8 Days | Xinjiang: Alluring Kanas Scenery Tour

Tour Overview 

Have you ever imagined, while caressing the waters of Kanas Lake—revered as the "Tears of the Divine"—whether your fingertips might brush against echoes of ancient mysteries? When dawn mist veils the pine forests of Immortal Bay like silken gauze, can you hear the wind whispering millennia-old legends of the Tuvan people? If you chase the shimmering ripples across the lake by boat, might you truly glimpse the shadow of the legendary lake monster? Could it be that you long to stand atop Moon Bay's lookout, watching emerald currents carve heart-stopping arcs through the Altay Mountains? When autumn sets the birch forests ablaze, weaving gold and emerald into a painter's delirium, who dares claim this riot of color isn't a celestial palette overturned by the gods?   

These 8 days' Kanas package tour will truly bring you unforgettable experience with unparalleled service, which can be tailored to meet your own needs.

Highlights of this tour:

1. Explore the Golden Coast of Wulungu Lake with breathtaking views.

2. Visit fairytale-like Hemu Village and experience the unique Tuvan's culture. 

3. Ride horse and put on bright ethnic costumes to take travel photography.

4. Immerse in the Yegende Sky Grassland as the filming location for the TV drama "My Altay".

5. Experience a boat tour on Kanas Lake.

Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Urumqi 

We will pick you up at the airport according to your flight schedule (using a VIP private car for pick-up). After checking into the designated hotel, you can freely arrange your time for sightseeing, experiencing the cultural charm of this city and enjoying it as a land of delicious cuisine.

Recommended Scenic Spot (Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar): It is a vibrant and charming place, one of the must-visit attractions. Here, characteristic goods, handicrafts and delicacies from all over Xinjiang are gathered. The Grand Bazaar has a unique architectural style, full of rich Islamic charm, making you feel as if you are in a mysterious Islamic country.

Meal: N/A

Hotel: Atour Hotel, Mercure Hotel, LIYI Hotel, Hailongquan Hotel, or similar 4-diamond hotels.

 

Day 2: Explore Fabulous Golden Coast of Wulungu Lake

Urumqi - S21 Desert Highway - Golden Coast of Wulungu Lake- Altay

Morning: After breakfast, we will head towards Altay along the S21 Desert Highway. The vast and boundless desert would greet you, and the golden sand dunes shimmer with a charming luster under the sunlight. The highway is like a black ribbon, winding its way through the desert.

The Golden Coast is a prime scenic spot of Wulungu Lake (乌伦古湖). Here, the clear lake water, the blue sky, white clouds in the distance and the continuous mountains as well as fine and smooth beach, all of them form a truly eye-catching masterpiece.

Lunch: Taste the local characteristic lake delicacies, such as steamed Aspiorhynchus laticeps and braised Esox reicherti.

Afternoon: Continue the journey to Altay. The scenery along the way gradually changes from the view of the lake to the mountainous landscape, and you will appreciate the diverse geographical features of Xinjiang.

Meal: Hotel breakfast

Hotel: Atour Hotel in Altay, or Wanda Realm Hotel, or other four-diamond hotels of the same level

 

Day 3: Explore Fairytale-like Hemu Village & Tuvan's Family Visit

Altay - Ahhe Highway - Hemu Village - Riverside Afternoon Tea - Tuwa Family Visit 

Morning: After breakfast, we will set off along the Ahhe Highway, which is full of mystery and poetry. Along the way, you seem to have stepped into a paradise-like world. Outside the car window are rolling mountains, and the vegetation on the mountains presents a variety of colors as the altitude changes, just like a palette carefully painted by nature. Winding along the Ahhe Highway, you will soon arrive at the fairytale-like Hemu Village. As soon as you enter the village entrance, the unique Tuvan wooden houses are arranged in a scattered and orderly manner, and wisps of cooking smoke rise slowly, thus forming a tranquil and peaceful pastoral picture. When you stroll along the quaint village road and breathe in the fresh and pure air, you can feel the tranquility of a world away from the hustle and bustle.

Afternoon: Heading to the Hemu Bridge, where a pleasant afternoon tea in the riverside is waiting for you. After that, we have arranged a visit to a Tuvan's home. The Tuvans are a tribe of the Mongolian ethnic group, making a living by nomadic herding and hunting. Here, you can taste the characteristic refreshments of the Tuvans, enjoy the performances of the Tuvan traditional musical instruments "Suer" and "Khoomei", and thus experience the music and dance that the Tuvans have comprehended from nature.

Evening: Check in at a wooden house homestay in Hemu.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: Hemu Mountain Villa, Hemu Fir Homestay, Hemu Sunshine Wooden House, or other homestays within the same-level scenic area

 

Day 4: Horse Riding & Travel Photography Experience

Dawn in Hemu Village - Ride a Horse to Meilifeng Village - Travel Photography in Hemu Village - Jiadenyu (贾登峪) 

Before breakfast: Get up early to watch the sunrise in Hemu. When you climb up to the viewing platform and overlook the scenery below, Hemu Village has completely turned into a white wonderland. The wooden houses, arranged in a scattered and orderly manner, only reveal their blurred outlines. The cooking smoke rising from the chimneys intertwines with the morning mist and slowly rises, as if it were a dialogue between the earth and the sky. The distant mountains are like a few strokes of light ink in a traditional Chinese ink painting, disappearing into the depths of the clouds and mist.

Morning: We have specially arranged for you to ride a horse to Meilifeng Village. At the foot of Meilifeng lies a Tuvan village. There is still no road access here, and only seven or eight Kazakh herding households live here. Meilifeng is also known as "Suluqiaoke". In the Kazakh language, "Sulu" symbolizes the beauty of a young girl. We are about to ride horses to this tranquil Tuvan village to experience its unique charm.

In addition, you can also enjoy travel photography in Hemu Village. When you put on the bright ethnic costumes and dance gracefully in the sunlit courtyard, this place will preserve your most beautiful figure.

Evening: Leave Hemu Village and head to Jiadenyu to check into the hotel.

Scenic Spots: Hemu Scenic Area, Kanas Scenic Area, Kanas Lake

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: Jiadenyu White Birch Forest Resort Hotel, Hongfu Ecological Hotel, Senhai Resort Hotel, or other four-diamond hotels of the same level

 

Day 5: Appreciate Idyllic Sceneries & Unique Yegende Aerial Grassland Experience

Jiadenyu - Fairy Bay - Moon Bay - Wolong Bay - Baihaba - Yegende Aerial Grassland - Kanas Tuvan Village 

Morning: First, visit Shenxian Bay (Immortal Bay). The serene lake surface, veiled like a misty gauze, mirrors the surrounding forests and mountains, creating a dreamlike, otherworldly scene. Next, proceed to Moon Bay, named for its crescent-shaped lake. From a vantage point, the emerald-green water meanders through the valley, flanked by lush peaks. The lake’s hues shift with the light, transitioning between azure and jade. Afterwards, arrive at Wolong Bay (Crouching Dragon Bay), where a small island at the center resembles a giant dragon resting in the water.

Afternoon: Travel to Kanasi Tuwa Village. Upon arriving in Kanas, we will obtain a border pass before heading to Baihaba Village, which is known as the “First Village in the Northwest”. This secluded paradise seems untouched by time, exuding tranquility and peace. 

Then we will continue to Yegende Sky Grassland, a filming location for the TV drama "My Altay". As the terrain gradually rises, the grassland unfolds like a green fairy tale—endless meadows stretch like a vast velvet carpet to the horizon. Later, we will take a shuttle bus back to Kanas Village, where the unique architecture of the Tuwa ethnic group awaits. Finally, you would experience their warm hospitality and immerse yourself in their authentic folk lifestyle.

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: Kanas Youran Villa, or Zhalate Homestay, or Lingxiaowuge Villa, or other homestays within the same-level scenic area

Day 6: Unique Boat Tour Experience on Kanas Lake 

Morning Mist on Kanas Lake - Kanas Lake Cruise - Lakeside Boardwalk Stroll - Colorful Beach Sunset - Burqin

Morning: As we slowly walk along the lakeside path of Kanas Lake in the morning, we will find that the surface of Kanas Lake is shrouded in a dreamlike morning mist, just like a fairyland.

After that, we can experience a boat tour on Kanas Lake. As the boat slowly leaves the shore and the sun gradually pierces through the clouds and shines on the lake, the color of the lake water becomes even bluer and deeper, resembling a huge sapphire.

Afternoon: Take a car to Wucaitan (Colorful Beach), where is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset. When you step into the scenic area, you seem to have entered a colorful world. Under the glow of the setting sun, the rocks on the riverbank display various gorgeous colors such as red, orange, yellow, green and purple, setting off against the quietly flowing river beside it and forming a stunning picture.  

Evening: Take a car back to Burqin. 

Scenic Spots: Kanas Scenic Area, Boat Tour on Kanas Lake, Wucaitan (Colorful Beach)

Meal: Breakfast

Hotel: Burqin Yeguangcheng Holiday Hotel, or Baihualin Jinrun Hotel, or Youyi Holiday Hotel, or other four-diamond hotels of the same level

Day 7: Explore Unique Yardang Landform  

Burqin - Devil City - S21 Desert Highway - Urumqi

Morning: We head towards the Devil City, which has a unique landscape similar to the marine erosion landform. Stepping into the scenic area, you seem to be in a mysterious world. Here, there is a unique Yardang landform with jagged rocks. Some of them are like towering castles, and some look like roaring beasts. In the howling wind, it seems that you can hear the roars from ancient times, so it is named the "Devil City". The tour guide will vividly explain to you the formation process of the Devil City. Behind this wonder that has been carved by wind erosion over hundreds of millions of years, there are countless mysteries of nature hidden.

Afternoon: We continue to take a car along the S21 Desert Highway. As the vehicle moves forward, the scenery outside the window changes again. The Gobi Desert gradually fades away, and the golden sand dunes come into view with undulating waves. The highway is like a black ribbon, winding through them, and the scenery is very spectacular. After arriving in Urumqi, you can check into the hotel and take a rest.

Meal: Breakfast 

Hotel: Mercure Hotel (High-speed Railway Station Branch) in Urumqi, or Best Western Plus Hotel, or Hailongquan Hotel, or other four-diamond hotels of the same level

 

Day 8: Departure  

There are no activity arrangements for this day. Everyone can choose a flight or train at a suitable time according to their own situation, or continue to start a new journey here.

Tour Price ($=USD)

From $1388 P.P, which is based on a private tour for 2-6 people. The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel.

Price Includes

√ Transportation: The chartered vehicle fees for the travel vehicle with formal procedures from Day 2 to Day 7. It also includes the insurance for each seat, toll fees for roads and bridges throughout the journey, fuel costs, and subsidies for the driver's accommodation and meals.

√ Entrance Tickets and Interval Buses: Golden Coast of Wulungu Lake, Hemu Scenic Area, Kanas Scenic Area, Baihaba Scenic Area, Wucaitan (Colorful Beach), and Sea Devil City Scenic Area

√ Activity Arrangements: Travel photography in Hemu and the visit to a Tuvan's home in Hemu are complimentary items.

√ Staff Accompanying the Group: The driver will accompany throughout the journey.

Price Excludes

√ Round-trip Major Transportation: Transportation fees for traveling to and from Urumqi from various countries.  

√ Single Room Supplement: If a single occupancy is requested, an additional fee for the price difference will be charged.  

√ Additional Costs: Expenses arising from force majeure events (e.g., natural disasters, wars, strikes), transportation delays, flight cancellations/schedule changes, or other circumstances beyond our control (such as extended accommodation, meals, or transportation fees incurred during unforeseen extensions of your trip).