China19 days
Kyrgyzstan, China & Kazakhstan: Silk Road Crossing — 19 Days
From Bishkek through Issyk-Kul's alpine shores to the Torugart Pass crossing, ending at Almaty and the Tamgaly Petroglyphs
This 19-day journey traces the historical Silk Road across three countries, moving from Kazakhstan's steppe and alpine lakes into Kyrgyzstan's high-altitude settlements, then crossing into China via the Torugart Pass. The route combines established cultural sites—medieval caravanserais, UNESCO-listed petroglyphs, historic mosques—with less-traveled passages through pastoral valleys and remote border zones. Expect substantial driving and variable altitude; several days occupy 3,000-4,000 meters elevation where temperatures can drop sharply even in summer. Guides are locally based and English-speaking throughout.
Highlights
- Altyn-Emel National Park, desert and mountain wilderness south of Almaty
- Tanbaly Petroglyphs, UNESCO site with carved figures dating to pre-Turkic eras
- Issyk-Kul Lake – the 2nd largest mountain lake in the world (northern shore)
- Burana Tower, 11th-century minaret standing isolated on the Chuy Valley floor
- Tash-Rabat, a 15th-century caravanserai in remote Naryn Province
- Son-Kul Lake with eagle hunting demonstrations
- Karakul Lake approach via the Karakoram Highway, ringed by Muztagh Ata
- Kashgar's Old Town and Sunday Market, historically the nexus of Central Asian trade
- Emin Minaret and Turpan's Karez irrigation channels, Uyghur engineering from the medieval period
- Tamgaly Open-Air Museum, containing over 4,000 petroglyphs with motifs spanning 3,000 years
Day by day
1Arrival at AlmatyAlmaty International Airport · hotel
Your driver meets you at Almaty International Airport in the evening. Transfer to hotel and settle in. Check-in is arranged; the remainder of the day is at leisure.
2Almaty to Altyn-Emel National ParkAltyn-Emel National Park
After breakfast, your guide and driver depart for Altyn-Emel National Park, the largest protected area in Almaty Province, located across desert and mountain terrain. Spend the afternoon and evening walking at leisure within the park. Dinner and overnight at the park guesthouse.
3Altyn-Emel to AlmatyAltyn-Emel · Altyn-Emel to Almaty · a local restaurant · the hotel
After breakfast, continue exploring Altyn-Emel with your guide. In the afternoon, drive back to Almaty. Dinner at a local restaurant; overnight at the hotel.
4Almaty to Bishkek via Tanbaly PetroglyphsAlmaty to Bishkek · Tanbaly · Panfilov Park · Zenkov Cathedral · Museum of Musical Instruments · Bishkek hotel
After breakfast, begin the northbound journey from Almaty. En route, visit Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral (a Russian Orthodox wooden structure), and the Museum of Musical Instruments in central Almaty. Continue to Tanbaly, a UNESCO-listed open-air petroglyphic site with carved "sun-head" figures and depictions of dancers and praying figures carved into rock faces. After viewing the site, drive onward to Bishkek, arriving in the evening. Dinner at a local restaurant; check in to your Bishkek hotel.
5Bishkek's Civic Center and Ala-Archa National ParkAla-Too Square · Panfilov Park · Victory Square · Fine Arts Museum · Ala-Archa National Nature Park
After breakfast, your guide shows you central Bishkek: Ala-Too Square, Panfilov Park, Victory Square, and the Fine Arts Museum. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, drive south to Ala-Archa National Nature Park, a gorge and forest reserve in the Tian Shan foothills. Dinner at a local restaurant; overnight at the hotel.
6Bishkek to Issyk-Kul Lake via Burana TowerBishkek to Issyk-Kul Lake · Issyk-Kul Lake · Burana Tower
After breakfast, drive east toward Issyk-Kul. En route, visit Burana Tower, an 11th-century minaret rising from the Chuy Valley near the former Silk Road city of Balasagyn. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Issyk-Kul's northern shore, arriving in the late afternoon. Free time to walk along the water; dinner and overnight at the hotel.
7Cholpon-Ata to Karkyra Base CampCholpon-Ata to Karkyra · Karkyra Base Camp · open-air petroglyphic museum at Cholpon-Ata · Issyk-Kul
After breakfast, visit the open-air petroglyphic museum at Cholpon-Ata, displaying carved stones from local archaeological sites. Optional boat cruise on Issyk-Kul (available; arrange with your guide). Drive south to Karkyra, a base camp settlement in the high valleys; dinner and overnight at the base camp.
8Karkyra: Khan-Tengri High-Altitude ExcursionBase camp, under Khan-Tengri Peak · the high camp · the camp · Karkyra base camp
After breakfast, we fly to Base camp, under Khan-Tengri Peak. Lunch at the high camp. After lunch, undertake short hiking around the camp to acclimatize and observe the surrounding alpine terrain. Return by air to Karkyra base camp for dinner and overnight.
9Djety-Oguz Gorge and Karakol's Cultural SitesDjety-Oguz gorge · Dungan Mosque · Orthodox Church · Prjevalski Museum
Drive to Karakol, visiting Djety-Oguz gorge en route. Lunch at a local restaurant. In Karakol, visit the Dungan Mosque, Orthodox Church, and Prjevalski Museum. Dinner at a local restaurant; overnight at the hotel.
10Karakol to Kochkor via Barskoon WaterfallKochkor · Barskoon Waterfall · Issyk-Kul's southern shore
After breakfast, drive southwest along Issyk-Kul's southern shore toward Kochkor. En route, visit Barskoon Waterfall, which drops into a side valley carved into the lake basin. Lunch at a local restaurant along the route. Arrive in Kochkor, a weaving town known for traditional kilim production; dinner and overnight at a guesthouse.
11Kochkor to Son-Kul Lake with Eagle Hunting ShowSon-Kul lake
After breakfast, your driver and guide will meet you at your guest house and drive to Son-Kul lake. Lunch upon arrival. In the afternoon, attend a demonstration of eagle hunting, a practice traditionally maintained by Kyrgyz herders in this region. Dinner and overnight in yurts on the lakeside.
12Son-Kul to Tash-Rabat CaravanseraiTash-Rabat
After breakfast, drive south through Naryn Province to Tash-Rabat, a 15th-century stone caravanserai situated in a high valley. Upon arrival, visit the caravanserai and observe the surrounding pastoral landscape. Dinner and overnight in yurts adjacent to the site.
13Tash-Rabat to Kashgar: Torugart Pass CrossingTorugart · Xinjiang Province
After breakfast, your driver will drive you to the Torugart, Chinese border. Complete Kyrgyz exit formalities. Meet your Chinese guide and driver after clearing customs. Continue south into Xinjiang Province and drive to Kashgar; overnight at the hotel.
14Kashgar's Old Town and Historic MosquesKashgar · Eidkagh Mosque · Apak Khoja Mausoleum · Old Town's narrow lanes and traditional adobe neighborhoods · Sunday Market · Yusuf Has Hajib Tomb
After breakfast, begin exploration of Kashgar, historically the largest market city on the western Silk Road. Visit the Eidkagh Mosque (the country's largest active mosque by congregation), the Apak Khoja Mausoleum, and the Old Town's narrow lanes and traditional adobe neighborhoods. See the daily sections of the Sunday Market (operational daily despite its name). Also visit the Yusuf Has Hajib Tomb, a 15th-century memorial. Return to the hotel; afternoon at leisure.
15Kashgar to Karakul Lake via Karakoram HighwayKashgar to Karakul Lake via Karakoram Highway · Karakul Lake
After breakfast, depart for a full day along the Karakoram Highway, the main route south from Kashgar into the Pamir Plateau. Drive to Karakul Lake, situated at the foot of the Muztagh Ata mountain. The road itself is the principal feature of the day—the landscape becomes progressively more barren and mountainous as you gain altitude. At Karakul, meet local Kyrgyz herders and observe their pastoral camps and lifestyle. The lake reflects the surrounding peaks in clear conditions. Return to Kashgar in the late afternoon; overnight at the hotel.
16Kashgar to Urumqi: Desert to High-Altitude CityUrumqi · Kashgar's airport · Heavenly lake · Grand Bazaar in the Uyghur district
After breakfast, transfer to Kashgar's airport for a flight to Urumqi (formerly Dihua), the capital of Xinjiang. Urumqi, the ancient city in China, located on the Tien Shan Mountain. The city was an important center of the Great Silk Road. In the Uighur language, Urumqi means "Beautiful pasture". Then drive to Heavenly lake, boat trip on the lake, then drive back to Urumqi. Take a boat cruise on the lake. Return to Urumqi and visit the Grand Bazaar in the Uyghur district, an expansive Arabian-style marketplace with shops, textile vendors, and food stalls. As evening approaches, the bazaar transforms into a street performance venue. Overnight at the hotel.
17Urumqi to Turpan: Emin Minaret and Ancient RuinsUrumqi to Turpan · Emin Minaret · Karez Underground Irrigation Channels · Yarghol Ancient City
After breakfast, drive to Turpan. Visit the 18th-century Emin Minaret, visit the Karez Underground Irrigation Channels—a medieval system of desert tunnels supplying oasis agriculture—and tour the UNESCO-listed Yarghol Ancient City ruins.
18Turpan's Ancient Cities and Silk Road HeritageAstana Graveyard · Gaochang Ancient City · Tuyuq Ancient Village · local farmer Kurban Kasim's courtyard · Urumqi
After breakfast, visit Astana Graveyard and Gaochang Ancient City, a major Silk Road settlement. Continue to Tuyuq Ancient Village before lunch at local farmer Kurban Kasim's courtyard beneath the grape vineyard. Return to Urumqi in the afternoon.
19Departure from UrumqiUrumqi International Airport
After breakfast, enjoy leisure time at the hotel until check-out. Your driver meets you for transfer to Urumqi International Airport for your onward flight.
Where you go
- 1Kashgar
- 2Urumqi
- 3Emin Minaret
- 4Urumqi
Included
- Airport – hotel – airport transfers
- All transportation /Driver and Fuel/
- English speaking tour guide
- All entrance fees
Not included
- Air tickets for international flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance (assistance, repatriation)
- Extra meals (excluding 3 meals a day) and personal drinks
- Tips