Silk Road and Tibet Explore 15D

Day 1. Kashgar Arrival Transfer
Welcome to Kashagr, the historical city on the ancient Silk Road. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Enjoy your free time if you arrive early.
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Kashagr

Day 2.Kashgar to Karakul Day Tour
Today you will take about 4 hours by a private vehicle departing from Kashgar to Karakul Lake. You will drive along the renown friendship highway to Pamir Plateau. On the way, you will stop at Upar Uyghur town to buy some snacks and fruites before heading to the mountains. Then you will view the pretty White Sand Lake that looks like a mirror reflecting the snow-capped mountains on the lake water. After lunch, you will wander around the stunning Karakul Lake(3600 meter), which is situated beside Muztagh Summit. The mountain, the lake and the yurt around the lake create a picture of paradise. Later, you will be transferred back to Kashgar.
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3. Kashgar City Tour, then fly to Urumqi
Today is a busy day to explore Kashagr with a local guide. You will take the city tour by the the first stop to visit the Apa Hoja Mausoleum which was built in 1640 by local Imam for his father, and later it became a family graveyard to bury 72 people for 5 generations. The mausoleum is impressive for its delicate Uyghur architectural style including the blue tiles, the dome and the minaret. 
Next, you will visit Kashgar old town to explore the intersting area where there are old houses for shops, workshops, restaurants, bakery, and tea houses etc. It displays the long history and vivid lifestyle in Kashgar from ancient Silk Road period to today. Handicraft Street is a must-see section in the old town, where the huge music instruments and bronze vessels are very impressive. You might taste some local snacks here, such as Nang Bread, grilled eggs, dried fruites etc. before visiting the old Id Ghar Mosque, the biggest mosque in Xinjiang. Enter the mosque at non-praying time to appreciate its architecture and decor, please wear long pants and cover the shoulders for ladies while visiting this mosque. 
Lunch is arranged at a local Uyghur's house for you to taste the authentic and traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau...etc. 
In the afternoon, you will wander around the the Grand Bazaar in Kashgar, which is well known in Central Asia for its colorful and lively market. As a Uyghur saying goes that you can buy everything except for your parents. There are more people in the afternoon, because the farmers will drive to here from different area in the morning and buy things in the afternoon at the market. Actually the bazaar opens every day, and more people on Sunday. The animal bazaar is relocated near Kashgar Airport and opens only on Sundays. So if it is Sunday, you will also visit the Animal Bazzar as well.
When your tour is finished, you will be transferred back to Kashgar airport to catch flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, transferred to hotel.
Transport: Private vehicle + Flight
Accommodation: Overnight in Urumqi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4. Urumqi to Xinjiang Museum and Tianchi, then drive to Turpan
This morning you will take 1-hour ride to Heavenly Lake, or Tianchi in Chinese, which is a high mountain lake with stunning scenery in the Tianshan Mountains. After lunch, you will visit the renown Xinjiang Museum that is famous for the well-preserved mummies, particularly Loulan Beauty and Xiaohe Princess. 
Afterwards you will take 3-hour car ride to Turpan via the desert, grassland, and Tianshan highway.  
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5. Turpan City Day Tour
Turpan is a hub on the ancient Silk Road, and therer are lots of historical sites that are renown for its well-preserved conditions. Today you will visit Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret with a local guide. You will taste some dried fruits and eat Uyghur food.
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6. Turpan to Liuyuan by bullet train, then drive to Dunhuang
Take 3.5-hour bullet train from Turpan to Liuyuan, where you will take 2-hour car ride to Dunhuang. Wander around the Minsha Shan or Singing Sand Dunes this afternoon, and view the crescent spring in the dunes. 
It is nice to eat or wander around the Dunhuang night market this evening. Or you can watch the performance copied from Mogao Caves.
Transport: Private vehicle + Bullet train
Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7. Dunhuang to Jiayuguan by car
In the morning, you will visit Mogao Caves, the gem of the ancient Silk Road. The early history of Mogao can be track back to the 4th century, and built many times in the histoty. The colorful fresco, statues in Mogao Caves display various stories about Buddhism.
After lunch, you will take 5-hour car ride to Jiayuguan via the western Hexi Corridor. Enjoy the sceney on the way for Gobi Desert, oasis towns, and snow-capped Qilian Mountains. 
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8. Jiayuguan: Visit Jiayuguan Fortress, Overhanging Great Wall and Wei& Jin Tomb Painting
Today you will visit the western end of the Great Wall, Jiayuguan Fortress, which was built on the narrowest area in the Hexi Corridor between Qilian Mountain and Black Mountain. Afterwards you will climb up the Overhanging Wall to enjoy the amazing mountain view. 
Later, you will be transferred to visit the tomb brick painting in the Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery, where the fresh colors painted on the brick are very impressive.
Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9. Jiayuguan to Zhangye Danxia by car
Drive 3 hours to Zhangye Danxia where you will view the fantastic and colorful Danxia mountains. Afterwards you will be transferred to hotel in Zhangye.
Transport: Private Vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Zhangye
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10. Zhangye to Xining by bullet train, visit Kumbum Monastery
Take 2-hour bullet train from Zhangye to Xining, then drive one hour to visit Kumbum Monastery that is one of six biggest Tibetan Buddhism Monasteries, where the yak butter carvings are must-see with its colorful and vivid characteristics. Later, you will be transferred to hotel in Xining.
Transport: Private Vehicle + Bullet Train
Accommodation: Overnight in Xining
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11. Xining to Lhasa by overnight train/flight
Today you will visit the old Dongguan Mosque that is the biggest mosque in Xining with the combination of Chinese and Arabic styles. Afterwards, you will wander around a local market to view different food, vegetables, and teas etc.
Then you will catch approx. 20-hour overnight train to Lhasa. Enjoy the fantastic plateau scenery on the train. Or fly to Lhasa if no train tickets avaible.
Transport: Private Vehicle + Overnight train
Accommodation: Overnight on the soft sleeper train/hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 12. Lhasa arrival transfer
Welcome to Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your Lhasa hotel. You can take a rest for the rest of today for acclimatization the high altitude 3600 meter in Lhasa.
Transport: Private Vehicle
Overnight on the soft sleeper train
Meals: N/A

Day 13. Lhasa city tour for Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery
Today you will visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery. “Drepung” in Tibetan means "the hill of rice". The white Monastery looks like a big hill of rice which is situated halfway up Mt Ganpoi Uze in the western suburbs of Lhasa. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, a Disciple of Trongkhaba, founder of the Yellow Hat sect. The monastery, occupying an area of 250,000 square meters with 7700 lamas in the past, is the largest monastery in Asia.  Sera in Tibetan means "Haistone", legend tells that it hailed during the foundation of this famous monastery. It is situated at the foot of Mt. Peibuqie in the northern suburb of Lhasa. Sera monastery was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, another disciple of Tsongkaba. It used to accommodate 5500 lamas in its golden age, and is proud of its glorious history during The Ming Dynasty. 
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14. Lhasa city tour for Potala, Jakhang and Barkhor Street
Today you will visit the famous Patala Palace, Jolkhang Temple and Barkhor Streets. Potala Palace was first built in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king—Songtsen Gampo. The current one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. The Potala is divided into Red Palace and White Palace. The red palace was for religious use and the white one for political use. It takes whole morning to visit Potala Palace.
Afterwards you will walk to visit Jokhang Monastery that is situated in the old section of Lhasa, which was built in the 7th century AD by king Songtsen Gampo. It is the most sacred place in Tibet as it houses the sculpture of 12-year-old Sakyamuni that was brought by Wencheng Princess in the7th century.
Barkhor street is a big free market around Jokhang Monastery where you can purchase all sorts of Tibetan souvenirs. Barkhor Streets is also an essential pilgrim route.
Transport: Private vehicle
Accommodation: Overnight in Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast

Day 16. Departure from Lhasa
Today is departure day. You will be transferred to Lhasa Airport where to catch your flight to next destination, where the tour concludes.
Transport: Private Vehicle
Meals: Breakfast