Torugart Pass.

Hi,

have you managed to find any reasonably priced option? We will be crossing the border about two weeks later and could use some advise. What are your plans on the Chinese side, going down the KKH?

Hi .
I have been searching around and have communicated with a few people.
The most straight forward ,fast , cheapest and
direct was a man called Kubat .
His Email address is
kubat-tour@mail.ru
He is situated in Naryn and to pay for the whole journey from Naryn to Kashgar is $450
for 2 people.
That includes the entry pass documents from the Chinese guide who picks you up at the other side of the border.
The best offer I could find.
I hope this is helpful.
What is KKH?

Ah, I now understand.
We may be going on a trek in the KKH.
Public transport from Kashgar to Tashkurgan and from there will see what we can do.
We have read that there is a five day trek that can be organised in Kashgar that leads through the mountains and around
the Karakul lake. We're considering that option....

Me again!
I have just heard that there is no permission to travel in Xinjiang by yourself and you must have a guide.
Is that true for crossing the border or for the whole time one is in the province?
We were planning to travel up to Tashkurgan on a bus from Kashgar........ ......is that an impossible option?
Is anyone traveling in Xinjiang and could tell us what is real?
I will be so thankful for some light on the topic.
Kytetail

We have the exact same plan as you. My understanding of the situation is that you need a permit to cross Torugart but for the rest of Xinjiang you should be fine (regardless of the current tensions in the region).

I have been in touch with a few guides, their tours sound nice but are unreasonably priced. None of them have in any way indicated that you must have a guide...

Have you heard anything else?

Thank you for your reply!
I have only heard it from one person.....................I am trying to find out more from him.
Not sure it is true.
In any case I have written to Mr.Kubat in Kyrgyzstan to find out for us from his co-workers on the Chinese side.
Will up date you if I find out more.
Do you have any contacts there to clarify the issue?
I know we will probably need to take an orgenised tour around Karakul lake etc but would like to get to Tashkurgan by ourselves.Same for rest of Xinjiang.
We are on a limited budget.

I read quite the opposite now in fact..google 'Xinjiang tourism news' and you will see that the government is somehow paying 500juan to those who visit the province...let me know if you find out more about the guide.

I don't think it's necessary to have a guide at Karakul lake...I read that you can fetch a bus/taxi. We were planning on staying at one of the hostels and fix everything on spot. We are on low budget too!

Btw posting to the Chinese forum might get you more answers. Nevertheless my brief search shows no issues with Xinjiang..

Great!
I do hope you are right and we hope to just get on with the trip.Deal with what comes..........as it comes.All part of the journey.
Let me know if you find some reasonable trips around Karakul .
Will keep you posted on what we find out.
Thank you!!!