Travel restrictions have been eased in China but the authorities still require those travelling with their own vehicles to have a guide. The cost of the guide is not cheap and if travelling solo the cost would be prohibitive.
The beauty of the size of our group we can share the costs between us.
We trawled the internet looking for official Chinese guide companies and found several. We obtained quotes from them and they were almost identical in the amount being asked. Seemed like there was a bit of collusion or the authorities had a set price.
One of the group while reading a travel blog found a recommendation for a Chinese guide used buy the author. We sought a quote from him and he turned out to be the exception and was considerably cheaper than everyone else.
The guide is Wang Lun of Xinjiang Sun Times International Travel Company. The cost per person for a thirty five day journey through China is $1,560 USD
We paid our deposits and Wang now obtains approval for us to transit the country under his guidance. He sends us a Letter of Invitation which we need to obtain a visa. The itinerary he proposes is as follows.
Itinerary, program and information；
1 Turgat Pass – Kashgar; ( 160 km, now the Emigration and the Customs Hours is moved to Tuopa Town ( about 10 km from the Border) , so after entering the pass, the group will drive to Tuopa Town to go through the Customs and Emigration)
Turgat Pass open time: Morning: 10:30 – 13:30
After noon: 15:30 – 18:30
Closed time 13:30 – 15:30
Hotel in Kashgar .
2 Kashgar: this day mainly to get the driving license both for the vehicles and the driver. Morning drive about 45 km to Atush to check the vehicle and physical examination, need about more than half day.
Hotel in Kashgar.
3 Kashgar: Sightseeing program in Kashgar: ( in the Down Town or to Pamir Mountain area)
One day tour to Pamir plateau through Kalakunlun High way, where has three over 7000 m mountains, Kalakuli Lake, valley landscape and local herdsman.
To visit handcraft work-shop street Aitigar MosqueOld city of Kashgar、Abakhoja Tomb and local Bazaar in Down Town of Kasghar.
4 Kashgar – Yecheng (Karghilik): ( 260 km high way, five hours ), Because this distance is not far and it is high way, checking out should be at 10:00, driving about three hours to Shache Town ( Yerqian ), to visit the tomb of Yerqian King and Queen, Bazaar. Continue one hour drivng to Yecheng.
Hotel: Qiaogeli Hotel ( K2 Hotel)
5 Yecheng – Khotan: ( 260 km, normal road, many small local villages beside the road, driving in this road should be care for, because the road is narrow and people, animal, all kind of vehicles in the road.)
If have time, suggest to visit the Paper work-shop which has 2000 years’ history in a village near Moyu Town, the group must be passed this Town and has about 45 km to Khotan. Hotel
6 Khotan: S.S day in Khotan by bus: Silk and Jade manufactory, Jade Bazaar and Local Museum. Uigur Families: this program I need to confirm from local GOV, if the situation at that time is ok! I hope you understand it.
Night in the hotel.
7 Khotan – Minfeng: (311 km normal road, six hours driving): S.S program on the
way: 1 Damagou Buddha Temple near Chele Town (75 km from Khotan). A new Buddha Temple Ruins which has 1500 years’ history but was fund in 2005.
2 Yutian Old Town and local Bazaar.
Camping in the Taklamagan Desert.
8 Minfeng – Tazhong: (350 km desert high way, 6 hours driving) Group crosses the Taklamakan Desert from South to North, visit the Tarim River and Populus Forest.
Camping for the night in the Taklamakan Desert.
9 Tazhong – Kurle: (300 km high way, 6 hour driving) Because this distance is not far and it is high way, checking out should be at 10:00, driving about four hours to Kurle. Main view is the Tianshan Mountain and Gobi desert.
Hotel in Kurle.
10 Kurle – Turpan: (380 km high way, six hours driving) this day we will cross the Tianshan Mountain and arriving at the Turpan Oasis.
Hotel in Turpan
11 Turpan: S.S day: Jiaoge Ruins, Kanrz water diversion project, Grape Valley (Melon, vineyard), Emin Minaret，Astana Graves，Bezilik caves,
Hotel for the night.
12 Turpan – Hami: (400 km high way and normal road, five hours driving) long time driving between Tianshan Mountain and Kumutage Gobi desert, the group will cross several small oasis villages, at normal road the driver can stop at some village to rest.
Camping for the night.
13 Hami – Dunhuang: ( 425 km 300 km high way, 120 km normal road, be care of this part, because the road is narrow and uneven, “vehicle kill road” for the old vehicle, some said. Six hours driving).
Hotel for the night
14 Dunhuang: S.S day by bus: The Mogao Caves and the Mogao Museum in the
Morning, Mingsha Shan and Yueyaquan in the afternoon.
Hotel for the night.
15 Dunhuang – Jiayuguan: (380 km high way, four hours) Group should drive to the Gate of the Great Wall and the Great Wall Museum for S.S. And Hanging Great Wall.
Hotel for the night
16 Jiyuguan– Zhangye: (250 km, high way, 3 hours driving) to visit the Biggest sleeping Buddha temple in the World.
Hotel for the night
17 Zhangye – Xining- Huangzhong: ( 350 km, mountain normal road 6 hours driving) Visit the Ta'er Shi (Kumbun-Kloster, a Tibet Monastery) in Huangzhong,
Hotel for the night in Huangzhong
18 Huangzhong – Dingxi (380 km six hours driving in the Mountain Area.
Camping for the night.
19 Dinxi – Xi’an: (380 km, new high way, 6 hours driving) Hotel in Xian
20 Xi’an : S.S Terrakotta-Armee Museum，Getaway of Huaquing-hot spring. Historical museum，Ancient City Wall。 in he Hotel
21: Xian - Hanzhong ( 294 km) Camping for the night.
22 Hanzhong - Mianyang ( 337 km) hotel for the night.
23 Mianyang – Chengdu ( 120 km) afternoon visit the Panda Park. Hotel for the night.
24 Chengdu – Luding ( 287 km) ( from her the group enters into Tibet Culture Area to enjoy the nature and Culture of Tibet. ) Camping for the night.
25 Luding – Danba: ( 136 km) to visit the Danba “ Daughter Country” Tibet village and Castles. Camping for the night.
26 Danba – Litang ( 220 km) Camping for the night.
27 Litang – Xiangcheng ( 230 km) Camping for the night.
28 Xiangcheng – Shangri-la ( 170 km) Hotel for the night.
29 Shangri-la
30 Shangri-la – Lijiang （220 km）
31 Lijiang
32 Lijiang – Dali ( 160 km ) afternoon visit the Dali Old Town.
33 Dali – Linchang ( 360 km) Hotel
34 Linchang – Jinghong ( 340 km ) Hotel
35 Jinghong – Mohan Pass - to Laos. (170 km).
It is early days but we have overcome the big hurdle that China seemed to put in our way.
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