8 Days Urumqi Private Tour ；Sailimu Lake - Yining - Nalati National Forest Park - Horgos - Kuitun - Urumqi

Highlights:

Take an in-depth tour of the ancient Silk Road and learn about its culture and history
Enjoy the highest and largest alpine lake in Xinjiang - Sayram Lake
Explore the grasslands and customs of the Kazakh people in Narat National Forest Park
Visit the largest Islamic bazaar in China - Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar

Itinerary Day by Day

Day 1: Various places - Urumqi

Welcome to the beautiful Xinjiang! After the airport pick-up, you will be taken to the hotel to rest, and then you can go to the recommended attractions for sightseeing if time permits (excluding separate car use).

Day 2: Urumqi - Sailimu Lake (Breakfast and Lunch)

Your Xinjiang trip starts today! We will set off to Sailimu Lake, which takes about 6 hours by car. It is also known as the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean because it is the last area where the warm and humid Atlantic air currents reach. Sailimu Lake is 2073 meters (6801 feet) above sea level and covers an area of ​​458 square kilometers (177 square miles). It is the highest and largest alpine lake in Xinjiang. The scenic area integrates grasslands, wetlands, forests, snow-capped mountains and other natural ecological llandscapes. Stroll around the lake and enjoy the picturesque scenery. The snow-capped mountains in the distance are reflected in the clear lake water.

Day 3: Fuyun-Huocheng Lavender Garden-Kazakh Area-Yining  (Breakfast and Lunch)

This morning, you will visit Huocheng Lavender Garden, which is the third largest lavender cultivation base in the world. The largest one is in Provence, France, and the second largest one is in Furano, Japan. The best flowering period of lavender is in May and June every year. There is a second flowering period in September and October. You should not miss the beautiful scenery here. Take out your camera and record this beautiful moment for yourself. Afterwards, it will take about an hour to drive to Yining. Your guide will help you check in to the hotel. You will visit the Kazakh area and get a deep understanding of the folk customs of the Uyghur people. At dusk, enjoy the magnificent view of the sunset over the Ili River Bridge.

Day 4: Yining-Nalati National Forest Park  (Breakfast and Lunch)

Today, we will drive about 3.5 hours to Narat National Forest Park, a famous tourist attraction in Xinjiang, which combines charming grassland landscape and unique folk customs of Kazakhs. The best time to visit Narat is from June to October, when the grassland is full of colorful flowers and herds of cattle and sheep walk on the grassland. Due to the large temperature difference between day and night, please remember to bring a thin jacket. The main attractions here are the summer pasture, also known as the sky grassland, the sky-watching cave and the Kezila Gorge Waterfall. You can also experience the feeling of riding a horse on the endless grassland. Stay one night in a local hotel.

Day 5: Narat-Horgos Border International Cooperation Center  (Breakfast and Lunch)

After breakfast, drive about 4.5 hours to Horgos, the largest comprehensive port in Xinjiang, on the China-Kazakhstan border. Visit the world's first cross-border free trade zone, the Horgos Border International Cooperation Center. You can also take some time to visit the duty-free shops here. Stay one night in Horgos.

Day 6: Kogos-Dushanzi Grand Canyon-Kuitun (Breakfast and Lunch)

Today, a 5-hour private transfer will take you to Kuitun. Upon arrival, your guide will help you check in at your hotel. Then, visit Dushanzi Grand Canyon. Legend has it that the Kuitun River, after rushing out of the Tianshan Mountains, cut the sloping plain southwest of Dushanzi, thus forming the canyon. There are steep cliffs surrounding the canyon. You will be amazed to see such a magnificent masterpiece of nature.

Day 7: Kuitun - Urumqi - Tianchi - Xinjiang

 International Grand Bazaar (Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 8: Urumqi - Home (Send to Airport) (Breakfast )

08:00-09:00 It is recommended to eat breakfast according to the hotel breakfast time.
You can arrange it freely according to your flight time. The wonderful holiday is about to end. Say goodbye to the lovely group members one by one, pack your bags and prepare to return to your warm home after a long absence. If you are returning by plane/train, the driver will send you to the airport/station according to your flight/train time! Lunch and dinner are at your own expense!
Today's warm reminder:
1. Please make sure that your belongings are well organized and carried to avoid causing trouble to yourself;
2. Please check out before 14:00 Beijing time. Please pay for the extra fees incurred due to late check-out. (Be sure to check your belongings again before leaving the hotel, don't forget them in the hotel!)

The fee includes:

1 Transportation: 7-seat business car for the whole journey (including fuel, parking fees, driver service fees, accommodation fees and meal fees);
2 Accommodation: high-end hotels throughout the journey (Xinjiang mountain hotels are much lower than urban and inland hotels, please be prepared).
3 Tickets: first ticket to tourist attractions
4 Tour guide: private English tour guide
5 Meals: 7 breakfasts and 6 meals

The fee does not include:

International air tickets
Entry visa fees
Tips for tour guides and drivers
Personal consumption in the hotel, such as telephone charges and laundry fees in the hotel room.
The single room difference required for staying in a single room.
Ticket fees for visiting attractions not included in the itinerary.
Self-funded items in the itinerary, transportation within the scenic area
Travel accident insurance.
Expenses not specified to be borne by the travel agency.
Personal consumption incurred by the guests during the itinerary.
The travel expenses do not include personal and property losses caused by tourists due to breach of contract, their own fault, behavior during free activities or their own illness.
Food and accommodation expenses caused by force majeure.