Lhasa: Silk Road e Tibet Explore 15D

Day 1. Kashgar Arrival Transfer Welcome to Kashagr, the historical city on the ancient Silk Road. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Enjoy your free time if you arrive early. Transport: Private vehicle Accommodation: Overnight in Kashagr Day 2.Kashgar to Karakul Day Tour Today you will take about 4 hours by a private vehicle departing from Kashgar to Karakul Lake. You will drive along the renown friendship highway to Pamir Plateau. On the way, you will stop at Upar Uyghur town to buy some snacks and fruites before heading to the mountains. Then you will view the pretty White Sand Lake that looks like a mirror reflecting the snow-capped mountains on the lake water. After lunch, you will wander around the stunning Karakul Lake(3600 meter), which is situated beside Muztagh Summit. The mountain, the lake and the yurt around the lake create a picture of paradise. Later, you will be transferred back to Kashgar. Transport: Private vehicle Accommodation: Overnight in Kashgar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 3. Kashgar City Tour, then fly to Urumqi Today is a busy day to explore Kashagr with a local guide. You will take the city tour by the the first stop to visit the Apa Hoja Mausoleum which was built in 1640 by local Imam for his father, and later it became a family graveyard to bury 72 people for 5 generations. The mausoleum is impressive for its delicate Uyghur architectural style including the blue tiles, the dome and the minaret. Next, you will visit Kashgar old town to explore the intersting area where there are old houses for shops, workshops, restaurants, bakery, and tea houses etc. It displays the long history and vivid lifestyle in Kashgar from ancient Silk Road period to today. Handicraft Street is a must-see section in the old town, where the huge music instruments and bronze vessels are very impressive. You might taste some local snacks here, such as Nang Bread, grilled eggs, dried fruites etc. before visiting the old Id Ghar Mosque, the biggest mosque in Xinjiang. Enter the mosque at non-praying time to appreciate its architecture and decor, please wear long pants and cover the shoulders for ladies while visiting this mosque. Lunch is arranged at a local Uyghur's house for you to taste the authentic and traditional Uyghur food including nang bread, hand-stretched noodles, and pilau...etc. In the afternoon, you will wander around the the Grand Bazaar in Kashgar, which is well known in Central Asia for its colorful and lively market. As a Uyghur saying goes that you can buy everything except for your parents. There are more people in the afternoon, because the farmers will drive to here from different area in the morning and buy things in the afternoon at the market. Actually the bazaar opens every day, and more people on Sunday. The animal bazaar is relocated near Kashgar Airport and opens only on Sundays. So if it is Sunday, you will also visit the Animal Bazzar as well. When your tour is finished, you will be transferred back to Kashgar airport to catch flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, transferred to hotel. Transport: Private vehicle + Flight Accommodation: Overnight in Urumqi Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 4. Urumqi to Xinjiang Museum and Tianchi, then drive to Turpan This morning you will take 1-hour ride to Heavenly Lake, or Tianchi in Chinese, which is a high mountain lake with stunning scenery in the Tianshan Mountains. After lunch, you will visit the renown Xinjiang Museum that is famous for the well-preserved mummies, particularly Loulan Beauty and Xiaohe Princess. Afterwards you will take 3-hour car ride to Turpan via the desert, grassland, and Tianshan highway. Transport: Private vehicle Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 5. Turpan City Day Tour Turpan is a hub on the ancient Silk Road, and therer are lots of historical sites that are renown for its well-preserved conditions. Today you will visit Bezklik Grottos, Astana Ancient Tombs, the Ancient City of Jiaohe and Gaochang, Karez Irrigation System, and Emin Minaret with a local guide. You will taste some dried fruits and eat Uyghur food. Transport: Private vehicle Accommodation: Overnight in Turpan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 6. Turpan to Liuyuan by bullet train, then drive to Dunhuang Take 3.5-hour bullet train from Turpan to Liuyuan, where you will take 2-hour car ride to Dunhuang. Wander around the Minsha Shan or Singing Sand Dunes this afternoon, and view the crescent spring in the dunes. It is nice to eat or wander around the Dunhuang night market this evening. Or you can watch the performance copied from Mogao Caves. Transport: Private vehicle + Bullet train Accommodation: Overnight in Dunhuang Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 7. Dunhuang to Jiayuguan by car In the morning, you will visit Mogao Caves, the gem of the ancient Silk Road. The early history of Mogao can be track back to the 4th century, and built many times in the histoty. The colorful fresco, statues in Mogao Caves display various stories about Buddhism. After lunch, you will take 5-hour car ride to Jiayuguan via the western Hexi Corridor. Enjoy the sceney on the way for Gobi Desert, oasis towns, and snow-capped Qilian Mountains. Transport: Private vehicle Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 8. Jiayuguan: Visit Jiayuguan Fortress, Overhanging Great Wall and Wei& Jin Tomb Painting Today you will visit the western end of the Great Wall, Jiayuguan Fortress, which was built on the narrowest area in the Hexi Corridor between Qilian Mountain and Black Mountain. Afterwards you will climb up the Overhanging Wall to enjoy the amazing mountain view. Later, you will be transferred to visit the tomb brick painting in the Wei and Jin Ancient Cemetery, where the fresh colors painted on the brick are very impressive. Transport: Private Vehicle Accommodation: Overnight in Jiayuguan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 9. Jiayuguan to Zhangye Danxia by car Drive 3 hours to Zhangye Danxia where you will view the fa