Travel Around Southern Xinjiang 17 Days

Travel Around Southern Xinjiang 17 Days
Southern Xinjiang has well-preserved sites and ruins around the Taklimakan Desert, and this tour will let you explore the entire southern Xinjiang to acqure the entire knowledge about central part of Silk Road..

Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival Urumqi
Today is arrival day. You will be met and transferred to the hotel in Urumqi.
Overnight 5 star hotel Mirage Hotel or similar in Urumqi
Meals: None

Day 2. Urumqi/Heavenly Lake/Urumqi
After hotel breakfast, take one hour to Heavenly lake by car, this is a high-mountain lake with amazing scenaery.
Afterwards, transfer back Urumqi to visit the Xinjiang Museum where there are impressive relics and well-preserved mummies.
Then you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight 5 star hotel Mirage Hotel or similar in Urumqi
Meals: BL

Day 3. Urumqi/Turpan
Take three hours to Turpan by car. Turpan is a basin to house oasis and ancient ruins, where you will visit The Ancient City of Gaochang, Jiaohe, Karez Irrigation System, Bezklik Grottoes, Astana Ancient Tombs
Overnight 4 star hotel Huozhou Hotel or similar in Turpan
Meals: BL

Day 4. Turpan/Kuerle
Visit, Emin Minaret in the morning before taking 5 hour ride to Kuerle.
Overnight 5 star hotel Silver Star Hotel in Kuerle or similar
Meals: BL

Day 5. Kuerle/Luobu Village/Kuerle
Hotel breakfat, then take 1 hour ride to Luobu Village which is located at the edge of Taklimakan Desert, there are traditional Uyghur living here.
Then drive back to Kuerle.
Overnight 3 star hotel in Yuli
Meals: BL

Day 6. Kuerle/Ruoqiang
Drive 5 hours to Ruoqiang,. then visit the ruin of Milan Ancient City, which is located in the desert, and were one of the ancient stated 1500 years ago.
Overnight 3 star hotel in Ruoqiang
Meals: BL

Day 7. Ruoqiang
Drive 5 hours to Ruoqiang, then visit the Ruoqiang Museum, and local bazaar.
Overnight 3 star hotel in Ruoqiang
Meals: BL 

Day 8. Ruoqiang/Qiemo
Take 5 hours by car to Qiemo along the east edge of Taklimakan Desert, enjoy the endless desert view. Upon arrival, you will visit Zhaguiluke Ancient Tombs, which were the family tombs. There are dried mummies and amazing relics unearthed from here.
Overnight 3 star hotel in Qiemo
Meals: BL

Day 9. Qiemo/Hotian
After breakfast, drive 8 hours to Hotian on the southern edge of Taklimakan Desert. Arrival Hotian, visit local Bazaar and silk carpet factory. Then transfer to hotel.
Overnight 4 star hotel Yingdu Hotel in Hotian or similar
Meals: BL

Day 10. Hotian/Kashgar
Drive 8 hours to Kashgar. En route, visit Amaniza Tomb and Yarkand Kingdom Tombs in Shache (Yarkand).
Overnight 5 star hotel Tianyuan International Hotel in Kashgar or similar
Meals: BL

Day 11. Kashgar
City tour in Kashgar including Apa Hoja Tombs, Id Ghar Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Animal Market (only on Sunday).
Overnight 5 star hotel Tianyuan International Hotel in Kashgar or similar
Meals: BL

Day 12. Kashgar/Karakul Lake/Tashkuerkan
Drive 3 hours to Karakul Lake on the famous friendship highway. View the lake and snow-capped Muztagh Ata before moving to Tashkuerkan.
Overnight Travel Hotel in Tashkuerkan or similar
Meals: BL

Day 13. Tashkuerkan/Kashgar
Visit the ancient Stone City before driving back to Kashgar.
Overnight 4 star hotel Tianyuan International Hotel in Kashgar or similar
Meals: BL

Day 14. Kashgar/Kuqa
Take 10 hours to Kuqa by Car on the western edge of Taklimakan Desert. Kuqa is well-known for its splendid ancient Buddhism cultural.
Overnight 4 star hotel Lidu Hotel in Kuqa or similar
Meals: BL

Day 15.  Kuqa
Today you will drive to visit the gem of the Kuqa, Kizil Grottoes. Then visit the Kuqa Grand Canyon.
Overnight 4 star hotel Lidu Hotel in Kuqa or similar
Meals: BL

Day 16. Kuqa/Urumqi by air
Today you will visit Subash ancient monastery and Kuqa Mosque, Kuqa Bazaar.
Then fly to Urumqi and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight 5 star hotel Mirage Hotel in Urumqi or similar
Meals: BL

Day 17. Departure from Urumqi
Transfer to Urumqi airport to catch your flight back to home.
End of the services.
Meals: B