11 Days Xinjiang Apricot Blossom Tour

Today your travel begins with a warm welcome at the airport. After checking into the hotel, the rest of your time is free to explore Lanzhou with a long history and colorful culture. There are many historical sites worth visiting.

In the morning, we will fly to Urumqi. Upon arrival, we will take you to the hotel to check in. The rest of day is for you to explore this city.

Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and the farthest land from any ocean.  It is the heaven of travelers for its beautiful natural scenery, profound cultural deposits and special local customs and practices. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to the hotel and check in. The rest of day is free at leisure.

In the morning, we'll head to Xinjiang Regional Museum, where there are many archaeological treasures of the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. You will learn about the history of Xinjiang and its peculiar ethnic customs.

Then we make our way to Bezekilik Thousand Buddha Caves which are a complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to 14th century between the cities of Turpan and Shanshan (Loulan) at the northeast of the Taklamakan Desert. These caves are near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley.

Today's tour ends up with a 2hrs' exploration of Jiaohe Ruins, which resembles Pompei, but 300 years older. It is a Chinese archaeological site discovered in the Yarnaz Valley, 10 kilometers west of Turpan City. It is a natural fortress located on a steep cliff on a leaf plateau between two deep river valleys, where you can experience the lifestyle of the ancestors of the Uyghur people.

Wake up  early in the morning, today our first stop is Tuyoq Valley, an ancient oasis-village. We will have lunch with a local Uygur family before exploring this traditional village surrounded by the impressive grape trellis and the stories of the adventurers all of the world.

At about 3pm, we'll head to the Karez Well irrigation system that produces the best melons and grapes in China. Following is the visit to Sugong Minaret, a conduit for cultural exchange between different ethnic and religious groups.

After visiting, we'll drive back to Urumqi

We will drive 1.5 hours to entrance of the Heavenly Lake at about 08:30, following is the 40-minute shuttle bus twisting through the picturesque Tianshan mountains to the edge of the Lake. You can either Trek around the lake, enjoy the boating cruise, or even take the cable car to explore the Maya Mountain for the incredible view of Bogoda Peak.

Then drive to Kuitun, visit the Urho Ghost City, also known as "Wuerhe Wind City", a unique wind-eroded geological area which is commonly referred to as "wind city" because of the frequent howling winds.

After breakfast, we will meet you at the hotel lobby and then hit the road, driving all the way to Yining. On the way, you will enjoy the scenery of the Sayram Lake, the highlight of your northern Xinjiang tour, which is known as the last drop of tears of the Atlantic. Sayram Lake is a fairyland with wonderful natural scenery whose water is very clear and pure. you can stroll on the shore, enjoying the blooming wildflowers and the beautiful grassland around the lake. Encounter the famous Guozigou Bridge, the largest and most important bridge in Xinjiang. There are many beautiful bends and you can enjoy the scenery of Guozigou valley which is the most beautiful valley in Nothern Xinjiang en route. In the evening, There is no doubt that you will be attracted back to the hotel to spend the night with your new friends.

After a hearty breakfast, we will drive to Xinyuan county and visit Apricot blossom, which is located in tuergen township, xinyuan county. It is not far from the national highway 218. Due to the winter inversion climate in mountainous areas and valleys, the largest medieval primeval wild apricot forest has been preserved, distributed on the north bank of the Gongnai River, covering an area of over 30,000 mu. It is one of the areas where wild apricot forest is relatively concentrated in xinjiang.

We'll head to the famous pasture Naraty Grassland with about 4-5 hours' driving. Upon your arrival, we will enjoy the Naraty Air Prairie. Naraty, one of four famous grasslands in the world. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery and explore the Kazakh way of life.

Naraty Air Prairie is as beautiful as a poem or a picture. There are densely distributed springs here. Every year, flowers bloom here and herds of cattle gather here, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. Nalat Grassland is also known as the "Deer Park" in history and is an ideal place for the people on the grassland to exchange materials and hold cultural activities. Ride a horse on the vast grassland. Exploring the traditional Kazakh way of life is also an activity that you can't miss here.

After that, you will be sent to Xinyuan County and checked into the hotel.

Get up early this morning, we will continue to visit the Nalati Grassland, which is a sea of flowers. You can lie on the grassland and greedily breathe in the fresh air. Chat with the herdsmen on the grassland for a while and then take a sip of Xinjiang milk tea. What a pleasant time! After the visit, we will drive back to Yining and take you to the hotel to check in.

This morning we will drive back to Urumqi and go sightseeing in Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Urumqi. You will find a bustling market filled with fruits, clothes, handicrafts, knives, carpets and almost anything you can imagine.

Today you will say goodbye to Urumqi. We will arrange a transfer according to your flight or train. Wish you a pleasant journey home!