The travel guide for Karakul in Ili, Xinjiang mainly includes key points such as an overview of the scenic area, ticket information, transportation guide, tour routes, and precautions.?
Overview of the scenic area:?
Karakul International Eco-tourism Zone is located in Tekes County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. It is a World Natural Heritage site and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area consists of four major attractions: Karakul Grassland, Koksu Grand Canyon, the Middle Tianshan Snowy Mountains, and the Forest of Heavenly Sounds, covering a total area of 2,848 square kilometers. It was once the summer pasture of the ancient Wusun Kingdom and was listed as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 2013.?
Ticket information:?
Full-area tour package: 275 yuan/person, including the East and West Karakul Grasslands, Koksu Grand Canyon, and sightseeing bus tickets within each area.?
East and West Karakul Grasslands and shuttle bus: 140 yuan/person.?
Koksu Grand Canyon and shuttle bus: 155 yuan/person.?
Cruise on Karakul Lake: 115 yuan/person for a cruise around the lake.?
Off-season self-driving tour ticket price: adult ticket 160 yuan/person; peak season self-driving tour ticket price: adult ticket 200 yuan/person.?
Transportation guide:?
Self-driving: It is about 50 kilometers from Tekes County to the Karakul scenic area tourist center, with an asphalt road throughout and good road conditions.?
Public transportation: First arrive in Tekes County, then take a tourist shuttle bus or chartered bus to the Karakul scenic area from Tekes County.?
Tour route:?
One-day tour route: You can choose to purchase a full-area tour package. In the morning, depart from the tourist center and take a sightseeing bus to East Karakul, stopping at attractions such as the five-flower meadow and Falcon Viewing Terrace for photos, enjoying the beauty of the grassland flower sea and snowy mountains; in the afternoon, head to Koksu Grand Canyon to visit attractions such as Crocodile Bay and Human Grassland, and finally take a cruise on Karakul Lake to end the day’s itinerary.?
For a two-day or multi-day tour: You can explore the various attractions of Karakul in more depth, such as the hilly landscape of West Karakul, the five-flower meadow and Flower Terrace of East Karakul, etc.?
Precautions:?
Karakul is at a high altitude with changeable weather. It is recommended to bring a lightweight down jacket.?
The temperature difference between morning and evening in the scenic area is large. It is recommended to bring a windbreaker or down jacket for warmth.?
Karakul is quite demanding on one’s legs, so wearing sneakers would be more suitable.?
Please pay attention to protecting the environment while playing and do not litter casually [not explicitly mentioned, but a general travel precaution].?
The above information is for reference only. Specific itinerary arrangements and costs may vary due to factors such as season and policy. Please inquire in advance and plan your itinerary accordingly.?