Tashkurgan 2 days tour

Tashkurgan 2 days tour

Kashgar - Opal Village market - Ghez Valley - Silk Road Inn - Karakul Lake - Muztagh Glaciers - Pamir plateau-Tashkurgan Stone city - Tajik village (KKH+ Silk Road)
This is one of the most recommended tours between travellers. The landscape is extremely beautiful all the way to Pakistan next to some of the Earth's highest mountains including Muztagh Ata 7546m (meaning 'Father of Ice Mountains') and the 7719m giant Mount Kongur. Karakul Lake (3600m) is also very tranquil and you can see some old Silk Road inns (or den) (Caravan Konalgu) on the way. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about the ways of the Silk Road past still present in the 21st Century. For more details, please read the itinerary.
Day 01
Kashgar - Karakul Lake - Tashkurgan (290km/180miles)
Our Silk Road tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel at 7:30am local time from where we will head out along the Karakorum Highway (KKH) to Karakul Lake - the KKH was recently renamed the Sino-Pakistan Highway. On the way, we will stop off in Opal to visit the Mahmood Kashgary Tomb who was a famous Uyghur scholar in the 11th century. The scholar was particularly famous for his book named "Complete Turkish Dictionary". Opal is also an interesting village for its Monday market. In the village, we'll buy some fresh bread and fruits and some gifts (pens or pencils) for the Kyrgyz kids at Karakul Lake and set off along the famous Ghez River towards Kumtag (Sand Mountain)
The Ghez check point is only for checking passports and local IDs to Tashkurgan. Yet from this point on the road takes on a life of its own, dominated by the breathtaking beauty of mountains of three distinct colours. Rest assured, we will stop plenty of times to take photos. When we arrive at the Old Silk Road Inn, we will stop for a photo break by the Ghez River and again later on to walk next to Kum tagh. Sometimes it is not possible to cross the river due to the high waters.
From here on, we will 20 minutes to Karakul Lake, where you can't fail to be impressed by the super massifs of Kongor Peak and Muztagh Ata (meaning 'Father of the Ice Mountain') over looking the lucid water of the lake. Karakul is a special place of intense beauty. Beside the lake one can see local people with their yaks, goats, sheep and camels. We will arrive at the Lake for lunch time where a Kyrgyz traditional meal awaits in a local Yurt (not a touristy Yurt).
Following lunch, you'll have two hours free time to walk besides the lake and ride horses or camels around it. Afterwards we will push on to Subash village to visit local Kyrgyz houses before driving to Tashkurgan where, on route, you will have the chance to view an old Kyrgyz grave yard beside the main road for photos. It takes about 2 hours to reach Tashkurgan and we can stop for photos as often as you wish. At Tagarma village, we will also visit a hot spring a few kms into the mountains (optional). All being well we will arrive in Tashkurgan at 5:00pm local time where you will check in to either the Pamir hotel or Stone city hotel. (booked as per your request). Later, you'll free time to walk around town. Dinner will be in one of the local Tajik restaurants.

Day 02
Tashkurgan - Tajik village - Karakul Lake - Kashgar (290km/180miles)
We will arrange a traditional Tajik breakfast for you with a Tajik family in a nearby village, with time available to walk around and visit the local mosque there. Then we will drive to Karakul Lake. On the way we will stop for break at a Tajik Graveyard, much different to either Uyghur or Kyrgyz. Lunch will be eaten back at the lake in a Kyrgyz yurt, and you will have time to hike as long as you like before we set off back to Kashgar arriving around 5:00pm local time.
This tour is sure to leave with wonderful memories from this tour about Kyrgyz and Tajik villages, their houses, foods and their hospitality. Kyrgyz kids are especially extra cute with their tiny baby goats.