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Tour Code: 627-20359

12 Days Amazing Northern Xinjiang Tour including Idyllic Villages, Lakes, Grasslands, Deserts from Urumqi

Our Price: from
US$1757
￥11903
€1536
C$2467
Rs.169212
(Price shown is based on the lowest price per person over the next 60 days) Duration: 12 days Language: Mandarin Chinese Visit Burqin (Wucaitan (Five-Color Beach)), Fuyun (Keketuohai National Geopark), Hemu (Hemu River, Hemu Viewing Platform, Hemu Village), Jiadenyu, Jinghe (Huocheng Lavender Field), Karamay, Kuytun (Dushanzi Grand Canyon), Nalati (Nalati Grassland Scenic Area (Sky Grassland)), Sayram Lake (Sayram Lake Scenic Area), Urumqi (Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) Scenic Area, International Grand Bazaar, Red Hill Park, Xinjiang Museum), Yining (Guozigou Bridge (Passing By)).
Highlights:
  • Visit Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) in the Tianshan Mountains
  • Explore the geological wonders of Keketuohai National Geopark
  • Admire the colorful landforms of Wucaitan (Five-Colored Beach)
  • Discover the stunning scenery of Kanas Lake and its changing colors
  • Experience the traditional village life in Hemu Village
  • See the unique wind-eroded landscape of Karamay Devil City
  • Enjoy the beautiful alpine scenery of Sayram Lake
  • Visit the vast grasslands of Nalati (Narat) Scenic Area

Itinerary

Day 1:Urumqi

Hotel: Standard: Urumqi City Hotel
Meals: Meal: Excluded
Arrive in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore at your leisure.

Day 2:Urumqi - Tianchi - Fuyun(473 km)

Hotel: Standard: Fuyun City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Drive to the Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) scenic area, a crescent-shaped lake at the foot of Bogda Peak. Enjoy the alpine landscapes, lake views, and optional activities like boat rides or the Mayashan cable car. After the visit, continue the journey to Fuyun for overnight stay.
  • Urumqi, CN
  • Heavenly Lake (Tianchi) Scenic Area
    Heavenly Lake is a renowned natural scenic area in Xinjiang, featuring clear waters surrounded by snow-capped mountains and forests.

Day 3:Fuyun - Keketuohai - Burqin(261 km)

Hotel: Standard: Burqin City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Visit the Keketuohai National Geopark, featuring unique granite landforms, the Ertix River Grand Canyon, and the Shenzhong Mountain. See the famous No. 3 Mine Pit. Later, travel to Burqin to visit the Wucaitan (Five-Color Beach), renowned for its colorful Yardang landforms along the Ertix River, especially beautiful at sunset.
  • Fuyun, CN
    Fuyun County is located in northern Xinjiang, known for its rich mineral resources and distinctive natural landscapes.
  • Keketuohai National Geopark
    Keketuohai National Geopark is famous for its unique granite landforms and abundant mineral resources.
  • Burqin, CN
    Burqin County is a key gateway to Kanas Lake, attracting visitors with its beautiful natural scenery and unique Tuvan culture.
  • Wucaitan (Five-Color Beach)
    Wucaitan is known for its colorful yardang landforms that glow in the sunset, creating a vibrant and unique landscape.

Day 4:Burqin - Kanas Lake Scenic Area - Jiadenyu(165 km)

Hotel: Standard: Jiadenyu Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Travel to Jiadenyu and enter the Kanas Lake Scenic Area. Explore the famous 'color-changing lake', take in panoramic views from the Guanyu Pavilion (Fish Watching Pavilion), and optionally take a boat cruise on the lake. Enjoy the pristine natural scenery of the Altay Mountains.
  • Jiadenyu, CN
    Jiadenyu is the main entrance and tourist hub for the Kanas Lake scenic area, offering accommodation and transportation services.

Day 5:Jiadenyu - Hemu - Burqin(265 km)

Hotel: Standard: Burqin City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Visit the traditional Tuvan village of Hemu, known for its original log cabins and stunning natural setting. Explore the village, walk along the Hemu River, and ascend to the viewing platform for panoramic views. Afterwards, return to Burqin for the night.
  • Hemu, CN
    Hemu is a tranquil Tuvan village that attracts visitors with its original wooden houses, grasslands, and river scenery.
  • Hemu Village
    Hemu Village is the core settlement in the Hemu area, preserving traditional Tuvan wooden houses and lifestyle in a serene environment.
  • Hemu River
    The Hemu River meanders through Hemu Village, with clear waters and banks lined with birch forests and grasslands, offering pleasant scenery.
  • Hemu Viewing Platform
    The Hemu Viewing Platform is located on a hillside near the village, offering a panoramic view of the entire Hemu Village and the surrounding valley.

Day 6:Burqin - Urho Devil City - Kuytun(471 km)

Hotel: Standard: Kuytun City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Drive to Karamay to visit the Urho Devil City (Ghost City), a spectacular area of wind-eroded Yardang landforms. Learn about its geology and see the unique shapes. Continue the journey to Kuytun for overnight stay.
  • Karamay, CN
    Karamay is an oil city in Xinjiang, known for its unique yardang landforms and petroleum industry landscapes.

Day 7:Kuytun - Sayram Lake - Yining(374 km)

Hotel: Standard: Yining City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Travel to the stunning Sayram Lake, a vast alpine lake set against snow-capped mountains. Enjoy a scenic drive around the lake. Pass by the impressive Guozigou Bridge. Continue to Yining city for your overnight stay.
  • Sayram Lake, CN
    Sayram Lake is the highest alpine lake in Xinjiang, often called the 'last tear of the Atlantic.' Its clear blue waters are surrounded by snow-capped mountains and grasslands, forming a spectacular natural landscape in northern Xinjiang.
  • Sayram Lake Scenic Area
    The Sayram Lake Scenic Area centers on the alpine lake, encompassing surrounding grasslands, snow-capped mountain backdrops, and leisure facilities. Visitors can walk along the shore, ride horses, or enjoy lake views from observation decks, experiencing the serenity and grandeur at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.
  • Yining, CN
    Yining is the capital of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang, located in the heart of the Ili River Valley. The city blends multiple ethnic cultures, known for its orchards, historic districts, and Central Asian atmosphere, serving as the gateway to exploring the Ili Valley.
  • Guozigou Bridge (Passing By) (Passing By)
    Guozigou Bridge is a landmark viaduct on the Guozigou Expressway in Xinjiang, spanning a deep valley and connecting Sayram Lake with the Ili River Valley. When passing by, drivers can enjoy views of the surrounding mountains and forests.

Day 8:Yining - Nalati - Xinyuan(319 km)

Hotel: Standard: Nalati or Xinyuan County Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Travel to the Nalati Grassland Scenic Area. Explore the vast 'Sky Grassland', enjoy the pastoral scenery, and experience the Kazakh culture. Optionally, you can go horseback riding (at your own expense). Overnight in Nalati town or Xinyuan County.
  • Nalati, CN
    Nalati is a grassland town in the Ili River Valley, known for its vast alpine meadows and Kazakh pastoral culture, with lush green pastures and grazing livestock in summer.
  • Nalati Grassland Scenic Area (Sky Grassland)
    The Nalati Grassland Scenic Area showcases classic alpine grassland scenery, with wildflowers in summer, offering horseback riding, insights into herder life, and natural beauty.

Day 9:Nalati/Xinyuan - Yining - Jinghe(528 km)

Hotel: Standard: Jinghe City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Drive back via Yining to Jinghe. If traveling in June, there may be a stop at a lavender field in Huocheng to see the blooming flowers (June departures only).
  • Jinghe, CN
    Jinghe County is an oasis town in northern Xinjiang, famous for its goji berry cultivation and serving as a transportation hub for attractions like Sayram Lake and Ebinur Lake.
  • Huocheng Lavender Field
    Huocheng Lavender Field blooms into a sea of purple in summer, known as 'China's Provence,' and is a popular destination for photography and romantic getaways.

Day 10:Jinghe - Kuytun - Urumqi(428 km)

Hotel: Standard: Urumqi City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Drive to Kuytun area to visit the Dushanzi Grand Canyon, a deep gorge carved by snowmelt rivers from the Tianshan Mountains. Enjoy the dramatic views from the cliff edge. Continue the journey back to Urumqi.
  • Kuytun, CN
    Kuytun is a county-level city in Xinjiang, situated at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. It serves as a transportation hub in northern Xinjiang, connecting the Ili Valley with other major regions.
  • Dushanzi Grand Canyon
    Dushanzi Grand Canyon was carved over millennia by Tianshan snowmelt, featuring steep, colorful cliffs that showcase dramatic geological fissures and natural power.

Day 11:Urumqi

Hotel: Standard: Urumqi City Hotel
Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
Enjoy a day of sightseeing in Urumqi. Visit Red Hill Park for a panoramic city view, explore the Xinjiang Museum to learn about local history and culture, and experience the vibrant International Grand Bazaar for shopping and local food.
  • Urumqi, CN
  • Red Hill Park
    Red Hill Park is a iconic hilltop park in downtown Urumqi, offering panoramic city views from its summit, along with historical structures and leisure paths.
  • Xinjiang Museum
    The Xinjiang Museum houses a rich collection of Silk Road artifacts and mummies, serving as a key place to learn about the region's multi-ethnic history, culture, and ancient East-West exchanges.
  • International Grand Bazaar
    The International Grand Bazaar is a famous market in Urumqi with Islamic-style architecture, offering a wide array of Xinjiang crafts, dried fruits, carpets, and local snacks.

Day 12:Urumqi

Meals: Breakfast: Included; Lunch: Excluded; Dinner: Excluded
After breakfast, transfer to the airport or train station for your departure, concluding the journey.

Departure & Return

Complimentary Transfer Service
(Available only on designated group departure and end dates)

  • Free Pick‑up: Arrivals between 08:00 - 22:00

  • Free Drop‑off: Departures between 09:00 - 23:00 (early morning flights are also covered if you are willing to leave in advance)

Transfers are currently provided with a driver only. If multiple guests arrive around the same time, a guide may be arranged at our discretion. Any policy updates will be communicated separately.

  • If you arrive before the group start date or leave after the group end date, a separate transfer fee applies

  • If your arrival or departure falls outside the free transfer time window, a separate transfer fee also applies

  • For shared group transfers, guests with close arrival times will be picked up together, with a waiting time of approximately 1.5 hours. If you prefer not to wait, please notify us at least 1 day in advance to arrange a private transfer at an additional cost.

Includes & Excludes

Price Includes

Hotel accommodation in standard twin/double room.
Hotel breakfasts.
First entrance tickets and necessary shuttle bus within scenic spots listed in the itinerary.
All vehicle expenses (including tolls, fuel, vehicle mountain entry fees).
Airport/station pickup and drop-off service (shared transfer, waiting time may be up to 1.5 hours).
Professional Chinese-speaking guide service.
Travel accident insurance, vehicle seat insurance, travel agency liability insurance.
Two bottles of mineral water per person per day.

Price Excludes

Airfare/train tickets to/from Urumqi
Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, snacks, drinks, etc.)
Meals not mentioned as included
Tips for guide (suggested 40-70 RMB per person per day)
Tips for driver (suggested 20-50 RMB per person per day)
Additional expenses due to force majeure events (natural disasters, strikes, epidemics, flight changes, etc.)