12 Days North Xinjiang Travel with Kuqa via Duku Highway

Welcome to Xinjiang! Your first stop is Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang, in the next 12 days, you will experience local Uygur cullture, walk inside the great nature of Northern Xinjiang, see unique landforms, spectacular grassland and lakes. Upon arrival at Urumqi, our nice guide and driver will meet you at the airport, transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is free for you to have a good rest. Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, it is a major city on the north route of the Silk Road as well as the center for economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

Overnight in Urumqi

After a delightful buffet breakfast at hotel, we will travel to Burqin and visit the Five-Color Beach, which is located in the north of Xinjiang, and enjoy the sunset. If time permits, you may stroll along Burqin local night market to enjoy the fish BBQ and local made Beer which is called Kawas. Then back to hotel for rest.

Overnight in Burqin

Today we will continue heading to the north, and embrace the great nature. Your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning, and then drive along the mountain road to Kanas Nature Reserve, China's only European-like ecological site that has been awarded the title of the "Pure Land of the World" due to its unspoiled natural scenery.

Kanas Lake. upon arrival have lunch and then change the shuttle bus to the inside of the Reserve to enjoy the beautiful secenery, boating cruise or walking along the lake are recommend. later afternoon back to the hotel. dinner and rest.

Overnight in Kanas

Hemu is a peaceful little town surrounded by mountains and trees, enjoy the sunshine and breathe the fresh air. Your guide and driver will take you to visit Hemu Village, It is one of the three residences of the Tuva Mongol in China.

Overnight in Hemu

Enjoy the sunrise and today you will explore the Urho Ghost City. We will travel along the Gurbantunggut Desert to our destination. The ghost city is also known as Wuerhe Wind City", a unique wind-eroded geological area commonly referred to as "wind city" because of the frequent howling winds.

Then continue journey to Karamay City.

Overnight in Karamy

After breakfast start our trip to Ili Valley and passing by Kuytun and Sayram Lake, known as the last drop of tears of the Atlantic. We will take an excursion tour around the lake to stretch your body and relax from the long bus tour.

Later on, we head to Guozigou Valley, which is length of 28km along the road Wu, the general direction in Iraq, is the ancient Silk Road in Xinjiang, North Road.  

Overnight in Yining

Today, your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning. We’ll head to the famous pasture: Narat Grassland, enjoy the beautiful scenery and explore the Kazakh way of life.

Afterwards, head to Excursion tour to Bayinbuluk, enjoy the grassland there, visit the Swan Lake.

Overnight in Bayinbuluk

Morning with start with a drive to the famous highway—Duku highway, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Dragon Lake en route, visit the TianShan Great Canyon, which is the excellent geological park all over the world. It recorded the whole process of crustal movement in Xinjiang during the past 400 million years.

Overnight in Kuqa

Breakfast at the hotel, then driving to Korla, travel along the longest desert highway in the world into the Taklimakan Desert, enjoy the scenery of Tarim River Bridge and Tarim River en route. Afternoon, arrive at Korla, enjoy the sunset of Peacock River. Have a rest.

Overnight in Korla

In the morning, driving to Turpan, lunch will be arranged in local family. Then Tour to Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, is a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the north-east of the Taklamakan Desert in the Mutou Valley, a gorge in the Flaming Mountains, China. They are high on the cliffs of the west Mutou Valley under the Flaming Mountains, and most of the surviving caves date from the West Uyghur kingdom around the 10th to 13th centuries. Karez well is a special irrigation system in desert areas.

After dinner, we will travel along the Jiaohe Ruins, enjoy the beautiful scenery and local song and dance.

Overnight in Turpan

Heavenly lake a swiss-like alpine spot in Xinjiang, we will hand around there today. Take a morning drive back to Urumqi, passing by the wind power station, we will stop at the Heavenly lake. It is 2000m up in the Tianshan mountain range, enjoy a leisurely cruise on the lake, we are going to Xinjiang International Bazaar upon arrival, which is the largest in Urumqi. You'll find a bustling market filled with fruit, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets and almost anything that you can imagine.

Overnight in Urumqi

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport, and back to your sweet home.