Urumqi · Tianchi · Turpan · Kanas · Sayram Lake · Narat · Kashgar
A private 10-day journey across Xinjiang, from Urumqi and Tianchi to Turpan, Kanas Lake, the Urho ghost city, Sayram Lake, the Narat grasslands and the old town of Kashgar.
Xinjiang holds desert, grassland, lakes and snow peaks inside one region. This route runs through the lakes and grasslands of the north, then takes you to the old town of Kashgar in the southwest.
Distances are long, so we see one area a day. On heavy driving days we build in rest stops, and on higher ground we take it slowly and stop often for photos.
Your guide meets you at the airport. You settle in and go over the plan over your first dinner in the city.
Drive from Urumqi to Tianchi for the lake and the snow peaks above it. In the afternoon, back in the city, visit the Grand Bazaar.
Head to Turpan for the ancient karez irrigation channels and the vineyards. See Flaming Mountain and the old city ruins before returning.
Drive north to Burqin. It is a long day on the road, so we break it up with stops and arrive in the evening.
Enter the Kanas Lake area for the water and the surrounding forest. The zone is large, so you move around by shuttle for the day.
Pass the wind-carved Urho Ghost City, then continue to Sayram Lake. In the evening, watch the light fade over the water.
Leave Sayram Lake for the Narat grasslands. The road runs between grassland and snow peaks, and we stop whenever the view opens up.
Spend the morning in the grasslands, then return to Urumqi by flight or road and arrive in the evening.
Fly to Kashgar and explore the old-town lanes and the old mosque. In the evening, see the spice and food markets.
Your guide takes you to Kashgar airport. Flying back to Urumqi to depart can also be arranged.
A lake set beneath snow peaks. We visit in the morning, when the water is calm.
Underground irrigation cut beneath the desert. You see the traces of an old water system.
A lake ringed by forest and peaks. The area is huge, so you travel by shuttle.
Wind-carved earth and rock. Shadows stretch long towards sunset.
A large lake between snow peaks and grassland. The water deepens in colour at dusk.
High pasture where grassland meets snow peaks. Horses and sheep graze across the open ground.
Old lanes and a mosque, with spice and food markets close by.
We can add more rest stops to match your group, but the driving days are long, so we recommend talking it through with us first.
Some grassland and lake sections sit high. We move slowly and remind you to drink water often.
We do not include shopping centres or forced stops. If you want to visit a local market, we add it and let you decide.
Your guide is with you throughout and handles domestic flights and restaurant orders in Korean.
It depends on your dates, group size and hotel category, so we quote on request. Send us your dates and numbers on WhatsApp or WeChat.
Always re-check the latest conditions on the official sites before you travel.
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