7 Days Kashgar, Pamir Plateau & Golden Autumn Tour Itinerary

Welcome to Kashgar, the ancient Silk Road gateway city in China’s far west! Upon arrival at Kashgar Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel by private car. Depending on your arrival time, take a first leisurely stroll around the Id Kah Mosque square and the twilight alleys of the old town — bakeries pulling naan from clay tandoor ovens, the aroma of lamb skewers, and the bustle of the evening bazaar offer an instant taste of Uyghur culture. Our team will brief you on the upcoming days’ plans.

This morning your driver picks you up from your Kashgar hotel and you set off south along the legendary Karakoram Highway (G314). The road climbs steadily from the desert oasis into the high Pamir Plateau. After roughly 2 hours, make a photo stop at Oytagh Red Mountain (奥依塔克红山) — a stretch of flaming-red sandstone cliffs that glows against the blue sky. Continue higher to White Sand Lake (布伦口白沙湖, ~3,300m), where turquoise glacial water is backed by sweeping white sand dunes, and on clear days the great pyramid of Muztagh Ata (7,546m) — the “Father of Ice Mountains” — and neighbouring Kongur Tagh (7,649m) shimmer in the distance. Arrive in Tashkurgan county town by late afternoon and take it easy while acclimatising to the altitude.

Today, switch to a private 4x4 for the famous Panlong Ancient Road (盘龙古道) — the “Coiling Dragon Road.” Over roughly 36 km the road carves more than 600 hairpin switchbacks up and down a barren mountainside; from the viewing platform the black asphalt wriggles like a dragon against the Pamirs — one of the most spectacular drives in all of Xinjiang. In the afternoon, explore the ancient Stone Fort (石头城), a 2,000-year-old Silk Road fortress perched on a rocky hill above the Tashkurgan River valley, then wander the wooden boardwalks of the adjacent Golden Grassland (金草滩) — sweeping alpine meadows where Tajik herders graze yaks and sheep beneath snow-capped peaks.

A flexible day to continue exploring the plateau’s snow-mountain scenery. Depending on weather, road conditions and your interests, your driver-guide will confirm the day’s plan with you. Options may include a slow return along the Karakoram Highway with a stop at Karakul Lake (3,600m), where the reflection of Muztagh Ata shimmers in the glacial water; a visit to a traditional Tajik village; or extra photo stops along the lake belt. The exact schedule and overnight location will be confirmed locally.

Descend from the high plateau to the warm oases of the Yarkand River basin. Today’s highlight is the Golden Poplar (Populus euphratica) National Forest Park in Zepu County — late October is peak season, when the desert poplars turn blazing gold. Stroll the wooden boardwalks, step onto the glass walkway suspended above the golden woodland, hop aboard the sightseeing mini-train, and admire the “Poplar King” — thousand-year-old trees that have survived floods and droughts for a millennium. Finish at the Longevity Folk Culture Village (长寿民俗文化村): Zepu is celebrated as one of China’s “hometowns of longevity,” where Uyghur centenarians still tend their orchards — taste local dried fruits and learn about their traditional lifestyle.

Drive about 2–2.5 hours to the Dawakun Desert scenic area (达瓦昆) in Yuepuhu County — a rare “desert-meets-lake” landscape where golden sand dunes embrace a spring-fed lake. Ride across the dunes (optional 4x4 dune-bashing), try camel riding or sand-boarding, wander among ancient euphratica poplars at the desert’s edge, and relax in a Uyghur felt yurt (毡房) over milk tea and local snacks. Return to Kashgar in the late afternoon; the evening is free for a farewell dinner and souvenir hunting on Handicraft Street.

Your memorable journey through Kashgar and the Pamirs has come to an end. After checking out from your hotel, our driver will transfer you to Kashgar Kashi Airport in time for your departure flight. We hope you carry home wonderful memories of the ancient Silk Road city, the soaring peaks of the Pamirs, and the warm hospitality of the Uyghur and Tajik people. We look forward to welcoming you back!