12 days · Entry and exit of Urumqi
Northern Xinjiang In-Depth Panorama 12 Days
Heaven Lake, Koktokay, Kanas, Hemu, Baihaba, Sayram Lake, Jiangbulake
Reference Price
$1690from / 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 in 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
Collect all the names of Northern Xinjiang at once: the three major lake areas, two Tuva villages, and the wheat field grasslands, suitable for those visiting Xinjiang for the first time who don't want to leave any regrets.
Day-by-day itinerary12 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
- Meals
- Self-sufficient in meals
- Accommodation
- Urumqi
- Transport
- Private car airport/train station pickup
- Distance
- within the city
StopsDaily detailUrumqi Gathering: Museum + Grand Bazaar.
Today mainly focuses on gathering and adapting to the city. The guide will hold a sign to pick you up at the airport/station; the specific transfer time will be based 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, Tianshan.
Accommodation for the night is arranged in Urumqi. After check-in, you can enjoy free activities; confirm the departure time with the driver-guide the night before the next day. - 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 ・ Fish Viewing 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 for Kanas: Lake Area + Fish Viewing Platform.
Accommodation that night is arranged in the scenic area; after check-in, free activities; the departure time the next day should be confirmed with the driver and guide the night before. - D5Morning Fog in Sanwan — Transition to Hemu
DestinationMorning Fog in Sanwan — Transition to Hemu
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Hemu
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailSanwan Morning Mist — Transfer to Hemu.
The window for the morning mist is very short, and the guide will wake you up 30–60 minutes in advance based on the previous day's weather; thermal cups and windproof jackets are prepared in the vehicle. Accommodation for that night is arranged in Hemu, and after checking in, you are free to explore; confirm the departure time with the guide the night before. - D6Morning Mist and Cooking Smoke in Hemu — Baihaba Village
DestinationMorning Mist and Cooking Smoke in Hemu — Baihaba Village
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Baihaba
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailMorning mist and cooking smoke in Hemu — Baihaba Village.
The window for morning mist is very short, and the guide will wake you 30–60 minutes earlier according to the weather from the previous day; bring a thermos and a windproof jacket prepared on the car. The accommodation that night is arranged in Baihaba, and after check-in, you can have free activities; the departure time on the next day should be confirmed with the guide the night before. - D7Baihaba — China-Kazakhstan Border Grand Canyon — Return to Hemu
DestinationBaihaba — China-Kazakhstan Border Grand Canyon — Return to Hemu
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Hemu
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
StopsDaily detailBaihaba — China-Kazakhstan border Grand Canyon — Return to Hemu.
Accommodation that night is arranged in Hemu, free activities after check-in; the departure time for the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D8Hemu — Sunset at Five-Color Beach — Wuerhe Devil City
DestinationHemu — Sunset at Five-Color Beach — Wuerhe Devil City
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Urho
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailHemu—Five-Color Beach Sunset—Wuerhe Ghost City.
Scout the sunset location in advance, return to lodging after shooting; no stops on the night road section of the Gobi. Accommodation for that night is arranged in Wuerhe, with free activities after check-in; confirm the departure time the night before with the driver-guide. - D9Wuerhe—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 the 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. - D10Sunrise at Sailimu Lake — Guozigou Bridge — Lavender Garden (Seasonal)
DestinationSunrise at Sailimu Lake — Guozigou Bridge — Lavender Garden (Seasonal)
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Yining
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailSunrise at Sayram Lake — Guozigou Bridge — Lavender Garden (seasonal).
Depart 40 minutes before sunrise to secure a spot, then return to the hotel for breakfast; in winter, keep camera batteries warm. Accommodation that night is arranged in Yining, after check-in enjoy free activities; confirm the departure time for the next day with the driver-guide the night before. - D11Yining—Jiangbulake Wheat Fields and Tianshan Wooden Walkway
DestinationYining—Jiangbulake Wheat Fields and Tianshan Wooden Walkway
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Qitai
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailYining – Jiangbulake Wheat Fields and Tianshan Wooden Walkway.
Accommodation for the night is arranged in Qitai. After check-in, enjoy free activities; the departure time for the next day will be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D12Qitai—Urumqi Airport Drop-off
DestinationQitai—Urumqi Airport Drop-off
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- About 240 km / 3 hours
Daily detailQitai — Sending off at Urumqi.
Daily Itinerary
- D1 Arrive in Urumqi: Museum + Grand Bazaar, overnight in Urumqi.
- D2 Full day at Tianshan Heavenly Lake, overnight in Urumqi.
- D3 Urumqi — Koktokay Canyon and Mine No. 3, overnight in Fuyun.
- D4 Fuyun — Jiadengyu — Enter Kanas: lake area + Fish Viewing Terrace, overnight in the scenic area.
- D5 Morning mist at Sanwan — transfer to Hemu, overnight in Hemu.
- D6 Morning mist and cooking smoke in Hemu — Baihaba Village, overnight in Baihaba.
- D7 Baihaba — Sino-Kazakh border Grand Canyon — return to Hemu, overnight in Hemu.
- D8 Hemu — Sunset at Five-Color Beach — Urho Ghost City, overnight in Urho.
- D9 Urho — Drive around Sayram Lake, overnight in the lake area.
- D10 Sunrise at Sayram Lake — Guozigou Bridge — Lavender Garden (seasonal), overnight in Yining.
- D11 Yining — Jiangbulak wheat fields and Tianshan wooden plank road, overnight in Qitai.
- D12 Qitai — Transfer to Urumqi for departure.
The entire route is a clockwise loop without retracing steps; for D6 Baihaba, a border permit is required, and the driver-guide will assist with processing in advance. In the golden autumn version, D5 departs earlier at 6:30 due to morning mist.
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, main meals, optional activities such as horseback riding and performances, single room supplement.
Booking Reminder
It is recommended to book the autumn golden season trips 3 weeks in advance; a 12-day itinerary is suitable for travelers with ample vacation time who want to travel at a leisurely pace.