Xinjiang Grand Journey: From the Altay Mountains to the Pamirs

Seventeen days across both halves of Xinjiang, from the alpine lakes of the north to the high Pamirs of the south.

17 Days • from A$4,899 per person (AUD) • including return flights from major Australian cities

Tour Highlights

  • One journey, two worlds of Xinjiang — alpine landscapes of the north across the Tianshan into the Silk Road south
  • Kanas Lake and its famous Three Bays, with the Fish Viewing Pavilion over the Altay Mountains
  • Hemu Village, often described as one of China's most picturesque mountain settlements
  • Sayram Lake at 2,073 metres, ringed by grassland and snow peaks in the Tianshan
  • Kalajun Grassland's rolling three-dimensional meadows, part of the UNESCO-listed Xinjiang Tianshan
  • Kashgar Old City, the Id Kah Mosque and the artisan quarter of the Silk Road's greatest oasis
  • The Karakoram Highway to White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake beneath Muztagh Ata
  • A Xinjiang afternoon tea with traditional music and dance, and a whole roasted lamb feast

Itinerary at a Glance

  1. Day 1: Australia – Urumqi — Depart Australia on your international journey to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang and a historic crossroads of the Silk Road. Today is primarily a travel day — rest on board and prepare for an extraor
  2. Day 2: Arrive Urumqi — Arrive in Urumqi, one of the world's most inland major cities, and transfer to the hotel. Nothing intensive is planned today; if your arrival allows, take a relaxed walk near the hotel and your first
  3. Day 3: Urumqi – Koktokay — Travel north towards Fuyun County in the Altay region, crossing the vast Junggar Basin. Visit Kokosuli wetland, view the Kalamaili Nature Reserve area known for Przewalski's horse, and learn about Kok
  4. Day 4: Koktokay – Kanas — Continue into the Altay Mountains to Kanas, Xinjiang's most celebrated alpine lake. The journey itself is spectacular — golden grassland, pine forest and snow peaks gradually enclosing the road. Arriv
  5. Day 5: Kanas Lake – Three Bays — A full day at Kanas Lake. Walk the boardwalks along the famous Three Bays — Shenxian (Fairy) Bay, Wolong (Crouching Dragon) Bay and Moon Bay — each with its own character. Climb to the Fish Viewing Pa
  6. Day 6: Kanas – Hemu Village — Drive to Hemu, often described as one of China's most picturesque mountain villages. Walk through the Tuwa minority settlement, cross the Hemu River on the wooden bridge, and climb the platform above
  7. Day 7: Hemu – Burqin – Urho — Descend from the Altay foothills, stopping in Burqin. Continue south-west across the Junggar Basin towards Urho, passing the colourful Yardang landforms of the 'Ghost City' wind-eroded rock field at W
  8. Day 8: Urho – Karamay – Yining — Continue south past the Karamay oil fields towards the Tianshan range. Cross the mountain pass into the Yili (Ili) valley, arriving in Yining, the administrative centre of the Kazakh autonomous prefec
  9. Day 9: Yining – Sayram Lake – Kalajun — Visit Sayram Lake at 2,073 metres, the largest and highest alpine lake in Xinjiang, ringed by grassland and snow peaks. Continue to the Kalajun Grassland, part of the UNESCO-listed Xinjiang Tianshan,
  10. Day 10: Kalajun – Tekes – Kuqa — Drive through the Ili valley past Tekes, famous for its bagua (eight-trigram) city layout, then cross the Tianshan into southern Xinjiang. Arrive in Kuqa, an ancient Silk Road oasis on the northern ed
  11. Day 11: Kuqa – Tianshan Grand Canyon – Kashgar (flight) — Visit the Tianshan Grand Canyon (Kuqa Grand Canyon), a dramatic red-rock gorge carved into the northern foothills of the range. In the afternoon fly to Kashgar, the cultural heart of the southern Silk
  12. Day 12: Kashgar Old City & Id Kah Mosque — Explore Kashgar's Old City, the largest existing adobe settlement on the Silk Road. Visit the Id Kah Mosque, the largest in China, and wander the artisan quarter where blacksmiths, coppersmiths and wo
  13. Day 13: Kashgar – Karakul Lake (Karakoram Highway) — Drive the Karakoram Highway, one of the world's great mountain roads, to Karakul Lake at 3,600 metres. The lake sits beneath Muztagh Ata (7,546 m), the 'Father of Ice Mountains'. Stop at White Sand La
  14. Day 14: Karakul Lake – Tashkurgan — Continue along the Karakoram Highway to Tashkurgan, the last major town before the Pakistan border, home to the Tajik minority. Visit the Stone Fort, a Silk Road-era citadel overlooking the valley.
  15. Day 15: Tashkurgan – Kashgar — Return to Kashgar along the Karakoram Highway, with time for photography stops. On arrival, visit the livestock market (if open) or the bustling Sunday Bazaar area, depending on the day of the week.
  16. Day 16: Kashgar – Urumqi (flight) — Fly back to Urumqi. Enjoy a Xinjiang afternoon tea with traditional music and dance, followed by a farewell whole roasted lamb feast — the region's most celebrated dish.
  17. Day 17: Urumqi – Australia — Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Australia. The journey ends with a wealth of memories from both halves of Xinjiang — the alpine north and the Silk Road south.

What's Included

  • Return economy-class international airfares Australia–Urumqi and Kashgar–Australia (direct flights not guaranteed)
  • Yining–Kuqa domestic economy-class flight
  • Sydney and Melbourne departures at the same price; Adelaide and Brisbane add $400 per person
  • Fifteen nights in the listed 4–5 star hotels or similar, twin share with breakfast
  • Meals and speciality meals shown in the itinerary
  • Air-conditioned touring coach, generally 2+1 seating
  • All scenic-area shuttles as listed in the itinerary