Your guide and driver will pick you up at Urumqi airport. Transfer to the hotel,

after check-in, you could have dinner in old town may be a little walk (Optional).

After breakfast, embark on a scenic journey north and arrive in Burqin by late afternoon and head straight to the Colorful Beach along the Irtysh River.

Colorful Beach

Enter the legendary Kanas Nature Reserve, home to China’s most beautiful lake. Hike the Three Bays—Moon Bay’s perfect crescent, Dragon Bay’s misty peninsulas, and Immortal Bay’s mirror-like waters—framed by Siberian spruce forests.

Kanas

Drive to Hemu Village, a fairy-tale settlement of log cabins and grazing horses set in a sun-drenched valley. Ride the Jijiekelin Cable Car for panoramic views of the Altai Mountains’ golden meadows. Savor a rustic lunch with a local Tuvan family before an evening of stargazing.

Hemu

Return to Burqin and witness the Colorful Beach at sunset. This masterpiece of desert geology dazzles with lava formations in crimson, ochre, and emerald along the Irtysh River. Walk the boardwalks as shifting light transforms the landscape into a painter’s palette—a photographer’s dream.

Colorful Beach

Journey through the Gobi to Urho Ghost City, where fierce winds have sculpted eerie sandstone towers and mysterious formations. Feel the desert’s power as you wander this dramatic, silent cityscape. Arrive in Karamy, an oil boomtown, for a modern contrast with regional cuisine.

Urho Ghost City

After breakfast, ascend to the “Last Tear of the Atlantic”—Lake Sayram. At 2,070 meters altitude, this alpine lake mirrors the snow-capped Tian Shan peaks in its crystalline waters. Stroll along the shore where wildflowers dance in the breeze and Kazakh yurts dot the grasslands. Here, heaven and earth merge in perfect harmony, creating a sanctuary for the soul.

Lake Sayram

Begin with sunrise over the lake’s turquoise waters, then cross the breathtaking Guoziguo Pass (Fruit Valley), a historic Silk Road corridor with dramatic switchbacks and panoramic vistas. (In June, visit the Lavender Farm.)

Yining

Drive to the Kalajun Grassland, part of the vast Ili grasslands renowned for their rolling hills carpeted with wildflowers. Hike through the red sandstone depths of Koksu Canyon, a hidden geological wonder. In Tekes, explore Tekes Li Street, the heart of the unique Bagua (Eight Trigrams) city layout—an ancient design where every road radiates from a central park, creating a perfect urban mandala.

Kalajun Grassland

After breakfast, enter the “Sky Grassland” of Nalati, where nomadic Kazakh culture thrives. Ride horses across endless meadows dotted with wildflowers, listen to traditional dombra music, and witness eagle hunting demonstrations. The grassland seems to touch the clouds, offering a glimpse into millennia-old pastoral traditions.

Sky Grassland

After breakfast, embark on one of China’s most scenic drives—the legendary Duku Road. Wind through the Tian Shan Mountains, crossing snow passes and alpine lakes.

Duku Highway

After breakfast, explore the Kuche Great Canyon’s fiery red sandstone walls that tower above narrow passages, creating a natural cathedral of stone. Later, wander through Kuqa Old Town’s mud-brick alleys, where Uyghur artisans craft copperware and the aroma of roasted lamb and naan bread fills the air—a living museum of Silk Road culture.

Kuche Great Canyon

After breakfast, visit the Kizil Caves, the earliest Buddhist grottoes in China. Admire the delicate murals depicting Jataka tales and Gandhara art, painted by monks along the ancient Silk Road. Though time has faded some colors, the spiritual devotion and artistic mastery remain vividly etched in these sacred chambers.

Kizil Caves

After breakfast, journey to the fabled Kashgar Old City. Walk through labyrinthine mud-brick lanes where children play, craftsmen hammer silver, and the Sunday Market’s chaos brims with exotic spices and textiles. This is the heartbeat of the Silk Road, where centuries of trade and culture converge in every sight and sound.

Kashgar Old City

After breakfast, visit the magnificent Id Kah Mosque, Central Asia’s largest, where faithful worshippers create a sea of white caps on Fridays. Then pay respects at the Apak Hoja Tomb, a masterpiece of Uyghur architecture.

Kashgar Grand Bazaar

After breakfast, ascend into the Pamir Mountains toward Tashkurgan. Pause at White Sand Lake, continue to Karakul Lake, its glassy surface reflecting the snow-crowned majesty of Muztagh Ata.

White Sand Lake

After breakfast, traverse the legendary Panlong Ancient Road, then visit the Stone City ruins rising from Golden Grassland. Later, admire the surreal hues of Blandir Blue Lake before sharing tea and bread with a Tajik family.

Panlong Ancient Road

After breakfast, descend from the Pamir Plateau, retracing the spectacular route back to Kashgar. The return journey offers new perspectives on familiar peaks and valleys, a final chance to absorb the region’s raw grandeur before the minarets and markets of Kashgar rise again on the horizon, marking your return to civilization’s edge.

Red Rock Canyon

After breakfast, our guide will transfer you to the airport for your homeward flight, carrying memories of Xinjiang’s unparalleled landscapes, cultures and the warmth of its people. Your Silk Road adventure concludes, but the stories will last forever.