Western Silk road 10 days culture tour

 

As a multi-ethnic region, Xinjiang has a population of 16 million with Uygur, Han, Kazak, Hui, Mongol, Kirghiz, Xibo, Tajik and Uzbek as the principal nationalities. On this trip you can see their different customs and daily life.

 

Day1: Almaty - Ghulja (Yili)

Overland transport arrives to Khorgas Pass to meet our guide, clear customs declerations and transfer to Yili Hotel.

 

Day 2: Ghulja ( Yili) - Narat

Morning drive to explore Narat, one of the largest pasture lands in Xinjiang, with Mongols and Kazak nomads living around there with horses, goats and nice birds. We recommend horse riding to explore the pasturelands. Overnight  in Kazak Yurts.

 

Day3: Narat - Bayinbulak 

We will drive to Bayanbulak Mongolian Pasture and stay overnight in a yurt hotel.

 

Day4: Bayinbulak

Explore Bayinbulak, visit Mongolian herdsmen and their yurts. Afternoon excursion to the Swan Lake and stay overnight in Yurt/guest house.

 

Day 5: Bayinbulak - Kucha

In the morning we drive to Kucha, hike up acorss the Tianshan Mountain, Kucha ancient Quici, one of the Uighur Buddist town during the 3rd to 9th centuries. Stay overngiht in Kucha.

 

Day 6: Kucha - Aksu

Visit Subashi Ruins, Kucha Grand Mosque, Kizil Red Thousand Buddha Ancient Caves and sightseeing drive to Aksu. Overnight in Aksu. 

 

 Day 7: Aksu - Kashgar

After breakfast drive to Kashgar, situated at the foot of the impressive Pamir Mountains. Kashgar was once the key trading post bridging the East and the West on the Silk Road. Largely inhabited by the Uygurs, this ancient city is dotted with Muslim architecture and still retains the exotic feel of the Silk Road era. We stay overnight in Kashgar.

 

 Day 8: Kashgar

We will visit Kashgar's lively markets, which attract thousands of people from the far corners of the region. They come here to sell, bargain, and trade everything ranging from camels to raisins. Our sightseeing tour will also include the the famous Eidgah Mosque and the tomb of Abbak Hoja. Our tour also includes visit to the most unique old town with typical Uyghur styled homes. We visit the various shopping alleys full of noodle shops, bakeries, teashops, blacksmiths and carpenters. Time has stood still - try a local taxi, which is a donkey cart.

 

Day 9: Kashgar - Karakul Lake

We spend the morning driving along the Karakarom Highway, which is called Sino-–Pakistan – Friendship Road. It was built 1976 to 1986. Since the road ahs been completed, it has re-connected the ancient Silk Road merchants between Kashgar, Northern Pakistan areas and Tadzikistan Pamir areas. During the trip we can explore local Kyrgyz and Tadjik nomadic cultures, explore around the lake after the lunch at lake side resturant, then return to Kashgar.

 

Day 10: Kashgar - Naryn, via Tourgate pass

Time to say good bye to Xinjiang and transfer to the Kyrgystan border for customs declerations. Our Kyrgystan partner will take care of your tour around Kyrgystan and Central Asia.