Set off on an unforgettable adventure to northern Xinjiang

Pristine alpine lakes, rippling deserts and verdant grasslands: in Xinjiang’s remote north, nature is vast and majestic. On Cathay Holidays’ 10-Day 9-Night Northern Xinjiang dreamscape private tour, you’ll experience its splendour for yourself. Join us for an adventure that’ll take you deep into the otherworldly expanses of one of the Chinese Mainland’s least explored regions. We also offer a tour of Xinjiang’s heritage-rich southern region – bookings for both 2026 tours are open until 22 September.  

Start of the Silk Road  

Your jumping-off point for northern Xinjiang is Urumqi, the region’s vibrant capital. As you explore what was historically one of the Silk Road’s busiest transit points, you’ll be following in the footsteps of merchants and traders going back millennia. Some of the city’s highlights include the Grand Bazaar, the Confucius Temple, and the Shaanxi Grand Mosque. Following an afternoon of sightseeing, watch the sun set from Hongshan Park, either at the Overlook Pavilion or the distinctive Red Hill Pagoda.  

Close to heaven: Heaven Lake and Kanas National Geopark 

Xinjiang is home to three separate mountain ranges, which means you’ll frequently find yourself looking up at distant snow-capped peaks. As you’ll soon discover up close, they comprise some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the world.  

Less than two hours’ drive from Urumqi is the dazzling Heaven Lake (Tianchi), an alpine tarn of surpassing beauty in the Tianshan mountain range. Once known as “Jade Pool” for its vibrant, gemlike colour, the lake forms a scene of postcard-like perfection that famously captivated writer Vikram Seth.  

Due north from Heaven Lake along the dune-bound S21 Desert Highway, the tour will bring you to the spectacular Altay mountain range. Deep in these mountains, the Altay permafrost is still revealing rare archaeological finds, including frozen burial mounds containing well preserved textiles, ceramics and metalwork. The area is now home to the Kazakh people – famed for their hospitality and nomadic history – and the Tuvans, known for their traditional throat singing and solid log cabins built to withstand heavy snowfall. 

Your final stop in this area is the Kanas National Geopark, an unspoiled ecosystem of mountains, glaciers, rivers, lakes, forests, and grasslands. Our day trip along the Kanas River takes you from Fairy Bay – named for its sparkling scenes when sunlight catches the morning mists – to the tranquil blue waters of Moon Bay, and finally to the idyllic Tuvan village of Burqin Kanas. 

Whistling winds: Taklamakan Desert

In a dramatic change of tone, a journey south toward Karakay brings you into the rugged desert scenery of the Taklamakan – a landscape instantly recognisable to anyone who has watched Ang Lee’s martial arts masterpiece Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.  

Across the wind-chiselled landforms of Yardang, otherwise known as Urho Ghost City, you can hear the “voice of the desert” – the otherworldly wailing produced by the wind playing on the broken rocky terrain. This ghostly soundtrack reinforces the formidable reputation of the Taklamakan, which presented an impenetrable natural barrier to travellers along the Silk Road. For all its harsh history, however, this terrain has a surreal and deeply moving elegance. 

Vast vistas: Sayram Lake, Kalajun Meadow and the grasslands of Nalati 

The third emblematic setting of northern Xinjiang is the high steppe grassland, part of the long green carpet that stretches all the way from the Chinese Mainland to Hungary. Among the innumerable photogenic steppe landscapes of this region, three stand-out locations form the last leg of your tour: Sayram Lake, Kalajun Meadow and the grasslands of Nalati.  

Set amid grassland slopes and swathes of lavender, the breathtaking Sayram Lake is an ideal spot to take photos – or simply breathe in the pure highland air. Afterwards, the nearby city of Ili, close to the border with Kazakhstan, provides a quirky urban contrast, especially the colourful meeting of ways at Six-Star Street. South from Ili, you’ll come to more rolling steppe grasslands: Kalajun Meadow abounds with sweet-smelling meadows of vibrant wildflowers. 

Saving the best for last, the high meadows of Nalati are recognised as one of the Chinese Mainland’s most beautiful grasslands, and represent the archetypal landscape of Kazakh nomadic culture. According to local lore, Nalati – meaning “there is the sun” – is the phrase uttered by Genghis Khan’s jubilant troops on reaching this spot after weeks spent crossing the storm-beaten Tianshan mountain range.  

Returning east to Urumqi entails a stunning drive along the scenic Duku Highway (G217), past steep mountainsides, yawning chasms, and spruce-lined river valleys. In the event that the highway is closed due to bad weather, your journey will be redirected through the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, bringing you safely back to Urumqi before your flight back to Hong Kong.  

A trip to remember 

Northern Xinjiang remains one of the world’s most spectacular yet least known destinations. Opening up a region of deep history, diverse cultures, and starkly contrasting landscapes, this tour offers you a travel experience truly like no other.  

Not to be outdone by its northern counterpart, southern Xinjiang is also ripe for exploration. We offer another spectacular journey through this region, which you can learn more about below. 

Southern Xinjiang Silk Road Odyssey 

This 13-day tour takes travellers deep into Xinjiang’s dramatic landscapes and Silk Road heritage. Beginning in Urumqi, the journey winds through Bosten Lake, Kuqa, Wensu and Kashgar, with visits to grand bazaars, ancient mosques, old cities and desert night markets. Highlights include the Tianshan and Wensu Grand Canyons, Karakoram Highway, Karakul Lake, Muztagh Ata, Tashkurgan’s Stone City and the vast Taklamakan Desert.