Trip Highlights
HIGHLIGHTS · 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS2 nights stargazing camp + 1 lake-front lodge
Nalati star camp, Kalajun yurts, Sayram west-shore wooden lodge — all with breakfast.
2+1 Business Van, max 4 pax per vehicle
Toyota Coaster / Buick GL8, generous legroom, drivers 8+ years on mountain roads.
Horse ride · Yurt milk tea · Tuva folk song
One-hour Nalati horse trek through spruce forest, plus a herder-family visit.
Bayanbulak Nine-Bends Sunset
40-60 minutes at golden hour every day, optional one-on-one photo-guide review.
8 breakfasts + 6 meals · 3 signature
Big-plate chicken, hand-grabbed lamb, baked bun. 2 free dinners for street food.
CNY 800k liability + CNY 300k accident
Onboard first aid and oxygen; 24/7 dispatch; no-shopping breach pays 20% of the day.
Daily Itinerary
Click a day to expandPrivate airport / station pickup, check in at Hilton Garden Inn Urumqi (near the high-speed rail). In the evening, walk the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar or taste pepper-chicken and roast lamb at Erdaoqiao night market.
Head west on the Lianhuo Expressway, optional Urho Ghost City viewpoint. Arrive Sayram Lake in the afternoon and drive east + south shores for 60 km — blue ice meeting snow peaks at sunset.
Watch the lake sunrise, then transfer to Joy Princess Lavender Garden — mid-June to early July is peak bloom. Afternoon in Yining's Six-Star Street: Russian Orthodox architecture and an accordion museum.
Five-hour east-west Kalajun traverse. Falcon Platform overlooks the sinuous "human body" meadow. Evening at the Tekes Bagua city — the world's only city planned on I Ching principles.
Light 6 km hike on the Xita Ancient Trail to Flower Terrace and Muzart Glacier viewpoint. Afternoon in Zhaosu grassland — the Tianma horse park with a ten-thousand-horse stampede in June-September.
Cross Angilette Pass to Nalati. Kazakh herder visit, milk-tea workshop and one-hour horse trail through spruce and meadow. Overnight at the Nalati stargazing camp.
Cross G218 to Bayanbulak. Swan Lake bird-watching then the Nine-Bends Sunset — the route's showpiece. Overnight Kuytun.
Return drive to Urumqi (3.5 h). Business van drops you at Diwobao Airport or Urumqi South Station. Book flights after 18:00 or add one night to visit the Xinjiang Museum.
Fee Inclusions & Exclusions
FEEINIncluded
- All-round 2+1 business van, fuel, tolls, parking
- 7 hotel nights + 1 stargazing camp, twin room
- 8 breakfasts + 6 meals (whole lamb, big-plate chicken, hand-grabbed)
- Entrance tickets: Sayram, Kalajun, Nalati, Bayanbulak
- Driver-guide bilingual service
- CNY 800k liability + CNY 300k accident insurance
- Nalati horse trail, Sayram cycling, yurt tea
OUTNot Included
- Round-trip international / domestic flights to Urumqi (we can book)
- Single-room supplement CNY 1,880 for the full trip
- Alcohol, personal spending, laundry, in-room calls
- In-park shuttles (Kalajun 90 · Nalati 60 · Bayanbulak 75)
- Force-majeure extra cost (weather, closure)
- Two meals marked as "free dinner"
- VAT invoice tax (VAT ordinary invoice free of charge)
Traveller Reviews
128 reviews · 98.4% positiveParents in their 70s came along — the driver-guide proactively reduced D4 and D6 hiking intensity and even loaned trekking poles. Sayram lodge and Nalati stargazing camp exceeded expectations. Two generations, one happy trip.
Caught the tail of the lavender season. Sunset spots at Sayram were timed to the minute and the Bayanbulak Nine-Bends delivered 9 suns on the horizon. Contract, invoice and insurance all professional.
Upgraded to Sayram wooden lodge and Nalati star camp for the honeymoon. CS pre-arranged room decoration. Zero shopping, meals adjusted to our taste. Highly recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 things travellers ask us mostHow much does Ili 8 Days cost and what is included?
From CNY 7,980 per person on regular dates and CNY 8,980-10,980 during holidays. Includes 7 hotel nights + 1 stargazing camp, 8 breakfasts + 6 meals, business van, entrance tickets, driver-guide and CNY 800k liability insurance. Excludes flights to Urumqi, single-room supplement CNY 1,880, in-park shuttles.
Is the itinerary strenuous? Can elderly or children join?
Medium-light intensity. Average 3-4 hours driving per day (D2 is 560 km with two stops). Hiking is 1-3 km daily; the 6 km Xita trail is optional. Suitable for ages 5-70; 65+ signs a health declaration; children under 5 not recommended.
Is it truly a no-shopping trip?
Yes. Contract includes a "No shopping" clause: no jade, cotton, dried fruit or medicinal shop; driver-guide compensation is fully decoupled from shopping. Verified breach pays 20% of that day's fee on the spot. Complaints +86 13325567721.
What is the refund / change policy?
15+ days before departure: 100% refund · 14-7 days: 60% · 7 days in: 30% · Departure day: 10%. Force-majeure changes absorbed by the agency; unused tickets, meals and lodging fully refunded.
Do I need a visa or border permit?
Domestic travellers need neither visa nor permit for this route (no Baihaba / Tashkurgan). Self-extensions to Baihaba or Pamir require a border permit — can be arranged for CNY 60 with 5 working days' lead.
What is the minimum group size? Private?
Standard is 2-8 pax per private tour, daily departures. Two travellers: CNY 8,280; four to six sharing: CNY 7,680; up to eight upgrades to 2+1 airline seats. Groups 10+ can add team coach, medic and photo unit.
Hotel standard? Can I upgrade to 5-star?
Local 4-star / resort standard (Hilton Garden Inn Urumqi, Sayram West Shore, Rezen Yining, Jinrui Kuytun). Upgrades: +300 Days Inn Select · +800 Crowne Plaza Sayram · +600 Indigo Nalati · +2,680 all 5-star. Stargazing camps and yurt nights are exclusive and cannot be swapped.
Best time to visit? Flower timing?
Mid-June to early July: Hucheng lavender + Zhaosu rapeseed double-bloom, best photography. July-August: grasslands peak 15-28 °C. Late September: autumn birch, fewer crowds, lower price. After 10 Oct, Nalati closes. Route runs April-October; winter ski and hot-spring itineraries are custom.