12-Day South Xinjiang Private Tour: Silk Road Cities, Kashgar, and the Pamirs

Welcome to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the airport or railway station and transfer you to your hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure for you to rest and prepare for the journey ahead.

After breakfast, depart Urumqi and travel to Turpan, one of the most important oasis cities along the ancient Silk Road.

Begin your exploration with Tuyugou Village, a traditional settlement set in a valley beneath the Flaming Mountains. The village offers a glimpse into local Uyghur life and the atmosphere of an old oasis community.

Continue to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, an important Buddhist grotto site carved into the cliffs. Though some murals have been damaged over time, the caves remain a significant witness to the religious and cultural exchanges that once flourished along the Silk Road.

You will also view the nearby Flaming Mountains, famous for their red sandstone ridges and intense summer heat, before visiting the remarkable Jiaohe Ancient City. Built on a natural plateau and laid out by cutting into the earth rather than building upward, Jiaohe is one of the best-preserved ancient earthen cities in the world.

Overnight in Turpan.

After breakfast, visit the elegant Emin Minaret, one of the best-known architectural landmarks in Turpan. Its graceful brickwork and distinctive form reflect the cultural blending of the region.

Then continue to the Karez Well System, an ingenious underground irrigation network that once sustained oasis life in this extremely arid environment. It remains one of the most remarkable examples of traditional water engineering in Xinjiang.

In the afternoon, drive onward to Korla, an important transport hub in central-southern Xinjiang.

Overnight in Korla.

Today travel from Korla to Kuqa, once the heartland of the ancient Qiuci Kingdom, a major cultural center on the northern Silk Road.

Visit the Subashi Ancient Temple Ruins, an important Buddhist site located in the desert landscape outside the city. The remains offer insight into the religious life and historical importance of ancient Kuqa.

Later, see the Kizilgaha Beacon Tower, one of the earliest and best-preserved beacon towers along the Silk Road. It stands as a reminder of the military communication systems that once protected trade routes through this region.

Overnight in Kuqa.

After breakfast, visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, one of the earliest large-scale Buddhist cave complexes in China. The murals here reflect the artistic and religious exchanges that spread across Central Asia and the Silk Road.

Later, continue to the dramatic Tianshan Grand Canyon near Kuqa. Carved by wind and water over time, the canyon is known for its red sandstone cliffs, layered rock formations, and rugged desert-mountain scenery. The landscape here reveals a wilder and less-visited side of Xinjiang.

Return to Kuqa for the night.

This morning, visit the Kuqa Grand Mosque, where architectural details reflect a meeting of Islamic tradition and regional building styles.

You may also visit the Kuqa Royal Palace, associated with the former local rulers of the area, to gain a better understanding of the region’s political and cultural history.

In the afternoon, continue by road to Aral. Along the way, the landscapes of the Tarim Basin unfold gradually, offering a different perspective on southern Xinjiang’s vast and often stark terrain.

Overnight in Aral.

After breakfast, set out on one of the most memorable drives of the journey as you cross the Taklamakan Desert, one of the largest shifting-sand deserts in the world.

Travel along the desert highway through immense dunes, sparse desert vegetation, and long stretches of open landscape. This route offers a powerful sense of the scale and solitude of southern Xinjiang. Along the way, you may also see evidence of desert control projects and resilient desert plants that make travel across this region possible.

Arrive in Hotan in the evening.

Overnight in Hotan.

Today explore Hotan, one of the great oasis cities of the southern Silk Road.

Begin at the Hotan Museum, where exhibits introduce the region’s long history, multicultural heritage, and archaeological discoveries. Collections may include ancient documents, pottery, textiles, wooden objects, and other items reflecting everyday life in past centuries.

Later, visit Yotkan Ancient City (or a comparable local heritage site, depending on current opening conditions). This area is closely connected with the historical memory of ancient Hotan and helps bring the former Silk Road oasis culture to life.

Overnight in Hotan.

After breakfast, drive from Hotan to Kashgar, passing through Yarkand, another historically important oasis city on the southern Silk Road.

If conditions permit, stop to visit the Amanisahan Mausoleum, dedicated to the celebrated Yarkand princess and cultural figure known for her contribution to Uyghur literary and musical traditions. The site offers insight into the region’s artistic heritage and the historical importance of Yarkand.

Continue onward to Kashgar and check in at your hotel.

Overnight in Kashgar.

After breakfast, explore the atmospheric Kashgar Old Town, one of the most evocative urban quarters in Xinjiang. Walking through its alleys, courtyards, and earthen buildings offers a vivid sense of local daily life.

Continue to Handicrafts Street, where traditional workshops and artisan shops display musical instruments, metalwork, woodcraft, and other handmade items.

You may also stop at a historic teahouse, where locals gather to talk, relax, drink tea, and sometimes enjoy informal music and dancing.

Later, visit Id Kah Mosque, one of the best-known mosques in Kashgar and an important symbol of the city’s Islamic heritage.

If your visit falls on a Sunday and arrangements permit, you may also have the chance to experience the lively Kashgar Livestock Market.

Overnight in Kashgar.

Today take a full-day excursion along the famous China–Pakistan Highway into the Pamir region, where the scenery becomes increasingly grand and remote.

Stop at Baisha Lake, where white sand dunes, blue water, and surrounding mountains create one of the most striking landscapes in western Xinjiang.

Continue to Karakul Lake, a beautiful high-altitude lake set beneath some of the region’s most impressive snow-covered peaks, including Muztag Ata. The combination of glacial waters, open highland terrain, and towering mountains makes this one of the highlights of any journey to Kashgar.

Return to Kashgar in the evening.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Your journey concludes today, leaving you with lasting memories of southern Xinjiang’s oasis cities, Silk Road heritage, desert highways, and the magnificent landscapes of the Pamirs.