10-Day Kanas, Hemu & Ili Landscape Group Tour
Overview
Link Kanas and Hemu in northern Xinjiang with Sayram Lake and the Ili valley over ten days. The route continues through Yining and Nalati, with Qiongkushitai or another agreed seasonal landscape before the return to Urumqi.
Your Route Map
Route and pace
Duration: 10 days. Route: Urumqi – Kanas – Hemu – Kuytun – Sayram Lake – Ili – Nalati – Qiongkushitai.
This is an extensive regional circuit with long road days between the northern lakes and Ili. The final return to Urumqi must be matched to the onward departure rather than treated as a short local transfer. Confirm whether Qiongkushitai is the selected stop and which alternative applies when access changes.
Confirm your group departure
Request the dated programme for your party before booking. It should identify the meeting arrangements, guiding language, accommodation where applicable, included admissions and meals, and any optional activities. The day-by-day itinerary below shows the planned sequence; the written confirmation sets out the services and conditions for your departure.
Explore the destinations
Altay travel guide · Yining travel guide · Kuitun travel guide · Urumqi travel guide
Daily Itinerary
Arrive in Urumqi, take the booked transfer and settle into the hotel before the northern Xinjiang circuit. Review the group's meeting time and the luggage arrangements for the changing overnight bases. Keep the first evening light so the next day's long journey toward Altay does not follow a crowded arrival programme.
Travel from Urumqi toward the Altay region, with the day's main purpose being the move into northern Xinjiang. The final itinerary identifies the overnight base and any stops that fit the road journey. Keep water and a warm layer accessible and leave time for meals and rest stops; a full mountain sightseeing programme is not added after a late arrival.
Explore Kanas Lake using the scenic transport and walking sections included in the tour. Allow time for access procedures and movement between the selected lake or river viewpoints instead of counting only time beside the water. The guide adapts the viewing sequence to visibility and park operations; boat trips and additional viewpoints require confirmation in the inclusion list.
Travel from the Kanas area toward Hemu and use the required local visitor transport to reach the village. After arrival, walk through the open lanes and valley setting at a comfortable pace. Accommodation access and luggage transfers can take time, so longer viewpoints are balanced against the transfer rather than treated as automatic extras.
Make an early Hemu viewing stop when weather and access make it worthwhile, then leave enough time to collect luggage and begin the long journey toward Kuitun. Sunrise colour and mist are weather dependent. This is a transfer day after the morning visit, with rest and meal stops taking priority over adding distant scenic detours.
Continue from Kuitun to Sayram Lake and use the remaining part of the day for the lake route confirmed for the group. Space the stops so there is time to walk beside the water and take in the mountain setting without repeatedly rushing back to the vehicle. Wind, temperature and the night's accommodation location determine the final visiting window.
Spend any remaining agreed lake time at Sayram before descending toward Yining. The change from the exposed mountain-lake setting to the Ili valley is part of the day's journey. After hotel check-in, a short local orientation can fit the arrival time, while fixed city visits or specialist workshops are included only if listed in the booking.
Travel through the Ili valley to Nalati for the grassland visit included in the itinerary. Use the operating scenic transport and selected walking stops to experience the open slopes and valley views. Keep track of the road time between bases; horse riding or an additional scenic circuit should be booked separately unless already specified.
Follow the confirmed Qiongkushitai visit or the alternative Ili landscape programme chosen for the departure. These are alternatives, not a promise to visit several distant valleys in one day. The selection should account for local road access and the following day's return to Urumqi, with the final overnight base stated clearly before booking.
Return from the Ili section to Urumqi using the transport connection agreed before travel. This is a substantial intercity journey, so an onward flight or train is suitable only when the actual arrival allows a reliable transfer and check-in margin. An extra Urumqi night or a revised final connection is needed if a same-day departure cannot be supported.
