Pamir 7-Day Explorer: Karakul Lake & Silk Road Heritage

7-day tour of Xinjiang (Kashgar, Baisha Lake, Karakule Lake, Mustage Peak, Panlong Ancient Road, Shache, Artux Tianmen)
Day 1: Pick up in Kashgar
Meal: Dinner
On the first day, we arrived in Kashgar city. When your plane lands, our local professional tour guide and experienced driver will greet you at the airport's arrival hall, then escort you to the hotel to rest, adjust the time difference, and recover from the long-distance flight.
In the evening, we carefully selected a historic restaurant in the ancient city of Kashgar. There is a magnificent ethnic song and dance performance in the center of the hall. If you are willing, you can also dance with the actors on stage, taste local Xinjiang cuisine, and enjoy a delicious meal to the music. The butler will send a message informing you of the departure time and route details the next day. Please check your inbox.

·Our guests' privileges:
We have reserved a seat near the stage for you during dinner, where you can watch the song and dance performance up close and interact with the actors while dancing.
When checking in, the tour guide will give everyone a disposable item bag as a gift.

The next day: Kashgar → Oyitak Red Mountain → Baisha Lake → Karakul Lake → Ta County
Meal: Breakfast
Today's attractions: Oyitak Red Mountain, Baisha Lake, Karakule Lake
After enjoying a buffet breakfast at the hotel, the private tour guide and driver are waiting in the hotel lobby. We drove to Tashkurgan County on the Pamir Plateau.
Firstly, we will see the Oyatak Red Mountain. The mountain is mainly composed of red sandstone and mudstone formed from the Jurassic to Paleogene periods (about 150 million years ago), rich in iron oxide elements. Over the long geological years, it has weathered and eroded, presenting varying shades of red. From a distance, it looks like flames burning, hence it is also known as the "Southern Xinjiang Flame Mountain".
After driving for another hour, we will see the first lake on this trip - Baisha Lake. It is a glacial lake formed by glacial action, with its water sourced from melting snow from snow capped mountains and groundwater, at an altitude of 3300 meters. The lake water is clear and transparent, and its color changes with the seasons, weather, and lighting. On sunny days, it appears Tiffany blue, on cloudy days it turns emerald green, and when exposed to sunlight it turns milky white, making it particularly beautiful.
Departing from Baisha Lake for half an hour, arrive at Karakule Lake surrounded by numerous snow capped mountains. It is an important scenic spot on the China Pakistan Friendship Highway. To the east of the lake is the "father of glaciers" Mount Mustag, while to the west lies the winding Sarkuole Mountains. To the south are Mount Gonggeer and Mount Gonggeer Jiubie. The snow capped mountains and the lake complement each other, creating a picturesque scenery.

Arrive at Tashkurgan County in the evening and check into a hotel. Tashkurgan has an average altitude of over 4000 meters, making it the highest county in Xinjiang. It borders Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, with a border of nearly 800 kilometers, and has a unique location advantage of "one county adjacent to three countries, two ports connecting two Asia".

·Our guests' privileges:
To enhance your travel experience, we have arranged a camel riding activity for you next to Lake Karakule.

Day 3: Ta County → Panlong Ancient Road → Bandir Blue Lake → Ta County
Meal: Breakfast
Today's attractions: Panlong Ancient Road, Bandier Blue Lake, Ta County
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Panlong Ancient Road and pass by Bendil Blue Lake on the way. This is an artificial reservoir, and standing on the bridge, we can have a panoramic view of the entire Blue Lake. With the blue lake water and distant snow capped mountains as the background, it is a great place to take panoramic photos. Drive forward for another half an hour to reach Panlong Ancient Road. Panlong Ancient Road is open around March and closed around November every year, with a total length of 36 kilometers, 608 bends, an altitude of over 4100 meters, and a maximum drop of over 1000 meters. From the sky, the road winds down and is built along the mountain ridge, resembling a black dragon coiling around the mountains, hence it is called the "Panlong Ancient Road" or the Wacha Highway.

The fourth day: Taxian County → Muztag Peak Glacier Park → Kashi
Meal: Breakfast
Today's attraction: Mustag Peak Glacier Park
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and the tour guide will lead everyone to the Mustagh Peak Glacier Park. It is located under the world-renowned "father of icebergs" - the Mustagh Peak Skirt. We can enjoy the magnificent scenery of glaciers from the observation deck, or take cable cars or walking cable cars to view glaciers, ice towers, ice caves, and ice lakes from different angles; You can also walk along the hiking route, get up close to the glacier, touch it with your own hands, and feel its cold and hardness.

In the afternoon, we returned to the city center of Kashgar and arrived at the hotel for a brief rest before heading to the ancient city of Kashgar. The earliest original record of Kashgar ancient city dates back more than 2100 years ago, recorded by Zhang Qian, and was called "Shule City" at that time. At the end of the Qin Dynasty and the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Kashgar was the territory of Shule and other states in the 36 Western Regions. In 60 BC, the Han Dynasty established the Western Regions Protectorate in Xinjiang, and Kashgar was officially included in China's territory. In the Ming Dynasty, Kashgar was one of the four major cities in the Western Regions. Before the opening of the sea route in the 15th century, Kashgar was a transportation hub on the Silk Road. There are many folk artists in the ancient city who inherit ancient skills, such as pottery firing, ethnic musical instrument making, hand embroidery, wood carving, etc. Everyone can watch their production process on site and experience the charm of traditional handicrafts. The scenic area will regularly hold exciting performances such as opening ceremonies, camel parades, and the selection of Western Regions princesses. Tourists can enjoy traditional Uyghur songs, dances, music, and other performances here, and deeply experience the local folk culture.

Dinner suggestion:
If you are looking for a place to try authentic local specialty cuisine, don't miss the Khan Bazaar Night Market. There are various Xinjiang specialties, such as pilaf, barbecue, Lamian Noodles, roast eggs, Dapan chicken, which make people feast on their mouths.

Day 5: Kashgar → Shache → Tutao Village → Shache
Meal: Breakfast
Today's attractions: Shache Ancient City, Tutao Village
After breakfast, depart from Kashgar Ancient City and arrive at Shache Ancient City within a 2-hour drive. Shache Ancient City has a long history of over 3000 years. It was once the capital of Shache Kingdom, one of the 36 Western Regions, and also the capital of Yarkand Khanate. It is a key point and military garrison on the ancient Silk Road. The style of the Yarkand Khan's palace is magnificent and full of strong Islamic charm. It contains numerous intangible cultural heritages, among which Twelve Muqam has been included in the World Intangible Cultural Heritage List and the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Departing from Tu Tao Village in the afternoon, it has a thousand year history of pottery firing, and its craftsmanship can be traced back to over 2000 years ago. Its color mainly comes from natural plants and mineral pigments, with dual value of use and decoration.
Then, return to the ancient city of Shache and stroll through the local night market to end the fulfilling day.

·Our guests' privileges:
In the evening, we prepared a performance of the world intangible cultural heritage Twelve Muqam for everyone to enjoy the charm of exotic music.
2. We have also arranged an experiential course on pottery making for you. Make a clay pottery container at a local workshop, where you can engrave your name or any mark on the pottery and take it home - this is a special souvenir we have prepared for your trip to Xinjiang.

Day 6: Shache → Artux Tianmen → Kashgar
Meal: Breakfast
Today's attractions: Artux Tianmen and Gaotai Residential Buildings
After breakfast, check out at the hotel. A full-time tour guide and driver will lead you to Artux Tianmen, which takes about 2 hours by car.
Artux Tianmen, with an altitude of 3000 meters, is one of the highest naturally formed arches in the world. It is in the shape of an "n", about 100 meters wide and 457 to 500 meters high, making it the largest "Tianmen" discovered in China with a scale larger than Zhangjiajie Tianmen.

In the afternoon, return to Kashgar and head to Gaotai residential area. This is the essence of Kashgar, a high-rise residential complex with a history of over 600 years, which is the oldest surviving group of primitive buildings. Here, there are many craftsmen who have been passed down from generation to generation. They have been making a craft for their entire lives, including pottery, bronze, and wooden products.
Continuing on to the Aitigar Mosque, it is the largest mosque in Xinjiang and one of the few mosques in Xinjiang that is open to the outside world. It was once an important institution for cultivating Islamic talents and has a high influence and reputation in the religious community both domestically and internationally. Avoiding Friday worship days, the temple is shaded by green trees, and the entire temple is dominated by greenery, giving people a sense of tranquility and coolness.

Day 7: Delivery to Kashgar
According to your flight schedule, our private tour guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel and escort you to the airport on time. Wishing you a pleasant journey, thank you for traveling with us.
If your flight is later in the day, our travel consultant will be happy to provide you with some advice to further explore the city.

The cost includes:
1. Hotel accommodation with breakfast included
2. A private tour guide who can speak English
3. Private drivers and air-conditioned vehicles
4. Welcome banquet
5. Tourist attraction tickets
6. Performance and pottery making experience of Twelve Muqam
The cost does not include:
1. Air or train tickets for arrival and departure
2. Entry visa fee
3. Tips for tour guides and drivers