2026 Tarim Autumn Colors | 8-Day 7-Night Southern Xinjiang Small Group Tour, Urumqi to Kashgar

Arrive in Urumqi from your home city. Enjoy 24-hour free airport pickup and check into a 4-diamond hotel. Free time to explore the International Grand Bazaar, Xinjiang Museum, and taste local delicacies like baked buns, big-plate chicken, and pilaf.

After breakfast, drive about 460 km to Bosten Lake, China's largest inland freshwater lake, and experience the vast 'blue sea in the desert.' Check into a 4-diamond hotel in Korla in the evening.

Enter the Tarim Populus Forest Park and take the shuttle through the world's largest and best-preserved original populus euphratica forest, admiring the autumn-only golden sea. Continue to Kuqa, the ancient Qiuci Kingdom, in the afternoon.

Visit the Tianshan Mystic Grand Canyon, where ochre-red cliffs glow golden in the autumn sun. Then head to Flame Spring to witness natural gas burning atop spring water. Arrive in Aral in the evening.

Cross the Taklamakan Desert Highway through the 'Sea of Death.' In the evening, arrive in Hotan and watch the Yotkan Ancient City grand live show, recreating the prosperous Silk Road era of ancient Khotan.

Travel along the ancient Silk Road to Kashgar, about 500 km. Upon arrival, wander through Kashgar Old Town, the world's largest surviving earthen architectural complex, and enjoy a Uyghur family visit plus a light photo shoot.

Drive along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway onto the Pamir Plateau. Visit White Sand Lake, 'half sand sea, half blue'; Karakul Lake, 'one lake mirroring three peaks'; enjoy Muztagh Peak camp afternoon tea; and check in at Tashkurgan in the evening.

Today conquer the Panlong Ancient Road with 600 S-curves, overlooking the majestic Pamir dragon-spine landscape. Return to Kashgar in the afternoon to end the 8-day Southern Xinjiang autumn journey. Book return flights after 22:00.