Tour Code: S-608

Xinjiang Natural Beauty and Historic Heritages

11 Days Standard of Urumqi - Sayram Lake - Yining - Nalati Grassland - Bayinbuluke - Kuqa - Korla - Turpan - Urumqi

Starting from $1029 per person Price Details
Standard
Day by Day Itinerary

Departure: From June and September


Local people on the way to the bazaar, Xinjiang

Day 01Arrival in Urumqi

Our guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Urumqi Airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.

Hotel: Ramada Tunhe Hotel Urumqi (4 star)

Day 02Urumqi - Sayram Lake - Yining

Drive to Yining. On the way, enjoy the stunning scenery of Sayram Lake. Stay overnight at the hotel.(B+L)

Hotel: General Hotel (4 star)

Day 03Yining - Nalati Grassland

Drive to visit the Yili River Bridge. Then head for Nalati Grassland to appreciate the graceful landscape. Stay overnight at the local guest house.(B+L+D)

Hotel: The Local Guest House

Day 04Nalati Grassland - Bayinbuluke

Drive through the Tianshan Moutain. Visit the Bayinbuluke Grassland and the Bayinbuluke Swan Lake. Stay overnight at the hotel.(B+L)

Hotel: White Swan Guest House


Yarkant King Mausoleum, Hetian

Day 05Bayinbuluke - Kuqa

Drive to Kuqa. Visit the Dragon Lake and the Tianshan Mountain Canyon.(B+L)

Hotel: Kuqa Hotel (3 star)

Day 06Kuqa

Visit the Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves, the Subashi Ruins and the Kuqa local Bazaar.(B+L)

Hotel: Kuqa Hotel (3 star)

Day 07Kuqa - Korla

Drive to Korla. Enjoy the Taklamakan Desert Scenery on the way. Visit the Tiemen Pass upon arrival in Korla.(B+L)

Hotel: Loulan Hotel (4 star)

Descriptions: 
Taklamakan Desert - Among the major deserts in the world, Taklamakan Desert is the most mysterious and attractive one. The climate in the center area is typically continental - strong wind, excessive temperature differences and less precipitation. So in Uyghur, "Taklamakan" means a place where you can enter but never exit. Local people also call it "sea of death". However, you will always be impressed by tenacity of life there. There are dense diversifolious poplars in the desert along rivers, forming a "green corridor".

Day 08Korla - Turpan

Drive to Turpan and transfer to the hotel.(B+L)

Hotel: Oasis Hotel (3 star)


Karakuri Lake, Kashgar

Day 09Turpan

Visit the Jiaohe Ruins, the Karez Well and the Sugong Pagoda.(B+L)

Hotel: Oasis Hotel (3 star)

Day 10Turpan - Urumqi

Visit the Bizaklik Thousand Buddha Caves, the Gaochang Ruins and drive by the Flaming Hill. Drive to Urumqi and transfer to the hotel.(B+L)

Hotel: Ramada Tunhe Hotel Urumqi (4 star)

Day 11Departure from Urumqi

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your homeward flight.(B)

B-- Breakfast     L-- Lunch     D-- Dinner

Prices (based on per person and shown in US dollars)

Prices (Valid from Mar. 1st, 2010 to Feb. 28th, 2011)

Group size
Season
2-5 travelers 6-9 travelers 10 travelers & above
Year Round Double Occupancy
$1749
$1299
$1029
Sole Occupancy
$2029
$1579
$1279


More Silk Road Tours:
Outbound Silk Road Exploration: 13 Days Tour of Dunhuang - Turpan - Urumqi - Kashgar - Tash Rabat - Naryn - Bishkek
Silk Road to Pakistan Travel: 21 Days to Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi, Korla, Kuqa, Aksu, Kashgar, Khunjerab Pass, Hunza, Gilgit, Swat, Knyber, Islamabad…
Classical Silk Road Tour: 14 days, Beijing - Urumqi - Kashgar - Urumqi - Turpan - Dunhuang - Xian – Shanghai

Questions & Reviews

1.

Mar. 25,2008 14:24 Reply

Ms.LuLu Chun said:

As I know, according to the regulations, the travel permit cost at RMB50 to the Karakul Lake is demanded. Sometimes the police don''t run after you for the fee, maybe because you are foreigners and it''s difficult for them to communicate with you. So just let you go, heyhey~

2.

Mar. 25,2008 14:02 Reply

Ms.Megan Em said:

Karakul is a bit of a tourist trap. The problem with their little ''entrance ark'' and the 50RMB sign painted on it is that if you do not pay, often the local police will show up even though the thing is completely illegal. The local police get a massive kickback for all the RMB that they get out of people.

When I went to Karakul I didn''t walk through the entrance so I didn''t pay and I walked away from them and took photos from further down. I didn''t actually stay the night in a yurt as I hitchhiked back in a truck. The yurts are not like the real yurts as they are made of concrete, or at least the ones I saw were while the ones that the Mongols use are made of material/felt.

The Seman Binguan was nice in Kashgar, although lots of people seemed to pay full price while they were prepared to give a discount on every room. I can''t remember if it was 50RMB for the room or 30RMB for a double room for a night..... but I do remember meeting people who were paying more than we were. There was a lot of stuff happening around the hotel although I did find that some of the people were quite rude there. I can''t remember what one of the tour guides were called(Abdul I think) but one of the tour guide companies were really nice and his daughter taught me a bit of Uighur in exchange for English.

3.

Sep. 11,2007 10:24 Reply

Mr.shamus lee(United Kingdom) said:

This itinerary looks good! But from Urumqi to Sayram Lake then to Yining, it is quite a long drive. I have been there this May with a group of 30 people. We started the journey at 09:00 in the morning, about 16:00 we arrived at Sayram Lake, took a visit there and had a short rest in a Mongolian tent. The host was very friendly I remember. That day we finally got to Yining at about 20:00. So here i would like to remind people who do not like a long drive car journey, please get preparations for that.

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