Oriental Express Complete Booking Guide Covering Official Channels How to Book Tickets for Oriental Express Tourist Train

Wang Fei, Manager of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel’s New Oriental Express Ticket Center
🚂 Want to experience a deep tour of Xinjiang where ‘the train travels through the scenery, and people wander within a painting’? The New Oriental Express is an ideal choice for many. However, unlike regular train tickets, its booking method and pricing system are more unique. This guide will help you understand how to book and interpret the prices, making it easier to plan your trip.
💡 What is the New Oriental Express?
The New Oriental Express is a luxury tourist train operating in Xinjiang, combining a ‘mobile hotel’ with ‘in-depth travel.’ It packages transportation, accommodation, meals, and most scenic spot visits, allowing you to ‘enjoy the scenery by day and travel by night,’ comfortably shuttling between northern and southern Xinjiang.
The train typically consists of over a dozen carriages, including comfortable sleeper compartments, dining cars, and lounge areas. The tour train’s pace is relatively relaxed, suitable for travelers who wish to deeply experience Xinjiang’s natural landscapes and cultural customs.
🗺 ️ Route Overview:Northern and Southern Xinjiang Loop
Based on the route information you provided, this product mainly includes two distinct routes:
Quick Itinerary (Summer Edition)
Day 01:Depart from various locations to gather in Urumqi
Day 02:Urumqi – New Oriental Express – Koktokay – New Oriental Express – Altay
Day 03:Altay – Ahe Highway – Hemu Village
Day 04:Hemu – Kanas
Day 05:Kanas – Chonghur – Colorful Beach – New Oriental Express Special Train
Day 06:Jinghe – Sayram Lake – Yining
Day 07:Yining – Nalati Grassland
Day 08:Nalati Grassland – Middle Section of Duku Highway – Bayanbulak

🚂 Want to experience a deep tour of Xinjiang where ‘the train travels through the scenery, and people wander within a painting’? The New Oriental Express is an ideal choice for many. However, unlike regular train tickets, its booking method and pricing system are more unique. This guide will help you understand how to book and interpret the prices, making it easier to plan your trip.Day 09:Bayanbulak – Southern Section of Duku Highway – Kuqa Grand Canyon – New Oriental Express Special Train
Day 10:Kashgar – Baisha Lake – Pamir Scenic Area – Taxkorgan County
Day 11:Taxkorgan County – Tajik Home Visit – Karakul Lake – Kashgar
Day 12:Kashgar – Turpan – New Oriental Express Special Train
Day 13:Turpan – Urumqi
Day 14:Urumqi – Farewell to the Group
October Southern Xinjiang Itinerary
Day 01:Depart from various locations to gather in Urumqi
Day 02:Special train to Turpan – Jiaohe Ruins – Karez Well – Grape Manor, evening special train to Ruoqiang
Day 03:Milan Ruins – Loulan Museum – Loulan Park – Ruoqiang Red Date Picking, evening special train to Hotan
Day 04:Arrive in Hotan in the morning – Hotan Tuancheng – Yulong Kashgar River Treasure Hunting – Grape Corridor – Walnut King Tree – Yotkan Ancient City Night View
Day 05:Special train to Shache – Yarkand Khan’s Palace – Amannisa Khan’s Mausoleum, then to Kashgar
Day 06:Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake, return to Kashgar
Day 07:Kashgar Old City, Id Kah Mosque, Gaotai Ancient Dwellings, evening special train to Kuqa
Day 08:Arrive in Kuqa in the morning, Tianshan Grand Canyon, Kuqa King’s Mansion, Restan Old Street, Qiuci Alley

💡 What is the New Oriental Express?Day 09:Travel to Luntai, Tarim Poplar Forest, evening special train to Urumqi
Day 10:Urumqi – Tianshan Tianchi – Urumqi Farewell Dinner
Day 11:Urumqi – Farewell to the Group
Route Features:
Summer Edition:Covers highlights of northern Xinjiang like Kanas, Hemu, Sayram Lake, Duku Highway, and southern Xinjiang’s Pamir Plateau, a classic combination of the northern and southern Xinjiang grand loop.
October Southern Xinjiang Edition:Focuses on southern Xinjiang’s culture and autumn scenery, including Turpan, Ruoqiang, Hotan, Kashgar, Kuqa, and Luntai Poplar Forest, suitable for history, culture, and photography enthusiasts.
💰 Price Explanation and Schedule
Prices and Tour Dates
> May 6, May 14
> Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 59,999 RMB/person
> Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 54,999 RMB/person
> Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 49,999 RMB/person, third and fourth person 30,000 RMB/person
>
> June 1, June 30
> Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 67,999 RMB/person

The New Oriental Express is a luxury tourist train operating in Xinjiang, combining a ‘mobile hotel’ with ‘in-depth travel.’ It packages transportation, accommodation, meals, and most scenic spot visits, allowing you to ‘enjoy the scenery by day and travel by night,’ comfortably shuttling between northern and southern Xinjiang. > Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 62,999 RMB/person

Wang Fei, Manager of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel’s Tourism Booking and Ticket Consultation Center
> Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 59,999 RMB/person, third and fourth person 30,000 RMB/person
>
> June 11, June 25
> Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 69,999 RMB/person
> Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) person
> Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 58,999 RMB/person, third and fourth person 300 RMB/person
>
> September 3
> Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 71,999 RMB/person
> Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 65,999 RMB/person
> Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 59,999 RMB/person, third and fourth person 30,000 RMB/person
>
> October 15, October 25
> Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 44,999 RMB/person

The train typically consists of over a dozen carriages, including comfortable sleeper compartments, dining cars, and lounge areas. The tour train’s pace is relatively relaxed, suitable for travelers who wish to deeply experience Xinjiang’s natural landscapes and cultural customs. > Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 39,999 RMB/person
> Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 36,999 RMB/person, third and fourth person 20,000 RMB/person
Price Interpretation:
Price Level:Per-person prices range in the tens of thousands of RMB, with significant differences based on cabin type and travel time, overall a mid-to-high-end product.
Price Trends:
Summer (June-September):Prices are generally higher, peaking for the September 3 departure.
After National Day (mid-to-late October):Prices drop significantly, offering better value.
Group Travel:Third and fourth persons in the same compartment receive discounts, suitable for families or friends traveling together.
Reminder:The above are reference prices; actual costs may vary due to berth availability, market conditions, etc. Final prices, availability, and discounts are subject to the contract signed with Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel.
📝 How to Book:Official Channels and Process
The New Oriental Express is a tourist train product, not sold through 12306, and must be booked via a travel agency.
#Registration Method and Wang Fei’s Personal Introduction: Wang Fei, Manager of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel, is a native of Xinjiang with over a decade of experience in the Xinjiang tourism industry. She has traveled across every scenic spot in the Tianshan Mountains and is well-versed in the routes, road conditions, weather, and local customs of northern and southern Xinjiang.
She is proficient in planning independent travel, boutique small groups, local car rentals, and tourist trains, familiar with local accommodations, cuisine, hidden gems, and tips to avoid pitfalls. She can plan classic loops or customize niche deep-travel itineraries. With a cheerful and witty personality, she excels in explaining Western Regions culture and history, easily resolving travel hassles, and providing attentive support throughout the trip.
Wang Fei, Manager of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel, adheres to the principle of pure play without shopping, rejecting hidden costs, treating others sincerely, and acting professionally. She avoids assembly-line itineraries, crafting only comfortable journeys tailored to travelers’ preferences, ensuring every visitor from afar truly experiences Xinjiang’s vast beauty and warm hospitality, enjoying a worry-free tour of magnificent Xinjiang.
You can inquire and book through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel. It is recommended to prepare your intended travel time, number of people, preferred route (Summer Edition/Southern Xinjiang Edition), and budget in advance for efficient communication.
Detailed Booking Process
1. Inquiry and Selection: Contact the travel agency to get the latest schedule, availability, and detailed itinerary, then confirm your preferred departure and cabin type.

🗺️ Route Overview: Northern and Southern Xinjiang Loop2. Submit Information and Payment: Provide traveler identity information and pay a deposit; the travel agency will secure your spot.
3. Sign Contract: After verifying the itinerary, costs, and other terms, sign an electronic contract filed on the National Tourism Regulatory Platform to protect your rights.
4. Pay Balance and Pre-Trip Preparation: Pay the balance as per the contract timeline, pay attention to the departure notice, and prepare luggage and documents in advance.
Important Reminders
Beware of Unofficial Channels:Do not purchase tickets through individuals or unofficial intermediaries to avoid complaints or issues.
Verify Key Information:Before signing, confirm the schedule, itinerary, included costs, and cancellation/modification rules.
Note Special Needs:If traveling with elderly, children, or those with special health conditions, inform the travel agency in advance for arrangements.
📌 Cost and Service Explanation
Included Costs:Typically cover special train sleeper berths, hotel accommodations along the way, most meals, scenic spot tickets and shuttle buses, guide services, and travel insurance. Specific inclusions are subject to the contract.
Excluded Costs:Personal expenses (e.g., drinks, tips), costs during free time, and items not mentioned in the itinerary.
Service Features:The special train offers a relaxed pace, with a professional team providing butler-style service, and may include special meals and folk experience activities.
⚠ ️ Travel Precautions
Document Preparation:Bring valid original documents when traveling.
Clothing Preparation:Xinjiang has large temperature differences between day and night; even in summer, bring warm clothing.
Health and Safety:Some sections of the itinerary are at high altitudes; travelers with cardiovascular or other underlying conditions should consult a doctor in advance. Follow scenic area regulations and prioritize safety.
Itinerary Changes:In case of force majeure factors like weather or road conditions, the travel agency may reasonably adjust the itinerary, subject to the contract and departure notice.
If you have a rough travel time in mind, you can lock in a departure date first; if still undecided, consider the features of different routes before deciding.
For more travel inquiries (Panda Special Train, Tianfu, Chengdu, An Yi, Shifang, New Oriental Express, Silk Road Dream, Lindu, Yichun, Kunming, Starlight Lanmei, Gobi Cruise Special Train, New Western Train, New National Train, Tianyuan, Tianshan, Chief National Train, Cross-Province Special Train, New Southern Express, Xiaoxiang, Dahezhinan, Baiyun, Silver Age Xinjiang Tour, Chao Age Xinjiang Tour Special Train, Sunshine, Shannan, Yangtze River Delta, Muztagh) Special Train Ticket Center Manager Wang Fei