1
Istanbul → Overnight Flight
Meet at Istanbul Airport in the evening. After check-in and passport formalities, board the overnight flight to Urumqi.
Xinjiang 2026 Programme
From the Silk Road cities to the high Pamirs
An immersive 11-day journey through Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar, Karakul Lake and Tashkurgan, combining Silk Road history, Uyghur culture, ancient cities, dramatic landscapes and photography.
Karakoram Highway
Kashgar Cultural Performance
Kashgar Old CityDuration11 days / 10 nights
Travel styleCulture, scenery and photography
RouteUrumqi to Tashkurgan
Day-by-Day Itinerary
2
Arrival in Urumqi
Arrival in Urumqi around midday, airport welcome and transfer to the hotel.
After time to rest, enjoy a welcome dinner at Afanti Restaurant with traditional Xinjiang cuisine, live music and dance, followed by an evening walk around the Grand Bazaar.
3
Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) & Akhal-Teke Horse Show
Travel to Heavenly Lake at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Enjoy walking and photography among snowy peaks, forests and the lake’s clear waters.
Return to Urumqi in the afternoon and visit the Ancient Ecological Park for its celebrated Akhal-Teke horses and traditional equestrian performance.
4
Urumqi Cultural Discovery → Turpan
Visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum to discover Silk Road artefacts, the history of the Tarim Basin and the region’s diverse cultural heritage.
In the afternoon, travel by private coach to Turpan, a historic oasis on the ancient Silk Road.
5
Historic Turpan Oasis
Explore Jiaohe Ancient City, dramatically set on a natural plateau, and Gaochang Ancient City, once a major Silk Road trading centre.
Continue to Toyuq Ancient Village for traditional architecture and local life, then visit the Karez underground irrigation system, Emin Minaret and a local vineyard and winery. Walk beneath Turpan’s characteristic grape trellises.
6
Turpan → Kashgar
Visit the Flaming Mountains in the morning. Later, transfer to the airport for the domestic flight from Turpan to Kashgar, followed by hotel transfer on arrival.
7
Kashgar Old City and Culture
Begin with an early-morning photography walk through Kashgar Old City. Visit Id Kah Mosque, traditional artisan lanes, local bazaars and the Abakh Khoja Mausoleum.
In the evening, attend the Kashgar Cultural Night featuring Uyghur music and dance.
8
Kashgar → Opal → Karakul → Tashkurgan
Set out toward the Pamir Plateau. At Opal Village, visit the Mausoleum of Mahmud al-Kashgari and learn about the legacy of one of the Turkic world’s most important scholars.
Continue along the Karakoram Highway to White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake, with photography stops overlooking Muztagh Ata and the Kongur Mountains. Arrive in Tashkurgan in the evening.
9
Tashkurgan → Kashgar
Visit Tashkurgan Stone Fort and the surrounding historic landscape. Photograph the Pamir grasslands and high-plateau scenery before returning to Kashgar along the Karakoram Highway.
10
In-Depth Kashgar Discovery
Enjoy a more leisurely day exploring Kashgar’s old neighbourhoods, local markets, craft workshops and everyday life, with time for photography and final shopping.
11
Kashgar → Urumqi → Istanbul
Fly from Kashgar to Urumqi in the morning. Depending on the flight schedule, enjoy final shopping at the Grand Bazaar before the airport transfer and return flight to Istanbul.
Scenes from the Journey
Xinjiang Photo Gallery
Before You Travel
Visa, Health and Important Information
Chinese Group Visa
Guests travelling on a Chinese group tourist visa must maintain the integrity of the group in accordance with current Chinese regulations.
- Entry into China must be made together with the group.
- Participants must follow the announced group programme.
- Departure from China must normally be made together with the group.
Passport details must be submitted by the agency’s deadline. Passports should normally remain valid for at least six months after the tour and contain sufficient blank pages. Visa rules may change in line with decisions by the Chinese authorities.
Health and Altitude
Karakul Lake lies at approximately 3,600 metres and Tashkurgan at around 3,100 metres. Some travellers may experience headache, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea or sleep disturbance while acclimatising.
Recommendations
- Move slowly and avoid strenuous activity during the first hours.
- Drink sufficient water and avoid alcohol during the first 24–48 hours.
- Eat regularly, rest well and advise the guide promptly if symptoms occur.
- Use altitude medication only on a doctor’s advice.
Travellers with heart, lung or circulatory conditions, regular medication, pregnancy or a history of serious altitude illness should consult their doctor before travel.
General health note: Travel health insurance covering high-altitude destinations is strongly recommended. Carry regular medication with prescriptions and bring layered clothing, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. This information is not a medical diagnosis or treatment recommendation.
Services Included
- 9 nights’ accommodation in the selected hotels with daily breakfast
- 7 lunches and 9 dinners as specified
- Welcome dinner at Afanti Restaurant
- Economy-class domestic flights Turpan–Kashgar and Kashgar–Urumqi
- Airline-defined baggage allowance on the domestic flights
- Private transportation and all airport and hotel transfers
- Professional Turkish-speaking guide throughout the tour
- Admission fees for the museums, archaeological sites and visits listed
- Akhal-Teke horse show and Kashgar Cultural Night
- Required permit arrangements for the Karakul–Tashkurgan border region
Services Not Included
- Istanbul–Urumqi–Istanbul international flights
- Chinese visa and visa service charges
- Turkish international departure tax
- Travel and health insurance
- Personal expenses and hotel extras
- Tips for guide and driver
- Drinks with meals and meals not specified
- Optional tours and activities outside the programme
- Excess baggage charges
Proposed Hotels
Urumqi
Universal Hotel Urumqi or equivalent
Universal Hotel Urumqi or equivalent
Turpan
La Quinta by Wyndham Turpan Gaochang or equivalent
La Quinta by Wyndham Turpan Gaochang or equivalent
Kashgar
Hampton by Hilton Kashgar or equivalent
Hampton by Hilton Kashgar or equivalent
Tashkurgan
Banlan Hotel – Jincao Tan Scenic Area Branch or the best available equivalent
Banlan Hotel – Jincao Tan Scenic Area Branch or the best available equivalent
Important: Departure dates are provisional and will be confirmed subject to flight schedules, group formation and local operating conditions. Hotels are subject to availability; an equivalent property in the same or a higher category may be substituted. Itinerary order may change due to flight schedules, weather, permit requirements and local conditions. The Panlong Ancient Road may be considered as an optional photography route when conditions permit.