12 Days Muztagh Ata Cercuit Trekking

Destinations :Kashgar – Karakul Lake – Tashkorgan – Muztagh Ata

Tour Description :Experience the remoteness of the intersection of  Pamir Mountains and Karakoram Mountains. This trek is a partial circumnavigation of the Muztagh Ata(7546m).and also the Kongur Peaks are visible from the area , our trekking route would be between the Muztagh ata and kongur mountain ranges ,this is one of the best and unique explore in remote mountains of Xinjiang ,and also we will drive on Karakoram Highway which is highest paved international adventurous road in the world that goes through the incredible mountains of Pamir , Karakoram and Hindu kush to connect China with Pakistan and Tajikistan ,Karakoram Highway ,Total 430km on the China side ,Geographically Surrounded by glaciers and high peaks like Muztagh Ata (7546m)and Konggur Tagh(7719m) and highway accessible from Kashgar that you can not only enjoy it’s natural scenery ,but also experience the distinctive nomadic  of Kyrgyz and Tajik people in remote mountains

Tour Overview: This is a private tour, we will assign private guide, car, van and bus in each destination and no other participants will be allowed to join in your group. Also the tour is totally flexible that last minute changes also allowed , however, if you have any special request or  would like to do some adjustments in this itinerary, please feel free to contact us in what area you are not satisfied, we can adjust the itinerary according to your every request.

Additional Requests :if you have any requests including home staying with locals, learning Uyghur food ,visiting food markets, and also if you need any additional camping equipments , please mention to us when you book the trip , we will make special arrangements,

• • Duration: 12 Days/ 11 nights

• • Best Time: June,July,August

• • Arrival Date : Optional

• Where to start and End : Kashgar

DAILY ITINERARY

DAY 1   KASHGAR  ARRIVAL

Arrive kashgar airport or train station and picked up by guide and driver to transfer to the Hotel,

DAY 2  KASHGAR -KARAKUL LAKE – TASHKORGAN VIA KARAKORAM HIGHWAY

we’ll take breathtaking highest and adventurous paved highways in the world to go though High Mountain range to Karakul Lake and Tashkorgan, on the way , we will visit the opal village and  bulunkul lake ,

Karakul Lake: it is rare highland lake in the world at the elevation of 3600m, located on the side of Karakoram highway ,200km south west of Kashgar ,it is surrounded by many snow capped high mountains like Mt Muztagh Ata(7546m) and Konggur (7649m). You will have chance to hike around the lake,

Kyrgyz Yurt: made of stone, still some are made of local embroidered mats; it is living house of local Kyrgyz people settling around the karakul lake, talk to them, stay with them and get to know their adventurous life in the remote mountains going to be your lifetime experience.

Tashkorgan is only western most Entry and Exit gate of western China, mountain Tajik people live in surrounding area and it is important town in the Karakoram, located south west of Kashgar, borders with Badakhshan province of Tajikistan, Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan and Pakistani Kashmir where Karakoram, Pamir and Hindu kush mountain ranges are connected .therefore it has outstanding scenery of mountains,

Spend about two hour there to visit the Ethnic Tajik Museum, best preserved ruin Stone forte which dates back to 7th century, and visit the Pamir Grass land ,

DAY 3  TASHKORGAN – XINDE VILLAGE

After breakfast in hotel , we will drive back to to trailhead and meet our camels and camel drivers xinde village, and load camels, trek about 3 hours in the afternoon ,

 Camping spot Elevation of this camp is at about 3200m.

DAY 4  XINDE VILLAGE-CHECHEKLIK

Today after the breakfast in our tent , we will start to climb up to the Checheklik Pass which is 4543 meters high. Our Camp will be in a grassy area at about 4100 meters elevation. Total trekking time today is about 5 hours.

DAY 5  CHECHEKLIK PASTURE – YANBULAK

The trek today ascends an 4370 meter pass. After crossing the pass, we descend to a lake and descend a bit more to our campsite  Elevation at camp today is at about 4130m.

DAY 6  REST DAY  AT  YANBULAK 

today we will take rest before we climb the big pass next day,or you can make short trekking around the area to explore the Kyrgyz villages and herds areas ,

DAY 7  YANBULAK –TORBULUNG PASS

We climb Turbulung Pass which is 4870 meters high. After 4 hours uphill trekking on the Turbulung Glacier, we reach at the top of the pass and then descend another 2 hours to reach the Turbulung River to be at our campside Koksal. Our camp site Altitude today is about 4450 meters. On the other side of the river, there are great views of the other 6000m peaks,

DAY 8  TORBULUNG -KOKSAY

Today we trek about 5 hours descending the entire day (no passes to cross). The camp site is about 3800 meters at the flat area ,

DAY 9  KOKSAY –TOKKUZ BULAK

We continue to follow the Turbulung River and then follow  the Kangshiver River. It takes us about 6 hours to reach our camp site which is at about 3600 meters elevation. Today, we will see Muztagh Ata from the northwest side. The view of the peak is very different from that of the other side. You only see its sharp cliffs, not the long slopes. The glacier at the foot of the peak larger than those on the south side of Muztagh Ata.

DAY 10  TOKKUZ BULAK – SUBASH – KASHGAR

Trek about 5 hours to Subash village, meet vehicle and drive to Kashgar. Drive time from Subash to Kashgar is about 4 hours.

DAY 11  KASHGAR  CULTURAL  EXPLORE  TOUR

Kashgar has been claimed “the best-preserved example of a traditional  city to be found anywhere in Central Asia”, although the city is becoming more developed.

Being the  cultural center and one of the ten internationally influential touristic cities of China, Kashgar，now days， is very important western most special economic zone as well as it was also very important hub and oldest cultural center in china’s Silk Road.

So far today we will do excursion in this city, and visit Apak Hoja tomb, Central Asia Market ,Kashgar animal (Livestock market)and Kashgar old town, and enjoy the Uyghur local cuisines like kebab, hand pulled noodle in best Uyghur food restaurant in kashgar

Apak Hoja tomb: Mausoleum is finest examples of Uyghur  architecture in China, large dome of 17m is at the center surrounded by four corner minarets with strips and arabesque floral patterns initially built in 1640, powerful religious and political leader Apak hoja’s five generations of relatives buried inside the tomb,

Kashgar old town: well preserved more than 1000s years old Uyghur residential area, people began to settle down there 11 hundred years ago after  .and it was cultural, political and important transportation hub in China’s silk road, it is treasure of silk road.

Kashgar Live stock Market: Open field agricultural market only held on every Sunday, Uyghur farmers type, very local atmosphere, business is all about the animals like sheep, yaks, goats, donkey, cows, camels and horses, it is must see place to visit when you are in kashgar ,

South and Central Asia Market: it is regular commodity market that has all sort of goods, Market attracts more than hundred thousand people every Sunday from nearby towns around the kashgar and from central Asian countries as well.

Idkah Mosque: Being largest mosque in China and 12th largest in the world, Idkah mosque is unique best preserved Uyghur architecture in now days and can hold more than 20 thousand worshipers on Friday prayer. The mosque built in 1442，

After the excurtions in the city , driver and guide will transfer you to your hotel ,

DAY 12  DEPARTURE FROM KASHGAR 

Our guide and driver will take you to the airport or take you to Torugat border to see you off ,