Fascinating Oases on the Old Silk Road|travel package

Fascinating Oases on the Old Silk Road
travel package - 8 days / 7 nights

Roam the paths of Silk Road traders and pilgrims and be transported into a magical collage of tastes and fragrances, sights and sounds! Turpan and Kashgar's vibrant oasis life will mesmerize your senses with their Middle Eastern atmosphere and colorful bazaars. The romance of the past and the incredible majesty of the landscape remain today to lead you to enchanting discoveries all along your own Xinjiang journey.

Day 1 Beijing / Shanghai - Urumqi (D) Fly from Beijing to Urumqi where your tour guide will meet you upon arrival.
Transfer to your hotel and get refreshed.
Then visit the International Bazaar in the Uyghur district, the largest one in Urumqi, before dinner.
Overnight in Urumqi Day 2 Urumqi - Turpan (B, L, D) After breakfast, drive about 2 hours to the Heavenly Lake with a visit to a yurt, traditional tent dwelling, on the way. This pristine lake is situated at a refreshing height of 1,980meters and is surrounded by jagged snow-covered peaks, forests of pine trees and green meadows. You will relish the lush scenery as you take a boat on the lake and do some light hiking.

In the afternoon, view the significant archeological exhibits in Xinjiang Regional Museum, giving you real insight into the various customs and folklore of the area's dozen ethnic minorities. In addition, more than 10,000 cultural relics are displayed, including about eleven intriguing 3,000 year old corpses, some of European origin.

After the museum visit, continue the drive for about 2-3 hours to Turpan.
Time to relax after dinner.
Overnight in Turpan Day 3 Turpan (B, L, D) Astana Tombs, Flaming Mountain , Bezeklik Caves, Gaochang Ancient City After breakfast, visit Astana Tombs, mysterious, underground graves with wall paintings that give clues to beliefs in the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D.

Next you will enjoy the fantastic photo opportunity at the Flaming Mountains which has been transformed into flame shapes by whirling desert winds. Then, the Bezeklik Caves' Buddhist mural art is a reminder of the many Silk Road travelers of bygone days who stopped here to pray for their journeys. These 67 caverns are in a cliff face above the stunning Murtuk river gorge.
Afterwards enjoy a meal with a local Uyghur family.

Time permitting we will also visit the ancient city of Jiaohe. It is famous for having one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world. The ruins was established by the Chinese as a garrison town to defend the borderlands during the Han Dynasty. Some of the large monasteries with figures of Buddha can still be visited inside. In the evening, enjoy Uygur music and dance performances.
Overnight in Turpan Day 4 Turpan - Urumqi - Kashgar (B, L, D) Karez Underground Irrigation System, Grape Valley, Emin Minaret In the morning, visit is the Karez Underground Irrigation System. These underground channels rate as one of ancient China's greatest public works projects on a par with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. The city of Turpan owes its existence to these vital wells and channels, some of which were constructed over 2,000 years ago.

Next visit the Emin Minaret, designed in a simple Afghani style, it was built in 1777 A.D. by a local ruler in order to commemorate his father's impressive contribution to the Qing government. Also visit the famous grape-growing valley in Turpan.
After lunch, drive about 200 kilometers back to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang to visit the biggest wind power station, Dabancheng, on the way.
Take the evening flight to Kashgar.
Overnight in Kashgar Day 5 Kashgar (B, L, D) Mor Pagoda, Kashgar Regional Museum, local family visit After breakfast, drive about 30 kilometers northeast of the town to see Mor Pagoda which was built in the Tang Dynasty.

Visit the Kashgar Regional Museum and later on spend time with a local Uygur family where you can experience a firsthand taste of local Uygur culture.
Overnight in Kashgar Day 6 Kashgar - Karakul Lake - Kashgar (B, L, D) After breakfast, drive about 3 to 4 hours Karakul Lake. The lake is located at 3,800 meters, close to two majestic permanently snow-capped mountains. The Tajiks, who graze camels and yaks, live in these high mountain pasturelands. Our journey there is along the scenic Karakorum Highway, followed by hiking around the lake and lunch at local Uygur restaurant.
Drive back to Kashgar in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Kashgar Day 7 Kashgar (B, L, D) Sunday Bazaar, Id Kah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Tomb, Old Mud City After breakfast, visit Sunday Bazaar, a massive gathering of farmers and merchants from across the area. This colorful and lively market provides a great opportunity to pick up some of the Silk Road's most interesting souvenirs, from hand made leather boots, to traditional musical instruments, to bags of fresh spices. Kashgar is also the heart of Islam within China, and thus we pay a visit to the Id Kah Mosque, the largest in China. This beautifully decorated mosque more closely resembles a mosque in Pakistan or Afghanistan than China, and will attract up to 10,000 worshippers for Friday prayers.

Then we visit Abakh Hoja Tomb, the burial place of a Muslim missionary and saint, and his 72 descendants. It looks like a multicolored miniature with green tiles on the walls and dome.
Overnight in Kashgar Day 8 Kashgar - Urumqi - Beijing / Shanghai (B) Time at leisure until transfer to the airport for the flight back to Beijing / Shanghai via Urumqi. For travel package bookings and more information please contact Hotline Beijing: +86-10-8519 8999(phone)