Tour Overview
| Duration | 10 Days / 9 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Ili River Valley — Sayram Lake / Naraty Grassland / Yining / Sayram |
| Price From | $1,989 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Spring Apricot Blossom Photography |
| Best Season | April-May (Apricot Blossom) |
| Data Source | ChinaDiscovery.com 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Urumqi
Welcome to Urumqi. Driver will pick you up at the airport. Free time to acclimatize to the high-altitude Central Asian climate. Evening try Uyghur samusa (small lamb dumplings). Overnight in Urumqi.
Day 2: Drive to Sayram Lake
Drive west 600km to Sayram Lake — a 32,000-acre alpine lake on the north slope of the Tianshan Mountains. The lake has been a sacred Uyghur site for centuries. Stop at the Three National Border Viewpoint — where China, Kazakhstan, and Russia meet. Stop for lunch. Stay overnight at Sayram Lake. Overnight in Sayram Lake yurt.
Day 3: Sayram Lake → Yining
Sunrise hike around the lake. Walk along the wooden boardwalk through wet meadows. Drive south to Yining (270km). Afternoon visit to the Yining Lihun Buddha temple (a 17th-century Tibetan Buddhist temple). Evening walk Yining’s Old Town. Overnight in Yining.
Day 4: Yining — Apricot Blossom Valley
In early April, the Apricot Valley (Xinghua Gou) north of Yining turns into a pale pink snow — millions of apricot trees in blossom. Hike the 18km loop trail through the blossoming orchard villages. Visit a local Uyghur family for tea. Overnight in Yining.
Day 5: Yining → Naraty Grassland
Drive south to Naraty Grassland (a 4-million-mu meadow, 3,000m elevation). Stop at the Kai Dama Lake. Visit the Kazakh nomad yurts — try the fermented mare’s milk. Visit the famous Kazakh Eagle Hunters with their trained golden eagles. Overnight in grassland yurt.
Day 6: Naraty Grassland Walk
Full day on horseback riding across the grassland. Visit the legendary Swan Lake in the grassland — a highland lake with swimming swans. Picnic lunch. Evening Kazakh ceremony: eagle hunting demonstration and traditional singing. Overnight in grassland yurt.
Day 7: Naraty → Dushanzi Grand Canyon
Drive to Dushanzi (90km). Hike along the rim of the Dushanzi Grand Canyon — a 200m-deep, 3km-wide red sandstone canyon. Visit the geological park. Continue to Urumqi. Overnight in Urumqi.
Day 8: Drive to Urumqi via Wucai Bay
Drive to Wucai Bay — a multi-colored sandstone canyon nicknamed “Rainbow” for its layered red, yellow, gray, and blue rocks. Continue to the Hami desert town. Overnight in Hami.
Day 9: Hami → Urumqi
Visit the Hami Melon Market — Hami is famous across China for its sweet melons. Continue to Urumqi. Visit the Xinjiang Regional Museum. Overnight in Urumqi.
Day 10: Urumqi & Depart
Morning at the International Grand Bazaar. Afternoon transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 9 nights (1 Urumqi + 1 Sayram yurt + 2 Yining + 2 Naraty yurt + 1 Dushanzi + 1 Urumqi + 1 Hami)
- Sayram Lake + Three Borders viewpoint
- Apricot Blossom Valley (Xinghua Gou)
- Naraty Grassland horseback + eagle hunting
- Dushanzi Grand Canyon + Wucai Bay
- All private transfers + Uyghur meals
