10 days · Entry and exit of Urumqi
Xinjiang Essence 10 Days
Northern Xinjiang Circuit + Ili River Valley: Combining the answers from two trips to Xinjiang into one
Reference Price
$1580from / 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
IntensityMedium
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
Only ten days of vacation but want to see it all: this route stitches together the classics of Northern Xinjiang and the Ili Grassland into a clockwise loop.
Day-by-day itinerary10 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.
- D1Gather at Urumqi
DestinationMuseum・Grand Bazaar
- Meals
- Self-sufficient in meals
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Private car airport/train station pickup
- Distance
- within the city
StopsDaily detailMeeting in Urumqi: Museum + Grand Bazaar.
Today mainly focuses on gathering and getting accustomed to the city. The guide will hold a sign to pick you up at the airport/station; specific transfer times are based on 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. - D3Wushi—Keketuohai
DestinationWushi—Keketuohai
- 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—Keketuohai.
Accommodation for the night is arranged in Fuyun. After check-in, free activities are allowed; the departure time the next day will be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D4Enter Kanas
DestinationLake District ・ Fish Viewing Terrace
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Scenic area
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
StopsDaily detailArrive in Kanas: Lake area + Fish Viewing Platform.
Accommodation for the night will be arranged within the scenic area. After checking in, you are free to explore; the departure time for the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D5Morning Mist at Sanwan — Hemu
DestinationMorning Mist at Sanwan — Hemu
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Hemu
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailSanwan Morning Fog — Hemu.
The window for morning fog is very short. The guide will call you to wake up 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. After checking in, you are free to explore; confirm the departure time with the guide the night before. - D6Hemu—Colorful Beach—Wuerhe
DestinationHemu—Colorful Beach—Wuerhe
- 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—Wuerhe.
The accommodation for that night is arranged in Wuerhe. After check-in, you can enjoy free activities; the departure time for the next day will be confirmed with the driver and guide the night before. - D7Devil's City—Around Sailimu Lake
DestinationDevil's City—Around Sailimu Lake
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Lake District
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailDevil's City—around Sayram Lake.
Accommodation for the night is arranged in the lake area; after check-in, you are free to do as you wish. The departure time the next day should be confirmed with the tour guide the night before. - D8Guozi Valley—Lavender Garden (Seasonal)—Yining—Nalati
DestinationGuozi Valley—Lavender Garden (Seasonal)—Yining—Nalati
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Scenic area
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailGuozi Gou — Lavender Garden (Seasonal) — Yining — Nalati.
Accommodation for the night is arranged in the scenic area. After check-in, you are free to explore. Confirm the departure time for the next day with the driver/guide the night before. - D9Bayanbulak's Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns
DestinationBayanbulak's Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- in the town
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailBayanbulak Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns.
Accommodation for that night is arranged in the town. After check-in, you are free to explore; the departure time for the next day should be confirmed with the driver-guide the night before. - D10Northern section of Duku—Airport drop-off in Urumqi
DestinationNorthern section of Duku—Airport drop-off in Urumqi
- Meals
- Breakfast (hotel) | Lunch and dinner on your own
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Business vehicle charter
- Distance
- Subject to charter arrangement
Daily detailDuku North Section — Airport transfer in Urumqi.
Daily Itinerary
- D1 Urumqi gathering: Museum + Grand Bazaar.
- D2 Tianshan Heavenly Lake day trip, stay in Urumqi.
- D3 Urumqi — Koktokay, stay in Fuyun.
- D4 Enter Kanas: Lake area + Fish Viewing Platform, stay in the scenic area.
- D5 Morning fog at Three Bays — Hemu, stay in Hemu.
- D6 Hemu — Five-colored Beach — Wuerhe, stay in Wuerhe.
- D7 Devil City — visit around Sayram Lake, stay in the lake area.
- D8 Guozigou — Lavender Garden (seasonal) — Yining — Nalati, stay in the scenic area.
- D9 Bayinbuluk Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns, stay in town.
- D10 Northern section of Duku Road — transfer to Urumqi airport.
In October, nighttime temperatures in Bayinbuluk approach zero degrees, so pack one layer of winter clothing; for the Duku section in October, adjust to the Yili River Valley depending on road closures.
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
Major transportation, main meals, optional horseback riding and performances, single room supplement.
Booking Reminder
For the golden autumn season, it is recommended to book three weeks in advance; for the ten-day circular route, luggage stays on the vehicle every day, and suitcases should not exceed two pieces.