16 Days North Xinjiang and Kyrgyzstan Tour

Today, you will take your flight to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang. Upon arrival, we will meet you at the airport, bring you to downtown Urumqi to check in your hotel. Have a good rest.

Morning your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel. you will enjoy the tour of the picturesque Heavenly Lake, 2000m up in the Tianshan mountain range. which is surrounded by the snow mountains, blooming wildflowers, evergreen pine trees. 40-minute sceniic shuttle bus ride that twists though the dramatic mountains. Then you can either walk to the lakeside in 10mins or take the electronic cart. There are 3 options suggested. Boating cruise to take the incredible view of Tianshan Mountain. Trekking along the lake in the fresh air. or you can explore further uo to the Maya Mountain by the cable car to enjoy the magnificent view of the Mountains. 

Driving on the newly-built highway to Burqin. On the way, we can enjoy the stunning views of Ulungur Lake, It is an ideal home of migratory birds, famous for its abundance of fish. This Wetland park is vast in territory, rich in aquatic products, with the valuable wetland resources,the ecological system is typical,uniqueness and diversity. Upon arrival, enjoy the scenery of Five colored Beach, Walk into the colorful Beach, you will feel as if in a dream world. The unique lava landscape consisted of purplish red, vandyke red, yellow and light green mudstone, sandstone and gravel. this is the most beautiful colorful Beach, masterpiece of nature, and miracle of Burqin. 

City: Night market, famous for cold water fish. Walk around the Erqis River to enjoy the beautiful night view of the city

Breakfast at the hotel, then we will travel to Hemu Village,  which is the one of the famous Tuvas village. Arrive at the entrance of Hemu, we still have to change the shuttle bus to the village. Here we would like to suggest you leave your big luggage in our coach and take your must stuff. tranquil village, herds of cattle and sheep, warm and hospitable locals, What a beautiful and mysterious place!

Your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning, and then drive along the mountain road to Kanas Nature Reserve, China's only European-like ecological site that has been awarded the title of the "Pure Land of the World" due to its unspoiled natural scenery. En-route, visit Kanas Lake. Upon arrival change the shuttle bus to the inside of the Reserve to enjoy the beautiful scenery, head to the Fish Pavilion, enjoy a view of Kanas. Later afternoon back to Jiadengyu district to check into the hotel. Dinner and rest.

Another day in Kanas to appreciate this wonderland, in the afternoon drive to the airport and overnight in the airport hotel. As our flight is in the moring around 10am

After having a breakfast at the hotel,take the flight to Urumqi and then continue to Kashgar. When arrive in Kashgar, transfer you to downtown hotel check in. Have a good rest.

Morning meet you at the hotel lobby and then driving on the China and Pakistan Highway. Today we will head to Taxkorgan and explore the Stone Fortress. The city is oval in shape and the city walls were built with sun-dried bricks on stone foundation. It is 1285 metres in circumference outside. Over the past few years, new wooden pathways have been constructed to allow tourist to walk these beautiful grasslands, known as the Golden Grassland. From here you can get even better photos of the Stone Fortress. 

Say farewell to Taxkorgan, this morning we will drive back to Kashgar. On the way, you can experience beautiful Karakul Lake where the herds of livestock around the lakeside are reflected in lake Kirghiz herdsmen usually settle down and graze their herds. And enjoy the magnificent Bulunkol Lake also known as Baisha Mountain (white Sand Mountain) is located in the Pamir Plateau, a large plateau in the Pamir mountain range at an altitude of about 3500 to 5000m with mountains up to more than 7000m, located next to the Karakoram Highway, so it is one of the must stop spot on the way to Karakul lake and Taxkorgan. This view shows the central part of the plateau from the southeast covering Tajikistan  in the center, Eastern China on the right and Afghanistan as well as northern Pakistan on the foreground left.

When arrive in Kashgar, we will pay a visit to the famous Sunday bazaar that is combined two section. The covered bazaar sells the clothing, nuts, household goods and many things out of your imagination. The outdoor Animal Bazaar is the first bazaar we visit, where the farmers and buyers arriving by donkey cart, truck, bicycle, horseback, motorbike or on foot, with their animals. It's loud, lively and cheerful as they arrive. It is quite interesting to witness their typical methods of bargain. 

visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest Mosque in China and the most sacred mosque for the locals to practise their Islamic activities. around 10:30 we have to visit the Kashgar Old Town when the open ceremony ready to greeting all the tourists with the culture show, further exploration to the special culture and experience the lifestyle with the arrangements of the visiting to the local Uighur Family. Lunch arranged in the local Restaurant. 

After that, continue the tour to the Apakh Hoja Tomb, which is the holiest place in Xinjiang and an architectural treasure. Kashgar city tour ends with the wandering to the bustling Handicraft street, dazzling jewelry, primitive pottery,unique musical instrument, daily resources of the locals.

Today we will transfer you to Torugart Border and drive to Tash Rabat Caravanserai – Stone Castle from the 14th century. The building is a unique one. It is located at the very heart of Tian Shan Mountains. And it has no analogue in the whole world, because it was made of stones and furthermore it was hidden in the mountains at a height of 3200 m. In total there are 31 rooms in the castle. The thickness of walls is 1 m. Traditional dinner will be served at 7 p.m. You will spend this night in real yurts. It is a great chance to discover the land of nomads and to find out many interesting facts. Transfer to Naryn.

Early in the morning is transfer by car from  Naryn  to Kochkor. The road itself from Tash Rabat to Kochkor is just amazing! You will drive along mountain roads and on the way you will move over few high passes. The highest one is called Dolon pass. It is 3030 meters high above the sea level! Today it will be possible to meet real nomads that still live in yurts. Yurts are collapsible nomadic dwellings that are made of felt and wood without using a single nail. You will be shocked by the beauty of our mountains that stayed almost untouched till nowadays.

Then we will arrive to Kochkor village. There you will meet a local family to find out more about Kyrgyz people. They will show you the way our national felt carpets are produced. You even can create your own carpet together with them! Also you will visit a small local Handicraft museum. At this place you will get acquainted with nomadic traditions. Night is in a home stay.

Your guide will pick you up at 8 a.m. Afterwards you will be transferred to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608m.above sea level). The lake is called "the pearl of Central Asia". Thanks to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. You can come up to the lake and to see mountains all around it! The water of the lake is very clean. At Soviet time there were built even special houses for the members of parliament – all of them wanted to have a rest near celestial Issyk Kul Lake! The lake is just incredible!!!

In Cholpon Ata town you will have an opportunity to visit ancient stone inscriptions. It is the most ancient place of Kyrgyzstan. The pictures are dating back to 800 B.C. They were depicted on stones by shamans and all these stones are still at the same place where they were 2 000 – 2 500 years ago! It is a great chance to feel the spirits of that time! Also we will visit a local museum that is considered to be the best one in Kyrgyzstan. There are many things connected with nomadic life and it is really worth to see them!!! Night will be in a very nice modern resort.

Your guide will pick you up at 9 a.m. Then we will leave Issyk Kul and we will drive to the Bishkek city. On the way we will visit Burana Tower (minaret from the 11th century) and an Open Air Museum of Balbans (stone warriors). Burana Tower was used during the Great Silk Road as a sign for travelers that there was a city to have a rest. You can still see the outlines of the old city around the tower. Nearby you will see balbals. These grave stones that look like warriors were made in honor of brave soldiers that died for their Motherland. You will have time in Bishkek to go for a walk. Dinner will be at 7 o’clock. Your overnight will be in a hotel. Arrive in Bishken in the afternoon and then visit central Ala-Too Square, Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Pobeda Square (Victory Square), the History Museum, National philharmonic and many others places of interest. During this day we will show you our main squares and buildings that were made at Soviet time.

It is not a real city tour without visiting our Asian Bazaar! We will show it today and you will be able to make a lot of photos there. This bazaar is very colorful and noisy. People sell there all kinds of goods. You will walk there about an hour to see local people, goods, fruits, vegetables, meat store, and other things! On this bazaar you will see very interesting people that come from villages to sell their goods. Dinner will be in a national restaurant at 7 p.m. Night is in a hotel.

Today day we will visit Ala Archa gorge. It is a Natural Park. At the Soviet Time only V.I.P. people could have a permition to go for a walk there. It is situated in the Ala Arch gorge, on the Kyrgyz range (a spur of Tien Shan). It is just 45 km from Bishkek and the road will not take long time. At this place you can have a short hiking tour to see a panorama view of the gorge. If you want we can go hiking a little bit longer to see a nice small waterfall. Afterwards is return to Bishkek. Traditional dinner will be organized at 7 o’clock. This overnight will be in a hotel. 

Breakfast, Then transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to your sweet home.It has been a great silk road holiday and we look forward to seeing you another China trip.