[South Xinjiang Carpooling] Lop Nur Village, Tarim Poplar Forest, Tian Shan Grand Canyon, Thousand Buddha Caves, Pamir Plateau, Kashgar Old Town, 6-day carpooling tour — click to view
Itinerary Highlights:
1. [Young Companions]: Specifically designed for the post-80s, 90s, and 00s crowd, young enough to go high;
2. [Carpooling Travel]: Super popular group carpooling, starting from 1 person, up to 6 people;
3. [Folk Customs]: Ancient Lop Nor people, enthusiastic Uyghurs, plateau Tajiks, each with their own charm;
4. [Western Regions Scenery]: Gobi Desert, resilient poplar trees, mysterious Tian Shan Grand Canyon, Muztagh Ata, desolate yet magnificent;
5. [Cultural Bittersweet Journey]: Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Xiangfei Tomb, Kashgar Old Town, Aytigar Mosque, let’s explore them all;
6. 【Culinary Experience】: Enjoy local Xinjiang cuisine at your own meals, including naan, roast meat, pilaf, baked stuffed buns, and pigeon soup.
7. 【Flexible Return】: Arrange your own return trip after disbanding in Kashgar, saving 1,500 kilometers of travel.
Tours depart every day from April onwards!
Depart immediately upon booking. Arrange vehicle type based on the number of registrants on the day. 1-4 people can take a five-seater car, and 5-6 people can take a seven-seater car.
Registration Requirements: Outgoing and sociable individuals born in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s who love to travel
Small cars offer high flexibility, but the trunk space is limited. For 2 people, you can bring 1 24-inch suitcase + backpack.
—————Simplified Itinerary———
Day 1: Urumqi -罗布人村寨 – Korla; Accommodation: Korla City
Day 2: Korla – Populus euphratica Forest Park – Kuqa; Accommodation: Kuqa
Day 3: Kuqa – Mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon – Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves – Aksu; Accommodation: Aksu
Day 4: Aksu – Fragrant Concubine’s Tomb – Kashgar; Accommodation: Kashgar City
Day 5: Kashgar – Pamir Plateau – Mount Mustag – Karakul Lake – Kashgar; Accommodation: Kashgar City
Day 6: Kashgar – Kashgar Old City – Id Kah Mosque – Group Disbands
—————Detailed Itinerary————
Day 1: Urumqi -罗布人村寨 – Korla City (about 630 km, approximately 10 hours by car)
Accommodation: Korla City (Tianhong Hotel, Mingyue Crown Hotel, Langang Business Hotel, or other hotels of the same class)
The driver will pick you up from the hotel at the agreed time. After everyone has arrived, we will leave Urumqi and head south along the highway, passing through the narrow geographic corridor of the Dry Gulch in the hinterland of the Tianshan Mountains. This area is arid and rainy all year round, serving as the geographic boundary between northern and southern Xinjiang. The road conditions are good, but there are strict speed limits.
First arrive at the罗布人村寨 Scenic Area in Yuli County, where you can see the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, as well as the sparse Populus euphratica trees that accompany it, the Tarim River disappearing into the desert, the mysterious Lop people, and the primitive and rustic dwellings. The Lop people who live here once made a living by fishing and hunting in Lop Nur, but later, due to the drying up of the lake and desert encroachment, they were forced to move here and continue to make a living by fishing and hunting.
Return to the Southern Xinjiang Pearl, Korla City, in the evening and check into the hotel.
Reference Time:
08:00 Depart from Urumqi
13:00 Pass through Tuoksun County and Heshuo County, have lunch on your own along the way as appropriate (1 hour)
14:00 Continue by car to the罗布人村寨 (180 km, approximately 3 hours by car)
17:00 Arrive at the罗布人村寨 Scenic Area for sightseeing (3 hours)
20:00 Return to Korla City (80 km, approximately 1.5 minutes by car)
21:30 Arrive in Korla and check in at the hotel
Friendly Reminders
1. The road conditions today are very good, but the speed limit is strict, and the driving time is relatively long, so be prepared mentally;
2. There are many mosquitoes in the scenic area, and the climate is dry. Prepare for mosquito prevention before visiting, such as wearing scarves and bringing insect repellent.
Day 2: Korla City – Populus euphratica Forest Park – Kuqa County (about 420KM, driving time of approximately 6.5 hours)
Accommodation: Kuqa County (Parkyard Boutique Hotel, Kuqa International Hotel, Kuqa Hotel, or other hotels of the same standard)
90% of Populus euphratica trees in China grow in southern Xinjiang, and they are concentrated around the Tarim River. Today, we will explore the magical Populus euphratica trees, which are known for their “three thousand years” lifecycle. The Luntai Tarim Populus euphratica National Forest Park is located in the middle reaches of the Tarim River, on the northeastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. Whether in terms of area or quantity, it represents the entire Tarim River basin and even Xinjiang. With its tenacious vitality, Populus euphratica fights against the arid climate. Whether it is the lush green leaves, cracked tree trunks, or dried-up branches, they all symbolize the power of life. Around October 15th each year, the leaves of Populus euphratica trees naturally turn golden yellow, creating a magnificent spectacle like “the whole city adorned with golden armor”.
After visiting the Populus euphratica Forest, return to Kuqa and check in at the hotel.
Reference Time:
09:00 Depart from Korla and head to the Populus euphratica Forest Park in Luntai (250 kilometers, driving time of approximately 3.5 hours)
12:30 Have lunch along the way at an appropriate time (0.5 hours)
13:00 Arrive at the scenic area for free exploration and photography (about 4 hours)
17:00 Head to Kuqa County (160 kilometers, driving time of approximately 3 hours)
20:00 Arrive in Kuqa County and check in at the hotel
Friendly Reminders
1. The Populus euphratica belongs to a unique tree species in the arid regions of Xinjiang. Its green leaves are vibrant, yellow leaves are beautiful, and withered leaves are resilient. The yellow leaf period is from mid-October to November each year, which may also vary depending on the weather conditions. Please be aware of this;
Day 3: Kuqa County – Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan – Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves – Aksu City (about 460KM, driving time of approximately 7 hours)
Accommodation: Aksu City (Tianfu Hotel, Kaixuan Hotel, Jiahe Hotel, or other hotels of the same standard)
In the morning, head to the Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan. The southern slope of Tianshan is arid with gravelly mountains, especially with mountains that exhibit an ochre-red color. Under the sunshine, the rock walls seem to be glowing red like flames, creating a magnificent sight. The entrance of the canyon is spacious, and the bottom is flat. Inside the canyon, winding paths lead to secluded and picturesque spots. The cliffs on both sides soar into the sky, and the shifting sunlight creates countless patterns of light and shadow, adding an exotic atmosphere.
In the afternoon, visit the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves. As an important grotto on the Silk Road for the eastward transmission of Buddhism, it was once filled with Buddhist chants. A thousand years later, only the remaining grottoes and faded murals remain, which cannot help but evoke sighs. At the entrance, the sculpture of Kumarajiva, a prominent monk, gazes with slightly closed eyes at the footsteps of today’s visitors. Climbing the stairs leading to the cliff, one can see dozens of grotto sites distributed on the cliff, which makes people feel the power of faith. In the evening, arrive at the hotel in Aksu for accommodation.
Reference Time:
08:30 Depart from Kuqa County to the Mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan Mountains (70 kilometers, driving time: approximately 1.5 hours)
10:00 Arrive at the scenic area for a 2-hour visit
12:00 Head to the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, and have lunch at your own expense with Xinjiang-style simple meals along the way (80 kilometers, driving time: approximately 2 hours)
14:00 Arrive at the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves scenic area for a visit (2 hours)
16:00 Head to Aksu City (300 kilometers, driving time: approximately 4 hours)
20:00 Arrive in Aksu City and check into the hotel
Day 4: Aksu City — Xiangfei Tomb — Kashgar City (about 460KM, driving time: approximately 6 hours)
Accommodation: Kashgar City (Qiniwake Friendship Hotel, Wenzhou International Hotel, Huanqiu Jinzuo Hotel, or other similar hotels)
Today, we will head to Kashgar City, an important town in southern Xinjiang. Kashgar is the westernmost city in China. We will drive south along the highway. Upon arrival in Kashgar, we will first visit the Xiangfei Tomb. It is rumored that Emperor Qianlong’s concubine Xiangfei is buried here, hence it is commonly known as the Xiangfei Tomb. The mausoleum architecture is magnificent and beautiful, with a strong exotic style. Green tiles, round-arched doors and windows, all bring a visual impact. In the afternoon, we will go to the Border Defense Brigade to apply for a border pass and then check into the hotel.
Reference Time:
09:00 Depart from Aksu and head to Kashgar City (460 kilometers, driving time: approximately 6 hours)
13:00 Have lunch along the way at your own expense (1 hour)
14:00 Continue to Kashgar (driving time: about 2 hours)
16:00 Arrive at the Xiangfei Tomb for a visit (about 1 hour)
17:00 Go to the Kashgar Border Defense Brigade to apply for a permit
18:30 Check in at the hotel
Day 5: Kashgar City — Pamir Plateau — Mount Mushtag — Karakul Lake — Kashgar City (about 400KM, driving time: approximately 10 hours)
Accommodation: Kashgar City (Qiniwake Friendship Hotel, Wenzhou International Hotel, Huanqiu Jinzuo Hotel, or other similar hotels)
The movie ‘Guests from the Ice Mountains’ introduced Pamir Plateau to the world. Pamir means ‘the roof of the world’ in Tajik. During today’s tour, please avoid running, jumping, and other vigorous movements to prevent altitude sickness and discomfort. The flat China-Pakistan Friendship Highway connects the plateau, rising all the way from Kashgar. As the altitude increases, the mountains also rise steeply.布伦口 White Sand Lake along the way reflects the sand dunes on the opposite shore like a mirror on windless days. Continue forward to explore Karakul Lake and the ‘Father of Glaciers’, Mount Mushtag, as well as other perpetual snow-capped mountains such as Kongur and Kongur Tobe. These towering mountains surround Karakul Lake. On sunny days, the water surface reflects the connected snow-capped mountains. Standing by the lake, you can overlook the towering snow-capped mountains and observe the calm lake up close, adding a magical and beautiful color to this lake.
Return to Kashgar via the same route in the afternoon.
Reference Time:
08:00 Depart from Kashgar and head to Karakuli Lake (200 km, approximately 5 hours of driving)
13:30 Have lunch on your own along the way as appropriate (0.5 hours)
14:00 Arrive at the scenic area and take photos freely (about 1 hour)
15:00 Return to Kashgar (200 km, approximately 5 hours of driving)
20:00 Arrive in Kashgar and check in to the hotel
Friendly Reminders
1. Today’s itinerary takes you to the plateau area. Please avoid vigorous activities such as running and jumping;
2. The China-Pakistan Karakoram Highway may be interrupted in case of natural disasters such as flash floods. Please be aware of this; if interrupted, other scenic areas will be visited as appropriate based on the season.
Day 6: Kashgar City – Kashgar Old Town – Group Disbands
Kashgar is divided into the new city and the old city, and the old city best reflects the style of Kashgar. Now, the Kashgar Old Town scenic area has been established. The streets and alleys in the old city are crisscrossed, and most of the residences are earth-wood and brick-wood structures with a yellowish-gray architectural tone. The brick carvings and wooden doors on the exterior walls have distinct ethnic characteristics. Many traditional residences have a history of over a hundred years, and almost all streets lead to Id Kah Mosque. Id Kah Mosque is a courtyard-style temple, with a huge Id Kah Square at the main entrance, which is a landmark of Kashgar City. Usually, many people gather in the square for leisure and games. Old men with long beards and Uyghur children sit leisurely in the sun on the edge of the square, enjoying a peaceful and leisurely atmosphere. On the same day, based on the tourist’s vehicle or flight schedule, they will be taken to the airport or railway station, and the southern Xinjiang tour will end here with the group dispersing.
Inclusions
1. Transportation + Accommodation + Ticket Package: Vehicle usage fees, fuel fees, driver service fees, toll fees, parking fees, and driver board and lodging; single room accommodation fees (if requesting a single room, you need to pay the single room supplement). First-entry tickets to the attractions listed in the itinerary, shuttle buses. The entire itinerary includes the following attractions: Lopnur Village, Tarim Poplar Forest, Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon, Xiangfei Tomb, Id Kah Mosque, Karakuli Lake.
2. Complimentary Gift: Tourist accident insurance (with an insurance coverage of RMB 200,000 per person).
*Note: After booking this product, customer service will communicate with you about the itinerary. You need to provide your ID number and name, which we will use to purchase insurance;
Exclusions
3. Transportation + Accommodation + Ticket Package: Excludes dining, entertainment, shopping, and other expenses of tourists.
4. Additional costs for all packages: All personal expenses and any expenses not mentioned in the inclusions.
Reservation inquiry hotline: 0991-8585456 (same)