Xinjiang Surreal Summer
If you visit Xinjiang in summer, the Ili River Valley must be the top destination for enjoying the natural beauty of Xinjiang.
West of Urumqi, cradled between the "two arms" of the Heavenly Mountains, the Ili River Valley embraces extremely beautiful scenery: flowers, grasslands, snowy mountains, and forests. There you will find picture-perfect landscapes that surpass even your dreams and imagination. It is also the homeland of many ethnic minorities, who you can meet: Uyghur, Kazakh, Mongolian, Kyrgyz…
During this 8-day Xinjiang tour, starting from Urumqi, you will drive forward the west and revel in the dreamlike Ili River Valley.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Find the Best-Kept Secret of the Heavenly Mountains on an Ancient Path
Enjoy a short hike on the ancient trail connecting the south and north of the Tianshan ('Heavenly Mountains') Range. Journey into an oil painting landscape of snow-topped peaks, grasslands, and forests.
Enjoy the Blue of "the Atlantic's Last Tears"
Have a relaxing walk on the banks of Sayram Lake. Warm moist air from the Atlantic Ocean travels more than 5,000 km (3,000 miles), but no further, to leave this beautiful sapphire-like lake.
Ride a Horse on the "3D Grassland"
Experience the lifestyle of Kazakh nomads. Visit a herdsman's yurt and enjoy a traditional meal.
Encounter the Romantic Purple in Ili River Valley
Visit the biggest lavender plantation in China. Dive in the 'ocean' of purple flowers
Meet Friendly People in a Lovely Town
Take a horse-drawn carriage to tour a traditional district where the Uyghur people live. Have a chat with local people under the grape terraces in their garden.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Beijing in a day
My partner found this company and booked with ease and no hassle. From start to finish we have been so looked after, upon arrival in Beijing after a train from Shanghai we were met by our guide Selinda. She has been amazing through out the day, flexible with times. She showed us the best place to get some food and then taking us to and from the Great Wall was filled with information and little facts. Plenty of time was given to explore the wall and then we were taken for some dumplings to revive us. Selinda made sure we were looked after and ensured we got back on the correct train. She made this trip so much less stressful and much more enjoyable. Would highly recommend this company for future use. more
Jan 2025, French-Biscuit14
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Great way to tour Beijing
My daughter and I toured Beijing with Selinda. She was prompt, professional, friendly, and helpful. We saw Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Mutianyu Great Wall section. At each site she shared the history and offered suggestions of good places for pictures. She was attentive to us and made sure we had everything we needed. The driver was helpful and having him drop us off and pick us up was immensely helpful. We toured the Summer Palace with Jason and he also did a stellar job sharing interesting facts and information which gave us context and a greater appreciation of what we saw. Jason, like Selinda, did a splendid job suggesting good photo spots and always happily offered to take our picture for us. I highly recommend these two tour guides and the driver. This was a great way to see some of the tourist attractions in Beijing. more
Jan 2025, Chris
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Epic time in Beijing with Selinda Zhang
A huge shoutout to our most awesome tour guide Selinda Zhang!!! She is a walking talking encyclopaedia with a wealth of knowledge both historic and current. She made our visits to well preserved historical sites all the more interesting sharing architecture, literature, Chinese penmanship and poems to highlight the significance of each site we visited! She engages both adults and children and usually reticent kids were asking questions and learnt heaps about Beijing history this trip. We had an epic time in Beijing thanks to Selinda!! more
Jan 2025, Hwei ling C
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
When you land in Urumqi, your personal tour guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals area and will be ready to transfer you to your hotel.
Drive from Urumqi to Sayram Lake. Enjoy a nice walk along the plank path on the bank of the lake and sit on the glassy land dotted by little wildflowers. Feel the breeze, perhaps carrying some of the "last tears" from the Atlantic Ocean.
Admire the spectacular scenery of Guozigou — 'Fruit Valley'. The great highway project and towering Guozigou Bridge traverse the deep gorge and add to the magnificence of the valley views.
Drive from Sayram to Tekes via Huocheng. Stop at Huocheng for the romantic lavender vistas.
Visit the most beautiful grassland in the Ili River Valley — Kalajun. Enjoy strolling on the "green blanket" with colorful flowers. The dark green forest and snowy peaks may make you feel like you are walking in an oil painting. Ride a horse to experience the life of Kazakh herdsmen, if you like.
Explore Tekes Town in the late afternoon, which is built according to the shape of a bagua (an Eight Trigrams grid). A city with excellent fengshui and concentric octagons of roads, you will be surprised that this is a town without traffic lights. Walk around the Lijie Street. Take some interesting pictures in front of old walls painted with classical Xinjiang artwork.
Drive from Tekes to Zhaosu, the hometown of Sky Horses. We will head to Zhaosu Wetland Park, which is a paradise of the "sky horses" and some species of rare birds. The highlight of touring the park is witness the horses runing in the river. Every summer, a breathtaking spectacle unfolds as local herders guide their horses to the shallows of the river. These majestic creatures come to drink, bathe, and frolic in the cool water.
You will explore a best-kept secret of the Heavenly Mountains on day 6. Enjoy the amazing scenery of an ancient path that connects the south and north zones of the Tianshan Range for centuries.
You will take a shuttle bus with enjoyable scenery along the way. Then change to a golf cart for the rest of route. If you would like to go hiking instead of taking a golf cart, the distance of hiking is 13 km, which is suitable for experienced hikers. At the end of the route, a panorama of snow-capped peaks dominates the view ahead.
Head north through the Heavenly Mountains to Yining, capital of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture.
Explore the Kazanqi District of Yining City, an area rich in Uyghur culture, where the residential houses are painted blue or green and have other traditional Uyghur ethnic features.
Embark on a charming journey through the village aboard a horse-drawn carriage. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of cultures with traditional songs, dances, and folk shows. You will be treated with some local special pastries and seasonal fruits.
Your guide and driver will escort you to Yining Airport to catch your flight to your next destination.
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
Price Includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English speaking local guide
- Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: xj-13