Xinjiang 9 Days Hiking Tour

Today our exploration of Urumqi will begin with a visit to Xinjiang Regional Museum. The Xinjiang Regional Museum is a large comprehensive museum. With more than 50,000 collections of historic relics, this historic museum gives a perception of the brilliant history and glorious culture of Xinjiang and the ancient Silk Road. Also there are exhibitions that are related to the unique customs and culture of ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

Then we will move to visit Erdaoqiao Market. The Erdaoqiao Market is the largest retail and wholesale market that is specialized in selling ethnic minority goods. With more than 2,000 kinds of items sold in the market, a wide selection of goods including ethnic clothes and accessories, handcrafts and jewelry, fresh fruits and dry fruits, ethnic medicine, Pakistan bronze wares, ethnic carpets, Hetian jade and ethnic antiques, musical instruments and so on is proved in this market. The Erdaoqiao Market is also considered an epitome of Xinjiang ethnic custom and culture and it is a must-see attraction when coming to Urumqi.

Afterwards, our guide will transfer you to Kashgar. When you arrived in Kashgar, our guide will help you check in the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will pick you up and drive you to visit the fascinating Lake Karakuli.

The Lake Karakuli is a lake located on the foot of the magnificent Mount Muztagata, about 196 kilometers from Kashagar. This is a highland lake of the Pamir Plateau with an altitude of 3,600 meters. Surrounded by majestic mountains that are snow-covered through the year, with its crystal clear water, the green-grassed grassland with roaming flocks and herds, and the interesting ethnic groups inhabiting there, these breathtaking scenery Lake Karakuli is bestowed with has made it a popular destination for sightseeing and mountain-climbing.

During this trip, you will appreciate gorgeous scenery of this holy pure lake and experience the unique cultures and customs of the ethnic groups in the area.

Tonight we will camp around Lake Karakuli.

After breakfast, we will start our hiking from Lake Karakuri to Kangwaxi. It will be a 9 kilometers’ hiking and will take about 6 hours. During this hiking, you will enjoy great scenery of snow-covered mountains, Gobi mountains, vast grassland, rolling hills, and peculiar rocks. The hiking will be a great chance to get close to the unique scenery and culture of the remote Xinjiang.

We will camp at Kangxiwa tonight.

We will continue our hiking today. The hiking route for today will be from Kangwaxi to Yanbulak Glacier. We will hike 7 hours for 10 kilometers. With mountains, valleys and grasslands along this route, you will enjoy the bald yet striking natural scenery.

Yanbulak Glacier is a modern glacier located near Mount Muztagata. It is where the camp base for climbing Mount Muztagata situates. With its flat and smooth surface, Yanbulak Glacier is a natural made ski resort.

During this hiking, we will have a stop at Kyrgyz village where you will have some time to know the unique life and culture of Kyrgyz ethnic and taste local delicious food.

Yanbulak Glacier

Overnight camping at the foot of Mount Muztagata will be arranged tonight.

Mount Muztagata is located in the west rim of Tarim Depression and southeast of Pamir Plateau with an altitude of 7,509 meters. With its natural stunning beauty and its easy access at such a high mountain, Mount Muztagata is a very popular climbing destination for climbers and hikers. When you get to the camp base, you will get panoramic views of the mountain area. After a rest at camp base, we will go down to 204 Base which is the tourist reception center. We will camp at 204 Base tonight.

Today our guide will transfer you back to Kashgar from Base 204 after breakfast. The driving will take four hours. Our guide will take you to the hotel for check in and you will have free time for the rest of the day.