Pair the ruins of Turpan with Kashgar’s craft streets, then return to Urumqi for Tianchi.
About
Private trip planning for your own party. A couple or a family of 2–6 is a useful starting point for a quote, not a minimum group size. No scheduled group departure is advertised.
Urumqi → Turpan → Kashgar → Karakul Lake → Tianchi
This is a suggested route to discuss, not a confirmed departure. The day notes explain the pace and transfer needs; your written itinerary must confirm transport, opening hours and overnight stops.
Day 1 · Arrive in Urumqi.
Keep the first half of the day for arrival and the transfer into town. If you arrive early, take a short walk near your accommodation; leave the longer excursion for a full day. Share your flight or train number when requesting pickup.
Transfer timing follows your flight or train.
Day 2 · Visit Jiaohe, Emin Minaret and the karez irrigation system in Turpan.
Leave time for the road to Turpan, then make Jiaohe the main outdoor stop. Divide the remaining visits between the karez system and Emin Minaret, taking breaks during hotter hours. For a same-day return to Urumqi, keep the final stop flexible rather than rushing the drive.
Road day: allow for stops, checks and visitor shuttles. Request a dated driving estimate from the operator.
Day 3 · See Gaochang and Bezeklik, then return to Urumqi for the flight to Kashgar.
Use the morning for Gaochang and the Bezeklik area, subject to visitor access. The afternoon needs to cover the return to Urumqi and airport procedures before flying to Kashgar. Choose the flight first, then decide whether both visits fit without a rushed connection.
Road day: allow for stops, checks and visitor shuttles. Request a dated driving estimate from the operator.
Day 4 · Make a round trip from Kashgar to Karakul Lake.
Leave Kashgar early for the mountain road and stop at Karakul Lake for a gentle visit. Reserve the second half of the day for the drive back to the city. This is a long return journey with rapid altitude gain; discuss whether adding a night and a slower ascent suits you better.
Road day: allow for stops, checks and visitor shuttles. Request a dated driving estimate from the operator.
Karakul Lake: about 3,652 m, according to Kizilsu prefecture. Sources
Day 5 · Explore Kashgar’s craft streets and Id Kah area.
Use the morning for the old-town lanes and craft streets, exploring on foot rather than rushing between photo stops. After lunch, continue around the Id Kah area and leave time to return to shops you liked. Mosque entry is separate from walking around the square and depends on visitor access.
Pace: sightseeing and short walks; optional activities quoted separately.
Day 6 · Fly back to Urumqi for the regional museum and Grand Bazaar.
The flight from Kashgar to Urumqi sets the day’s pace. After arrival, choose between the regional museum and the Grand Bazaar according to opening hours and remaining time. Museum entry may require advance arrangements; do not promise both stops before the flight is selected.
Transfer timing follows your flight or train.
Day 7 · Visit Tianchi before departure from Urumqi.
Start with the drive to Tianchi and allow for the visitor shuttle before reaching the lakeshore. Keep the walk short enough for the return journey to Urumqi. A Red Hill stop can follow if the timing fits; for an airport departure, shorten the sightseeing and confirm the transfer margin.
Pace: sightseeing and short walks; optional activities quoted separately.
Scenic
A patterned brick tower rises above the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi.The patterned brick tower of Emin Minaret in Turpan.A tall earthen tower stands above the low ruined walls at Gaochang.Snow-covered Kongur reflects in the still water of Karakul Lake.Shop awnings line Qasa Road in Kashgar’s old town.Diners and shoppers walk beneath the entrance to Urumqi’s old bazaar food street.Tianchi stretches between mountain ridges under a cloud-streaked sky.Earthen walls trace a maze of rooms at the ruined city of Jiaohe.A shaded channel at the karez irrigation site in Turpan.Ridges cut across the red slopes of the Flaming Mountains near Turpan.Twin minarets frame the yellow entrance to Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar.Cave entrances line the cliff at Bezeklik near Turpan.
Hotels
Example preferences, not named or confirmed hotels. Ask the specific property to confirm passport check-in for your dates.
Simple & practical
Request a private room, private bathroom, reliable hot water and a convenient pickup point. Good for travellers who spend most of the day outside.
Comfort
Ask for twin or double beds, breakfast details, quiet rooms and lift access if needed. Confirm cooling or heating for the season.
Character stays
Ask about a small guesthouse or a scenic location. Compare road access, stairs and bathroom facilities with a city hotel before deciding.
Upscale
Request larger rooms and more hotel facilities where available. In mountain towns, prioritise a suitable location and confirmed room conditions over a star label.
Pricing
Pricing
Ask us for a quote
Details
What to include in your quote
The items below are a quote checklist, not inclusions in an advertised package. Ask for each item to be marked included or excluded before paying.
Services to specify
Vehicle, driver, pickup points and daily driving plan
Guide language, working days and guide fees
Named hotels, room type, nights and breakfast
Entrance tickets, park shuttles and listed activities
Budget separately unless listed
International and domestic flights or trains, unless separately listed
Visa costs, travel insurance and personal spending
Unlisted meals, optional activities and room upgrades
Single-room supplements and costs of route changes
Entry and border areas
Kashgar–Karakul–Tashkurgan: before booking, ask the local operator to check access for your nationality, dates and every stop. Assistance with identifying the application office, documents or an appointment must be confirmed in writing; it is not yet included as a promised service.
Email your dates and party size. Availability, services and the price must be confirmed in a written quote before booking.
Is accommodation confirmed?
Hotel references will be confirmed with your quotation.
Do you arrange border permits?
Kashgar–Karakul–Tashkurgan: before booking, ask the local operator to check access for your nationality, dates and every stop. Assistance with identifying the application office, documents or an appointment must be confirmed in writing; it is not yet included as a promised service.
How do I plan halal meals?
Include your dietary requirements and ask for specific venues before booking.
What is included in the price?
Ask for transport, guide, meals, accommodation and entrance fees as separate lines.
What if a mountain road closes?
Agree on an alternate route and any cost changes before departure.
Tell us the route, travel month and number of travellers. The email opens with these fields ready to fill in. Add room preferences or questions if you have them.
