Fly & Enjoy Tour 8 Days · Discover Northern Xinjiang by Road & Air

Want to experience the highlights of Northern Xinjiang without spending your entire holiday on long-distance drives?

The Fly & Enjoy Tour 8 Days combines scenic road travel with a convenient domestic flight, creating a faster and more comfortable way to discover some of Xinjiang's most spectacular destinations.

Beginning in Urumqi, the journey travels north through the desert landscapes of Karamay and Altay before reaching Hemu Village and Kanas Lake. Instead of making the long overland journey south, you fly from Kanas to Bole and continue through Sayram Lake, Guozigou, Kuerdening, Narati, Tangbala, and the legendary Duku Highway.

It is an ideal Northern Xinjiang itinerary for travelers who want spectacular scenery, comfortable accommodation, local experiences, and more time enjoying destinations instead of simply traveling between them.

Why Choose the Fly & Enjoy Northern Xinjiang Tour?

Xinjiang is enormous.

Distances between major attractions can be much greater than first-time visitors expect, and a traditional Northern Xinjiang road trip can involve several very long driving days.

The Fly & Enjoy Tour solves part of that challenge by combining driving with a domestic flight from Kanas Airport to Bole.

This allows the itinerary to connect two of Northern Xinjiang's most famous regions—the Altay and Kanas area in the north and the Ili grasslands and Sayram Lake region farther south—within only eight days.

The result is a compact but remarkably diverse journey through deserts, forests, mountain villages, alpine lakes, grasslands, and some of China's most spectacular scenic roads.

Day 1 – Welcome to Urumqi

Your journey begins in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Upon arrival, a local driver will meet you at the airport and provide a comfortable transfer to your hotel.

If your arrival time allows, begin exploring the city with a visit to the Urumqi International Grand Bazaar.

The bazaar is an excellent introduction to Xinjiang, with local products, handicrafts, food, architecture, and the lively atmosphere of one of the region's best-known commercial areas.

Alternatively, visit Hongshan Park for a more peaceful beginning to the trip and panoramic views across Urumqi.

Afterward, return to your 4-diamond hotel and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Day 2 – S21 Desert Highway, Karamay Desert & Altay

Leave Urumqi and head north along the S21 Desert Highway.

This is where the scale of Xinjiang begins to reveal itself.

The urban landscape gradually disappears, replaced by enormous open spaces and desert scenery.

Visit Karamay Desert Park, where golden sand and sweeping desert views provide a dramatic contrast to the green mountains waiting farther north.

Continue toward Altay as the scenery gradually changes.

Desert landscapes give way to greener valleys, hills, and mountain environments.

Watch the Sunset from General Mountain

In Altay, take the General Mountain Sunset Cable Car toward the summit.

As you climb higher, panoramic views open across Altay and the surrounding landscape.

Summer evenings are particularly special because sunset comes relatively late. Warm evening light spreads across the city, grasslands, and distant mountains, creating excellent conditions for photography.

It is a memorable ending to your first full day in Northern Xinjiang.

Day 3 – Ahe Highway & Hemu Village

After breakfast, leave Altay and travel along the scenic Ahe Highway toward one of Xinjiang's most beautiful mountain destinations.

Welcome to Hemu Village.

Surrounded by forests, rivers, grasslands, and mountains, Hemu is known for its traditional wooden houses and peaceful countryside atmosphere.

Instead of simply visiting for a few hours, this itinerary allows you to stay inside the Hemu scenic area in a wooden cabin.

That makes a significant difference to the experience.

Once many day visitors have departed, the village becomes quieter and you can enjoy the mountain atmosphere at a slower pace.

Experience Hemu at Its Best

Walk through the village, explore the area around the Hemu River, photograph traditional wooden cabins, and watch cattle and sheep grazing across the surrounding landscape.

Photography enthusiasts may want to find an elevated viewpoint over the village.

Hemu is particularly beautiful when soft morning or evening light reaches the valley, creating the landscape that has made this small mountain village famous among photographers.

Tonight, fall asleep surrounded by the landscapes of Northern Xinjiang rather than returning to a distant city hotel.

Day 4 – Kanas Lake & the Three Bays

Continue from Hemu toward the legendary Kanas Lake.

Located among forests and mountains in the Altay region, Kanas is one of Xinjiang's most recognizable natural destinations.

The lake is famous for water that can appear turquoise, blue, or green depending on weather, season, and sunlight.

Walk beside the lake and enjoy views of forests, mountains, and clear alpine water.

Then continue toward the famous Kanas Three Bays.

Discover the Three Bays of Kanas

The Kanas River winds through dense forests to create several beautiful natural curves and viewpoints.

Among the most famous are Moon Bay, Wolong Bay, and Immortal Bay.

Each offers a different perspective on the river and surrounding taiga landscape.

Morning mist can make the area especially atmospheric, while clear weather reveals the intense colors of the river against the surrounding forest.

After exploring the Kanas region, continue to Jiadengyu for the night.

Day 5 – Fly from Kanas to Bole & Explore Sayram Lake

This is where the Fly & Enjoy Tour earns its name.

Instead of spending most of the day making the long journey south by road, transfer to Kanas Airport and fly to Bole.

The scheduled flight is approximately 09:30–11:00, subject to airline scheduling and operational conditions.

After landing, continue toward another completely different Northern Xinjiang landscape: Sayram Lake.

Self-Drive Around Sayram Lake

Sayram Lake is one of the great natural highlights of Xinjiang.

Its brilliant blue water is surrounded by mountains and open grasslands, creating the kind of enormous landscape for which Northern Xinjiang is famous.

A self-drive tour around Sayram Lake gives you the freedom to experience different viewpoints rather than treating the lake as a quick roadside photo stop.

Take time to walk near the water, enjoy the mountain views, and photograph the changing colors of the lake.

Cross the Spectacular Guozigou Bridge

Continue through Guozigou Valley, where one of Xinjiang's most impressive modern landmarks crosses the mountainous terrain.

The Guozigou Bridge is surrounded by mountains, forests, and deep valleys, making the drive itself an attraction.

Continue toward Gongliu County, where the landscapes become increasingly green as you enter the beautiful Ili region.

After an extraordinary day combining air travel, alpine scenery, and mountain roads, settle into your 4-diamond hotel.

Day 6 – Kuerdening & Narati Sky Meadow

Today introduces you to two very different sides of Northern Xinjiang's green landscapes.

Begin at Kuerdening Scenic Area.

Kuerdening is known for forests, mountain rivers, spruce-covered slopes, valleys, and a quieter atmosphere than some of Xinjiang's most famous attractions.

The scenery feels fresh and peaceful, making Kuerdening an excellent destination for travelers who simply want to slow down and enjoy nature.

From here, continue toward Narati.

Walk Above the Grasslands at Narati Sky Meadow

The landscape opens dramatically at Narati Sky Meadow.

Green alpine grasslands stretch beneath mountain slopes, while spruce forests and distant peaks frame the horizon.

In summer, the area becomes especially beautiful as grasslands turn green and seasonal flowers appear across the meadows.

Walk through the scenic area, breathe in the mountain air, and enjoy the enormous open views.

After exploring, continue to Narati Town, where you will stay in a local homestay-style property.

Day 7 – Tangbala Hundred-Mile Gallery & Duku Highway

Your final major sightseeing day delivers one of the greatest road trips in Xinjiang.

Begin with the Tangbala Hundred-Mile Gallery.

Despite its artistic-sounding name, the "gallery" is not a building. It is a long natural scenic corridor where grasslands, rivers, forests, mountains, and pastoral landscapes continuously appear along the road.

During summer, almost every turn reveals another photograph-worthy scene.

Then continue toward the legendary Duku Highway.

Drive One of China's Most Spectacular Highways

The Duku Highway is famous for connecting dramatically different landscapes across the Tianshan Mountains.

During the journey, scenery can shift from green grasslands and valleys to rugged mountains, high passes, and areas where snow may remain even in summer.

This rapid change has helped make the Duku Highway one of the most famous scenic road trips in China.

Stop at the Duku Highway Kilometer Zero Landmark for a commemorative photograph before continuing toward Urumqi.

After days of deserts, forests, lakes, and grasslands, the Duku Highway provides a spectacular finale to the journey.

Important Duku Highway Seasonal Information

The Duku Highway is seasonal and normally operates during the warmer months, generally around June to September, depending on weather and road conditions.

Mountain weather can change quickly.

If extreme weather or road closures prevent passage, the route may be adjusted to travel from Narati to Yining Railway Station, followed by train transportation to Urumqi.

Train tickets under this alternative arrangement are at the traveler's own expense.

Travelers should always allow some flexibility when planning routes involving high-altitude roads in Xinjiang.

Day 8 – Farewell to Urumqi

Your 8-day Northern Xinjiang Fly & Enjoy Tour comes to an end.

Transfer to the airport according to your departure schedule and begin your journey home.

Eight days may sound short for a region as enormous as Xinjiang, but this carefully designed route allows you to experience an extraordinary variety of landscapes.

You have crossed desert highways.

Stayed in a wooden cabin in Hemu.

Walked beside Kanas Lake.

Flown across Northern Xinjiang.

Driven around Sayram Lake.

Crossed Guozigou Valley.

Explored Kuerdening.

Walked through the grasslands of Narati.

And finished with one of China's greatest mountain roads.

What Makes the Fly & Enjoy Tour Different?

The greatest advantage of this itinerary is time efficiency.

Northern Xinjiang covers an enormous geographical area. Connecting Kanas in the north with Sayram Lake and the Ili region farther south entirely by road requires significant travel time.

Flying from Kanas to Bole reduces one of the longest transfers.

That means more of your eight-day holiday can be spent actually experiencing Xinjiang.

It makes this itinerary particularly attractive for international travelers who have limited vacation time but still want to experience both the Altay-Kanas region and Ili's famous lakes and grasslands.

Best Time for This Northern Xinjiang Tour

The best period for this particular route is generally summer to early autumn.

June through August offers green grasslands, long daylight hours, mountain scenery, and good opportunities to explore destinations such as Hemu, Kanas, Sayram Lake, Kuerdening, and Narati.

September can be especially beautiful around Hemu and Kanas, where autumn colors begin transforming the forests.

However, travelers should remember that mountain roads and scenic areas remain affected by weather conditions.

If experiencing the Duku Highway is a priority, planning during its normal summer operating season is essential.

Who Is the Fly & Enjoy 8-Day Tour For?

This tour is particularly suitable for:

• First-time visitors to Northern Xinjiang

• Travelers with limited vacation time

• Couples and families

• Nature and landscape lovers

• Photography enthusiasts

• Travelers who want to reduce long driving times

• Visitors interested in Kanas and Hemu

• Travelers wanting to combine Altay and Ili in one trip

• Scenic road-trip enthusiasts

• Visitors looking for a comfortable introduction to Xinjiang

Eight Days, Two Ways to Travel, One Extraordinary Xinjiang Adventure

Northern Xinjiang is not a destination defined by one famous attraction.

Its beauty comes from contrast.

Golden desert becomes green forest.

Wooden villages lead to turquoise lakes.

Snow-capped mountains rise beyond enormous grasslands.

Quiet valleys give way to dramatic mountain highways.

The Fly & Enjoy Tour 8 Days makes those contrasts easier to experience by combining scenic road travel with a strategic domestic flight.

You spend less of your limited holiday retracing long distances—and more of it experiencing the places you came to Xinjiang to see.

From Hemu and Kanas to Sayram Lake, Kuerdening, Narati and the Duku Highway, eight days reveal just how diverse Northern Xinjiang can be.

Fly farther. Drive the beautiful roads. Slow down where it matters. Enjoy Northern Xinjiang.