12-day panoramic in-depth trip to northern Xinjiang
[ Overall Overview ]
This 12-day panoramic in-depth trip to northern Xinjiang starts and ends in Urumqi, goes all the way north through the Gurbantunggut Desert, goes deep into the hinterland of the Altay Mountains, and checks the two top secret places of Hemu and Kanas; and then goes west along the Ili Valley. , travel around Sailim Lake, the "last tear of the Atlantic Ocean", pass through the Izhao Highway and the Xiata Ancient Road, and roam the Kurdening and Narapir Grasslands.
The entire journey connects multiple extreme scenery of deserts, snow-capped mountains, lakes, forests, grasslands, and seas of flowers, covering the most classic landscapes and roads in northern Xinjiang. It is a classic loop that combines natural scenery and travel atmosphere.
Experience Details
Trip Duration
12 Days, 11 Nights
May to October Annually
Best Time to Travel
Price
From 12,800 Yuan per person
[ Highlights ]Itinerary Highlights Explained
Desert roads and sunset romance
Travel through Xinjiang's first desert expressway S21 and immerse yourself in the vastness of the Gurbantunggut Desert; check in on the Jiangjun Mountain Sunset Cable Car and encounter the pink-gold sunset on the top of the mountain, unlocking the most atmospheric desert sunset experience in northern Xinjiang.
Kanas Hemu Double Secret Realm
Go deep into the core of the Altay Mountains, walk through the "Little Duku" Ahe Highway, stroll through the Hemu Village with scattered logs, swim in Kanas Lake, Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay, and Wolong Bay, and encounter "God's back garden" between Taigalin and snow-capped mountain lakes. ".
The mountains and seas of Saihu Lake and Ili are romantic
Tour Sailimu Lake twice in depth, unlocking a small hot pot by the lake and internet celebrity viewing spots; check in to the Ili lavender sea, walk through the steep Yizhao Highway, and see all the snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and canyons in one day.
Deep roaming in grassland forests
Hiking the Xiata Ancient Trail directly faces the Muzart Glacier, goes deep into the original snowy spruce forest in Kurdening, drives the Nalati Sky Grassland and River Valley, and immersively experiences the agility and magnificence of Ili's "Jiangnan Beyond the Great Wall".
Tour Itinerary
■
Days 1-2: Set off north to experience the desert road for the first time
Day 1｜Departure → Urumqi
Arrive in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, and go to the hotel to rest and move around freely. It is recommended to go to the Autonomous Region Museum to learn about the thousand-year history of the Western Regions, stroll through the world's largest international bazaar to experience the exotic customs, and taste special delicacies such as kebabs and hand-picked rice to prepare for the subsequent trip.
Day 2｜Urumqi → Altay (about 510km)
Set off in the early morning along the S21 Desert Highway northward, through the Gurbantunggut Desert, and enjoy the vast desert and Gobi scenery. After a short stop in Kraa Beautiful Desert Park, we arrived at General Altay Mountain in the afternoon, took the sunset cable car to encounter the pink-gold sunset, and stayed in Altay city to rest in the evening.
Days 3-5: Depth of Altay, the Secret Realm of God’s Back Garden
Day 3｜Altay → Hemu (about 220km)
Walking along the Ahe Highway, known as the "Little Duku of Altay", you will pass through the Ushilik Wetland, Tongba Forest, and Ptolehaite Prairie along the way, and the scenery progresses layer by layer. Arrive at Hemu Village in the afternoon, stroll along the log village and the Hemu River, climb to the observation deck to overlook the panoramic view of the village, and feel the simplicity and tranquility of Tuva Village.
Day 4｜Hemu → Kanas (about 100km)
Stroll through Hemu Village in the morning mist in the early morning, and then set off for Kanas Scenic Area. Transfer to a shuttle bus and go deep into the core area, stroll along the Tegarin Corridor by the lake, and enjoy the green and quiet Kanas Lake. You can also choose to take a boat trip on the lake to experience the lakes and mountains of the "Wonderland on Earth" up close.
Day 5｜Kanas → Karamay (about 450km)
After breakfast, visit the three classic spots of Shenxian Bay, Moon Bay and Wolong Bay, and experience the fairyland-like scenery in the forest streams and mist. Then go south along the mountain road, enjoying the scenery of the Altay grassland along the way, and arrive at the oil city of Karamay in the evening, where you can check in and rest to relieve the fatigue of the journey.
Days 6-8: Race Lake Ili, lakes, sea of flowers and steep roads
Day 6 | Karamay → Sailim Lake (about 440km)
After breakfast, set off westward and arrive at Sailimu Lake, known as "the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean". Start an in-depth tour around the lake, visit many observation decks such as Qingshui Bay and Dianjiang Terrace, encounter wild swans and grassland herds by the lake, experience the lakeside hot pot in the evening, and wait for the dreamy moment when the sunset dyes the lake surface with gold.
Day 7｜Sailimu Lake → Zhaosu (about 330km)
Depart from Sailimu Lake, then pass by Guozigou Bridge, check in the Ili lavender field, and feel the romance at the same latitude as Provence. In the evening, we walked through the steep Yizhao Highway, experienced the wonder of the "Four Seasons of the One Calendar", and arrived in Zhaosu to check in.
Day 8｜Zhaosu → Turks (about 220km)
Departing from Zhaosu to Turks, you will pass through mountain grasslands, virgin forests and river valley scenery along the way. In the afternoon, enter the Xiata Scenic Area, hike along the ancient road, and overlook the Muzart Glacier. Along the way, accompanied by wild flowers, streams, and forests, you may also encounter a naive prairie dog, as if you have stepped into the garden of the gods.
Days 9-12: Grassland and forest roaming and the loop come to a successful conclusion
Day 9｜Turks → Xinyuan/Nalati (approx. 220km)
Depart from Turks and head to Kurdenin Forest Park, known as the "Hometown of Spruce in the Snow Ridge". Go deep into the hinterland of the primeval forest, stroll along the forest paths paved with pine needles, listen to the streams and birdsong, overlook the grand scenery of grasslands and snow-capped mountains at Crow Ridge, and arrive in Xinyuan or Nalati Town in the evening to check in.
Day 10｜Xinyuan/Nalati → Dushanzi (about 220km)
Visit the Nalati Grassland in depth throughout the day, and drive through the river valley grassland, sky grassland and Panlong Valley Road. Stroll along the stream to watch Kazakh herdsmen herding sheep, climb the Tianjie Terrace to overlook the layered scenery of grasslands and snow-capped mountains, feel the vastness and healing of the "sky grassland", and go to Dushanzi for accommodation via the northern section of Duku Highway.
Day 11｜Dushanzi → Urumqi (about 250km)
Set off from Dushanzi in the early morning and return eastward, passing through Kuitun, Shihezi and other oasis towns along the highway at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Along the way, you can overlook the continuous snow-capped peaks of the Tianshan Mountains and the scenery of northern Xinjiang where the Gobi and oasis are intertwined. The road conditions were smooth throughout the journey. We arrived in Urumqi city in the evening to check in and rest, which was a soothing end to the entire journey.
Day 11｜Urumqi → Departure point
After breakfast, pack your luggage, check out according to the flight time, and be taken to the airport by the driver. The 12-day trip to Northern Xinjiang has come to an end, with full memories of deserts, lakes, grasslands and forests, ending this fulfilling and healing panoramic trip to the Western Regions.
[ Trip ]
Pricing Details
What's Included
Bilingual (Chinese & English) Tour Guide
Accommodation Throughout
Breakfasts + Selected Specialty Meals
Travel Insurance + High-Altitude Insurance
Medical Oxygen
Support Vehicle
What's Not Included
Round-trip Transportation to Lhasa
Single Room Supplement
Personal Expenses
Suggested Gratuity ¥50/person/day
Self-Driving Fuel, Tolls, and Parking Fees
Vehicle rental
Attraction Entrance Tickets
[ Travel FAQs ]
Frequently Asked Questions
-
It is recommended to go in spring (April, May, June) or autumn (September, October). During these periods, the weather and road conditions in Western China are generally more stable.
-
Entering and exiting Tibet is very convenient. Currently, there are flights, trains, and multiple overland driving routes available.
-
Currently, Tibet is open to global tourists. However, when planning your trip, you need to be aware of the relevant restrictions: for example, you must apply for a Tibet Travel Permit in advance, and must participate in a fixed itinerary arranged by a travel agency; Tibet currently does not support independent travel.
-
The cost includes SUV or motorcycle rental, hotel accommodation, licensed tour guide services, first entry tickets to attractions, and all administrative permit processing fees.
-
You need to prepare your passport, a driver's license valid for more than 6 months, and the registration documents for your vehicle or motorcycle. We will be responsible for assisting you with all legal procedures required for driving in China.
-
Yes, we do. We will arrange pick-up and drop-off services for your arrival and departure days, covering transfers between the hotel and the airport or station.
-
Yes, you can. After an in-depth discussion with our travel consultant, we will arrange a customized China road trip itinerary for you based on your specific needs.
Related Trips
Chengdu-Lhasa 10 days
Chongqing - Mount Everest 15 Days
Chengdu-Lhasa-Mount Everest 14 days
