Itinerary
- Day 1
Urumqi
You'll arrive in Urumqi and meet your driver at the airport, then check into your downtown hotel. From there, the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace. The Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar is worth checking out if you want to wander through bustling markets, see varied goods, and try some local food.
- Start point
- Urumqi Shi, Xinjiang, China (Urumqi airport)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Urumqi Downtown Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Visit Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar
Landmarks Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar 
- Day 2
Urumqi to Heavenly Lake to Fuhai County
After breakfast, you'll drive for 1.5 hours to Heavenly Lake (Yaochi), which sits at 1,910 meters altitude. The area has snow-capped peaks and dense forests surrounding crystal-clear waters. Your guide will share local stories about the Queen Mother of the West, and you can take a boat ride on the lake if you want. Later you'll head to Fuhai County for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Fuhai Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Heavenly Lake (Yaochi) - guided tour with mythology stories
Optional Activities
- Leisurely boat ride on Heavenly Lake
Landmarks Heavenly Lake (Yaochi) 
- Day 3
Fuhai County to Beitun to Hemu Village
You'll arrive in Beitun and have breakfast at a local eatery before heading on a 3.5-hour drive to Hemu Village. The village is home to the Tuva ethnic group and features birch forests, winding rivers, and wooden houses. Your guide will walk you through their culture and traditions. You'll take a shuttle bus into the village, so leave your luggage on the main coach.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at a local eatery in Beitun)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hemu Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hemu Village with Tuva ethnic group cultural insights
Landmarks Hemu Village - Day 4
Hemu Village to Kanas Nature Reserve to Jiadengyu
You'll drive 1 hour from Hemu to Kanas Nature Reserve, which combines winding rivers, lakes, thick forests, and snow-capped mountains. Take a walk along Kanas Lake to see the turquoise waters, then hike up to the Fish-Watching Platform for views across the landscape. A boat tour is also available if you want to explore the lake. Later you'll head to Jiadengyu for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kanas Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Stroll along Kanas Lake shores
- Hike to Fish-Watching Platform for panoramic views
Optional Activities
- Boat tour on Kanas Lake to explore lake monster mystery
Landmarks Kanas Nature Reserve Kanas Lake Fish-Watching Platform - Day 5
Jiadengyu to Five-Colored Beach to Burqin
After breakfast, you'll drive to Five-Colored Beach along the Irtysh River, where you'll see red, yellow, and gray Yardang landforms on one side and green poplar forests on the other. Sunset here is especially nice when the light hits the rock formations. Later you'll head to Burqin City and check into a hotel, then spend your evening at Burqin Market trying roasted lamb skewers and hand-pulled noodles or browsing handmade crafts.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Burqin Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Five-Colored Beach (Wucaitan) geological site
Optional Activities
- Explore Burqin Market for local snacks and handmade crafts
Landmarks Five-Colored Beach (Wucaitan) Burqin Market - Day 6
Burqin to Gurbantunggut Desert to Urho Ghost City to Dushanzi Grand Canyon
You'll start by traveling along the Gurbantunggut Desert edge to reach Urho Ghost City, where wind-eroded rock formations resemble ancient castles and crouching beasts. After exploring, you'll drive to Dushanzi County to visit Dushanzi Grand Canyon, which has towering rock walls hundreds of meters high in red, brown, and gray layers. You can either hike the scenic paths with your guide or try the glass skywalk suspended above the canyon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Dushanzi Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Urho Ghost City (Wuerhe Wind City) geological site
- Hike scenic paths in Dushanzi Grand Canyon with guide
Optional Activities
- Glass skywalk experience suspended above Dushanzi Grand Canyon
Landmarks Gurbantunggut Desert Urho Ghost City (Wuerhe Wind City) Dushanzi Grand Canyon - Day 7
Dushanzi County to Sayram Lake to Guozigou Bridge to Yining
You'll drive to Yining with a stop at Sayram Lake, Xinjiang's highest and largest alpine cold-water lake at 2,071 meters altitude. The blue water shifts from turquoise in midday sun to deep sapphire at dusk, and you can walk along the lakeside boardwalk or chat with local Kazak herders. Next you'll visit Guozigou Bridge, a 700-meter-long cable-stayed structure spanning the valley, then continue to Yining and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Yining Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Stroll along Sayram Lake lakeside boardwalk
- View Guozigou Bridge with panoramic valley views
Optional Activities
- Chat with local Kazak herders at Sayram Lake
- Spot rare bird species at Sayram Lake
Landmarks Sayram Lake Guozigou Bridge - Day 8
Yining to Kalajun Grassland to Tekes County
After breakfast, you'll drive 2 hours to Tekes County with a stop at Kalajun Grassland, which spans 2,848 square kilometers and offers views of snow-capped peaks and lush meadows dotted with grazing sheep and horses. Between June and September, wildflowers turn the landscape colorful. You can take leisurely walks along meandering paths, then continue to Tekes County and check into a family-run hotel for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tekes Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Kalajun Grassland with guided tour and panoramic views
Optional Activities
- Leisurely stroll along Kalajun Grassland paths
Landmarks Kalajun Grassland - Day 9
Tekes County to Nalati Sky Grassland
After breakfast, you'll drive 3 hours through rolling hills and pastoral villages to reach Nalati Sky Grassland at 2,200-2,600 meters elevation. Summer brings wildflowers like purple salvias and golden buttercups across the 1,800 square-kilometer area, with snow-capped Tianshan peaks rising sharply and herds of horses and sheep roaming freely. You can go horseback riding, have a mountain-view picnic, or step inside traditional yurts to learn about Kazakh nomadic life and watch carpet weaving.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nalaty Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Nalati Sky Grassland
- Experience traditional white yurt and learn about nomadic Kazakh lifestyle
- Watch artisans weave colorful woolen carpets
Optional Activities
- Leisurely horseback ride along meadow trails
- Picnic with mountain views
Landmarks Nalati Sky Grassland - Day 10
Nalati to Yining to Urumqi
Your morning in Yining starts at Kazanqi Folk Custom Street, known locally as 'Eastern Morocco,' with its soft blue houses and Uyghur architecture. You'll wander bazaars selling silk scarves and spices, try local foods like hand-pulled noodles or butter cookies, and stop at photo spots with blue archways. Next you'll visit Yining's Accordion Museum, which has over 800 accordions spanning three centuries. Later you'll catch a high-speed train to Urumqi with scenic views of the Ili River Valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Urumqi Downtown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Kazanqi Folk Custom Street with guided exploration
- Visit Yining's Accordion Museum with guided tour
- High-speed train journey from Yining to Urumqi (2nd class)
Optional Activities
- Sample local dishes at family-run eateries in Kazanqi
Landmarks Kazanqi Folk Custom Street Yining's Accordion Museum 
- Day 11
Urumqi Departure
Your final morning is relaxed with no schedule pressure. By mid-morning, your driver will meet you at the hotel for a transfer to Urumqi Diwopu International Airport. You can reflect on your 11-day North Xinjiang adventure filled with natural wonders, vibrant cultures, and memorable moments as you head to your next destination.
- End point
- Urumqi Shi, Xinjiang, China (Urumuqi airport)
Landmarks Urumqi Diwopu International Airport 
