8 days · Entry and exit of Urumqi
Classic Northern Xinjiang 8-Day Loop
Heaven Lake, Keketuohai, Kanas, Hemu, Sailimu Lake
Reference Price
$1290from / person
- Purely for fun, no shopping
- The itinerary can be slightly adjusted
- Includes ticket reservation service
Number of people in a groupTwo people make a pair
IntensityRelaxed
Best seasonThe best of golden autumn September
TrafficBusiness vehicle charter
AccommodationHotel + Scenic Area Cabin
Departure MonthMay–October
Prices vary between peak and off-peak seasons; the following order confirmation shall prevail · Tickets for highlands and peak seasons need to be booked in advance
Itinerary Details
All routes are for reference only, the actual route is subject to the explanation of customer service
The standard answer for a first visit to Northern Xinjiang: arrange the lake, grasslands, snow mountains, and Tuva villages into a clockwise loop without retracing your steps.
Day-by-day itinerary8 days in total · daily destination, meals, accommodation and transport
Expand day by day; click a title to collapse. Itinerary for reference and may be adjusted for weather and traffic.
- D1Urumqi Gathering
DestinationMuseum & Grand Bazaar Half-Day
- Meals
- Self-sufficient in meals
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Private car airport/train station pickup
- Distance
- within the city
StopsDaily detailUrumqi Gathering: Museum + Grand Bazaar Half Day.
Today focuses on gathering and acclimating to the city. The tour guide will hold a sign at the airport/station for pick-up; the specific transfer time will depend on the flight information. - D2A Day at Tianchi in the Tianshan Mountains
DestinationA Day at Tianchi in the Tianshan Mountains
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Urumqi
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailA day at Tianchi in the Tianshan Mountains.
Accommodation for the night will be arranged in Urumqi. After check-in, free activities are available; the departure time the next day will be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D3Urumqi City—Keketuohai Gorge and No. 3 Mine
DestinationUrumqi City—Keketuohai Gorge and No. 3 Mine
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Wealth and abundance
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- About 480 km / 6 hours
Daily detailUrumqi – Koktokay Gorge and Mine No. 3.
Accommodation that night is arranged in Fuyun. After checking in, you are free to explore; the departure time the next day will be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D4Fuyun — Jiadeng Islet — Proceed to Kanas
DestinationLake District and Fish-Watching Terrace
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Scenic area
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- About 350 km / 5 hours
StopsDaily detailFuyun—Jiadeng Islet—Depart to Kanas: Lake Area and Fish Viewing Platform.
Accommodation that night is arranged in the scenic area; after check-in, free activities are allowed. Departure time the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D5Morning Mist in Sanwan — Hemu Village
DestinationMorning Mist in Sanwan — Hemu Village
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Hemu
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailSanwan Morning Mist — Hemu Village.
The window for seeing the morning mist is very short, and the guide will call you 30–60 minutes earlier based on the previous day's weather; a thermos and windproof jacket are prepared in the vehicle. Accommodation that night is arranged in Hemu, with free activities after check-in; the departure time for the next day should be confirmed with the guide the night before. - D6Morning mist and cooking smoke in Hemu – Sunset at Wuerhe Devil City
DestinationMorning mist and cooking smoke in Hemu – Sunset at Wuerhe Devil City
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Urho
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- About 380 km / 6 hours
Daily detailHemu Morning Mist and Cooking Smoke — Wuerhe Devil City Sunset.
The window when morning mist appears is very short, and the guide will wake you 30–60 minutes in advance based on the previous day's weather; thermos and windproof jacket are prepared on the vehicle. Sunset locations are scouted in advance, and after shooting, return to accommodation; there are no stops on the night road through the Gobi section. - D7Wuerhe—Around Sailimu Lake
DestinationWuerhe—Around Sailimu Lake
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Lake District
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- About 420 km / 5 hours
Daily detailUrho—Around Sailimu Lake.
Accommodation for that night is arranged in the lake area. After checking in, you are free to do as you wish; the departure time the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D8Sunrise at Sailimu Lake — Guozigou Bridge — Send off at Yining Airport or return to Urumqi
DestinationSunrise at Sailimu Lake — Guozigou Bridge — Send off at Yining Airport or return to Urumqi
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailSunrise at Sayram Lake — Guozigou Bridge — Drop-off at Yining Airport or return to Urumqi.
Depart 40 minutes before sunrise to secure a spot, return to the hotel for breakfast after shooting; in winter, pay attention to keeping camera batteries warm.
Daily Itinerary
- D1 Gathering in Urumqi: Museum + Half-day visit to the Grand Bazaar.
- D2 One day at Tianshan Tianchi, overnight in Urumqi.
- D3 Urumqi — Koktokay Canyon and No.3 Mine, overnight in Fuyun.
- D4 Fuyun — Jiadengyu — Enter Kanas: Lake area and Fish Watching Platform, overnight near the scenic area.
- D5 Morning mist at Sanwan — Hemu Village, overnight in Hemu.
- D6 Morning mist and cooking smoke in Hemu — Sunset at Urho Ghost City, overnight in Urho.
- D7 Urho — Sailimu Lake circuit, overnight in the lake area.
- D8 Sailimu Lake sunrise — Guozigou Bridge — Drop off at Yining Airport or return to Urumqi.
The longest travel day is D4 (about 6 hours), with the rest controlled within 4 hours; for the autumn version of D5, the morning mist departure time is moved up to 6:30.
Costs include
Full transportation with driver and guide, accommodation within the itinerary, attraction tickets and shuttle buses, daily breakfast, and travel accident insurance.
Cost not included
Round-trip transportation to Xinjiang, regular meals (driver-guide recommends ordering freely), optional activities such as horse riding and performances, single room supplement.
Booking Reminder
Book more than 7 days in advance; for the golden autumn period (mid-September to early October), it is recommended to secure accommodations in Kanas and Hemu 3 weeks in advance.