12 days · Enter Kashgar from Kuqa
Around Taklamakan on the 12th
Kuche, Tazhong, Hotan, Kashgar, Poplar Forest
Reference Price
$1780from / person
- Purely for fun, no shopping
- The itinerary can be slightly adjusted
- Includes ticket reservation service
Number of people in a groupTwo people make a pair
IntensityMedium
Best seasonPopulus euphratica Golden Leaf Season
TrafficBusiness vehicle charter
AccommodationPrimarily hotels
Departure MonthOctober–November
Prices vary between peak and off-peak seasons; the following order confirmation shall prevail · Tickets for highlands and peak seasons need to be booked in advance
Itinerary Details
All routes are for reference only, the actual route is subject to the explanation of customer service
The longest highway route in Xinjiang: a loop that covers Kucha, the desert, Yuxiang, and Kashgar all in one.
Day-by-day itinerary12 days in total · daily destination, meals, accommodation and transport
Expand day by day; click a title to collapse. Itinerary for reference and may be adjusted for weather and traffic.
- D1Kuche gathering
DestinationKuqa Grand Mosque・Hetian Old Street
- Meals
- Self-sufficient in meals
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Private car airport/train station pickup
- Distance
- within the city
Daily detailKuqa Gathering: Kuqa Grand Mosque + Hetian Old Street.
Today is mainly focused on gathering and acclimating to the city. The driver-guide will hold a sign at the airport/station for pick-up; the specific transfer time will be based on flight information. - D2Kizil Caves + Subash
DestinationKizil Caves ・ Subash
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Kuqa
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailKizil Caves + Subashi.
Photography is prohibited inside the caves, and visits are done in batches; book the time slot in advance, and during peak season, tickets are tight and can be booked by the driver-guide. Accommodation that night is arranged in Kuqa, with free activities after check-in; confirm the departure time for the next day with the driver-guide the night before. - D3Luntai Poplar Forest Park
DestinationLuntai Poplar Forest Park
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Luntai
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailLuntai Populus Euphratica Forest Park.
The best viewing period for the Populus euphratica is concentrated in mid to late October. The park has medium walking trails, suitable for walking slowly and taking photos at a leisurely pace. Accommodation that night is arranged in Luntai, with free activities after check-in; departure time the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D4Tarim Desert Highway South Section — Tazhong
DestinationTarim Desert Highway South Section — Tazhong
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- In the tower
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailTarim Desert Highway South Section — Tazhong.
Mobile phone signals in the desert section are intermittently interrupted. Carry water and food in the vehicle; do not travel at night after sunset, and proceed according to the checkpoints arranged by the guide. Accommodation for the night is arranged in Tazhong, with free activities after check-in; confirm the departure time with the guide the night before the next day. - D5Tower—Minfeng—Qiemo
DestinationTower—Minfeng—Qiemo
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Qiemo
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailIn the tower — Minfeng — Qiemo.
Accommodation for the night is arranged in Qiemo. After check-in, you are free to explore; the departure time for the next day will be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D6The direction from Qiemo to Ruoqiang or the Aral Oasis section
DestinationThe direction from Qiemo to Ruoqiang or the Aral Oasis section
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Aral
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailQiemu—Ruoqiang direction or Aral Oasis section.
Accommodation for that night is arranged in Aral, with free activities after check-in; confirm the departure time the night before with the driver-guide. - D7Aral—Hotan
DestinationAral—Hotan
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Hetian
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- About 340 km / 4 hours
Daily detailAral – Hotan.
The accommodation for that night is in Hotan. After check-in, free activities are available; the departure time for the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D8Hetian
DestinationYuba Bazaar · Tuan City · Night Market
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Hetian
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailHotan: Yubazha + Tuancheng + Night Market.
The bazaar is busiest in the morning, remember to bargain when shopping; for dried fruits, you can ask the shop to vacuum pack them for easy carrying. Accommodation is arranged in Hotan that night, with free activities after check-in; confirm the departure time for the next day with the driver-guide the night before. - D9Hotan—Shache Old Town
DestinationHotan—Shache Old Town
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Shache
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- About 320 km / 4 hours
Daily detailHotan—Shache Old Town.
Overnight stay arranged in Shache. After check-in, enjoy free activities; departure time for the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D10Shache—Kashgar
DestinationShache—Kashgar
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Kashgar
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- About 320 km / 3.5 hours
Daily detailShache—Kashgar.
Accommodation for the night is arranged in Kashgar. After checking in, you can enjoy free activities; the departure time for the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D11Kashgar Old Town All Day
DestinationKashgar Old Town All Day
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Kashgar
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailKashgar Old Town for the whole day.
Accommodation that night is arranged in Kashgar. After check-in, you are free to explore on your own; the departure time for the next day will be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D12Kashgar airport send-off
DestinationKashgar airport send-off
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailSeeing off at Kashgar.
Daily Itinerary
- D1 Kuqa gathering: Kuqa Grand Mosque + Hetian Old Street.
- D2 Kizil Caves + Subashi, overnight in Kuqa.
- D3 Luntai Poplar Forest Park, overnight in Luntai.
- D4 Tarim Desert Highway South Section — Tazhong, overnight in Tazhong.
- D5 Tazhong — Minfeng — Qira, overnight in Qira.
- D6 Qira — Ruoqiang direction or Alar Oasis section, overnight in Alar.
- D7 Alar — Hotan, overnight in Hotan.
- D8 Hotan: Jade Bazaar + Tuan City + Night Market.
- D9 Hotan — Shache Old Town, overnight in Shache.
- D10 Shache — Kashgar, overnight in Kashgar.
- D11 Full day in Kashgar Old Town.
- D12 Kashgar airport drop-off.
Desert day's fuel and supply replenishment will follow the planned points, with the whole vehicle equipped with water and food; in case of sandstorm warnings, the route will switch to the oasis section.
Costs include
Full transportation with driver and guide, accommodation within the itinerary, scenic area tickets, breakfast, and insurance.
Cost not included
Major transportation, main meals, optional items, single room supplement.
Booking Reminder
Populus euphratica season (late October to mid-November) is the peak period; no night travel is allowed in the desert section, and the itinerary will be postponed in case of sandstorms.