Join In Groups, Overland, Epic, All

Xinjiang By New Orient Express

Join In Groups, Overland, Epic, All

Xinjiang By New Orient Express

Join In Groups, Overland, Epic, All

Xinjiang By New Orient Express

  • Destination

    Xinjiang

  • Trip duration

    13 days, 12 nights

  • Availability period

    26 Jun. 2023 - 8 Jul. 2025

  • Min/Max travelers

    Min,2

  • Transport

    Train & Bus

  • Accommodation

    Train & Hotels

XINJIANG is a huge and magic area, triple size of France, holding up as a treasure chest natural wonders, Muslim-influenced culture and vestiges, and much history. This unique departure represents the fantastic opportunity to explore these lands in one hassle-free solution

This itinerary provide a blend of the most historical and exotic location of Xinjiang, allowing to explore cities and villages that made history: the trading post of Kashgar , the hottest Turfan, the
buddhist reign of Kuche , and more; all ancient silk Road stations, retain their exotic central asia atmosphere laying on the border of Taklimakan desert.

Xinjiang By New Orient Express

Xinjiang

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Day 1

Arrival Urumqi

Arrival in Urumqi, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer to hotel. Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, the farthest city from the ocean. It is Mongolian for 'beautiful farm'. Our bilingual tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Food

-/-/-

Accommodation

Urumqi Wanda Vista hotel

Day 2

Urumqi

After breakfast, visit Heavenly Lake on Tianshan (boat tour). The Mountain Lake stands 1980 meters above sea level and features picturesque scenery of snowcapped peaks. Lastly, visit Xinjiang International Bazaar. After dinner, take this deluxe train to Kuqa at 21:00pm. Have a nice night on the train with wonderful evening and morning views of local countryside. departure for Fuyun at 21:30.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Train Cabin

Day 3

Koktokay

Arrive in Fuyun at 09:00am. Bus transfer to visit a local family Koktokay, is the source of the Irtysh River, the only river in China flowing into the Arctic Ocean. Near there you will witness the largest mining pit in the world , a deposits of 84 kinds of minerals. Koktokay means "green forest" in Kazakh language and "blue river bend" in Mongolian, implying that it has been a beautiful place since ancient times.
After dinner, you can visit the "Night Market of Burqin", where you may taste the famous Ertzis Fish, sheep of course and typical Xinjiang street food.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Burqin lanting hotel

Day 4

Burqin-Kanas

After breakfast, transfer by bus to He Mu Village, a nice panoramic scenic site at the foot of the mount Altay, at the Kazakistan border - a paradise for the photographers. You may hike around the village and enjoy the beautiful sunset from the hills above the village. After dinner check into your hotel.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Jiadengyu guest house

Day 5

Beitun-Yining

After breakfast, Kanas Lake is your next destination: China's deepest freshwater lake. Known for its picturesque view, and to be home to 798 species of plants and 117 varieties of birds, Kanas is a comprehensive scenic spot area integrating glaciers, lakes, forests, grasslands, pastures, rivers, ethnic customs and rare animals and plants, which is known as the "Oriental Switzerland, photographer's paradise". Embraced by snow-capped mountains and dense forest, Departure for Yining at 21:30 pm.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Train Cabin

Day 6

Yining

Arrive in Yining 09:00AM. After breakfast, enjoy a leisure morning along the lake, before moving on to Sayram lake, renowned as “the pearl of the Silk Road”, the largest alpine lake in Xinjiang. In Mongolian language, sayram means 'a lake on the ridge'. In Kazak, sayram means 'blessing'. You may explore the filming place and take pictures, as the area was used as setting in several films.
Transfer to hotel.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Yining tianyuan

Day 7

Yining

After breakfast, visit the Narat Grassland, which is one of the world's most massive grasslands. Hosts a large number of Kazakh ethnics, some of still following the traditional living way…
Board the train in order to depart to Turpan about 23:30pm.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Train Cabin

Day 8

Turpan-Kuqa

Arrive in Turpan 10:00AM. Enjoy the unmissable Flaming Mountains, close to one of the hottest and lowest lands on the whole planet. (expect summer temperature over 47 ° C ). On the way back the ancient Jiaohe (old of 2.000 years) will make wonders your thoughts. Depart to Kuqa at 22:00pm.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Train Cabin

Day 9

Kuqa- Kashgar

Arrive in Kuqa at 09:00AM, Kuqa is the capital of the ancient Qiuci Kingdom. After breakfast, drive to the mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon (70 kilometers, 1 hour and 30 minutes) to witness the magical power of nature.
After lunch, visit Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves. Known as "the second Dunhuang Mogao Caves". The murals reflect the glorious state of Buddhism in the ancient tortoise country.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Train Cabin

Day 10

Kashgar

Arrive Kashgar at 09:00AM, Take the Karakorum Highway Pass and visit Oytagh Glaciers Park and Lake Karakurl Lake. Karakurl Lake is located at the foot of Muztagh Ata Snow Peak, the father of the iceberg. This is also the best place to admire the beautiful shadow of Muztagh Ata Snow Peak.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Kashgar radisson blue hotel

Day 11

Kashgar-Korla

After breakfast, visit the Old Town of Kashgar by walk. After lunch visit the Grand Id Kah mosque, the largest mosque in China and marvel at the intricate architecture of Kashgar’s historic Apak Hoja Tomb which is also known as fragrant concubine tomb).
Visit the Ingabakh khoja tomb, which is the family tomb of Xiang Fei, the most favorite concubine of Emperor Qianglong (1711-1796). Visit the street of handicrafts and feel the rich ethnic customs of Kashgar.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Train Cabin

Day 12

Korla – Urumqi

Korla was known as Weili in ancient times and served as an important staging post in the middle of the Silk Road. After a pleasant breakfast, visit the Bosten Lake. Once named 'West Sea' and 'Qin Sea' in the Han Dynasty, Bosten Lake is rich in aquatic life with beautiful scenery, being famous as 'a bright pearl of the Oasis'.
Proceed to visit the Tiemen Pass. It is one of the 26 famous passes in China, and acquired the name 'Iron Gate' for it is solid and firm just like an iron gate. It was an important point along the route into the Tarim Basin in the ancient times.

Food

B/L/D

Accommodation

Train Cabin

Day 13

Departure Urumqi

Arrive Urumqi at 08:00, after breakfast. Transfer to airport back home.

Food

B/-/-

Diamond Carriage

Train Cabin

At 10 sq metres Diamond Class cabins are the most spacious compartments available on the Shangri-La Express, featuring a large double bed, individual desk with freestanding chair, a large picture window and a double wardrobe.

Heritage Carriage

Train Cabin

Heritage Class cabins, featuring two lower berth single beds, a large picture window and luggage storage above the door. Towels, robes and slippers are provided with our compliments, in addition to tea, coffee and mineral water, available from your cabin attendant throughout the day.

Carbon Emission Initiative - Gold Standard

As of 2020 Asian Trails has introduced a voluntary carbon offsetting initiative for our travellers to compensate for unavoidable emissions during their tours with us. Emissions during multi-day package tours (not including international flights to our destinations) are pegged at a cost of $1.50 per traveller per day. This amount is based on average daily emissions of travellers across our eight destinations. Contributions from clients to our carbon offsetting initiative will go into a destination-specific fund to support climate protection projects certified to Gold Standard in that country. Certification to Gold Standard assures that the projects supported through our carbon offsetting initiative not only reduce harmful emissions but also positively contribute to sustainable development. Our contributions to projects in a country will be relative to the CO2 emitted by our travelers in that destination. To know more about this project: https://marketplace.goldstandard.org/collections/projects/products/more-efficient-cooking-and-heating-china

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