DAY 01
Home city → Urumqi
Transfer to your hotel on arrival in Urumqi, then enjoy free time.
Meals:No meals included
Accommodation:Twin room in a Urumqi hotel rated five diamonds on an online travel platform
TRAVEL MAMA · CHINA PRIVATE TOUR
Xinjiang Yili 8-Day Private Tour
Sayram Lake, Xiata and Nalati grassland
Travel from Urumqi to Sayram Lake, Yining, Zhaosu and Xiata to explore the Yili grasslands. Combine lakeside camp hotels, city hotels and grassland stays, with a drive around Sayram Lake and permitted vehicle routes in Kurdening and Nalati, taking in lakes, snowy peaks and open grassland.
8 days / 7 nightsSample itinerary
From HK$10,780Per 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→Sayram Lake→Yining→Zhaosu→Xiata→Nalati
Journey highlights
Sayram Lake circuit and photography experience
Zhaosu, Xiata and Kurdening grassland
A mix of hotels and distinctive camp hotels
DAY BY DAY
8 days / 7 nights · sample itinerary
The sightseeing order, attraction access and driving times may be adjusted for weather, traffic and reservations.
DAY 02
Urumqi → Sayram Lake / Moon Bay sunset
Drive to Sayram Lake and, weather permitting, watch sunset at Moon Bay. Allow approximately 560 km and eight hours of driving, with an overnight stay at an east-gate camp hotel.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room at Sayram Lake east-gate camp hotel
DAY 03
Sayram Lake vehicle circuit / Walking-and-vehicle video / Casual photo session → Guozigou / Afternoon tea / Lake viewpoint → Yining
Circle the lake in the arranged vehicle, with a casual photo session and walking-and-vehicle video filming, then enjoy afternoon tea at Guozigou before continuing to Yining. Drone filming depends on weather and local permission.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Yining hotel rated five diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 04
Yining → Yizhao Highway → Zhaosu Wetland / Horses bathing in the river → Jade Lake
Follow the Yizhao Highway to Zhaosu Wetland and view the horses bathing in the river if operating, then continue to Jade Lake. An alternative route is needed if the highway is closed. Stay at a Jade Lake camp hotel.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room at Zhaosu Jade Lake wilderness camp hotel
DAY 05
Jade Lake → Xiata scenic area → Tekes Eight Trigrams Town
Visit Xiata, with admission and shuttle transport included, then continue to Tekes Eight Trigrams Town. Check separately whether transport beyond the shuttle, horse riding or other activities cost extra.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Tekes hotel rated five diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 06
Tekes → Kurdening / Afternoon tea
Explore Kurdening's forest and grassland scenery and enjoy afternoon tea, then stay at a fixed camp hotel.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room at Kurdening camp hotel
DAY 07
Kurdening → Nalati vehicle route / Kazakh family visit
Continue to Nalati, entering on the permitted vehicle route. Visit a Kazakh family for experiences such as making nang bread and meeting lambs. Confirm whether these activities take place alongside other visitors.
Meals:Breakfast
Accommodation:Twin room in a Nalati hotel rated five diamonds on an online travel platform
DAY 08
Nalati → Duku Highway → Urumqi
Return to Urumqi via the Duku Highway, approximately 520 km and seven hours. If the road is not open or is closed, use an alternative route. Confirm the finish point and departing flight against the actual route.
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.
19 August – 20 September
- 2 travellers
- HK$13,280Per adult
- 4 travellersPrice basis
- HK$10,780Per adult
- 6 travellers
- HK$10,280Per adult
1 June – 18 August
- 2 travellers
- HK$17,080Per adult
- 4 travellersPrice basis
- HK$14,580Per adult
- 6 travellers
- HK$13,780Per 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.
- 1 night each in a five-diamond online-platform-rated Urumqi hotel, Sayram Lake east-gate camp hotel, five-diamond-rated Yining hotel, Zhaosu wilderness camp hotel, five-diamond-rated Tekes hotel, Kurdening camp hotel and five-diamond-rated Nalati hotel.
- Accommodation includes 7 breakfasts.
- Sayram Lake admission and vehicle circuit; Zhaosu Wetland admission, horses-bathing-in-the-river admission and shuttle; Jade Lake vehicle-route admission; Xiata admission and shuttle; Kurdening and Nalati vehicle-route admission.
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 afternoon-tea experience at Guozigou.
- Walking-and-vehicle video at Sayram Lake (at least two locations; drone take-off is not possible in rain, strong winds or other adverse weather).
- Casual photography at Sayram Lake, with 9 colour-edited images.
- Afternoon tea in Kurdening.
- Visit a Kazakh family for traditional craft activities, nang-bread making and meeting lambs.
- One bottle of mineral water per person per day.
- Drone photography at at least two locations, subject to flying conditions; no take-off in rain, strong winds or other adverse weather.
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 tour vehicle: a seven-seat MPV for 2–3 travellers; a nine-seat vehicle converted to seven seats for 4–5; a large seven-seat MPV with 1+1 seating 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 Xinjiang Yili 8-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.