Travel itineraries from Urumqi to Northern Xinjiang include various route options and detailed arrangements.
A classic 7-day, 6-night itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Depart from Urumqi, embark on the S21 Desert Highway, admire the unique landscape of the desert intertwined with the highway, arrive at Colorful Beach in the evening to see the Yardang landform, and stay in Burqin at night to taste local grilled fish.
Day 2: Depart from Burqin to Kanas, spend the afternoon strolling along Kanas Lake to admire its emerald-green waters, and stay in a cabin within the Kanas scenic area at night.
Day 3: Get up early to see the morning fog at Shenxian Bay in Kanas, then hike the Three Bays (Wolong Bay, Moon Bay, Shenxian Bay). In the afternoon, proceed to Hemu Village to stay in a cabin and admire the primitive village.
In addition, there is also an 8-day travel route:
D1: Explore downtown Urumqi, including Hongshan Park, Hongguangshan Grand Buddha Temple, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum, and Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar.
D2: Head to Tianshan Tianchi to appreciate the beauty of nature, traverse the S21 Desert Highway to feel the desert ambiance, and finally arrive at the Gurbantünggüt Desert to experience its grandeur and mystery.
D3-D4: Delve into Hemu Scenic Area and Kanas Scenic Area, admiring primitive forests, cabins, and lake scenery surrounded by mountains.
D5: Visit the World Devil’s City to experience its unique landforms and wind-erosion landscapes.
Subsequent itinerary: Includes visits to Sayram Lake, Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, and other places.
For tourists who enjoy self-driving, a 10-day self-driving itinerary can be chosen:
Day 1: Depart from Urumqi, head to Tianshan Tianchi, and then proceed to Keketohai for camping.
Day 2: Visit Keketohai National Geological Park, proceed to Colorful Beach, and stay at a hotel in Habahe County at night.
Day 3: Head to Kanas National Geological Park to admire attractions such as Kanas Lake and Shenxian Bay.
Subsequent itinerary: Also includes visits to Habahe County, Burqin, Urho Devil’s City, Sayram Lake, and other places.
In addition, the 10-day Northern Xinjiang Grand Ring Road tour is also a good choice, covering well-known attractions such as Urumqi, S21 Desert Highway, Colorful Beach, Kanas, Sayram Lake, and more.
Alternatively, you can also choose a 6-day, 5-night in-depth tour to experience places such as Wulungu Lake, Kanas, Hemu Village, Devil’s City, Sayram Lake, and Nalati Grassland.
The above itineraries all include the main attractions and special activities from Urumqi to Northern Xinjiang. Tourists can choose a suitable itinerary based on their time and preferences.