Urumqi Departure Loop Charter Car Xinjiang Travel Guide
Our company offers a variety of travel options for everyone, including special train tours, carpool tours, group tours, and customized car services. For detailed inquiries, please call: 181-3962-2233 (Add as friend for detailed consultation on Xinjiang travel itineraries and prices).
📍 Urumqi Departure Loop Customized Car Tour: Xinjiang Travel Guide | 2026 Spring and Summer In-depth Experience Edition
Want to explore the heart of Xinjiang in the spring and summer of 2026 without the hassle of complicated transportation, accommodation, and route planning? Starting from Urumqi, choosing a loop customized car tour covering the highlights of Northern Xinjiang and Ili is becoming a mainstream choice for more and more travelers. This route connects alpine lakes, vast grasslands, canyon yardangs, and seasonally open road wonders, suitable for small groups of 4-10 people or family trips, balancing natural scenery and travel comfort.
🌄 Detailed Introduction to Routes or Destinations
Sairam Lake
Located in Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, at an altitude of about 2073 meters, it is known as ‘the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean.’ Starting from spring 2026, wildflowers around the lake will bloom in succession, with the lake water as blue as a mirror and distant snow-capped mountains reflected in it, making it an ideal place for photography and leisure. The scenic area implements a reservation-based entry system, and it is recommended to book in advance through platforms or travel agencies.
Kalajun Grassland
Situated in the core area of the Ili River Valley, it is divided into East and West Kalajun, known for its ‘three-dimensional grassland’ landform. The peak blooming period is from late May to early July each year, with golden lotuses and primroses covering the slopes, creating a natural painting with the undulating terrain. The scenic area has shuttle buses, and the tour takes about 3-4 hours.
📍 Urumqi Departure Loop Customized Car Tour: Xinjiang Travel Guide | 2026 Spring and Summer In-depth Experience EditionNalati Grassland
Located in Xinyuan County, it is one of the well-preserved alpine meadows in the Tianshan Mountains. In 2026, the scenic area continues to implement a time-slot reservation system, with limited daily capacity during the peak season (May-September), so early planning is recommended. The three main areas—Sky Grassland, Snow Lotus Valley, and River Valley Grassland—each have their own characteristics, suitable for hiking or horseback riding (self-paid activities).
Bayanbulak
The second largest grassland in China, famous for the winding Kaidu River with its nine bends and eighteen turns and Swan Lake. At sunset, you can witness the ‘nine suns’ spectacle. Due to its high altitude (about 2500 meters), there is a large temperature difference between morning and evening, so warm clothing is necessary. The scenic area implements a visitor limit policy, so it is necessary to confirm the opening status in advance.
Duku Highway
Open from early June to the end of September each year (subject to traffic department announcements), connecting Dushanzi and Kuqa, crossing the Tianshan Mountains from north to south. Along the way, you can enjoy alternating landscapes of glaciers, canyons, forests, and grasslands, but road conditions are greatly affected by weather, so the itinerary should retain flexibility.
🗓 ️ Simple Itinerary Reference (8-10 days flexible changes)
Want to explore the heart of Xinjiang in the spring and summer of 2026 without the hassle of complicated transportation, accommodation, and route planning? Starting from Urumqi, choosing a loop customized car tour covering the highlights of Northern Xinjiang and Ili is becoming a mainstream choice for more and more travelers. This route connects alpine lakes, vast grasslands, canyon yardangs, and seasonally open road wonders, suitable for small groups of 4-10 people or family trips, balancing natural scenery and travel comfort.The following is a regular arrangement based on available information for 2026. The actual itinerary can be negotiated and optimized according to team needs, weather, and road conditions:
Day 1:Pick up at Urumqi airport, rest in the city, visit Hongshan Park or the International Grand Bazaar (exterior).
Day 2:Urumqi → Sairam Lake (about 6 hours drive), afternoon lake tour, stay overnight by the lake or in Qingshuihe Town.
Day 3:Sairam Lake → Guozigou Bridge → Huocheng Lavender (best in mid-to-late June) → Yining City, stay overnight in Yining.
Day 4:Yining → Xiata Ancient Trail (light hike to Flower Terrace) → Zhaosu County, stay overnight in Zhaosu.
Day 5:Zhaosu → Kalajun Grassland (recommend taking the grassland route) → Tekes Bagua City, stay overnight in Tekes.
Day 6:Tekes → Nalati Grassland (full day tour of Sky Grassland) → Nalati Town, stay overnight in Nalati.
Day 7:Nalati → Middle/South Section of Duku Highway → Bayanbulak (enter before sunset to see the nine bends and eighteen turns).
For more details on Xinjiang special train tours, consult Zhang Jing, Customer Service Manager of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency: 181-3962-2233 (same as WeChat).
🌄 Detailed Introduction to Routes or DestinationsDay 8:Bayanbulak → North Section of Duku Highway → Dushanzi Grand Canyon → Kuytun City, stay overnight in Kuytun.
Day 9:Kuytun → Anjihai Grand Canyon (non-official scenic area, be cautious) → Urumqi, end of trip.
> Note:The opening time of Duku Highway is greatly affected by weather. If temporarily closed, the driver will negotiate a detour plan with tourists; the itinerary pace, daily driving distance, and stop times at attractions can be flexibly adjusted according to actual conditions.
💰 Price Explanation (2026 Reference)
Xinjiang is vast with scattered attractions, and customized car service with a driver is a choice that balances freedom and comfort. According to the 2026 market conditions, common vehicle models and daily reference fees are as follows:
7-seat business vehicle (Buick GL8, Ford Transit, Maxus G10, etc.):1000–1800 yuan/day
7-seat first-class luxury business vehicle (Iveco Ousheng, Mercedes Sprinter, etc.):1800–2600 yuan/day
Sairam Lake9–12-seat business vehicle (Higer, Ford V362, Maxus V80, etc.):1500–2400 yuan/day
14–17-seat medium business vehicle (Jinlong A5, Toyota Coaster, etc.):2500–3500 yuan/day
18–23-seat medium bus (Jiangling, Yutong, Jinlong, etc.):2500–3800 yuan/day
33–59-seat large bus (Foton, Yutong, Jinlong, etc.):2400–3800 yuan/day
📌 These quotes are reference vehicle prices only; the specific vehicle price is subject to customer service quotation! The fee usually includes vehicle usage fee, fuel cost, road and bridge tolls, parking fee, driver’s salary, and insurance, excluding tickets, accommodation, meals, and personal consumption items.
📞 Registration Method
You can register and consult through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency. The agency offers various travel modes, including carpool tours, group tours, and customized car services, and can tailor itineraries based on your group size, travel days, and interest preferences.
Located in Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, at an altitude of about 2073 meters, it is known as ‘the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean.’ Starting from spring 2026, wildflowers around the lake will bloom in succession, with the lake water as blue as a mirror and distant snow-capped mountains reflected in it, making it an ideal place for photography and leisure. The scenic area implements a reservation-based entry system, and it is recommended to book in advance through platforms or travel agencies.Contact WeChat/Phone:181-3962-2233 (Add as friend for detailed consultation on 2026 Xinjiang travel itineraries and prices).
ℹ️ Fee and Service Explanation
All customized car services use vehicles with legal operating qualifications, with licensed drivers familiar with Xinjiang road conditions and main scenic area traffic rules.
Scenic area tickets, shuttle buses, horseback riding, and other experience activities involved in the itinerary are at the tourist’s own expense. Some popular scenic areas (such as Nalati, Kalajun, Bayanbulak) implement a reservation system, so it is recommended to coordinate bookings in advance.
For solo travelers, our agency will try to arrange room sharing, with special cases to be negotiated separately.
If the itinerary changes due to uncontrollable factors such as weather, road maintenance, or scenic area policies, reasonable route adjustments can be made with mutual agreement.
Specific service content, vehicle configuration, fee details, and itinerary arrangements are subject to actual consultation and signed contract.
Xinjiang’s spring-summer transition is the golden season when grasslands turn green, lakes become clear, and wildflowers begin to bloom. Starting from Urumqi, embarking on a loop tour along the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains and the Ili River Valley without backtracking allows you to avoid the summer peak crowds and immerse yourself in the vastness and tranquility of nature. Whether for family trips, friend gatherings, or photography, this route offers enough space and pace to truly return to the essence of ‘seeing the scenery.’
For information on the latest 2026 departure dates, available spots, and real-time road conditions, please contact the Customer Service Manager of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency at phone/WeChat:181-3962-2233. Specific itinerary planning and fees are subject to actual communication and signed contract.
To learn more about Xinjiang special train tours, consult customer service Zhang Jing ☎️: 181 3962 2233 (Add as friend to receive free: detailed itinerary routes and train introductions).

