Northern Xinjiang in Autumn · 8 Days

Deserts, Holy Lakes &
Fairy-Tale Forests

S21 Desert Expressway · Kalamaili · Hemu Village · Kanas Lake & the Three Bays · World Ghost City · Sayram Lake · Dushanzi Grand Canyon — the whole palette of the Altay autumn in one small-group loop.

Duration 8 Days / 7 Nights
Route Urumqi · Hemu · Kanas · Sayram Lake
Style Small Group · Max 6
Tour Highlights

What You'll Experience

Kanas Lake & the Three Bays Hemu, the Fairy-Tale Village Sayram Lake by Ring Road The Wind-Carved Ghost City Crossing the Gurbantunggut Dushanzi Grand Canyon
01
Kanas Lake & the Three Bays
A glacial lake that shifts from jade to sapphire, wrapped in birch gold — Shenxian Bay’s mist, Moon Bay’s S-bend, Wolong Bay’s dragon curl
01 Kanas Lake →
02 Hemu Village →
03 Sayram Lake →
04 Ghost City →
05 S21 Highway →
06 Grand Canyon →
Day by Day

8 Days, One Autumn

01
Day

Arrival in Urumqi

Airport → Hotel
Local comfort hotel, Urumqi
Morning

Airport Pickup

Land at Urumqi airport or railway station and meet your driver — transfers are on us, whatever time you arrive. The drive to the hotel takes about 40 minutes through the capital of Xinjiang.

Afternoon

Hotel Check-in & Rest

Check in, shake off the flight and rest up. If you land early, the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar is minutes away — Uyghur architecture, spice stalls and the smell of roasting lamb skewers.

Evening

Free Evening

Urumqi eats late and well. Ask your driver for a kebab-and-naan recommendation, or wander the illuminated bazaar square. An orientation from the tour leader confirms tomorrow’s departure time before 22:00.

Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar Grand Bazaar entrance gate Grand Bazaar street scene Bazaar minaret tower at dusk
02
Day

S21 Desert Expressway

Urumqi → Kalamaili → Ulungur Lake → Beitun
Comfort hotel, Beitun / Altay
Morning

Crossing the Desert on the S21

China’s first desert-crossing expressway cuts 340 km straight through the Gurbantunggut — the second-largest shifting desert in the country. Dunes roll past the windows for hours; this is a road trip in the purest sense.

Afternoon

Kalamaili Desert Park & Ulungur Lake

Stop at Kalamaili, a wild sanctuary of dunes and gobi where Mongolian gazelles and wild asses still roam. Farther north, the road skirts Ulungur Lake — the “pearl of the north” — a vast blue sheet in the desert steppe, viewed from lakeside stops.

Evening

Arrive in Beitun / Altay

Reach the gateway to the Altay region, check in and rest. Tomorrow the real autumn begins.

S21 desert expressway through the Gurbantunggut Kalamaili desert dunes Ulungur Lake on the horizon Ulungur Lake shoreline
03
Day

Ahe Highway to Hemu

Beitun → Ahe Highway → Hemu Village
Guesthouse inside Hemu scenic area
Morning

The Ahe Highway

If the seasonal road is open, the Ahe Highway is one of China’s most beautiful drives — a new scenic artery threading river valleys, birch slopes and Kazakh pastures on the way to Hemu. Every bend is a photo stop.

Afternoon

Hemu Village

Arrive at Hemu, the fairy-tale village at the foot of the Altai Mountains. Tuva log cabins, birch forests and horse herds in a valley that turns molten gold in autumn. A light photo session is included — 9 retouched photos of you in the scenery.

Evening

Night in the Village

Sleep inside the scenic area so you’re first at the misty river in the morning. Simple guesthouse comfort, village quiet, and stars over the birch line.

Ahe Highway through autumn valleys Hemu village seen from above Tuva wooden cabin in Hemu Golden birch forest around Hemu
04
Day

Kanas Lake & the Three Bays

Hemu → Kanas → Burqin
Local hotel, Burqin
Morning

Shenxian Bay & Moon Bay

Enter Kanas — the lake that changes color with the seasons. The shuttle string links the three famous bays: Shenxian Bay wrapped in morning mist, Moon Bay’s perfect S-bend, and Wolong Bay where the river curls like a sleeping dragon.

Afternoon

Kanas Lake & Tuva Culture

Ride up to the lake deck for the full panorama of the Altai range mirrored in glacial blue-green water. Optional visit to a Tuva household — the last Tuva communities in China live around this lake.

Evening

Down to Burqin

Descend to Burqin, a lazy river town famous for cold-water fish and grill smoke. The night market is one of the best roadside food experiences in Xinjiang.

Shenxian Bay morning mist Kanas river through autumn forest Moon Bay S-bend Kanas Lake in the mountains
05
Day

Ghost City & the Golden Poplars

Burqin → World Ghost City → Kuytu / Dushanzi
Comfort hotel, Kuytu / Dushanzi
Morning

World Ghost City

The Wuerhe wind city — a national geopark of yardangs carved by ten thousand years of gale. Wind whistles through the rock city like howling ghosts; from the viewing platforms the eroded citadel stretches to the horizon.

Afternoon

Populus Euphratica Forest

On departures from Sep 10 to Oct 6, the route adds the desert poplar forest — trees that “live a thousand years, stand a thousand years after death, and lie a thousand years after falling.” In autumn the canopy turns pure gold against the sand.

Evening

South to Kuytu / Dushanzi

Roll south along the Gobi to the northern foot of the Tianshan. Tomorrow: the Atlantic’s last teardrop.

Wind-carved rock at World Ghost City Yardang landforms at dusk Ancient populus euphratica tree Golden poplar forest in the desert
06
Day

Sayram Lake Ring Road

Kuytu → Sayram Lake → Jinghe / Bole
Comfort hotel, Jinghe / Bole
All Day

Sayram Lake by Ring Road

Drive the full circle of Sayram Lake — 2,073 meters up in the Tianshan, the largest alpine lake in Xinjiang, called “the last teardrop of the Atlantic” for the ocean air that ends its journey here. The vehicle hugs the shoreline so you can stop at every angle: snow peaks, still water, wildflower meadows and grazing horses. Lunch en route; evening arrival in Jinghe or Bole.

Snow peaks over Sayram Lake Cloud reflections in Sayram Lake Lakeshore meadow at Sayram Ring road around Sayram Lake
07
Day

Dushanzi Grand Canyon

Jinghe → Dushanzi Grand Canyon → Urumqi
Local hotel, Urumqi
Morning

Dushanzi Grand Canyon

A canyon carved by Tianshan snowmelt over millions of years — sheer folds of red and grey strata plunging 200 meters down. Walk the rim platforms and cross the suspension bridge that hangs above the gorge for the full vertical drop.

Afternoon

Back to Urumqi

Follow the northern foot of the Tianshan back to the capital — a last long gaze at gobi, wind farms and snow ranges. Check in and start planning your farewell dinner: Big Plate Chicken? Hand-pulled noodles? Your driver knows the street.

Evening

Farewell Evening

Final night in Urumqi. Pack the camera — the drone footage and DSLR photos from the week are yours to take home.

Dushanzi Grand Canyon strata Eroded cliffs of Dushanzi Suspension bridge over the canyon Canyon bridge tower
08
Day

Departure

Hotel → Airport
All Day

Until We Meet Again

After breakfast and checkout, your driver takes you to Urumqi airport or railway station timed to your departure. Eight days of desert, lakes and golden forests — we hope Xinjiang has left its mark. Safe travels!

What's Included

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • 7 nights in clean, comfortable hotels — Urumqi, the Altay region and the Sayram Lake area, as listed day by day
  • All entrance tickets & shuttle buses: Hemu, Kanas Lake & Three Bays, Baihaba, World Ghost City
  • Vehicle throughout the touring days — 7-seat MPV for 2–4 travelers, 14-seat van for 5–6, one seat per person, max 6 travelers per vehicle
  • Driver & tour leader throughout (reception and logistics; not a licensed site guide)
  • Airport / railway station transfers on arrival and departure days
  • Drone & DSLR photography on board — footage and photos are yours
  • Photo session in Hemu with 9 retouched photos
  • Bottled water & yogurt on board
  • 24-hour online trip-butler support
  • RMB 800,000 travel accident insurance
  • Flights / trains to and from Urumqi
  • Meals throughout (your driver will recommend local favorites)
  • Single room supplement (solo travelers are matched to share when possible)
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything not listed in the inclusions
Tour Price

Transparent Pricing

One seamless journey, one transparent price — hotels, tickets and shuttles, vehicle with driver-tour leader, airport transfers, drone photography and insurance included. Meals and long-distance transport to Urumqi are left free so you travel your way.

Your Group
Custom Quote
per person · small group

Departures in golden-leaf season (mid-Sep – Oct) · Max 6 travelers per vehicle — request a tailored quote

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