Kashgar to Dunhuang Silk Road Tour

The Silk Road served as a living cultural bridge linking ancient China, West Asia, and the Mediterranean. It is also regarded as an important route to explore the elapsed civilizations. Kashgar, a famous border city situated in the west of Xinjiang, is the first destination of this 8 days tour.

Once you arrive at the airport of Kashgar, the local guide will pick you up and assist you to the hotel. Have the rest of the day to take a rest or explore this ethnic city on your own.

Begin your adventure in Kashgar and travel along the world famous Karakoram Highway, one of the highest and most spectacular mountain routes on earth. Your first stop is Upal Village, where you can buy fresh fruit, local nang bread, and simple snacks while enjoying the lively atmosphere of a traditional Xinjiang market.

Continue driving along the Karakoram Highway toward the dramatic Oytagh Red Mountain, stopping to photograph its brilliant red cliffs framed by the snowcapped Kunlun Mountains.

Arrive at Baisha Lake, also called White Sand Lake, where turquoise water meets snow white sand dunes to create one of the region’s most unique landscapes. Take a short lakeside walk and enjoy the peaceful highland scenery.

Continue west along the highway to Karakul Lake at 3600 meters. Set beneath the towering peaks of Muztagh Ata at 7546 meters and Kongur at 7719 meters, the lake offers magnificent reflections and classic Pamir Plateau views. Spend time exploring and relaxing by the lakeshore. Late afternoon drive to Tashkorgan, suggest to try local famous yak meat hot pot.

Overnight in Tashkorgan.

After breakfast, visit the ancient Tashkorgan Stone Fortress, one of the most important fortifications on the Silk Road. Surrounded by vast grasslands and snowcapped peaks, the site preserves remnants from the Tang and Qing dynasties including old city walls, temples, and administrative ruins that once oversaw Silk Road caravans.

Walk through the nearby Tajik grasslands to experience local pastoral life and take in wide open views of the Tashkorgan valley.

In the afternoon, rejoin the Karakoram Highway for the scenic return drive to Kashgar, arriving at your hotel in the evening.

Spend the day exploring the rich history and lively culture of Kashgar, once one of the most important trading centers on the ancient Silk Road.

After breakfast, begin at the Abakh Khoja Tomb, an elegant mausoleum housing five generations of the Khoja family, including the famed “Fragrant Concubine,” Xiang Fei. The complex is a fine example of Uyghur Islamic architecture, with its green-glazed tiles, domes, and beautifully decorated pillars.

Continue to the Sunday Livestock Bazaar, where herders and farmers from nearby villages come to trade sheep, goats, camels, horses, and donkeys. This bustling market is one of the best places to witness traditional rural life and the trading culture that has thrived in Kashgar for centuries.

In the afternoon, wander through the atmospheric lanes of Kashgar Old Town, lined with mud-brick houses, workshops, and small neighborhood bazaars. Visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China and the spiritual heart of the city. End the day along Handicraft Street, where woodcarvers, metalworkers, instrument makers, and other artisans carry on generations-old crafts, where you can browse for unique handmade souvenirs. Enjoy a home-cooked Uyghur dinner at a local family to end your visit in Kashgar.

Transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, meet your guide and drive to your hotel for an overnight stay.

This morning, drive about 1.5 hours to visit the breathtaking Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), set high in the Tianshan Mountains. Surrounded by evergreen forests and snow-capped peaks, the lake offers a peaceful escape and stunning alpine scenery.

Upon arrival, take a 40-minute scenic shuttle ride along winding mountain roads to reach the lakeside area. From there, it’s a short walk to the lake, where you can choose to enjoy an optional boat ride or hike along the shore to enjoy panoramic viewpoints. For even more dramatic views, you may take the cable car to Maya Mountain (optional, additional fee), offering stunning vistas of Bogda Peak, the highest mountain in the eastern Tianshan range.

In the late afternoon, return to Urumqi and visit to the Xinjiang Regional Museum (closed on Mondays), known for its extensive exhibits on Silk Road history, local ethnic cultures, and the remarkable Tarim Basin mummies dating back more than 3,800 years. 

In the evening you can relax or take a walk through the bustling Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, a great place to experience local culture, sample regional snacks, and browse unique handicrafts.

Morning drive to Turpan (about 3 hours), known as the oasis city in Xinjing, an important trade center along the historical Silk Road. Upon arrival, start your exploration to the quiet village of Tuyuk Valley, where mud-brick homes and grapevines create a peaceful backdrop. You may enjoy a enjoy a traditional Uyghur lunch here. Then head to visit the Gaochang Ruins, once a thriving desert city that welcomed travelers, traders, and monks from across Central Asia. Though long abandoned, its city walls and temple remains still tell stories of its past glory.

Continue to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, tucked into the cliffs of the Flaming Mountains. These ancient grottoes are filled with colorful murals dating back over a thousand years, reflecting the rich Buddhist heritage of the region.

On your way back to downtown of Turpan, you’ll pass the Flaming Mountain, known for its glowing red slopes and extreme summer heat.

Check into your hotel and freely explore Turpan on your own. Overnight at Turpan.

After breakfast, drive to visit the Karez Well, a unique irrigation system of wells connected by underground channels. Regarded as one of the three grand projects in ancient China, Karez Well was invented and built by ancient farmers from the various ethnic minorities of Turpan. 

Continue the visit to the Sugong Pagoda, which was built by the ruler of the Turpan Prefecture, to honor his father in 1811. The architectural style of this pagoda displays a mixed design of Uyghur and Han features.

Afterwards drive to Turpan train station for the noon train to Liuyuan (D2706, 12:13 – 15:48). Upon arrival, train station pick-up and transfer to Dunhuang (about 1.5-2 hours drive).

In the evening, you can relax at the Shazhou Night Market, sampling local snacks and browsing handmade crafts. Or, if you prefer, enjoy the living Show – Ancient Sound of Dunhuang at the Dunhuang Theater, where dancers bring Silk Road stories to life in a stunning cultural show.

Spend the full day to visit the highlights in Dunhuang, begin the day with a visit to the iconic Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas. These ancient cave temples house beautiful murals and statues, many over 1,500 years old. Your visit starts at the Mogao Visitor Center, where two short films introduce the site’s history before a shuttle takes you to explore several of the most impressive caves with a guide.

In the afternoon, head to the Echoing Sand Mountains, where the dunes produce a soft, humming sound in the wind. Enjoy a camel ride across the sands and try fun desert activities like sand sliding (available for a small extra fee).

End the day at Crescent Lake, a peaceful desert oasis shaped like a half moon. It’s a perfect spot to relax and take in the sunset before heading back to Dunhuang for the night.

After breakfast, be assisted to the airport or railway station and ready for the departure. Wish you have a pleasant journey home. If you have any requirements on this tour, please let us know and we can adjust it to meet all your needs.