Tianchi, Keketuohai, Kanas and Yili Explore in Xinjiang 12 Days

Welcome to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. Upon arrival Urumqi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy your free time to explore.

Today you will take one hour car ride for 90km from Urumqi to Tianchi or Heavenly Lake in English. It is a high-mountain lake located in the central part of Tianshan Mountains, which was inscribed on the list of World Heritage by UNESCO in 2013. You can take a boat on the nice lake with altitude of 1980 meters. There is a picturesque Lesser Tianchi hidden in the forest, where there is waterfall running from the mountain with a fantastic scenery. Moreover, there are plenty of Kazakh yurts on the bank of the Tianchi, where is the home for the nomad Kazakhs.

After lunch, you will take 6-hour car ride for 460km via the desert highway through the second biggest desert in China, Gurbantunggut Desert. On the way, enjoy the desert landscape and you might see some wild animals here.

Later, you will check in the hotel in Keketuohai town.

Keketuohai means blue river bend in Mongolian language, and green Jungle in Kazakh language. It is a nice valley to visit the Irtysh River and various trees, rocks. Explore Keketuohai attraction in the morning. 

After lunch, you will take 4-hour car ride for 330km from Keketuohai to Buerjin, which is a small town by the Irtysh river(Ertiz River).  Nowadays it is a nice stop for the travelers to go to Kanas Lake.

After breakfast, you will take 2.5-hour car ride to Kanas, where you will change the sightseeing bus to visit the big area. The attractions you will visit include Kanas Lake, Crescent Moon Bay, Sleeping Dragon Bay(Wolong Bay), and Shengxian Bay, Guanyu Pavilion etc.

Later, you will check in the hotel at Jiadengyu.

After breakfast, you will head to Hemu Village, which is a quiet Tuwa Village. There are all wooden houses built along the Hemu River. You can walk up to the hill to get a bird view,  the whole village looks like a paradise from the observation place.

You can taste local food including kebab, nang bread, lamb soup etc.

Enjoy the fantastic night view here at night.

Today you will drive 4 hours back to Buerjin County, where you will visit the colorful Multi-colored River Beach or Wucaitan in Chinese near the town. There are various colors clay beside the Ertix River, which is nice for the photos when it is sunset time.

Explore the night market tonight in Buerjin.

Today you will take 5-hour car ride for 455km, and visit Karamay Urho Ghost City on the way, which is a yardan landscape with different clay formations, and it is very impressive to view such big area.

Today you will take about 4-hour car ride from Kuitun to Sarym Lake, and visit the amazing Sarym Lake. It is a pretty picture to take the lake with the blue sky and huge Tianshan mountains. 

Then you will drive to Yining city. On the way, you can visit the lavender farm in July during the blossoming season.

Later, you will check in the hotel in Yining.

After hotel breakfast, you will head for the Karajun Grassland. There are two main parts to visit here including Kukesu Grand Canyon and East & West Karajun Grassland. It takes about a full day to visit.

Later, you will be transferred to Tekes county which was constructed like Eight Diagrams about 600 years ago. Still the city is well-preserved its original designing.

After hotel breakfast, you will head to Narati Grassland, which is well-known for its high-mountain grassland. Explore the grassland and view the Kazak yurts.

Today you will stay in Narati town.

Today you will drive from Narati back to Yining. In the afternoon, you will visit Kazanqi Community where you can visit the blue Uyghur houses on the old street. Moreover, you can go the Hanren Street to taste all sorts of local food.

Today is departure day, you will be transferred to Yining airport to catch your flight where the tour concludes. If you flight is later, please check out the hotel before 2pm.