Welcome to China’s far northwest, where the Silk Road once braided caravans, languages, and flavors into an enduring mosaic. Xinjiang is vast—bigger than Alaska—with snow-capped Tianshan ridges, sapphire lakes, oasis towns threaded with grape arbors, and bazaars perfumed by cumin and apricots.

For a well-paced 7-day itinerary, we’ll anchor in two hubs: Urumqi (for Heavenly Lake and Turpan) and Kashgar (for Old Town life and the Karakoram Highway to Karakul Lake). Expect living history—from ancient grottoes to mud-brick lanes—and a cuisine of laghman hand-pulled noodles, smoky kebabs, and naan still warm from clay tandoors.

Practical notes: carry your passport for checkpoints; mobile payments are common, but cash helps in markets. Weather swings are real—pack layers for high-altitude breezes and desert sun. Trains and flights are efficient; we’ll share times and budget estimates, with easy booking through trusted platforms.

Urumqi

Urumqi, Xinjiang’s capital, sits in the shadow of the Tianshan Mountains. By day, visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum to meet ancient Tarim mummies; by night, wander the Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar as drums and shopkeepers animate the neon-lit minarets.

Top sights include the panoramic hill of Hongshan Park, the fragrant spice aisles of the bazaar, and day trips to Heavenly Lake—a cerulean alpine bowl set amid fir forests—and the oasis city of Turpan, famed for its karez irrigation and Silk Road ruins.

• Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Urumqi or hotels on Hotels.com Urumqi.
• Getting in/out: Fly into URC. Compare fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. City taxis are plentiful.
• Food & drink: Sample polo (rice pilaf with carrots and lamb), samsa pastries, and laghman noodles at the International Grand Bazaar Food Street; grab a milk tea or espresso at chain cafés like Luckin Coffee; try Uyghur-style dapanji (big-plate chicken) at casual spots around the bazaar complex.
• Featured tours:

All Inclusive Private Urumqi Day Tour including Erdaoqiao Market — city highlights and market tastings in one day.

Full-Day Private Guided Tour to Heavenly Lake of Tianshan — alpine trails, boat views, and Kazakh yurts.

Private Day Trip to Turpan from Urumqi including Bezklik Grottoes — oasis vineyards, ancient irrigation, and desert ruins.

Kashgar

Kashgar is the Silk Road on foot: mud-walled alleyways, copper-smiths hammering pots, apricot sellers fanning the dust. The Id Kah Mosque anchors Old Town life, while the Sunday Bazaar gathers herders, tailors, spice traders, and families into one boisterous pageant.

Beyond the city, the Karakoram Highway climbs onto the Pamir Plateau—an amphitheater of glaciers and wind-grazed pastures—toward Karakul Lake, where twin giants (Muztagh Ata and Kongur) cast reflections on glassy water.

• Where to stay: Browse VRBO Kashgar and Hotels.com Kashgar.
• Getting there: 1h45–2h flight from Urumqi; search on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Taxis and hotel pick-ups are straightforward at KHG.
• Food & drink: In Old Town, look for naan bakeries firing sesame-crusted rounds, tea houses serving samsa, and family-run kitchens dishing laghman. Locals often recommend hearty polo and kebabs near Id Kah and along Handicraft Street; for a sit-down meal, try Nursiman Restaurant or Altun Orda for classic Uyghur dishes.
• Featured tours:

All Inclusive Private Karakul Lake Day Trip from Kashgar — the most scenic stretch of the Karakoram Highway.

Full-inclusive Kashgar Private Day Tour with Sunday Market — Old Town, Id Kah Mosque, crafts quarter, and the famed bazaar.

Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi — Markets and Minarets

Morning: Fly to Urumqi (URC). Typical flight times: Beijing ~4h, Shanghai ~5.5h, Guangzhou ~5h. Expect $120–$300 one-way depending on season. Compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Afternoon: Check in (see Hotels.com Urumqi or VRBO Urumqi). Stretch your legs at Hongshan Park’s pagoda for a city overview.

Evening: Head to Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar. Snack your way through: cumin-dusted lamb skewers, crispy samsa, and raisin-studded polo. For coffee/tea, pop into a bazaar-side café or a nearby Luckin for a quick flat white. If you prefer a guided intro tomorrow, consider booking the All Inclusive Private Urumqi Day Tour for Day 2.

Day 2: Urumqi Highlights and Bazaar Culture (Full Day)

Meet your guide for the All Inclusive Private Urumqi Day Tour including Erdaoqiao Market. Expect the Xinjiang Regional Museum (mummies and textiles), Old Alley tastings, and the Grand Bazaar. It’s a tasty orientation to Uyghur cuisine—laghman noodles, naan, and dried-fruit stalls. Dinner idea: dapanji with hand-pulled noodles at a casual halal eatery near the bazaar complex.

Day 3: Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (Full Day)

Escape to alpine air on the Full-Day Private Guided Tour to Heavenly Lake of Tianshan. Walk lakeshore paths beneath spruce forests, detour to a Kazakh yurt for milk tea, and, if conditions allow, take a short boat ride. Bring layers; temperatures dip quickly at elevation. Back in town, unwind with grilled lamb skewers and a chilled yogurt drink.

Day 4: Turpan Oasis — Grottoes, Minarets, and Karez (Full Day)

Venture across wind farms and salt flats to Turpan on the Private Day Trip to Turpan from Urumqi including Bezklik Grottoes. Highlights often include the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, Emin Minaret, and the ingenious karez irrigation tunnels. Lunch on grape-leaf-shaded patios—try roasted lamb, grilled trout, and sweet Turpan raisins. Note: If you prefer DIY, the high-speed train Urumqi–Turpan takes ~1h; check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Day 5: Fly Urumqi to Kashgar — Old Town Evening

Morning: Fly URC → KHG (1h45–2h; typical fares $60–$150). Compare on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. Taxi to your hotel (20–40 minutes depending on location).

Afternoon: Check in (see Hotels.com Kashgar or VRBO Kashgar), then stroll the alleys north of Id Kah Mosque. Watch woodcarvers, copper workers, and naan bakers—photography is usually welcomed with a smile; always ask first.

Evening: Dinner in Old Town: order laghman with bell peppers and tomatoes, polo, and grilled eggplant. Locals often point travelers to Nursiman Restaurant for noodles and kebabs or Altun Orda for a fuller menu with live music. Cap the night with black tea and walnut-stuffed dates at a teahouse near the mosque square.

Day 6: Karakoram Highway to Karakul Lake (Full Day)

Leave early for the All Inclusive Private Karakul Lake Day Trip from Kashgar. The drive—about 4 hours each way—unfurls past Baisha (White Sand) Lake and yurt-dotted pastures to Karakul’s gleaming waters. Pack snacks, sun protection, and layers; altitude and winds can be bracing. Back in Kashgar, celebrate with kebabs dusted in chili and cumin, plus a bowl of qurut (yogurt soup).

Day 7: Sunday Bazaar, Handicraft Street, and Departure

Morning: If it’s Sunday, dive into the famed Sunday Bazaar: textiles, knives (display only for visitors), spices, rugs, and local snacks amid a jubilant crowd. On other days, browse Handicraft Street workshops and Id Kah’s surroundings for similar shopping and people-watching. Coffee/tea break at a neighborhood chaikhana with a slice of walnut cake.

Afternoon: Early lunch—try samsa from a tandoor bakery and a plate of polo—then transfer to KHG for your flight. For onward flights, compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. If you have a late departure, consider a compact guided overview like the Full-inclusive Kashgar Private Day Tour (timing permitting).

Evening: Flight home. If staying an extra night, grab a last stroll through the Old Town for golden-hour photos and warm naan for the road.

Getting around and cost notes: Urumqi city rides are inexpensive; meter taxis are common. Urumqi–Turpan high-speed trains (~1h, often $8–$15) run frequently; for day trips, private tours save time. Urumqi–Kashgar flights run daily (1h45–2h). The Karakoram Highway day trip covers 400+ km round-trip; private tours are worth it for safety, flexibility, and mountain weather shifts.

Where to eat (quick list):

• Urumqi: International Grand Bazaar Food Street (kebabs, samsa, polo); casual dapanji houses near the bazaar; dessert stalls selling grape ice cream and walnut sweets; chain coffee like Luckin for a quick espresso.
• Kashgar: Nursiman Restaurant (laghman, kebabs), Altun Orda (classic Uyghur mains and naan), Old Town tea houses (samsa, black tea), night stalls around Id Kah for grilled lamb and dried-fruit snacks.

Trip timing tips: Spring and autumn offer mellow temperatures for Heavenly Lake hikes and Kashgar streets. Summer is superb for Turpan’s vineyards but can be hot; start early. Winter is quiet and beautiful around the Tianshan but pack for sub-zero nights.

In one week, you’ll trace the Silk Road’s mountain-to-desert arc: museum lore and bazaar tastes in Urumqi, alpine blue at Heavenly Lake, oasis history in Turpan, and Kashgar’s market rhythms with a dramatic Karakoram Highway finale. Xinjiang rewards curiosity—every lane, teahouse, and mountain turn offers another story.