8 Days Xinjiang Urumqi Korla Kuqa Aksu Kashgar Tour

Tour Overview

Follow your expert local tour guides to discover the diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Xinjiang on this 8-day Xinjiang tour package through Urumqi, Korla, Kuqa, Aksu, and Kashgar.

From the blue waters of Bosten Lake to the golden Populus euphratica forests and the ancient murals of Kizil Thousand Buddha Grottoes, each stop provides you with unique wonders. Also, immerse yourself in strolling around Kashgar Old Town and marvel at the alpine beauty of Karakuri Lake.

Highlights of this tour

Visit China’s largest inland freshwater lake – Bosten Lake.
Capture the stunning seasonal colors of the world’s largest Populus euphratica forest.
Uncover ancient Buddhist art at the Kizil Thousand Buddha Grottoes.
Appreciate the landscapes of Tianshan Grand Canyon.
Stroll by Karakuri Lake to enjoy the alpine scenery.
Choose to rest in the yurt and taste some local specialties.
Admire Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in Xinjiang.
Explore the Kashgar Old Town to find local people’s real life.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Korla-Kuqa-Aksu-Kashgar-Urumqi

Travel Length: 8 Days and 7 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture lovers, adventurers, nature lovers

Departure: Any day you want

Your tour – quick look

Day 1-2 Arrival, Korla Tour

Upon arrival in Urumqi, take a good rest and then drive to Korla with a stop at the Bosten Lake, the largest inland fresh water lake in China.

Day 3-4 Kuqa to Aksu Tour

Travel to Kuqa and on the way visit one of the largest original Populus euphratica forests in the world – Diversifolious Poplar Forest Scenic Park in Luntai. In Kuqa, go to admire Kizil Thousand Buddha Grottoes and the grand Tianshan Grand Canyon.

Day 5-8 Kashgar Tour, Flight to Urumqi, Departure

Drive for about 7 hours to Kashgar from Aksu. Enjoy a full-day tour to Kalakuri Lake, and then explore the highlights of Kashgar including Id Kah Mosque and Kashgar Old Town. After all visits, take a flight back to Urumqi for departure.

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Urumqi

Our driver will wait for you at the airport terminal exit by holding a welcome sign with your name on it. Then you will be driven to a downtown hotel and have a good rest. The rest of the day is free at your disposal.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Day 2 Urumqi to Korla Tour
Visit the Largest Inland Fresh Water Lake

In the morning, meet your private guide and driver at the confirmed time. Then we will drive for 6-7 hours to Korla, a city well known for the oil and pear. On the way, make a stop to visit Bosten Lake, the largest inland fresh water lake in China. Upon arrival, check in at a local hotel.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Korla

Day 3 Korla to Kuqa Tour
Capture the Beautiful Populus Euphratica Forests

After your breakfast, board the car and drive for 300 km (about 4 hours) to Kuqa. On the way, you will visit the grand and inspiring Diversifolious Poplar Forest Scenic Park in Luntai.

This is one of the largest original Populus euphratica forests in the world, known as the ‘Green Great Wall in the Desert’. The Populus euphratica forest here has a vast area, spectacular scenery, and distinctive features throughout the four seasons. In summer, green trees provide shade, in autumn, it turns into a golden ocean, and in winter, it is covered in silver.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Kuqa

Poplar Forest in South Xinjiang — Poplar Forests

Day 4 Kuqa to Aksu Tour
Marvel at the Stunning Murals and Oddly-shaped Rocks

After hotel breakfast, continue your tour of Xinjiang with a 1-hour drive to Kizil Thousand Buddha Grottoes. It is located 70km from Kucha Township. The Buddhist caves here were excavated from the 3rd century to the 13th century. 236 caves and 10,000 square meters of murals are preserved. In some expert’s minds, Buddhist grottoes are more valuable than Mogao Grottoes.

Afterward, pay a visit to Tianshan Grand Canyon to explore the oddly-shaped rocks, craggy pinnacles, rugged cliffs, and deep ravines. Finishing the tour, drive to Aksu for the night.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Aksu

Day 5 Aksu to Kashgar Tour

At the confirmed time, please meet your guide and driver at your hotel. Then drive for 500km (about 7 hours) to Kashgar. After arriving, check in Kashgar hotel and enjoy your free time.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Kashgar

Day 6 Kalakuri Lake Tour from Kashgar
Stroll along the Kalakuri Lake with Optional Local Specialties

Today we will do a full-day tour to Kalakuri 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 a yurt and try some local specialties. In the afternoon, go back to the hotel in Kashgar.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Kashgar

Karakuri Lake from Kashgar — Karakuri Lake

Day 7 Kashgar to Urumqi Tour by Flight
Glimpse Local People’s Real Life by Strolling Around Old Street

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 Xinjiang. The Mosque is not only an important spot for religious activities but also an important institute to spread Islam and train religious personnel.

The mosque will be followed by Kashgar Old Town. Taking a walk on the old street, you will 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

After breakfast, your private driver will meet you in hotel at confirmed time and escort you to airport for departure. This is the end of your 8-day Xinjiang tour package of Urumqi, Korla, Kuqa, Aksu Kashgar.

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