5-Day Kashgar Discovery Tour Including Tashkurgan

Tour Highlights
• Admire the distinctive Islamic architecture of Abakh Khoja Mausoleum
• Wander through Kashgar Old Town, a maze of Uyghur style folk residences to experience Uyghur culture and customs
• Visit Idkah Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Central Asia and the largest in China
• Stroll along the famed Handicraft Street
• Enjoy the vibrant bursts of color and sound at the famous Kashgar Grand Bazaar, one of the largest in Asia
• Admire the highest lake of the Pamir Plateau of Karakul (Karakuli) Lake surrounded by pristine scenery
• Drive the China-Pakistan Karakorum Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world with stunning views
• Visit Tashkurgan, Crown of the Karakoram, Icing on the Cake of Pamir Plateau
• Visit Tashkurgan Stone Fort, once the central palace of the Tajik kingdom with a history of more than 2000 years

Tour Itinerary at a Glance
• Day 1 Arrival in Kashgar, Kashgar Airport or Train Station Pick-up.
• Day 2 Kashagar, Abakh Hoja Mausoleum, the Old Town, Idkah Mosque, the Handicraft Street, Grand Bazaar.
• Day 3 Drive to Tashkurgan, Uyhur Opal Village, Red Mountain, White Sand Mountain, Karakul Lake
• Day 4 Tashkurgan, Stone Fort, Drive back to Kashgar
• Day 5 Departure from Kashgar, Transfer to Kashgar Airport or Train Station.

Hotels & Meals
• 3 nights of accommodations at 4-star Luxemon Qinibagh Hotel Kashgar or similar
• 1 night of accommodations at 3-star Uropa Garden Hotel Tashkurgan or similar
• Daily hotel breakfast included, lunch & dinner on your own

Price Remarks
• Prices are not valid during National Day (Oct 1-7), Chinese New Year, and Labor Day (May 1-5).
• Prices are based on double/twin/triple occupancy at the suggested hotels.
• A single supplement is charged for single room occupancy.

Price Inclusions
• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast.
• Professional English language speaking tour guide.
• Air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver.
• Admission tickets to sightseeing places.
• All government taxes.

Price Exclusions
• Your personal expenses.
• Tour guide for departure transfer.
• Lunches & dinners are excluded allowing you flexibility on menu.
• Travel insurance is not included. Please purchase before your trip to provide for any unforeseen circumstances.
• Gratuities to guide & driver. They are customary and would be of great encouragement and reward for quality service.

Additional Information
• Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• The itinerary is subject to change due to traffic conditions or bad weather.
• The itinerary is flexible; changes can be made upon written request from travelers.
• Advice on Meals: Please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations on authentic local food.
• IMPORTANT: It is required by the government regulations that all travellers must provide their name, gender, nationality, passport number and date of birth to their tour operator upon booking a tour. Failure to do so could result in being denied access or admittance to sites and attractions during sightseeing. When you book this tour, please complete all required fields at checkout. Please bring your passport with you on the tour.

Cancellation Policy
• Cancellations made 31 days or more before departure will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made 22-30 days before departure will incur a 10% fee.
• Cancellations made 15-21 days before departure will incur a 30% fee.
• Cancellations made 8-14 days before departure will incur a 50% fee.
• Cancellations made 0-7 days before departure are non-refundable.
• Once the tour commences, there are no refunds for unused services or missed days.
• Cancellation request will be confirmed within 2-5 business days, with refunds issued within 14 working days.

Tailor This Tour to Meet Your Needs
• If you've booked your own hotel, prefer a different stay, or wish to modify this itinerary, contact us via WhatsApp (+86 139 1083 0737) or email (info@GrandChinaTravel.com), and we'll craft a personalized tour just for you.

Know Before You Go
• Keep your passport with you throughout the tour; it may be needed to buy entrance tickets.
• Meals are not included; please feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.
• Tour guide's name and contact information will be confirmed via WhatsApp or email.
• Your guide will greet you in the airport/train station arrival hall with a GGC pickup sign displaying your name.
• Tashkurgan is 3,090 metres (10,140 ft) above sea level, consult your doctor if you have High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

Day 1 Arrival in Kashgar
Meet your guide at Kashgar airport or train station and transfer to your hotel in a private vehicle. After getting settled at the hotel, you may explore the downtown area on your own or relax during the remainder of the day to recover from the jet lag. Located at the foot of the Pamirs Mountains between a vast desert and immense mountain range, Kashgar was once an isolated oasis on the long trade route across the Asian continent. It was a major hub along the great Silk Road as the northern and southern Silk Routes crossed here and caravans departed for Central Asia, India, Pakistan and ancient Persia (current Iran). Kashgar was described as “fruitful soil, cotton aplenty, and inhabitants who live by trade” by Marco Polo.

Meals Included: No meals
Hotel: 4-star Luxemon Qinibagh Hotel Kashgar or similar

Day 2 Abakh Hoja Mausoleum, the Old Town, Idkah Mosque, the Handicraft Street, Grand Bazaar
Visit Abakh Hoja Mausoleum in the morning. This mausoleum is one of the best examples of Islamic architecture in China. It is an ancient Islamic building complex and a cemetery where five generations of a famous Islamic master were buried. Next, stroll around the distinctly Central Asian Kashgar old town, which stood in for Kabul in the filming of The Kite Runner. Visit the friendly Uyghur people in their home in the Kashgar Old Town and experience their unique culture. In the afternoon, visit the 500 year old Idkah Mosque, the largest mosque in China as well as an iconic part of Kashgar and the entire Xinjiang region. Continue to wander along the Kashgar Handicraft Street to soak up the culture and history of Kashgar with a stop at the One Hundred Year Tea House to experience Uyhur life. Afterwards, explore the bustling Grand Bazaar, one of China’s most famous weekend markets. The weekly Sunday Bazaar draws a variety of ethnic groups like the Uyghur, Tajik, Kyrgyz and Kazakh to the streets of Kashgar. They come on foot, bikes, horsebacks, modern motorcycles and donkey carts, all with the hope of selling merchandise that ranges from scissors to camels.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Luxemon Qinibagh Hotel Kashgar or similar

Day 3 Drive to Tashkurgan, En Route, Uyhur Opal Village, Red Mountain, White Sand Mountain, Karakul Lake
Day trip to Karakul Lake, en route, stop by the Uyhur Opal Village, the Red Mountain, the White Sand Mountain & Bulunkou Lake before reaching Karakul Lake. The Karakul or Karakuli means Black Lake, which is a glacial alpine lake 3600 m (11,811 feet) above sea level, 30 meters (about 98 feet) deep and with a surface of ten square kilometers (about four square miles). The water is set against the majestic and mysterious Muztagh Ata Peak which is called the Father of Ice Mountains with an elevation of 7546 meters. With snow-capped mountains and rivers of the same color, the scenery of Karakul Lake is very charming. On the other side stands the Kongur Mountain (peak 7719) highest the Karakoram Highway which adds more beauty to this splendid unique lake. Kyrgiz Nomads live around the Karakul Lake. You can enjoy horse or camel ride at your own expense by the lake up in the high mountain of Kunlun. Continue to drive to Tashkurgan. 

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 3-star Uropa Garden Hotel Tashkurgan or similar

Day 4 Tashkurgan, Stone Fort, Drive to Kashgar
Tashkurgan literally means stone fort, it was once the seat of a fledgling Tajikistan kingdom. Tashkurgan is another ancient Silk Road node and caravan stop with a colorful history of dominance by various Persian and Chinese kingdoms. Tashkurgan is as far as one can go in Western China—next stop Pakistan. Visit the massive hilltop Stone Fort on the outskirts of town in the morning. The Stone fort has a history of more than 2000 years, in times gone by it was the central palace of the Tajik kingdom. Visit the remains of fort with crumbling walls and a few deep holes that were once wells used to bring water from the neighboring grasslands. View the beautiful scenery from one of the four watchtowers. From here you’ll be amazed by the breathtaking views of the mountains and grasslands that stretch out as far as the eye can see.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Hotel: 4-star Luxemon Qinibagh Hotel Kashgar or similar

Day 5 Departure from Kashgar
Private transfer (without guide) to Kashgar airport or railway stations for your departure flight/train. Wish you a pleasant journey and thank you for traveling with GoGrandChina.

Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel

Friendly Tips
• If you want to explore more cities in Xinjiang, sucha as Korla, Kuca, Aksu... please feel free to contact your GGC service staff for extended Xinjiang & Silk Road tours.