Taklimakan Desert

Taklimakan Desert, also spelled as Taklamakan Desert, is located in the middle of the Tarim Basin in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is the second largest shifting sand desert and 10th largest desert in the world. It covers an area of 337,600 square km. It is 1000 km long from east to west and 400 km wide from south to north. It’s west and southern side is between 1200 and 1500 meters above sea level. It’s eastern  and northern sides  are between  800 and  1000 meters above sea level.

Taklimakan Desert

Taklimakan Desert is surround by snow-capped mountains. Tian Shan Mountain is located on its north, Kunlun Mountains on its south, Pamir Plateau on its west and Lop Nur Marshy on its east.

Taklamakan Desert Highway

There are various explanations for the name of Taklimakan or Taklamakan which literally means “place for living underneath or the ruins”.  It has been translated by ancient caravans and early travellers as”go in and you will never return”, “death of sea”, or  “you can enter, but never exit”. These terms were used by Silk Road traders that used to cross it in their caravans on camel back. Many traders who entered the desert lost their way and were never seen again. Use  of these popular terms ended in 1995 with the construction of the 520 km long desert highway. The 520 km long desert highway connects Niya of Hotan with Korla or Kucha.  It has a  total length of around 700 km. In 2007, a new desert highway from Hotan to Aksu via Aral was  constructed with a total length of 460 km.

Taklimakan Desert

We offer various short visits or extended day tours to Taklimakan Desert.  Our tours offer  adventure trekking and camping expedition tours conducted either in the Hotan or Kashgar part of the Taklamakan desert. Taklamakan Desert Tours in Kashgar can be organized either in Dawakul Lake Taklimakan Desert in Yopurga or Karasu Taklimakan Desert in Yarkand. For details or to customize a trek or expedition, please email us or call us.