[Luxury Edition: 2-Lake Winter Charm 7-Day Tour] Urumqi + Altay + Kanas + Hemu + Sayram Lake

【Luxury Edition: Dual Lakes Winter Charm 7 Days】Urumqi + Altay + Kanas + Hemu + Sayram Lake. A winter itinerary starting from Urumqi, connecting Kanas, Hemu, and Sayram Lake—ideal for travelers seeking snow villages, rime ice, and blue ice in one trip. The route covers Urumqi, Altay, Kanas, Hemu, and Karamay, spanning 7 days and 6 nights.

Highlights

• Influencer Highway: Drive along the S21 Desert Highway through the Gurbantunggut Desert, experiencing the open desert roads of northern Xinjiang and the stunning arid landscapes along the way.
• Desert ParkVisit Kelameili Desert Park to view sand dunes and desert vegetation, and learn about the landforms of the Gurbantunggut Desert.
• Fairy Tale Border Town: Pass through Burqin to experience the Russian-style architecture of this northern Xinjiang town and the winter scenery along the Irtysh River embankment.
• Snow meets KahoStay in Kanas and Hemu during the snow season to see misty forests, blue rivers, deep powder snow, and wooden cabins with rising smoke.
• Snowfall at Sayram LakeDay 2: Arrive at Sayram Lake. Enjoy the sunrise over snow-capped peaks and blue ice formations along the shore, capturing the shifting light and shadows on the winter lake surface.
• Accommodation at the Scenic AreaBook 1 nights of accommodation in Hemu Scenic Area with snow views right from your window, reducing travel time and allowing for a leisurely pace.
• BonfireThe Hemu Bonfire Festival will be scheduled based on availability. Join fellow travelers in singing and dancing to experience the vibrant night atmosphere of the Snow Village.
• SnowmobileExperience snowmobiling in Kanas, gliding across icy surfaces and through a sea of powder snow (available from the group arrival on 11/20).
• Tea over a Warm StoveSailimu Lake: Enjoy snow-viewing and tea brewed over a fire by the lakeside, relaxing to savor the slow pace of winter.
• Hemu Travel PhotographyHemu offers a light photography tour package including 6 professionally retouched photos. Makeup and styling are not included; simple outfits, scarves, and small props are provided.

Trip Overview

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 · Departure: Urumqi

Accommodation: Urumqi Ctrip 5-Diamond Hotel

Upon arrival in Urumqi, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free at your leisure. Private vehicle not included.

If time permits, you may visit the Urumqi International Grand Bazaar Night Market, Hongshan Park, or the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum.

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum requires reservations 1 to 3 days in advance. The museum is closed on Mondays; please verify opening hours before your visit.

The departure time for the next day will be communicated by the driver and tour manager via message or phone call. Please keep your phone on and accessible.

Daily Reminder: Xinjiang has a large temperature difference between day and night; please adjust your clothing accordingly. : There are many checkpoints; please carry your ID and phone at all times and cooperate with inspections. : Xinjiang is two hours behind mainland China; schedules are adjusted accordingly.

Day 2: Urumqi – S21 Desert Highway – Kelameili Sand Dune Park – General Mountain – Altay

Dining: Breakfast included at the hotel; lunch and dinner are on your own.

Accommodation: Altay Ctrip 4-Star Hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will arrive on schedule to pick you up and begin the small-group tour.

Travel north along the S21 Desert Highway across the Gurbantunggut Desert, visiting Kelameili Desert Park en route.

Lunch at Kelameili Service Area. Xinjiang service areas offer limited dining options.

Take the afternoon bus to Altay. After arrival, check into your hotel for a brief rest, then head to General Mountain.

Take the sunset cable car to the summit, wait for the sunset from the top. Optional night skiing at General Mountain is available at your own expense; snow pass not included.

Return to Altay in the evening, check into your hotel, and rest. Conclude today's Desert Highway and General Mountain tour.

Daily Reminder- The drive today is long; please bring snacks, water, and entertainment for the car. - Guests prone to motion sickness should take medication in advance. - After night skiing, you will need to arrange your own return to the hotel. - In early winter, ice is thin; do not play on the surface.

Day 3: Altay – Kanas Lake – Three Bends of Kanas – Hemu

Dining: Breakfast included at the hotel; lunch and dinner are on your own.

AccommodationAccommodation in Hemu Scenic Area (Standard Room with Private Bathroom)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then drive to Kanas Scenic Area while admiring the vast snow-covered Altai Mountains along the way.

Explore Kanas Lake, where snow mushrooms line the shore. The high-altitude glacial lake shimmers in deep blue, surrounded by forests and snow-capped mountains.

Experience snowmobiling through icy forests (tours arriving in 11 month, 20 date).

Stop and take photos at Shenxian Bay, Wolong Bay, and Yueliang Bay. The three bays are close together; you can visit them in sequence along the route.

Take the afternoon bus to Hemu Scenic Area. Upon arrival, check into a homestay. Dinner is on your own, followed by free time.

Head to Hemu Bonfire Party in the evening, subject to scenic area opening status. No refunds if not open.

Daily ReminderThe route from Burqin to Jadengyu is rugged; passengers prone to motion sickness should take medication in advance. The scenic area has deep snow, landslides, and steep slopes—do not cross forests, river valleys, or ice surfaces on your own. Breakfast is not included with accommodation in Hemu. The ice layer on Kanas Lake is thin; please take care to avoid slipping.

Day 4 · Hemu → Hemu Dawn → Karamay

DiningBreakfast, lunch, and dinner are not included.

Accommodation: Karamay Ctrip 4-Diamond Hotel

Optional early morning hike to the viewpoint (transportation at own expense). Enjoy sunrise and panoramic views of Hemu Village from above.

Book a light photography tour in Hemu and receive 6 professionally retouched photos. Makeup, styling, and costumes are not included; please bring your own attire.

After lunch, depart for Karamay. The drive covers approximately 550 kilometers, offering scenic views of Northern Xinjiang along the way.

Arrive in Karamay in the evening. Check in, rest, and enjoy your dinner independently. You may also explore the city on your own.

Daily Reminder: Accommodation in Hemu does not include breakfast. ; After returning from the mountains to the plains, the climate becomes dry; please stay hydrated. ; The driving distance today is long; please bring your own snacks and drinking water.

Day 5 · Karamay → Sayram Lake → East Gate of Sayram Lake

Dining: Breakfast included at the hotel; lunch and dinner are on your own.

AccommodationCtrip 4-star Hotel at the East Gate of Sayram Lake

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out, then drive to Sayram Lake Scenic Area (approximately 560 km).

Travel along the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains bordering the Junggar Basin, with distant views of snow-capped peaks. Stop in Jinghe County for a self-arranged lunch.

After arrival, drive around the lake to view ice shards, ice bubbles, and blue ice. Snow pines and rime are visible along the shores; scenery changes with the weather.

Check in at the East Gate Hotel Sayram Lake, then enjoy free time and dinner on your own. Please dress warmly for the night.

Daily Reminder: Vibrant clothing looks best in photos at Lake Sayram. Winter winds near the lake can be strong; please take safety precautions while taking photos. Ice bubbles and ice push formations depend on weather conditions and are not guaranteed to be visible every time. The lake surface is frozen; watch your step to avoid slipping.

Day 6: Sayram Lake (Second Visit) – Urumqi

Dining: Breakfast included at the hotel; lunch and dinner are on your own.

Accommodation: Urumqi Ctrip 4-Diamond Hotel

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out, then head back to Sayram Lake to start your day by the lakeside.

Drive to Sayram Lake via the expressway. Proceed along the lake toward Moon Bay without circling it; instead, stroll slowly by the shore to enjoy views of the water and the Tianshan Mountains.

Return to Urumqi by bus, enjoying the scenic views along the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains. Light lunch will be arranged at your own convenience during the journey.

Arrive in Urumqi in the evening. After checking into your hotel, enjoy free time and dine at your own discretion. You are free to explore the city as you wish.

Daily Reminder- The day's drive is long; please bring snacks and water. - Temperatures in the lake area are lower in the early morning; dress warmly. - Please fasten your seatbelt throughout the highway drive.

Day 7 · Urumqi - A Warm Home

Dining: Breakfast included at the hotel; lunch and dinner are on your own.

AccommodationHome

Departure to the airport based on flight schedule after checking out, concluding this winter Double Lake tour.

Daily Reminder: Please ensure all items are packed and nothing is left behind. Check-out must be completed by 14:00 Beijing time. Any late check-out fees will be your responsibility.

Included Fees

• Transportation: 7-seater vehicle (1 + 1 first-class model), ensuring one seat per person.
• Accommodation: 1 nights at a Ctrip 5-star hotel, 3 nights at a Ctrip 4-star hotel, 1 nights in Hemu Scenic Area, and 1 nights at a Ctrip 4-star hotel near the East Gate of Sayram Lake.
• Tickets: First-entry admission fees and shuttle bus services for all attractions listed in the itinerary, including General Mountain Cable Car, Kahu Entrance Ticket, and Sayram Lake Self-Drive Pass.
• Meals: Breakfast included at the hotel; no breakfast in Kanas and Hemu. All other meals are on your own.
• Insurance: Travel Agency Liability Insurance and Travel Accident Insurance.
• Children: Includes bicycle rental only; excludes admission tickets, shuttle bus, and accommodation.

Not included in the price

• Meals not included; drivers' accommodation and meals are covered by the operator, not shared by guests.
• Entertainment activities within the scenic area.
• Additional costs incurred due to force majeure events such as traffic delays, strikes, weather conditions, aircraft malfunctions, flight cancellations, or schedule changes.
• Laundry, barber, telephone, fax, pay TV, beverages, tobacco, and alcohol charges.
• Other fees not mentioned in the cost breakdown.

Gift Items

• Hemu Light Photography Tour Package: Includes 15 raw images and 6 professionally edited photos. Makeup and styling not included.
• Kanas Snowmobile (available for group tours starting from 11/20).
• Snowy Sayless Lake: Warm Tea by the Hearth

Booking Terms

• We do not accept pregnant women, children under 3 years old, or guests aged 75 and above.
• Guests aged 70 to 74 must provide a health certificate and be accompanied by at least 1 immediate family members under the age of 60.
• Children aged 3 to 18 must be accompanied by a guardian throughout the tour.
• Children under 18 years old traveling alone must have a guardian's consent form and be accompanied by at least 1 adult relative(s).
• Each passenger may carry one 28-inch suitcase and 1 bag(s).
• This tour requires a minimum of 2 participants and has a maximum capacity of 6. Seats will rotate daily during shared rides.
• Single registration: shared room eliminates single supplement; requesting a private room requires payment of the supplement.
• Groups of six or more may be assigned to two separate vehicles; coordination between vehicles cannot be guaranteed.
• Accurate and complete identification and contact information are required at the time of booking.
• You will receive your tour confirmation by 22:00 the day before departure. Please keep your phone accessible.
• We recommend not booking return flights or train tickets for the day of your group departure.
• Ice bubbles and ice shove landscapes are weather-dependent and cannot be guaranteed for every visitor.
• Itinerary order may be adjusted or substituted with an alternative plan in case of mountain closures or traffic restrictions during winter.
• Failure to complete the tour due to early departure is considered a voluntary abandonment. Only unincurred fees will be refunded; bus fares are non-refundable.

The itinerary is subject to change; the final confirmation sent before departure will prevail. For adjustments to duration, group size, or pace, please contact your consultant to customize a tailored plan.