12 Days Northern Xinjiang Photography Tour

Welcome to Xinjiang, a magical place where combines the history, culture and natural landscape. Today we will wait for you in Urumqi, the first stop of your northern Xinjiang tour. Upon arrival, bring you to downtown and transfer to the hotel check in.

Morning your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel. you will enjoy the tour of the picturesque Heavenly Lake, 2000m up in the Tianshan mountain range. which is surrounded by the snow mountains, blooming wildflowers, evergreen pine trees. 40-minute sceniic shuttle bus ride that twists though the dramatic mountains. Then you can either walk to the lakeside in 10mins or take the electronic cart. There are 3 options suggested. Boating cruise to take the incredible view of Tianshan Mountain. Trekking along the lake in the fresh air. or you can explore further uo to the Maya Mountain by the cable car to enjoy the magnificent view of the Mountains.
Then we will drive to Fuyun, pass by: Huoshaoshan (Burning Mountain), where you will witness a sea of red, caused by burnt rocks that look as if they are still burning along the hills.

After buffet breakfast in the hotel, you will start your journey from Keketuohai National Geological Park,  the first national geological park with the typical mine and mineral deposit. you will see the wonderful Shenzhong Mountain and the Irtysh River, the only outflow river from the east to the west into the Arctic Ocean. and explore the Tunnel of Mine No 3, which comprises of many types of minerals. it is the largest pit in the world and know as the Geological and Mineral Museum. Once you come to Keketuohai, you will be shocked by these rare and magical geological heritages. Thereafter, travel to Burqin with about 3-4 hours driving.

Exciting day! we will drive along the mountain road to the amazing 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. Have a lunch when we arrive in Kanas Jiadengyu, after that go to the center of park and take the shuttle bus to visit the famous Moon bay, Dragon Bay and Immortal Bay. When we get off the shuttle bus, we can continue the shuttle bus tour to Fish Pavilion for a bird's eye view of Kanas Lake and its surrounding. or you can experience the cruise if you are interested. later afternoon we will check into the hotel. dinner and rest.

Morning enjoy your nice buffet breakfast at the hotel and today we will still stay in Kanas which is the most beautiful mountain lake you have never seen. The lake takes on different colors following the four seasons of the year, sometimes it's crystal blue, sometimes it's dark green, or even gray. you can enjoy the leisure time in Kanas. if the time of last day is not enough, today you will have a chance to walk from the bay to the other one and take a picture.
After the visit, we will drive back to Jiadengyu and transfer to the hotel, Have a good rest.

In the morning, enjoy your buffet breakfast and the sunrise of Kanas. then we will travel to Hemu Village,  which is the one of the famous Tuvas village. Arrive at the entrance of Hemu, we still have to change the shuttle bus to the village. Here we would like to suggest you leave your big luggage in our coach and take your must stuff.
tranquil village, herds of cattle and sheep, warm and hospitable locals, What a beautiful and mysterious place! if you want to explore the life of Tuwa people, they will very welcome you to visit their family.

After buffet breakfast in the hotel, then you will take a 4 hours ride to Burqin, enjoy the sunset of Five-colored Beach, Walk into the colorful Beach, you will feel as if in a dream world. The unique lava landscape consisted of purplish red, vandyke red, yellow and light green mudstone, sandstone and gravel. this is the most beautiful colorful Beach, masterpiece of nature, and miracle of Burqin.
In the evening, you can walk around the street in Burqin, enjoy your leisure time and tasty snacks. And we will spend the night in Burqin.

Enjoy the sunrise and after breakfast, we will head to Kuitun with about 6 hours driving. passing by Karamy, the famous oil city, and travel along the Gurbantunggut Desert to the Urho Ghost City, also known as Wuerhe Wind City", a unique wind-eroded geological area commonly referred to as "wind city" because of the frequent howling winds. this is the most beautiful Yadan Landform in the region. When we arrive at the entrance, we will take the shuttle bus, which is shaped like a small train. you can visit the entire Ghost city by shuttle bus. After the visit, we will proceed to Kuitun for overnight stay.

After breakfast, we will meet you at the hotel lobby and then we will travel to Anjihai Grand Canyon, which is called the paradise of the photographer. Anjihai River is originated in Tianshan Mountain, through many years of scouring, in the vicinity of Tungut, it was formed a huge alluvial fan under the Northern slope of Tianshan Mountain. The scale of the river valley alluvial fan is quite magnificent, to the north opening with umbrella-shaped, it can be called a geographical wonder. Thereafer, we are going to the most beautiful mountain lake Sayram Lake, the another highlight of your northern Xinjiang tour, which is known as the last drop of tears of the Atlantic. Sayram Lake is a fairyland with wonderful natural scenery. its water is very clear and pure. you can stroll on the shore, enjoy the blooming wildflowers and the beautiful grassland around the lake. After visiting, bus transfer to the hotel in Yining for rest.

Today, your guide and driver will pick you up in the morning. We’ll head to the famous pasture Narat Grassland with about 4-5 hours driving. Upon your arrival, we will enjoy the Naraty Air Prairie. Naraty, one of four famous grassland in the world. you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and explore the Kazakh way of life. Afterwards, transfer you to the hotel and check in. 

This morning  we will continue our sightseeing on Naraty Grassland, with flowers all blossoming out here and numerous herds gathering around, a great number of tourists domestic and abroad are attracted here. The Narat Prairie is also called " Deer Garden" in history and an ideal place for people of the pasture to exchange materials and hold cultural activities. After the visiting, we will drive back to Yining and take the flight to Urumqi. 

Breakfast at the hotel and then we will pay a visit to the Xinjiang Regional Museum, which a large integrated museum and a centre for the collection and study of cultural relics in Xinjiang. you will see archaeological treasures from the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. Coming out from the Museum, we will travel the Xinjiang International Bazaar, 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.
After the visiting, you will end your 12 Days Northern Xinjiang Tour and say goodbye with everyone. then transfer to the airport to catch your flight around 16:00pm , wish you have a pleasant journey home! if you still want to travel to other parts of Xinjiang or experience a Silk Road tour, we will be very pleased to help you.