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Tour Overview
This 12-day adventure traverses the breathtaking landscapes and cultural crossroads of North Xinjiang, blending Silk Road history with natural wonders. From Urumqi’s bustling markets to the serene Kanas Lake and Turpan’s desert relics, the tour immerses you in Uyghur, Kazakh, and Tuwa traditions. Highlights include alpine lakes, rainbow-colored canyons, ancient ruins, and vibrant night markets, offering a deep dive into Xinjiang’s diverse terrain and heritage.What is Special About This Tour?
Untamed Nature: Wander through Kanas Lake’s misty forests, marvel at Heavenly Lake’s turquoise waters, and explore the Mars-like Urho Ghost City. Living History: Walk the 2,300-year-old Jiaohe Ruins, admire Turpan’s ingenious Karez Well System, and meet eagle-keeping nomads in Hemu Village. Cultural Vibrancy: Bargain for spices at Urumqi’s Grand Bazaar, feast on lamb skewers at Burqin Night Market, and relax in Turpan’s Grape Valley. Geological Wonders: Discover Colorful Bay’s striped cliffs, Dushanzi Canyon’s layered rock walls, and the blazing hues of Flaming Mountain.What to Prepare?
Clothing: Lightweight layers for hot days (30°C+ in Turpan), a warm jacket for chilly Altay mornings, and a scarf for desert winds. Footwear: Sturdy hiking shoes for trails (Kanas Lake, Dushanzi Canyon) and sandals for relaxing in oasis towns. Gear: Sunscreen, sunglasses, reusable water bottle, power bank (long drives), and a camera with extra memory. Health: Motion sickness pills for mountain roads, altitude medication (if sensitive), and hand sanitizer. Documents: Passport/ID (mandatory for hotels), printed itinerary, and emergency contacts.Best Time to Visit
May–June: Ideal for wildflowers in the Altay Mountains and mild desert temperatures (20–25°C). July–August: Peak season for lush landscapes and lively festivals, but expect crowds and heat in Turpan (up to 45°C). September: Perfect for golden autumn foliage in Kanas and Hemu Village, with cooler days (10–20°C). Avoid: November–April due to sub-zero temperatures, snow-blocked roads, and limited services.Destinations
- Altay
- Karamay
- Turpan
- Urumqi
- Xinjiang
Tour Price
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Tour Start and End
Urumqi, Urumqi
Price Includes
- Accommodation
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide
- Private air-conditioned vehicle/bus
- Guide & driver accommodation + meals
- Train tickets
Price Excludes
- International/domestic flights
- Meals (can arranged if need)
- Entrance fees to monuments/attractions(can arranged if need)
- Optional excursions not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, laundry)
- Tips for guide/driver
Tour Overview
This 12-day adventure traverses the breathtaking landscapes and cultural crossroads of North Xinjiang, blending Silk Road history with natural wonders. From Urumqi’s bustling markets to the serene Kanas Lake and Turpan’s desert relics, the tour immerses you in Uyghur, Kazakh, and Tuwa traditions. Highlights include alpine lakes, rainbow-colored canyons, ancient ruins, and vibrant night markets, offering a deep dive into Xinjiang’s diverse terrain and heritage.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Urumqi
Highlights: Urumqi Grand Bazaar
Airport pickup and hotel check-in. Then visit the Urumqi Grand Bazaar, a sprawling market bursting with Uyghur crafts, spices, and silk. Savor local lamb kebabs or nang (flatbread) while watching artisans carve intricate wooden-ware.
Overnight: Urumqi
Day 2: Urumqi → Fukang (110 km, 2hrs)
Highlights: Xinjiang Museum, Heavenly Lake
After breakfast, explore the Xinjiang Museum, home to 4,000-year-old Tarim mummies and Silk Road relics. Then Drive to Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), a stunning alpine lake nestled in the Tianshan Mountains. Walk along the lakeside trails or take a boat ride to admire the pine forests and snow-dusted Bogda Peak.
Overnight: Fukang
Day 3: Fukang → Koktokay (450 km, 6 hrs)
Highlights: Colorful Bay (Wucaitan)
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive through the Gobi Desert. Stop at Colorful Bay, a geological marvel where wind and water have sculpted rainbow-hued cliffs and dunes. Learn about the area’s Jurassic-era rock layers.
Overnight: Koktokay
Day 4: Koktokay → Burqin (300 km, 5 hrs)
Highlights: Koktokay Geopark, Burqin Night Market
After breakfast, visit Koktokay Geopark, where the emerald Irtysh River snakes through granite valleys. Explore the Three-Mineral Gorge, rich in rare gemstones.
Drive to Burqin and join the lively Burqin Night Market. Try laghman (hand-pulled noodles) and mingle with Kazakh herders sharing stories over smoky grills.
Overnight: Burqin
Day 5: Burqin → Hemu → Jiadengyu (180 km, 4 hrs)
Highlights: Hemu Village
After breakfast, drive to Hemu Village, one of China’s “Six Most Beautiful Villages.” Wander among traditional Tuwa log cabins and meet eagle-keeping nomads. Hike to Hemu Viewing Platform for a panoramic vista of the Altay Mountains and birch forests. Continue to Jiadengyu.
Overnight: Jiadengyu
Day 6: Jiadengyu → Burqin (180 km, 4 hrs)
Highlights: Kanas Lake, Colorful Beach
After breakfast, explore Kanas Lake, a glacial gem dubbed the “Oriental Switzerland.” Visit the Fish Viewing Pavilion to spot schools of hucho taimen (giant trout). Return to Burqin, stopping at Colorful Beach at sunset. Watch the Irtysh River glow against the red-yellow cliffs and poplar groves.
Overnight: Burqin
Day 7: Burqin → Dushanzi (400 km, 7 hrs)
Highlights: Urho Ghost City, Dushanzi Grand Canyon
After breakfast, drive to Urho Ghost City, a desert labyrinth of wind-carved rock pillars resembling castles and beasts. Continue to Dushanzi Grand Canyon, where rust-red cliffs striped with green and gray layers tower over the valley. Walk the cliffside boardwalks for dramatic photos.
Overnight: Dushanzi
Day 8: Dushanzi → Turpan (450 km, 7 hrs)
Highlights: Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Well, Emin Minaret
After breakfast, Travel to Turpan, an ancient Silk Road oasis. Visit Jiaohe Ruins, a 2,300-year-old UNESCO site carved from a cliff. Explore temples and tombs frozen in time. Explore the Karez Well System, a 2,000-year-old underground irrigation network. End at the Emin Minaret, a towering 18th-century mosque adorned with intricate brickwork.
Overnight: Turpan
Day 9: Turpan → Urumqi (200 km, 3 hrs)
Highlights: Tuyuq Village, Flaming Mountain, Bezeklik Caves, Grape Valley
After breakfast, visit Tuyuq Village, a Uyghur settlement with adobe houses and ancient Buddhist caves. Stop at Flaming Mountain, famed for its fiery-red ridges and scorching temperatures (up to 50°C in summer!). Explore Bezeklik Caves, a Tang Dynasty Buddhist art site. Relax in Grape Valley, shaded by vineyards, and taste Xinjiang’s famed raisins. Return to Urumqi.
Overnight: Urumqi
Day 10:
Urumqi Departure
Transfer to Urumqi International Airport for your onward journey. North Xinjiang Tour ends here.
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