A 6-Day, 5-Night Xinjiang Pamir Expedition: Glacial Peaks, Silk Road Echoes & Living Frontier Culture

Introduction of the Journey

This journey enters South Xinjiang along a route once walked by Silk Road traders and still lived by modern highland communities. Rather than merely admiring scenery, you will meet a frontier where nature and humanity rely on one another — where shepherds graze beneath icebound peaks, ironworkers hammer tools by hand, and tea houses gather generations of stories.

You will travel beside white dunes that plunge into turquoise lakes, watch snow-throned summits reflected in Karakul Lake, and ascend one of the world’s most remarkable roads as it bends like calligraphy across mountain ridges. Returning to Kashgar, the journey shifts into human scale: mosques, mausoleums, artisan workshops, and a century-old tea house that continues the Silk Road’s ritual of hospitality.The experience pairs overwhelming geology with intimate encounters, offering Xinjiang not as a distant landscape, but as a living world.

Day 1 — Arrival in Kashgar & Old City Evening

Arrive in Kashgar, a historic crossroads of the Silk Road. After check-in, spend the evening in 【Kashgar Old City】, where clay-built homes, carved windows, and winding alleys create a labyrinth of daily life. Cafés hum with conversation, craftsmen work in small shops, and the city’s traditions unfold without performance — lived, not staged.

Day 2 — White Dunes, Glacial Lake & Karakoram Highway to the Plateau

After border permit arrangements, begin the ascent toward the Pamir plateau along the 【China–Pakistan Friendship Highway】, one of the world’s highest international routes.Pause at the surreal 【White Sand Lake】, where wind-sculpted dunes descend directly into a sapphire shoreline. Continue to 【Karakul Lake】, a dark mirror beneath the imposing 【Muztagh Ata】 — its glaciers changing color with shifting light, as if breathing across the lake’s surface.

Day 3 — Wetlands, Stone Fortress Ruins & the Curve of the Kunlun

Morning light falls across the highland wetlands of 【Golden Grass Beach】, where cattle graze under distant snow peaks beside the ancient 【Stone Fortress】 ruins.The journey then climbs the iconic 【Panlong Road】, a serpentine marvel with 600-plus bends that sweep across red-brown ridges like a single brushstroke of ink. From above, the Pamir appears vast, silent, and timeless — a landscape that tests and humbles those who travel through it. Return via the still waters of 【Bandier Blue Lake】, resting under open skies.

Day 4 — Colored Mountains, Red Canyon & Glacier Valley Return

Depart the plateau by crossing striking geological layers — the 【Colorful Mountain】, streaked with mineral tones, followed by the fiery silhouette of 【Red Mountain Canyon】, where cliffs blaze like embers under afternoon sun.

Continue into the dramatic 【Oytagh Glacier Park】, a convergence of snow peaks, waterfalls, forests, and ancient ice. With its untouched scale, it stands as one of Xinjiang’s most concentrated natural wonders. By nightfall, return to Kashgar, descending from glacial silence back to oasis life.

Day 5 — Silk Road Faith, Mausoleum Artistry & Artisan Tea House

Begin with the opening ritual at 【Kashgar Old Town】, then enter the architectural heart of Silk Road faith at 【Id Kah Mosque】, China’s largest Islamic complex. Continue to the elegant 【Tomb of Xiangfei】, a masterpiece of Islamic-style craftsmanship and one of Xinjiang’s most iconic cultural sites.

Spend the afternoon among blacksmiths, pottery makers, and musical-instrument artisans before relaxing in a 【century-old tea house】, where hospitality remains an unbroken tradition — warm, personal, and deeply rooted.

Day 6 — Departure

Bid farewell to this remarkable frontier. Transfer to the airport according to flight schedule, carrying with you the echo of prayers, the scent of spices, the clang of ironwork, and the stillness of ice peaks reflected in deep mountain lakes.

For bespoke departures, private groups, or tailored cultural experiences across Xinjiang, our team curates journeys with local specialists, expert drivers, and hand-selected stays that honor both comfort and authenticity.

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To reserve this expedition, request customization, or design a wider Silk Road route through multiple regions:📩 sylviayx@summer.com.sg