14 Days Xinjiang Luxury New Orient Express Tour May 2026

In the morning we will go to visit the 【White Sand Lake】 (driving time: approx. 3.5 hours; tour duration: approx. 1 hour; altitude: approx. 3,300 meters). A heaven of lush pastures and gathering waterfowl, White Sand Lake is framed by pale sand-cloaked cyan mountains—rolling and undulating, partially veiled in mist. Together with the snow-capped peaks above and the lakes and rivers below, it forms a magnificent natural wonder of overwhelming grandeur. In the afternoon, we will proceed to the 【Karakul Lake Scenic Area】 (driving time: approx. 1.5 hours; tour duration: approx. 1 hour; altitude: approx. 3,300 meters). To the east of the lake towers 【Mount Muztagh Ata】, known as the "Father of Glaciers," while to the west stretches the rugged and unbroken Sarikol Range. After the visit, we will return back to Kashgar urban area and check into the hotel for rest (driving time: approx. 4 hours).

Breakfast: Hotel; Lunch: Local Specialty; Dinner: Local Specialty

Accommodation: Kashgar Raddison Blu or similar

In the morning we will board the VIP electric shuttle and stroll through the 【Eastern District of Kashgar Ancient City】 (shuttle ride: approx. 20 minutes; total tour duration: approx. 2 hours). Hailed as a dazzling pearl on the ancient Silk Road, Kashgar Ancient City stands as a confluence of Eastern and Western civilizations. Its profound history radiates renewed charm with an open and inclusive spirit. Within the scenic area, numerous bazaars—including the Hat Bazaar, Dried Fruit Bazaar, and Jade Bazaar—vividly embody the millennium-old civilization of the entire ancient city. In the afternoon, let’s continue exploring the ancient city in the 【Western District of Kashgar Ancient City】 (including Id Kah Mosque; total tour duration: approx. 2 hours). In the evening, we will board the New Oriental Express bound for Turpan.

Breakfast: Hotel; Lunch: Halal Meal; Dinner: New Orient Express

Accommodation: New Orient Express 

Take good rest on the train. Upon arrival in Turpan at noon, we will drive to 【Karez Well】 (driving time: approx. 30 minutes; tour duration: approx. 1 hour). Also known as "Kanerjing," Karez Wells are a unique irrigation system in arid regions. Hailed as one of China’s Three Great Ancient Projects alongside the Great Wall and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, they are widely distributed in the Turpan area of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Later in the afternoon, we will proceed to 【Flaming Mountains】 in Turpan (driving time: approx. 50 minutes; tour duration: approx. 40 minutes). As a branch of the Tianshan Mountains, the Flaming Mountains formed during the Himalayan orogeny 50 to 60 million years ago. Renowned as the hottest place in China, they reach a maximum summer temperature of 47.8 ℃ , with the surface temperature on the southern (sunny) slope soaring to 82.3 ℃ . In the evening, board the New Orient Express bound for Beitun City.

Breakfast: New Orient Express; Lunch: Local Specialty; Dinner: Local Specialty

Accommodation: New Orient Express

Upon arrival, take the tourist vehicle to 【Hemu】 (driving time: approx. 5 hours; tour duration: approx. 4 hours). Wander leisurely through the village, enjoy a performance showcasing century-old traditional houses, admire the alpine grasslands of Jiadengyu adorned with flowers and the wooden bridges spanning the Hemu River, and visit the Tuvan village and traditional wooden residences in Hemu.

Breakfast: New Orient Express; Lunch: Local Specialty; Dinner: Local Specialty

Accommodation: Hemu Boutique Guesthouse or similar

You will have free time in the morning till the departure. If you want to, you can hike up Yunxiao Peak for panoramic views from the heights. In the afternoon, we will go tto 【Kanas Scenic Area】 (driving time: approx. 2 hours; accommodation inside the scenic area; flexible tour duration). Boasting Asia’s only alpine scenery reminiscent of Switzerland, Kanas is hailed as "the last pure land on Earth," "God’s back garden," and "a fairy’s private domain." Derived from Mongolian, its name signifies "beautiful, fertile, and mysterious." Here, lake vistas and mountain landscapes blend seamlessly—embodying the majestic grandeur of northern China’s scenery and the delicate elegance of Jiangnan’s landscapes.

Breakfast: Hotel; Lunch: Local Specialty; Dinner: Local Specialty

Accommodation: Kanas Merrier Vacation Hotel or similar

Enjoy free morning time in the village. You may wake up early to watch the sunrise. Alternatively, opt for a transfer to 【Fish Pavilion】 (complimentary attraction; no refund if not visited). Due to factors such as time, weather conditions, and speed limits on the scenic area’s mountain roads, this visit will be determined through mutual consultation between the tour guide and guests based on the actual situation. Ride to the mountainside, then hike 1,068 steps to the top for a panoramic view of Kanas Lake. Wander along the lakeside wooden boardwalk and soak in the tranquility and serenity of Kanas Scenic Area. In the afternoon, drive to Beitun Railway Station and board the New Orient Express bound for Yining.

Breakfast: Hotel; Lunch: Local Specialty; Dinner: New Orient Express

Accommodation: New Orient Express 

Upon arrival, proceed to visit 【Naraty Grassland】 (total tour duration: approx. 5 hours). Ranked among Xinjiang’s Top Ten Scenic Areas, it is nestled in the Ili River Valley—hailed as "Jiangnan Beyond the Great Wall"—boasting breathtaking natural scenery. Admire the grassland’s pristine beauty: crisscrossed by gurgling mountain springs and meandering streams, lined with towering spruce trees along the valleys, dotted with yurts, and dotted with flocks of cattle and sheep like clouds on the horizon. Immerse yourself in the simple and genuine folk customs of the Kazakh people, and let your spirits soar across the vast grassland.

Breakfast: New Orient Express; Lunch: Local Specialty; Dinner: Local Specialty

Accommodation: Naraty Jinling Villa or similar

Enjoy your free time in the morning inside the Naraty Grassland scenic site. Around 11:00 AM, we will return to Yining to visit 【Liuxing Street】 (Six-Point Star Street). As a multi-ethnic settlement and a convergence of diverse cultures, Yining City is home to Liuxing Street —a district that witnesses the unique cultural symbiosis of foreign and local traditions. Evolving into a large-scale humanistic tourist destination, it boasts a pleasant environment, harmony, and vitality, integrating characteristic street sightseeing, cultural exhibitions, courtyard tourism, featured catering and entertainment, as well as craft processing and retail. Covering a mere 47 hectares, the neighborhood is inhabited by residents of multiple ethnic groups, including Han, Kazakh, Hui, Uyghur, Russian, and Tatar, fostering coexistence and integration. In the afternoon we will continue to travel to 【Sayram Lake】 via the 【Guozigou Bridge】 (driving time: approx. 2.5 hours). Known as the gateway to the Ili River Valley, Guozigou enchants with its blue sky, white clouds, snow-capped mountains, pine forests, and winding landscapes of exquisite beauty. The Guozigou Bridge, with a total investment of 2.4 billion RMB, spans 700 meters in length, with a net height of 200 meters from the bridge deck to the valley floor. Its main bridge towers reach heights of 209 meters and 215.5 meters respectively. Constructed entirely of steel truss girders, the bridge utilizes 17,000 tons of special-purpose bridge steel and high-strength bolts for connection, achieving an installation precision of within 2 millimeters. As the first cable-stayed bridge on highways in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, it is also China’s first double-tower, double-cable-plane steel truss girder cable-stayed highway bridge.

Breakfast: Hotel; Lunch: Local Specialty; Dinner: Local Specialty

Accommodation: Sayram Lake ELaine Hotel or similar

Morning we will explore the 【Sayram Lake】 (total tour duration: approx. 4 hours). Known as the "Pure Sea of the West" in ancient times, it is Xinjiang’s highest-altitude and largest alpine cold-water lake. Dubbed "the Last Tear of the Atlantic"—as it receives the final caress of the Atlantic’s warm, moist air currents—the lake is fringed by the Haixi Grassland, a carpet of blooming flowers. Golden, purple, red, and a riot of other hues paint the landscape; nearby, the clear blue water shimmers under the sky, while distant snow capped peaks blend seamlessly with the horizon, resembling a vivid watercolor painting. In the afternoon, we will drive to Yining and board the New Orient Express bound for Urumqi.

Breakfast: Hotel; Lunch: Local Specialty; Dinner: New Orient Express

Accommodation: Urumuqi Hilton Hotel or similar 

Day 14: Urumuqi Departure

You will be free till your flight departs. Our driver will send you to airport based on your flight schedule. Tour ends.

Breakfast: Hotel; Lunch: /; Dinner: /

Accommodation: /

You will be free till your flight departs. Our driver will send you to airport based on your flight schedule. Tour ends.

Breakfast: Hotel; Lunch: /; Dinner: /

Accommodation: /

 

Special Note:

1. This program opens booking for Chinese citizens including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan travelers as well as foreign travelers. If some sites are not open to foreign travelers due to local policy, we will arrange other plans instead.
2. We can equip Englishs speaking tour leader to accompany you but the local guides in Xinjiang will be Chinese speaking.