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 Day
01 The Torugart Pass
(at 3752 metres) is the climax of the most exciting overland route
into (or out of) Central Asia. This is a cold and uncomfortable
border crossing, which has traditionally been plagued by uncertainties
and by greedy officials. It is usual to have to negotiate as many
as 10 passport controls, before entering China - not for the faint
hearted! The Kirghizstan side has been designated a special nature
reserve as it is one of only a few places where the Himalayan
Black Cranes still thrive. You drive up to the 3752 meter-high
pass, where you will meet your Chinese support team and your vehicles
for the drive down into China. Five kilometer below the pass is
the first Chinese check-post and it is further 100 kilometer o
the main customs station. The climate changes abruptly as you
descend into China, becoming much more arid - we are close to
the margin of theTaklimakan Desert. The landscape is truly remarkable.
You adjust your watches to Beijing time and continue on a good
paved road to Kashgar. You check into a hotel in the centre of
Kashgar. The distance from the border to Kashgar is about 200
kilometers, a part of sand road.
Day 02. Free
day in Kashgar. The old city, once known as Kashi, is an exotic
Central Asian trading oasis unrivalled anywhere in the Chinese
and Soviet Empires. Despite its situation between the awesome
physical barriers of the Tien Shen, Pamir and Karakoram Mountain
ranges, this town was the meeting point of at least four of the
main Silk Road arteries. Over the years, the collision of cultures
between the Pakistani's, Kirghiz, Soviet and Chinese has helped
Kashgar to flourish. Even today, a stroll around one of Kashgar's
numerous bazaars will take you back in time, as you mix with the
throngs of traders and their livestock. Muslim Uighurs, who account
for 90 percent of Kashgar's population, are the dominant ethnic
group that you will encounter in Kashgar's thriving town centre.
At the same time, the Chinese continue their efforts to change
Kashgar into a modern town with an airport, ring road and numerous
bars and nightclubs. To spend a day in Kashgar is a not only a
delight but a wonderful insight into the color ful way of life
of the peoples of Central Asia. Altitude at Kashgar: 1205 metres.
Day 03 Leave
Kashgar, the typical Uygur city and towards to Khoten. Stop at
Yarkand for 2 hours to visit the old part of this main town on
the Marco Polor Route in order to get your feeling back to hundreds
of years ago. Check in your hotel in Khoten and stay for night
here. The distance today is about 550 kilometers, highway.
Day 04 Do
sightseeing in this famous old town, visit Mailikwat, Shuppla
in the morning, share your lunch with a local family. Then do
visit a fabric work studio which looks a very old style.
Day 05 Then
continue your journey along the southern ancient Silk Road until
arriving at Minfeng (Niya) town. Check in your hotel. The distance
today is about 350 kilometers, good highway.
Day 06 Switch
your bus into jeeps and turn to the south, approach to the last
village, Yeyik. Setting up your first camp for night. The distance
to Yeyik, the last village is about 70 kilometers. But it takes
you at least 3 hours, sand road. The altitude in this village
area is about 3200 meters above sea level
Day 07 Do
your last prepare and deal with animals, do sightseeing and hiking
as your acclimatization training before starting your trekking.
Day 08/12 Trekking
up until arrive at the foot of Mt Uzatagh. Camping for nights
on the way.
Day 13/17 Do
your exploring around in the daytime and come back to your base
camp for nights
Day 18/22 Move
towards to the west first and find your way in another valley
to come down to Yeyik.
Day 23 Arrive
at Yeyik and say good Bye to your animal drivers and leave for
Niya town. Check in your hotel for night
Day 24 This
is a lazy morning. Do a short visiting in this small town, switch
your jeeps into a big bus to enter into Taklamakan Desert along
the new Sand highway. Camp for night in somewhere in this worst
desert on earth. The distance today is about 300 kilometers.
Day 25 Continue
your journey and meet at the State Road 312 at the end of this
sand highway, and approach to Kurla before arrive at Urumqi. The
distance today is about 480 kilometers.
Day 26
This is another lazy morning and then do your last journey by
your bus until arriving at Urumqi.
Day 27 This
is a lazy morning, but if you want to see how the Chinese people
do their morning exercises, you should have to get up early and
go to the Peoples¡¯ Square. Then you will see: some people playing
Taiji Boxing, some people playing Beijing Opera, some people dancing,
some people playing, the Yang Ge, a kind of traditional Chinese
dancing ¡Leave for the Heavenly Lake, the ¡°jewel in the crown¡±
of the nearby Mt.Bogda (5445 meters), the highest peak in the
east part of Tian Shan mountains. The altitude of the lake is
about 1900 meters above the sea level. The driving takes 2 hours
to get there. Go and visit some local Kazak families in the yurts
in the forests. Lunch is arranged in the yurt and shared with
this local family. Take a boat trip on the lake in the afternoon.
Come back to Urumqi and it takes you 2 hours to visit the Xinjiang
Historical Museum, which you worth to visit ! Then climb up to
the top of the Red Hill to get a bird views of this whole city.
After all today, I suggest you to take a look in the biggest Night
Food Market.
Day 28 You
take the evening ( morning) flight to Almaty (or morning flight
to Bishkek), all the services end. ITMC-Tien Shan, the best agency
in Kyrgizstan will take a good care of you not only in Kirghizstan
but also in Kazakstan.
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