6 Days Northern Xinjiang Scenery Tour

Tour Overview

This 6-day North Xinjiang tour takes you to discover the natural and cultural treasures of the northern part: take an optional boat trip on the pristine Heavenly Lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks, marvel at the vibrant hues of Five-Colored Bay, and hike around the beautiful Kanas Lake.

On the way back to Urumqi, you will stop to explore the stunning Ghost City for its unique Yardang formations, and immerse in the lively Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar.

Highlights of this tour

Admire the stunning snow-capped mountains and pristine waters of Heavenly Lake.
Witness the vibrant hues and unique Yardang landform of Five-Colored Bay.
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Kanas Lake with a scenic hike.
Explore the amazing Ghost City, shaped by over 100 million years of natural wind erosion.
Immerse yourself in local culture and shop for traditional crafts at the vibrant Erdaoqiao Grand Bazaar.

Basic Trip Information

Travel Route: Urumqi-Burqin-Kanas-Karamay-Urumqi

Travel Length: 6 Days and 5 Nights

Tour Code:

Group Size: Only your family or group

Suitable for: Culture lovers, nature lovers, seniors

Departure: Any day you want

Your tour – quick look

Day 1-2 Arrival, Urumqi Tour

One full day exploration of the beautiful Heavenly Lake (with optional boat trip), and the historical Xinjiang Regional Museum.

Day 3-4 Burqin and Kanas Lake Tour

Drive to Burqin with a stop at a picturesque Yardang landform – Five-Colored Bay. Continue traveling to Kanas Lake for a leisurely hike around the lake area for sightseeing.

Day 5-6 Karamay Tour, Back to Urumqi, Departure

On the way back to Urumqi, stop to visit Ghost City to witness various landforms. After that, drive to Urumqi to see the lively Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar before departure.

Day-to-day Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Urumqi

Welcome to our 6-day North Xinjiang tour! Upon your arrival in Urumqi, a private local driver will meet you at the airport/train station and transfer you to the hotel. Enjoy your free time for the rest of the day.

Meal: N/A

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Day 2 Urumqi Tour to Heavenly Lake
Take an Optional Boat Trip on the Beautiful Heavenly Lake

After your hotel breakfast, meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby and then start your Xinjiang tour at Xinjiang Regional Museum where you can have a glimpse of Xinjiang history and costume. See the ethnic and historic artifacts and also some well-preserved mummies in the museum.

After that, drive to Heavenly Lake. Formerly known as “Yaochi”, Heavenly Lake is said to be the place where the Queen Mother of the West bathed, containing rich historical and cultural significance. In addition, you will enjoy beautiful natural scenery from lakes to snow capped mountains and grasslands. You also have the opportunity to take a boat tour (at an additional cost).

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Urumqi

Day 3 Urumqi to Burqin Tour
Capture the Colorful Yardang Landform

Get up in the early morning to appreciate the sunrise. Then we will leave for Burqin. On the way, we will make a stop at the Five-Colored Bay, a picturesque Yardang landform. The unique landform and the dry climate cooperate to create the stunning bay.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Burqin

xinjiang Five-Colored Bay — Five-Colored Bay

Day 4 Burqin to Kanas Lake Tour
Hike around the Kanas Lake for Sightseeing

After breakfast, we will board the car and drive to Kanas Lake. On the way, we will pass by the Stone Statues which stand near the cemeteries or tombs and their history can be dated back to 3,000 years ago.

In the early afternoon, arrive at Kanas Lake. After lunch, our guide will escort you to hike around the lake area for sightseeing.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Kanas

Day 5 Kanas Lake to Karamay Tour
Marvel at the Various Landforms of Ghost City

In the morning, we will depart to Karamay. And on the way, we will visit the Ghost City. Also known as Wind City, this is a typical Yardang landform area with an area of about 10 square kilometers. The formation of Ghost City can be traced back to the Cretaceous period over 100 million years ago, where various landforms were formed through long-term wind erosion.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: in Karamay

Day 6 Karamay to Urumqi Tour, Departure
Explore the Local Daily Life on Erdaoqiao Bazaar

On the last day of this northern Xinjiang tour, spend some time exploring the oil city on your own. Then we will drive back to Urumqi and pay a visit to Erdaoqiao International Grand Bazaar. The bazaar is built in the Islamic style and is the best place for sightseeing and shopping. After the visit, your tour guide will escort you to the airport for departure.

Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

Accommodation: N/A

Request a Custom Quote Today

The price varies based on the activity, number of people, date of trip, and selected hotel. Kindly get in touch with us for a precise cost according to your specifications.

What’s included?

5 nights’ accommodation in well-selected hotels;

Meals listed in the itinerary;

Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed drivers;

Excellent local English-speaking tour guides services as mentioned in the itinerary;

Entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary;

Second-class train tickets and economic-class flights mentioned in the itinerary;

1 bottle of mineral water per person per day;

China Travel Insurance.

What’s excluded?

Flight/train tickets to/off Urumqi;

Any optional activities inside the attractions;

Any item not mentioned in the itinerary;

Single Room Supplement;

All kinds of gratuities for guides, drivers & others.

What You’ll Receive at Chinasilkroadtours

At the heart of Chinasilkroadtours is the seamless service offered together by our 1-on-1 travel consultant, meticulous tour operators, expert local guides, and attentive local drivers. Our service is therefore made to be as unique as you are.

1-on-1 Travel Advisor

Your Silk Road experience starts with telling us your travel wishes and your one-on-one travel advisor designing the unique trip for you with their insider expertise.

Once we receive your request, one of our travel consultants will get back to you ASAP, typically within 24 hrs. Your travel consultant will then listen and learn about your travel style, your schedule, your budget, and your aspirations for your Silk Road travel plans. Based on this, she/he will provide you with a custom itinerary or a small group journey that suits your needs perfectly.

Plus, know your trip is taken care of by your 1-on-1 travel advisor with round-the-clock support should you need to alter your itinerary anytime.

Best Local Guides

Our locally-based guides narrate the Silk Road’s history and stories. They also provide with you insider tips, show you all the secret places, and introduce you to the locals.

Our best-selected guides are local people living in the cities along the Silk Road. During your trip, be it a private tour or a small group, they offer more than just things you can learn from the guidebooks, they try to give you a real insight into the Silk Route.

Whether you are traveling with kids or seniors, our guides are very patient and always pay close attention to every detail.

Local Drivers & Vehicles

All our Silk Road tours use well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles. Different types of vehicles, from cars to vans are selected depending on your group size and tour style. We also offer off-road vehicles for desert adventures.

Our experienced local drivers are familiar with the local road conditions of rough terrain, including desert highways and mountainous areas. They can easily navigate the roads, guaranteeing a comfortable and safe journey. Plus, they are well trained in a professional manner, being friendly and helpful.

Handpicked Hotels

Checking in and checking out the accommodations along the Silk Road every year, we hand-pick the best collection of accommodations.

The accommodations we choose include luxury, boutique, or comfortable hotels in major cities, comfortable or basic hotels in remote towns, and caravanserais and camping sites that offer a unique experience.

It’s your decision about where to stay that best suits your tastes and budget. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Silk Road Foods

We also hand-pick restaurants with a variety of local cuisines, from Uyghur cuisine to Shaanxi Cuisine, to enrich your Silk Road travel experience.

Savor authentic Northwest Chinese, Uyghur, and Central Asian cuisines with the signature dishes and snacks. From delicious mutton soups to a wide range of noodles and a taste of the local “bread” like Roujiamo and naan, enjoy an expansive menu featuring local flavors.

Please let us know if you have any dietary allergies or what foods (e.g. Western foods) you or your kids enjoy.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Our 10-day mid Oct Silk Road trip was magical. Lenna at China Silk Road Tours took us through 3 customized our itinerary. We witnessed breathtaking sights along the way, including a Lake in a desert, snow-capped mountains, unreal layer-cake hills, ancient Silk Road ruins, Buddhist grottoes, museums… We enjoy the good meals, nice hotels and comfortable transport with professcional English-speaking guides.
Traveler634605
December 2024
It was a really great Silk Road trip with varying sights and experiences. W love the beautiful alpine mountains..and enjoy the desert experience with camel riding and the full Monti. The
Food arranged was great again. We always like the travel experience, together with different regional cuisines.
Bigg Caesar
October 2024
In Thailand, I run a travel agency. When travelling to the Gansu Silk Road, always use this agency. I think Sophia is an excellent trip operator. quick to respond to messages and attentive to every detail. We are unable to plan quality travel without a competent tour operator. Sally is the best guide as well; she is incredibly knowledgable and pays close attention to every aspect. I’d want to give these two girls a big thank you.
Anothai L
October 2024
Silk Road Tours was able to deliver with both excellence and value—thank you for a wonderful trip! Sophia responded to all requests with excellent suggestions and follow-through. We are a couple of over 60 years old who are very experienced travellers. Our travel style is to find good local guides and/or tours that offer excellent guidance with good value. We were able to travel efficiently with both high speed trains and a comfortable and private car.
Travel745
September 2024
In September, Sophia organised a party of 11 of us to travel the Silk Road from Urumqi to Lanzhou. The vacation was fantastic; the hotel accommodations, the history of each area we visited, and the scenery were all thoughtfully prepared for us. Sophia, thank you!
BYTKWAN
September 2024