Silk Road Expedition

Itinery:

Day 1 Urumqi-Kashgar-arrival
Own arrangement to fly to Urumqi and then further to Kashgar.Meet on arrival at Kashgar airport and transfer to hotel, check in. Welcome dinner at local restaurant.

Day 2 Kashgar
Taking the Karakoram Highway to go to the Karakul Lake. We will pass the Ghez River on the way. Karakul Lake is one of the most scenic spots on the Chinese side of the highway. Located between Kongur Mountain (7719 m) and Muztagh-Ata Mountain (7546 m) Lunch will be at the restaurant next to the Lake. Return to Kashgar in the late afternoon.

Day 3 Sunday Kashgar - Urumqi
Visit the famous Sunday Market, thousands of merchants haggle for camels, carpets and other goods, imams on donkeys and veiled woman in their dark robes. Lunch will be at a local family in old town. City tours include visiting the Old town of Kashgar, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Id Kah Great Mosque and its Bazaar. Abakh Hoja Tomb began as a family mausoleum in the seventeen century. After dinner, transfer to airport and depart for Urumqi. Kashgar-Urumqi CZ9902 2220 2355
Airport pick up in Urumqi and transfer to hotel, check in.

Day 4 Monday Urumqi - Heaven Lake - Urumqi
Sightseeing tour to Heaven Lake, a cruise tour on the lake is included. Possible to have a small trekking tour around the lake. Return to Urumqi in the late afternoon. If time allows, visit Xinjiang provincial museum.

Day 5 Tuesday Urumqi-Turpan-Dunhuang
Leave early for Turpan. Visit the remains of ancient cities Jiaohe, Thousand Buddha Caves, visit also Karez Irrigation Well, Grape Gorge and Emin Minaret, one of the architectural gems of the Silk Road. The ancient Karez Irrigation System was comprised of a series of wells and linking underground channel that use gravity to bring ground water to the surface. Overnight train to Dunhuang K890 2358/0600+1 or T190 2229/0640 +1

Day 6 Wednesday Dunhuang
Meet at railway station and transfer to hotel. (1-1.5 hours) Breakfast, check in. After short rest, go to visit Mogao Caves--Buddhist art dated from AD 386. Afternoon: Minsha Sand Hill and Crescent Moon Lake, this is the place where the oasis meets the desert. Possible to take a camel ride.

Day 7 Thursday Dunhuang-Jiayuguan-Lanzhou
Early departure from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan. We will cross the Gobi desert. It takes 5 to 6 hours. Visit Jiayuguan Pass (Great Wall Tower), Hanging Great Wall, and Weijing Tomb Painting in Jiayuguan. Catch the evening train to Lanzhou. Overnight on train. T658 2148/0714+1

Day 8 Friday Lanzhou-Linxia-Lanzhou
Arrive in Lanzhou at 06:58, railway station pick up and transfer to hotel for breakfast. Check in, after short rest, depart for Linxia. In Linxia, we will take the speed boad (30 min) passing Liujiaxia Dam to visit another cultural heritage Binling Thousand Buddha Caves. Return to Lanzhou in the afternoon and have a short walk in the city. Farewell dinner at local restaurant.

Day 9 Saturday Lanzhou-Departure
Check out, transfer to airport and depart for your next destination.
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