Rachel & Gary
Our family of four (with 2 small girls aged 5 & 8) contacted Kashgar Guide with one day’s notice before our planned trip to Xinjiang province. Imam (owner) was quick to respond and pull together a fantastic itinerary for us at an affordable price. He was also happy to change around the order of the trip to accommodate our requests with about 12 hours notice.
Our 9 day Xinjiang adventure started in Urumqi and ended in Kashgar. All the guides were truly professional and welcomed us with open arms to their home towns. They even included us in family dinners and visits to locals in out of the way areas, creating a truly intimate experience and one we will not forget. The drivers were always incredibly safe and we never feared for our lives, despite the hairy Karakoram Highway!!!
Luckily for us we visited this region in what appeared to be low season (late April 2012) as we were the only tourists at nearly all the places we visited. Highlights for us and our girls include the Sunday livestock market in Kashgar, staying in a yurt by Karakul Lake, dining with a family in Subash Village, visiting the traditional Uighur village near Turpan, driving the Karakoram Highway and suriviving a dust storm in Turpan. Our kids loved the camel rides in the Taklamaken Desert and at Karakul Lake, and seeing all the animals – everywhere! Oh, and of course the food, glorious food. Local fare is definitely the way to go.
We recommend Kashgar Guide to anyone visiting this region. Imam and his team offer a wonderful, personalised service for an unforgettable experience. Try to get here soon before the character of the region changes.
Rachel & Gary (Australia)