2026 Urumqi 4WD 9 Day Off the Beaten Path Group Tour Yizhao Highway South Section Deep Mountain Valley Starry Sky Photography Exclusive Group Price Recommended Itinerary Cost
Contact Manager Zhang Jing at phone number 18139622233 or WeChat 18139622233 to send itinerary and quotation
Stars as the Curtain, Mountains as the Seats – A Comprehensive Guide to the 2026 Urumqi Yizhao Highway South Section 9-Day Starry Sky Photography Tour
I. Key Highlights of the Route: Explore the Light and Shadow Secret Realm in the Folds of the Tianshan Mountains
The south section of the Yizhao Highway (from Zhaosu to Tekes) is known as the “most perilous scenic corridor in the Tianshan Mountains,” with core values including:
▷ Geological Wonders:Along the route, there are high-quality geological landscapes such as the Baishifeng Glacier Remnants, the Kalajun Human Body Grassland, and the Kuokesu Grand Canyon
▷ Ecological Corridor:From June to July, you can see a colorful carpet woven from Zhaosu rape flower fields and perilla flower fields, and occasionally encounter herds of Tianshan red deer
▷ Popular Starry Sky Destination:The light pollution index around Tekes Bagua City is below level 2, with a 90% visibility of the summer Milky Way
▷ Cultural Codes:Visit the Muzart Glacier on the Xiata Ancient Road and witness the relics of the ancient Silk Road
This route features specially designed night photography sessions, where under the guidance of professional starry sky instructors, you will use equatorial mounts to track deep-space celestial bodies and capture stunning images of meteors streaking across the snowy mountain peaks.
II. 9-Day In-Depth Itinerary Plan (Summer 2026 Edition)
[DAY 1-2 Gathering in Urumqi]
▷ Equipment Inspection:The entire group will inspect photography equipment and adjust equatorial mounts, star tracker equatorial mounts, and other devices
Stars as the Curtain, Mountains as the Seats – A Comprehensive Guide to the 2026 Urumqi Yizhao Highway South Section 9-Day Starry Sky Photography Tour▷ Theoretical Training:Masterclass in starry sky photography (including light pollution management and star trail composition techniques)
▷ Adaptive Shooting:Go to Nanshan Pasture for a starry sky rehearsal and test nighttime plateau shooting parameters
[DAY 3 Crossing the Yizhao Highway]
▷ 08:00 Depart from Urumqi and arrive at Sayram Lake via the Guozigou Bridge (approximately 6-hour drive)
▷ 15:00 Tour of shooting points around the lake:Jinhua Zihui, Kele Yongzhu, Songshu Tou
▷ 21:00 First shooting session at the Sayram Lake Starry Sky Camp, focusing on capturing the “blue tears” fluorescent sea alongside the Milky Way
[DAY 4-5 Core Section of the Yizhao Highway]
▷ 07:00 Cross the Baishifeng Viewing Platform (elevation 3,475 meters) and photograph the snowy mountain pyramids in the morning mist
▷ 10:00 Shoot the ecological wonder of “heavenly horses bathing in the river” at Zhaosu Wetland Park
▷ 15:00 Light trek on the Xiata Ancient Road and set up time-lapse photography equipment at the glacier front
▷ 23:00 Starry sky creation on the ancient road, using a 600mm telephoto lens to capture starlight in glacier cracks
[DAY 6-7 Secret Realm of the Kalajun Grassland]
I. Key Highlights of the Route: Explore the Light and Shadow Secret Realm in the Folds of the Tianshan Mountains▷ 06:00 Morning mist photography of the Human Body Grassland, using drones for 3D modeling
▷ 10:00 Boat tour of the Kuokesu Grand Canyon and photograph the geological wonder of Crocodile Bay
▷ 18:00 Sunset light and shadow training at the Flower Terrace, practicing the “golden hour” shooting rule
▷ 22:00 Starry sky camping on the grassland, with instructors guiding star trail stitching techniques
[DAY 8-9 In-Depth Creation in Tekes]
▷ 05:00 Aerial photography of Bagua City, capturing the secret formation in the morning mist
▷ 10:00 Folk photography on Li Street, recording traditional handicrafts of various ethnic groups
▷ 15:00 Post-production workshop, on-site guidance on Lightroom color grading techniques
▷ 20:00 Graduation ceremony and starry sky photography exhibition, awarding professional certification certificates
III. Explanation of the Fee System (Reference Range for 2026)
[Basic Package] 16,800 yuan/person (group price for 4 people)
The south section of the Yizhao Highway (from Zhaosu to Tekes) is known as the “most perilous scenic corridor in the Tianshan Mountains,” with core values including:Includes:
▷ Transportation:Toyota Prado four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle (including full insurance)
▷ Accommodation:8 nights of characteristic accommodation (1 night at Sayram Lake RV camp + 2 nights at Zhaosu eco-wooden house + 2 nights at Kalajun yurt + 2 nights at Tekes four-star hotel)
▷ Dining:17 full meals throughout the trip (including special meals such as Sayram Lake high white trout and Zhaosu horse meat narin)
▷ Shooting:Professional starry sky instructor guidance throughout the trip + basic equipment rental (tripod, filter set)
▷ Insurance:800,000 yuan travel accident insurance + equipment damage insurance
[Upgraded Services]
▷ Equipment Rental:Sony A7R V body + 16-35GM lens 1,200 yuan/day
▷ Post-Production:Professional retouching of 30 selected photos 300 yuan/photo
▷ Starry Sky Instructor:Researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Observatory accompanying guidance 18,000 yuan for the entire trip
Special Notes:
▷ June 15 to July 15 is the golden period for flower season shooting, and prices may increase by 15%
▷ Geological Wonders: Along the route, there are high-quality geological landscapes such as the Baishifeng Glacier Remnants, the Kalajun Human Body Grassland, and the Kuokesu Grand Canyon ▷ Single registrants will do their best to coordinate room sharing; if a single room is required, an additional room fee of 3,200 yuan is needed
▷ Specific fees are subject to actual consultation and contract signing, with clear equipment damage compensation standards specified at the time of signing
IV. Professional Service Guarantee System
[Vehicle Configuration]
▷ Each vehicle is equipped with:Onboard oxygen generator, anti-skid chains, emergency power supply, satellite phone
▷ Daily pre-departure inspections of 22 items, including brake system and tire wear
[Photography Support]
▷ Provide weather forecasting services (precise prediction of cloud coverage at shooting points)
▷ On-site guidance on using Planit Chao She Professional Edition for shooting planning
▷ Equipped with spare battery thermostats (applicable in environments from -20°C to 60°C)
[Emergency Plan]
▷ Ecological Corridor: From June to July, you can see a colorful carpet woven from Zhaosu rape flower fields and perilla flower fields, and occasionally encounter herds of Tianshan red deer ▷ Established a green channel with Zhaosu County People’s Hospital, and the fleet is equipped with AED defibrillators
▷ In case of extreme weather, initiate a backup shooting plan within 4 hours (such as indoor folk creation)
▷ Reserve 2 hours of flexible time each day to cope with traffic control and other emergencies
V. Registration Instructions
You can register through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency and need to submit the following 30 days in advance:
▷ Copy of valid identification (for insurance purchase and permit processing)
▷ Equipment list (indicating the model and lens parameters of self-brought equipment)
▷ Health commitment letter (confirming no history of altitude sickness)
Special Reminders:
▷ July is the peak season for shooting on the Yizhao Highway, so it is recommended to secure a spot as early as possible
▷ A permit is required (the travel agency can assist in processing the electronic version)
▷ Daily shooting intensity is high, so it is recommended that participants be between 18 and 65 years old
Consult Customer Service Manager Zhang Jing of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency for the latest schedule and availability information. Let’s use our lenses as pens to write your starry sky legend on the Tianshan Mountains scroll!
Contact Manager Zhang Jing at phone number 18139622233 or WeChat 18139622233 to send itinerary and quotation
