Xinjiang · 15 days and 14 nights
铂悦金钻·奢遇西域荣耀巡礼15日游
Fares and availability vary by departure and cabin. Please confirm both when booking.
USD estimates use the 2026-11-13 exchange rate. Confirm the final amount and payment currency when booking.
Day 1
After arriving at Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel to check in. If time permits, you can go to the International Grand Bazaar on your own to experience the rich ethnic customs or taste local specialties.
Day 2
After breakfast, take the bus to Turpan and visit the [Karez], which is also known as the three major engineering projects in ancient China along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal (the drive is about 45 minutes, the tour is no less than 1 hour), and then visit the [Vineyard] (the tour is no less than 1 hour), and [Jiaohe Ancient City] (the tour is no less than 1 hour).
Take the bus back to [Urumqi].
Day 3
After breakfast, drive to [Heavenly Lake of Tianshan] to enjoy the scenery of alpine lakes surrounded by snow-capped mountains (about 150 kilometers, about 2 hours’ drive).
Take the New Oriental Express overnight to [Altay].
Warm reminder: Today we are getting used to the time difference in Xinjiang and the meal time is relatively late. Tourists with hypoglycemia can bring their own snacks and dry food before each meal.
Day 4
The special train arrived in Altay and took the [Ahe Highway] to [Hemu Village], known as the paradise on earth (about 5 hours' drive). The road itself is picturesque, passing through pastures, forests and valleys.
Free activities in [Hemu Village]. You can hike to the Hemu River or climb to the observation deck to take pictures of the village scenery. Hemu is where the Tuva people live, and the primitive villages and prairie are harmoniously integrated. Watch the bright starry sky at night
Warm reminder: Most of the accommodations in Hemu Village are cabins. The conditions are relatively simple, but the experience is unique. The temperature is low at night, so be sure to keep warm.
Day 5
In the early morning, you can voluntarily go to the observation deck to take pictures of the morning mist of Hemu. Then go to [Kanas Scenic Area] (about 2 hours’ drive, no less than 4 hours of tour) to visit Kanas Lake, Moon Bay, Shenxian Bay, Wolong Bay and other iconic attractions. Kanas is famous for its mysterious lake monster legends and the changing colors of the lake. You can walk along the lake and feel the beauty of nature.
Go to [Jiadenyu] to check in at night.
Warm reminder: The weather in Kanas area is changeable, so please prepare warm clothes and rain gear.
Day 6
In the morning, go to [Chonghur Kazakh Folk Village] (about 2.5 hours’ drive) to taste Kazakh family food and understand the lifestyle of ethnic minorities.
In the afternoon, visit [Colorful Beach] (about 1.5 hours’ drive, no less than 1.5 hours tour), which is a unique colorful hilly landform by the Irtysh River. The colorful beach is located on both sides of the river, with different views in the north and south. The south bank is an oasis desert, and the north bank is a colorful sandstone landform.
Then take a special train to [Jinghenan].
Day 7
Arrive in Jinghenan early in the morning. After breakfast, go to Sayram Lake, known as the "last teardrop of the Atlantic Ocean" (about 1.5 hours' drive, no less than 2.5 hours of sightseeing). The lake is crystal clear and surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
Arrive in Yining in the evening and visit the multicultural [Six Star Street].
Day 8
In the morning, drive to [Nalati Grassland], known as the four largest grasslands in Asia and Europe (the total tour time is no less than 4 hours, and the driving time is about 3.5 hours). Nalati Grassland is known as the "Tianshan Green Island" with its three-dimensional and diverse landscapes and rich nomadic culture. It is an ideal destination to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in nature and ethnic customs.
Day 9
Set off after breakfast and take the [Duku Highway] to the town of Bayinbuluke (about 2 hours' drive). Upon arrival, visit the [Bayinbuluke Grassland] (the tour is no less than 3 hours). The Bayinbuluke Grassland is the second largest grassland in China. The sunset scene with nine twists and turns is a unique one. The river winds like a golden ribbon on the grassland at sunset.
Special reminder: Foreign tourists with passports are not allowed to go to Bayinbuluk. They will return to Yining from Nalati on the same day, take a special train to Kuqa in the evening, stay overnight on the special train, and meet the team in Kuqa on the 9th day.
Day 10
After breakfast, take a commercial vehicle along the [Southern Section of Duku Highway] to Kuqa, and enjoy the changes in scenery and landforms from high to low along the way. Arrive at [Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon] (the drive is about 3-3.5 hours, the tour is no less than 2 hours). The reddish-brown mountains of Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon are in various shapes, especially mysterious under the changes of light and shadow.
Take a special train to [Kashgar] in the evening and start your journey to southern Xinjiang.
Day 11
Arrive in Kashgar early and head to the Pamir Plateau along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway (about 3 hours’ drive). On the way, you will enjoy the [White Sand Lake] (a tour of not less than 1 hour). The white sand mountains of Baisha Lake are in sharp contrast with the blue of the lake. The towering snow-capped mountains in the background form a beautiful picture.
Then go to Stone City and Golden Grass Beach (the tour should not be less than 1 hour).
Arrive at [Tashkorgan Tajik Autonomous County] in the evening.
Warm reminder: The altitude has increased significantly today. Please avoid strenuous exercise and bathing as much as possible to avoid headaches and other uncomfortable symptoms. Please keep warm and protect yourself from the sun.
Day 12
Experience [Tajik Home Visit] in the morning (no less than 1 hour) and learn about the unique culture of this plateau eagle tribe.
Then visit [Karakul Lake] (about 2 hours' drive, no less than 1 hour tour). Karakul Lake is also known as the "Black Lake". It is named because of its deep and dark water. The lake water shows various colors such as blue, green, black and so on under different lights. You can also admire the "Father of Icebergs" Muztagh Peak reflected on the lake surface.
Return to [Kashgar] in the evening.
Day 13
After breakfast, visit [Old Town of Kashgar] (about 0.5 hour drive, tour no less than 1 hour), visit [Id Kah Mosque] (approximately 0.5 hour drive, tour no less than 1 hour) and [Xiangfei Garden] (approximately 0.5 hour drive, tour no less than 1.5 hours), and experience the richest Uyghur customs.
Take the special train back to [Urumqi] in the evening.
Day 14
Special train is free to move around and enjoy the train scenery along the way. Arrive in Urumqi and check into hotel.
Day 15
Arrange drop-off service according to flight time to end your trip to Xinjiang.
New Oriental Express special train seats + destination regular tourist air-conditioned buses.
14 a.m. 25 a.m. for the whole trip.
The standard breakfast on the train is ≈ USD 10.42/person, and the standard meal on the train is ≈ USD 22.34/person.
The local breakfast standard is ≈ USD 7.45/person, the local dinner standard is ≈ USD 11.91/person, and some special meals are ≈ USD 14.89–17.87/person.
Special note: Since the train meals need to be ordered in quantity before the train departs, and the local meals during the tour are group meals, the meals included in the itinerary will not be refunded if you do not use them. Please understand!
Tickets to the attractions on the itinerary and required on-site transport.
Note:Admission is priced at the group rate as part of the rail package and must be booked in advance. No individual discounts apply, and unused admission tickets are non-refundable.
Accommodation for 4 nights in a special train and 10 nights in a local hotel. (The room type is a double standard room. If there are single men and single women, we will arrange to share a room. If you are unable to share a room or want to live alone, you need to pay for the Single supplement.)
Suggested hotels:
Urumqi: Ruihao International, Global International, Jinjiang International or equivalent
Hemu: Suporius Hotel, Hemu Villa or similar level
Jiadengyu: Derong, Jintai Resort, Hongfu Ecology, Baihualin or similar
Yining: Tianyuan International, Wenzhou International or equivalent
Nalati: Nalati Cultural Tourism, Nalati Wansen or similar level
Bayinbuluke: Bayin C Hotel, Erbin Hotel, Yunshangzun Hotel or similar level
Ta County: Kaitushali, Panorama Star Hotel or similar level
Kashgar: Nanjiang Global Harbor, Hampton by Hilton, Radisson Blu or similar
Licensed local guides and an escort throughout the journey.
Transport to and from Xinjiang is at your own expense.
A supplement applies if you request a single room.
Holiday extensions and any optional activities you add are at your own expense.
Additional costs, such as extra accommodation, meals and transport, caused by force majeure (including natural disasters, war or strikes), transport delays, flight cancellations or rescheduling, or other circumstances outside the agency’s control.
Any costs not specified in the quotation are at your own expense.
Travellers acknowledge that railway transportation is related to the national economy and people's livelihood. Railway transportation organizations follow the principle of unified dispatching and command. If the tourist train is advanced or postponed due to emergencies or irresistible reasons such as changes to the railway timetable, construction, line accidents, vehicle failures, line rerouting, etc., the agency will notify travellers 7 days in advance. If the tourist train cannot be run, the agency will notify travellers 5 days in advance. The travel agency will not bear any liability for breach of contract. If the above situation occurs and the tourist agrees to reschedule after consultation, the travel agency will reimburse the relevant and reasonable rescheduling fees for the tourist who has already traveled. The specific departure time and stopping points of the special train are subject to the orders of the relevant departments! If tourist trains are delayed or the travel itinerary is affected due to railway system changes to the railway timetable, construction, line accidents, vehicle breakdowns, changes in travel plans, etc., these are all force majeure factors, and travel agencies do not assume any liability for breach of contract!
Since the special train is chartered, the travel agency needs to pay the railway department performance deposit, hotel deposit and other fees in advance. Therefore, the cancellation rules for tourists after registering for this special train are as follows:
(1) at least 30 days before the departure date, if the trip is canceled due to personal reasons of the tourist, ≈ USD 2,978.32/person will be charged.
(2) If the trip is canceled 15-29 days (inclusive) before the departure date due to personal reasons, 60% of the contract amount will be charged.
(3) If the trip is canceled 1-14 days (inclusive) before the departure date due to personal reasons of the tourist, 85% of the contract amount will be charged
(4) If the trip is canceled due to personal reasons of the traveler on the day of departure, 100% of the contract amount will be charged.
(5) Tourists can change the travel party 3 days before departure at the latest without bearing any losses (except for air tickets booked on behalf of others).
1. Special reminder and agreement about the Duku Highway: This itinerary has been arranged to pass through the middle and southern sections of the Duku Highway. The Duku Highway is affected by natural weather factors every year, and the opening hours are uncertain. If it is not possible to arrange to cross the Duku Highway due to weather reasons, the travel agency will refund the difference in related unincurred fees. (Subject to actual arrangements)
2. The train is a chartered train. After the contract is signed, tickets cannot be changed, split, changed or refunded.
3. The specific departure, arrival and departure times of the special train are subject to the final order of the Railway Bureau and the station dispatch; if the special train arrives late or early, the travel agency has no breach of contract and is responsible for coordination and adjusting the itinerary according to the actual situation. It will not reduce the scenic spots or lower the service standards, but it will not bear financial compensation; due to policy reasons of the special train or the number of people in the group does not reach the number of people on the special train, if the special train fails to make the trip, it will be switched to the scheduled train or a full refund will be given.
From USD 5,195 (New Oriental Express · Snow Lotus, 15 days and 14 nights). Fares vary by departure, cabin and party size; confirm the quote when booking.
Departures: Sep 21 2027. Availability is confirmed when booking.
The fare covers Transportation, Catering, Admission, Accommodation, Guides and support; it excludes Travel to and from Xinjiang, Single supplement, Independent arrangements. See “What the fare covers” on this page.
Select “View dates and book” to choose your date, cabin and party size, or call +86-23-88721881 and an adviser will book for you. Payment by PayPal, SWIFT bank transfer, UnionPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay.
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