Day 03
Wake early to watch the first light move across the Taklamakan Desert. Take photographs and experience the extraordinary stillness of the landscape. Optional desert activities may include camel riding, sand sliding or off-road driving, depending on local conditions and availability. After breakfast, we continue to a lively regional market. This is not a staged tourist performance. It is a genuine part of local life, filled with food stalls, produce, trade, conversations and the energy of people arriving from surrounding towns and villages. After lunch, we drive back to Kashgar for the evening. Overnight: Kashgar Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 04
Today we leave the Kashgar oasis and begin our journey into the Pamir Mountains along the Karakoram Highway. Our first major stop is the Oytagh area, where red mountain formations, alpine valleys and distant snow-covered peaks mark the transition from desert to high mountain terrain. As we climb higher, the enormous peaks of Kongur and Muztagh Ata begin to dominate the horizon. We then arrive at White Sand Lake, where pale dunes descend toward brilliant blue water beneath the mountains. Continue to Karakul Lake, one of the best-known alpine landscapes in Xinjiang. On a clear day, the lake reflects Muztagh Ata and the surrounding Pamir peaks. In the afternoon, we arrive in Tashkorgan, a high-altitude Tajik town near China’s western border. Overnight: Tashkorgan Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 05
Today we travel along one of the most extraordinary mountain roads in China: the Panlong Ancient Road. The road rises across the Pamir Plateau in a dramatic sequence of hairpin bends, creating a landscape that seems almost unreal from the surrounding viewpoints. We will make several carefully selected stops for photography and panoramic views. After descending from the mountain road, continue to Bandir Lake. Its deep blue glacial water contrasts sharply with the dry, sculpted mountains surrounding it. In the afternoon, return toward Tashkorgan to visit the ruins of Stone City, an important historic settlement along the Silk Road. We then walk through Golden Grassland, a broad wetland landscape framed by mountain peaks, waterways and grazing animals. If the weather is favourable, we will stay for the late-afternoon light over the Pamirs. Overnight: Tashkorgan Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 06
We begin the return journey from Tashkorgan to Kashgar, travelling once again through the dramatic high-altitude landscapes of the Pamirs. Weather, road access and local regulations permitting, we will visit the Muztagh Ata Glacier Park area. Short walks offer views of glaciers, ice formations and the vast slopes of Muztagh Ata. We will also have another opportunity to stop near Karakul Lake before continuing along the Karakoram Highway. After arriving in Kashgar, enjoy dinner followed by time at the Han Bazaar or one of the city’s evening markets. Overnight: Kashgar Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 07
Our final day explores the cultural heart of Kashgar. Begin at the Apak Hoja Mausoleum, known for its distinctive tiled architecture, courtyards and importance within the region’s history. We then visit a traditional livestock market, where herders and traders gather to exchange sheep, cattle, horses and other animals. Afterwards, walk through Kashgar Old City—one of the largest and best-preserved historic urban areas in Central Asia. Its sandstone lanes are filled with small workshops, family homes, bakeries, tea houses and artisans practising traditional crafts. After the city tour, transfer to Kashgar Airport for your independently booked return flight. Included meals: Breakfast and lunch Journey ends: Kashgar Airport

Trip guide · PDF
Southern Xinjiang · 7-Day Kashgar & Pamir Journey_4MB.pdf
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