5-Day Tour from Kashgar to Kucha

 Route:  Kashgar – Yarkand – Hotan – Kucha via Aksu

Activities: This tour features cultural and historical activities, because it is conducted in most southern part of Xinjiang where the customs and cultures are better preserved. It is suitable to those who has already visited Xinjiang or want to learn in depth about Xinjiang and its ethnic groups.

Day 01

Place & Transport: Kashgar City tour

Today’s Activities: Apak Hoja tomb, Sunday market, Old Town, Id Kah Mosque, Handicraft Street

Place to stay:Kashgar

We will begin our tour of Kashgar City by visiting the Apak Hojatomb also called fragrant concubine tomb (Xiangfei in Chinese) . This is a very tranquil place and a beautiful example of Uyghur Islamic architecture.

Next we will head to the Infamous lively Sunday market renowned as the biggest market in Central Asia. It is said you can buy anything you want from the Sunday market except chicken milk and Cow eggs.

We will then enjoy lunch in a typical Uyghur restaurant.

After lunch we will wander through the narrow winding streets of the historic Old town brushing shoulders with the friendly Uyghur residents. Located at the spiritual heart of old town is Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China.  We will go inside and have the chance to understand a bit more about the Islamic life of the Uyghur people. We will pass down Handicraft Street where we can view pots being hammered, wood craftsmen at work and traditional musical instrument workshops.

Note: For entering the Mosque visitors should dress respectfully, no shorts or short sleeved shirts and women should cover their heads with a scarf.

Day 02

Place & Transport: Kashgar to Hotan (540KM)

Today’s Activities: Yegisar knife factory, Graveyard of the Yarkent Uyghur Kingdom, Tomb of Aman Nisahan,Yarkent Old town

Place to stay: Hotan

We will leave for Hotan after breakfast. On our way to Hotan we will make a stop in the county of Yegisar.  Yegisar is the most famous region in Xinjiang for making traditional Uyghur knives. We will have the chance to visit one of the many knife factories here and view the making process and purchase souvenirs.  Next stop a further two hours down the road will be Yarkand (shache in Chinese). In Yarkand we will first visit the Golden Graveyard.   This graveyard dates from the 17th Century and is the burial place of Royal family members of the Yarkand Uyghur Kingdom. Next to this is the Tomb of Aman Nisahan, the wife of the second King of the Yarkand Kingdom. Aman Nisahan is a famous Uyghur poet, musician and composer. She is most renowned for her transcription of the Twelve Mukam of famous traditional Uyghur music. We will enjoy a traditional lunch of corn noodles, pumpkin dumplings and kebab in a local Yarkana teahouse.  After lunch we will continue our journey to Hotan (around four and a half hours).

Day 03

Place & Transport: Hotan tour & Desert Camp

Today’s Activities: Taklimakan desert, Imam Asim Tomb, Local silk, Carpet, Jade Workshops. White Jade River, Hotan Bazzar

Place to stay: Taklamakan Desert Camp

After breakfast we will visit Hotans amazing Sunday Market, a huge lively market which is like taking a journey back in time, experiencing donkey gridlock. Hotan is particularly famous for its high quality Jade products, the best Jade in China being found here in the White Jade River. We will visit the river and try to find some Jade for ourselves and watch the locals at work digging and sifting for the precious rock. We will also visit the white Jade factory to see how the Jade is processed and made into jewelry and ornaments. Hotan is also renowned for its high quality wool carpets. we will visit a carpet workshop to see the weaving process. Late in the afternoon we will take a camel ride out into the Taklamakan Desert and camp over night here.  We will enjoy a camp fire dinner and breakfast in the desert.

Note: We will provide you with all the necessary camping equipment, tents, sleeping bags and blankets etc.

Day 04

Place & Transport: Hotan to Aksu by crossing the new Desert Highway (650KM)

Today’s Activities: Taklamakan Desert Highway, Imam Asim Tomb

Place to stay: Aksu

On the way out of the desert we will visit the tomb of Imam Asimdating from the 10th Century. We will have lunch in Hotan before setting off for Aksu. The day’s journey will have us cross the width of the Taklamakan Desert along the 450km long Taklamakan Desert Highway. Taklamakan desert is the second largest shifting sands desert in the World, covering an area of 337,600 square km.Taklamakan Desert is known as the “sea of death” by the silk road traders that used to have to cross it in their caravans in times gone by, many traders entered the desert lost their way and were never to be seen again.

We will arrive in Aksu late in the afternoon in time for dinner. The days total distance will be 500 km from Hotan to Aksu (around 6 hours).

Day 05

Place & Transport: Aksu to Kuche (Kuqa) via Bay County (320KM)

Today’s Activities: Kizil Thousand Buddha caves, Becon tower, Subash Ancient City

Place to stay: Kuche (Kuqa)

After breakfast we will set out from Aksu to Kuqa (Kuche in Chinese). On our way to Kuqa we will visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha caves, dating from the 5th and 6th century AD. These are the second best preserved Buddhist caves in China.  We will enjoy a Chinese lunch at the caves before continuing on our journey to Kuqa.

Beacon Tower, the highest tower on the silk road, at 13m high and made of mud and wood. The Beacon Tower was previously used for sending out fire signals to warn of the arrival of enemies. We will then visit the Subash ancient city – Well preserved 1km square in size used to be the temples where Uyghur ancestors used to worship in the Buddhism periods. This will be the end og our services.