Tour Across the Takamankan Desert

Day 1 Urumqi - Drive 120 km. to Heavenly Lake natural scenic area.  Cruise on the lake and

      take a golf car around the lake.  Return to the city and visit the Provincial Museum one

      of the best in western China.  View some of the mummies from over 4000 years ago.

      Visit the Grand Bazaar.  Transfer to the Tunhe Hotel.  BLD

Day 2 Urumqi/Turpan - Drive 2.5 hours past hundreds of wind powered windmills producing

      electricity for the area to the city of Turpan in the desert and the second lowest depression

      in the world.   Visit the ruins of Jiaohe once a military stronghold 1600 years ago and

      defeated by the Mongols and destroyed.   Visit the Ancient Karez, the underground water

       supply and irrigation system which is a marvel for its time.  Visit Grape Valley famous

      for its sweet grapes and raisons.  Transfer to the Tuha Hotel.  BLD

Day 3 Turpan - Visit the Ruins of Gaochang famous during the Tang Dynasty as a stop along

       the Silk Road and once a city of 12,000 people with a king during the first century A.D.

       You will visit the ruins by Donkey Cart and then visit the Bezeklik Caves located in

       the gorge valley of the Flaming Mountains.  BLD

Day 4 Turpan/Korle - Drive to Korle  380 km.  Cross several magnificent valleys of the

       Tiashan Mountain and arrive at the town of fragrant pears.  Visit Iron Gate Pass and

      city tour.  Transfer to the Bazhou Hotel.  BLD

 

Day 5 Korle/Kuqa - Drive to Kuqa 280 km. a large city in habited by Uygurs.  Visit the

       Subashi Ancient Temple since the Han Dynasty and well preserved.  Visit the Grand

Mosque of Kuqa and the Old Bazaar.  Transfer to the Kuqa hotel.  BLD

Day 6  Kuqa/Aksu -  Drive to Aksu 360 km. after detouring to the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves

       built around the 4th century A.D and best  preserved caves in Xinjiang.  These caves are

       very different from other Buddhist caves in that they are done in the Indian Gandaghar

       Buddhist art style.  Transfer to the HongfuJinlan Hotel.  BLD

Day 7 Aksu/Kashgar - Drive to Kashgar 470 km through several mini-oasis villages and

      transfer to the  Tianyuan International Hotel.  BLD

Day 8  Kashgar - Visit the morning Markets of Kashgar.  In the afternoon visit the Old Town

      area seeing many home workshops and how the Uygur people live as they did in ancient

      days.  Visit the Mausoleum of Apakhoja and the Tomb of the Fragrant Concubine.  Visit

       the Etgar Mosque.  BLD.

Day 9  Kashgar/Karakul Lake - Tour the Karakurum Highway to Karakukl Lake 180 km. and

      enjoy the snow capped mountain of Muztagh Ata and the lake.  On the way back to

       Kashgar visit the Muhammed Kashgari's Tomb Complex of the 11th century.  BLD

Day 10   Kashgar/Hotan - Drive to Hotan 520 km. and pass by town like Yengisar famous for hand

made knives.  Visit Yarkent-old capital of Karahnate Kingdom of the 15th century with

late afternoon arrival at the famous Jade Town of Hotan.  Transfer to the Hotian Hotel.  BLD

Day 11  Hotan/Urumqi- In the morning visit the Malikewat Ancient ruins and the famous ancient

      Market of Hotan where you will see many hand made items at low prices.  Take an

      evening flight to Urumqi and transfer to the Tunhe Hotel.  BLD

This tour may be taken in its whole or in part according to your available time.  Please ask for

an itinerary and quote for a shorter tour of this area.

Includes:  Hotels, transportation as listed, meals as listed, sightseeing, English speaking guides

with car or private bus with driver.

Not included:   Tips to guides and drivers and any expenses of a personal nature.

Price:  2-5 persons  $2595 pp   6-9 persons  $2295 pp   10+ persons  $1995 pp  Single Supp $425