DAY 01
Home city → Urumqi
Transfer to your hotel on arrival in Urumqi and enjoy free time.
Meals:No meals included
Accommodation:Twin room in a Urumqi hotel rated four diamonds on an online travel platform
TRAVEL MAMA · CHINA PRIVATE TOUR
Northern Xinjiang & Yili 13-Day Private Tour
Kanas, grasslands and Bayanbulak
Link Hemu, Kanas and the Yili grasslands over thirteen days, retaining Sayram Lake, Xiata, Kalajun, Nalati and Bayanbulak. This version reduces some stops compared with the fifteen-day route, offering a Northern Xinjiang and Yili circuit in around two weeks.
13 days / 12 nightsSample itinerary
From HK$11,580Per adult · 4 travellers · twin sharing
Available for a minimum of 2 travellersPrivate small-group tour
Meet in UrumqiFinish in Urumqi
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
Meeting & finish points
Meeting point | Urumqi
Transfers are arranged for your own party according to your arrival flight or train. Please provide your arrival time and luggage details when enquiring.
Finish | Urumqi
Airport or station drop-off follows the final day's itinerary and must allow for the day's driving time. Flights and return trains to the destination are not included.
Airport/station transfers and the itinerary vehicle are private to your own party, without sharing with unrelated travellers. Public scenic-area shuttle buses, cable cars and trains may be shared with other visitors according to local operations.
SCENES ALONG THE WAY
Scenery along the way
Urumqi→Hemu→Kanas→Sayram Lake→Xiata→Bayanbulak
Journey highlights
Hemu, Kanas and Sayram Lake
Xiata, Kalajun and Qiaxi grasslands
Nalati, Bayanbulak and Tangbula
DAY BY DAY
13 days / 12 nights · sample itinerary
The sightseeing order, attraction access and driving times may be adjusted for weather, traffic and reservations.
DAY 02
Urumqi → S21 Desert Highway / Desert camel ride → Altay
Follow the S21 Desert Highway towards Altay, with an approximately fifteen-minute camel experience along the way. The reference drive is approximately 500 km and six hours.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in an Altay hotel rated four diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 03
Altay → Ahe Highway → Hemu
Follow the Ahe Highway to Hemu and stay in a log-cabin guesthouse. Public scenic-area transfers follow local regulations.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Hemu log-cabin guesthouse
DAY 04
Hemu → Kanas (approximately 1.5 hours to the entrance, then 1 hour by scenic-area transport) → Burqin
Visit Kanas using public scenic-area transport, then continue to Burqin.
Meals:Not included
Accommodation:Twin room in Burqin accommodation rated four diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 05
Burqin → World Ghost City → Private desert-camp afternoon tea → Kuitun
Visit World Ghost City and enjoy desert-camp afternoon tea, then continue to Kuitun.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Kuitun hotel rated four diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 06
Kuitun → Sayram Lake → Qingshuihe
Travel to Sayram Lake and circle it under the vehicle-entry ticket and site permission, then stay in Qingshuihe.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Qingshuihe hotel rated four diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 07
Qingshuihe → Lavender → Uyghur village → Yizhao Highway → Horses bathing in the river → Zhaosu
Visit lavender fields during June flowering, with a Uyghur family visit and horse-carriage ride, then follow the Yizhao Highway to Zhaosu to see horses bathing in the river if operating.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Zhaosu hotel rated three diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 08
Zhaosu → Xiata scenic area → Tekes
Visit Xiata, including its scenic-area shuttle, then continue to Tekes.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Tekes hotel rated four diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 09
Tekes → Kalajun → Gongliu
Explore Kalajun grassland, then stay in Gongliu.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Gongliu hotel rated three diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 10
Gongliu → Qiaxi / Group video activity / Casual photography / Horse riding → Nalati
Visit Qiaxi for casual photography, video filming and one hour of horse riding, then continue to Nalati.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Nalati hotel rated three diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 11
Nalati Sky Grassland → Bayanbulak sunset
Visit Nalati Sky Grassland, then continue to Bayanbulak for sunset as weather permits. Both scenic areas use public shuttles.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Bayin town hotel rated four diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 12
Bayanbulak → Hundred-Mile Gallery → Tangbula
Travel through the Hundred-Mile Gallery to Tangbula and stay in a guesthouse.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Tangbula guesthouse
DAY 13
Tangbula → Duku Highway → Tour ends in Urumqi
Return to Urumqi via the Duku Highway, approximately 450 km and seven and a half hours. Confirm alternative arrangements and finish times if the road is closed.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Tour ends; no overnight accommodation
PRICE REFERENCE
Compare prices by party size
Reference prices are in HKD per adult, based on two adults sharing a room. Campsite accommodation on motorhome routes is specified in the daily itinerary. Departure date, hotel room type and public holidays affect the quotation.
Before 5 June
- 2 travellers
- HK$14,180Per adult
- 4 travellersPrice basis
- HK$11,580Per adult
- 6 travellers
- HK$10,280Per adult
6 June to September
- 2 travellers
- HK$16,980Per adult
- 4 travellersPrice basis
- HK$14,180Per adult
- 6 travellers
- HK$12,880Per adult
The headline starting price is based on 4 travellers; other party sizes have their own prices. The scope of the single-room supplement must be confirmed against the actual hotel and campsite arrangements. Children are quoted individually according to age, height, bed use and breakfast/admission differences.
What's included & excluded
Included
- The itinerary's private vehicle and local driver for your own party.
- The itinerary's private airport/station transfers.
- Standard twin accommodation: 1 night each in four-diamond online-platform-rated hotels in Urumqi, Altay, Burqin, Kuitun and Qingshuihe; 1 night in a Hemu log-cabin guesthouse; 1 night in a three-diamond-rated Zhaosu hotel; 1 night in a four-diamond-rated Tekes hotel; 1 night each in three-diamond-rated Gongliu and Nalati hotels; 1 night in a four-diamond-rated Bayanbulak hotel; and 1 night in a Tangbula guesthouse.
- Includes 11 breakfasts; breakfast is excluded in Hemu.
- Hemu, Kanas and Urho Ghost City admission and shuttles; Sayram Lake vehicle-entry ticket; Zhaosu Wetland and Xiata admission and shuttles; Kalajun and Qiaxi vehicle-entry tickets; Nalati Sky Grassland admission and shuttle; Bayanbulak admission and shuttle.
Excluded
- Flights or trains between your home city and the destination, except itinerary transport specifically listed as included.
- Main meals, drinks, personal spending and extra activities not listed as included.
- Supplements for single occupancy, children's beds, occupancy above the specified room allowance and room upgrades.
- Professional guides, ski instructors, equipment hire not listed as included, and other additional services.
- Travel insurance, visas/travel-document applications and any costs not expressly included.
Complimentary experiences & hotel benefits
- One serving of seasonal fruit per person.
- One bottle of mineral water per person per day.
- Lavender-field flower-viewing fee, omitted after the June flowering season.
- Drone video at at least two locations; flying is not possible in strong winds.
- Uyghur family visit, horse-carriage ride and ice cream.
- Walking-and-vehicle video at Sayram Lake, subject to flying conditions; no take-off in rain, strong winds or other adverse weather.
- Casual Sayram Lake photography, with 9 image files.
- Group jump-style video filming.
- Afternoon tea at Ghost City.
- One hour of horse riding in Qiaxi.
- Desert camel ride, approximately 15 minutes.
Complimentary experiences and hotel benefits are subject to season, weather, operations, reservations, age, height and room occupancy limits. Unused or unavailable complimentary items generally have no separate cash refund. The confirmation must specify the actual arrangements and conditions.
Vehicles, accommodation & travel information
A private vehicle for your own party
Private vehicle: five seats for 2–3 travellers, seven-seat MPV for 4–5, or a large seven-seat MPV for 6.
The tour uses a private vehicle for the same party. The driver drives, helps with ticket purchases and offers general sightseeing suggestions, but normally does not accompany you inside attractions or provide professional guided commentary. An accompanying guide requires a separate quotation.
Airport/station transfers and the itinerary vehicle are private to your own party, without sharing with unrelated travellers. Public scenic-area shuttle buses, cable cars and trains may be shared with other visitors according to local operations.
Accommodation & travelling together
Prices are based on two adults sharing a room. Reference hotels and room types are subject to availability. Diamond ratings quoted by the supplier are online-platform ratings, not official star ratings.
Children are quoted individually by age, height, bed use and room occupancy. A child's basic fare does not mean free participation; breakfast, admission, scenic-area transport, rafting, hot springs and resort benefits may require supplements.
Confirm departure dates and seasonal facilities before booking. Snow conditions, flowering, sunrise/sunset, rime, aerial photography and scenic-road access are not guaranteed on every day.
Before booking, provide the actual entry and travel documents each traveller will use so hotel, attraction and regional reception requirements can be checked. Eligibility for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and other passport holders cannot be inferred from ethnic Chinese identity alone.
Payment, cancellation, amendment and non-refundable confirmed-resource conditions will be stated before booking. Confirmed hotels, tickets and activities may incur actual losses. Travel Mama's quotation and booking confirmation terms apply.
More scenery from the journey
Frequently asked questions
How many people can travel?
Private arrangements are available from 2 travellers. Prices depend on party size, rooms and departure date; the headline starting price on this page is based on 4 travellers.
Are flights included?
Flights or trains to and from the destination are excluded, except itinerary transport specifically listed as included. Confirm transfer cities and timings before arranging flights.
Does a guide accompany the whole tour?
The basic arrangement includes a local driver for transport and general sightseeing suggestions, not a professional guide providing commentary inside attractions. Please request an accompanying guide or a particular language when enquiring.
Will we share the vehicle with other travellers?
Airport/station transfers and the itinerary vehicle are private to your own party, without sharing with unrelated travellers. Public scenic-area shuttle buses, cable cars and trains may be shared with other visitors according to local operations.
How are hotel ratings and complimentary activities confirmed?
Diamond ratings for reference hotels are online-platform ratings, not official star ratings. Complimentary activities, ski areas, cable cars and seasonal scenery depend on opening, weather and reservations. The quotation and booking confirmation specify the final arrangements.
TRAVEL MAMA · ENQUIRY
Enquire about Northern Xinjiang & Yili 13-Day Private Tour
Please provide your departure date, numbers of adults and children, room requirements and arrival city. The Travel Mama team will quote according to the actual arrangements.