Xinjiang Tour Itinerary | 新疆行程

Day 1

Departure → Urumqi Arrival

Arrival: Urumqi Diwopu International Airport pickup
Evening: International Grand Bazaar — Uyghur handicrafts & food
Dinner: Lamb kebabs, pilaf & Xinjiang bread
Overnight: Urumqi 【四钻酒店】

Uyghur cuisine Grand Bazaar

Day 2

Urumqi → Desert Highway → Altay

S21 Desert Highway: Drive through the legendary desert highway
Kelameili Sand Mountain Park: Golden dune landscape
General Mountain Cable Car: Disco + sunset view from General Mountain summit
Drive to Altay
Overnight: Altay 【商务酒店】

Desert highway Sand dunes

Day 3

Altay → Ahe Road → Hemu Village

Ahe Scenic Road: Stunning mountain highway (open itinerary)
Wuxilike Pass & Tongba Forest: Ancient conifer groves
Tuolegaite Grassland: Vast alpine meadows
Hemu Village: Fairy-tale Tuvan ethnic village
Overnight: Hemu 【景区住宿】

Ancient forest Tuvan village

Day 4

Hemu → Fairy-Tale Kanas Lake → Three Bays

Kanas Lake: China's "Switzerland" — emerald alpine lake (4 hours)
Fairy Three Bays: Shenxian Bay · Yueliang Bay · Wolong Bay
Birch Forests: Golden autumn colors lining the shores
Overnight: Burqin 【舒适酒店】

Kanas Lake Three Bays

Day 5

Burqin → Oil Fields → Cliff Café → Kuitun

Hundred-Mile Oil Fields: Vast industrial landscape on the steppe
Dushan Grand Canyon: Dramatic red rock canyon
Clifftop Café: 1 cup complimentary + Iconic aerial photo shoot
Drive to Kuitun
Overnight: Kuitun 【四钻酒店】

Canyon Clifftop café

Day 6

Kuitun → Sayram Lake 270° Drive → Yining

270° Sayram Lake Self-Drive: Keleryongzhu · West Sea Grassland · S-Bend · Pinewood Head
Guozigou Bridge View: Iconic suspension bridge over mountain gorge
Sayram Lake Light Photo Shoot: Professional lakeside portraits
Dopamine Rainbow Street: Yining's colorful arts district
Overnight: Sayram Lake 【商务酒店】

Sayram Lake Photo shoot

Day 7

Yining → Qiaxi Yanzi Bridge → Nalati

Self-Drive to Qiaxi: Yanzi Bridge crossing Ili River tributaries
Complimentary Activity: "Pulling radish" style grass slide video
Continue to Nalati: Scenic valley highway
Overnight: Yining 【民宿 Guesthouse】

Yanzi Bridge Ili Valley

Day 8

Nalati Sky Grassland

One-way Cable Car: (complimentary from Apr 1 onwards)
Nalati Sky Grassland: Vast highland meadows with panoramic views
Horseride: Gallop across the alpine plateau
Kazakh Yurt Experience: Traditional nomad hospitality
Overnight: Nalati 【民宿 Guesthouse】

Sky Grassland Horse riding

Day 9

Nalati → Gongnais → Tianshan Tunnel → Urumqi

Gongnais Forest Farm: Scenic forest valley drive
Wuyue Expressway: Modern high-speed route through mountains
Tianshan Victory Tunnel: World's highest-altitude long tunnel
Return to Urumqi
Overnight: Urumqi 【四钻酒店】

Tianshan Mountain highway

Day 10

Urumqi → Departure

Morning: Leisurely breakfast at hotel
Shopping: Dried fruits, carpets & Xinjiang specialty gifts
Airport Transfer: Urumqi Diwopu Airport — farewell to the West!

Extension Options: Add Turpan Flaming Mountains or Karakul Lake Pamir extension

Xinjiang 新疆

Xinjiang 10-Day Silk Road Grand Tour