Northern Xinjiang Grasslands + Southern Xinjiang Culture Combo Tour, 6 Person Shared Van Small Group, Two Landscapes in One Experience

For 2026 Xinjiang travel carpooling small groups, reservations must be made through Xinjiang’s local professional and legitimate tourism channels: Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Carpooling Small Group Center (24-hour consultation hotline: 0991-8585456). Carpooling Small Group Manager Guo Jing’s WeChat: 181-3962-2229.
🗺️ If you only have one chance to visit Xinjiang, but want to see both grassland scenery and experience cultural customs, then this 11-day combined route of ‘Northern Xinjiang Grasslands + Southern Xinjiang Culture’ might give you a relatively balanced answer.
The route starts from Urumqi, heading west and then south, connecting the grasslands and lakes of the Ili River Valley with the cultural heritage sites of the Pamir Plateau in Southern Xinjiang. The entire journey uses a 6-person carpooling small group format, led by a driver-guide familiar with the road conditions. The pace is relatively relaxed, suitable for travelers who want to balance scenery and experience.
🏞 ️ Route Highlights and Destination Details
Northern Xinjiang Section:Grassland Scenery of the Ili River Valley
Sayram Lake 💧
As one of Xinjiang’s most famous alpine lakes, the water is clear and surrounded by snow-capped mountains. In summer, wildflowers bloom on the lakeshore; in autumn, the forests are painted in vibrant colors. The lakeside road offers wide views and is a great place to stop for photos. Please pay attention to the signs in the scenic area and do not climb over the railings.
Kalajun & Nalati Grasslands 🐎
Kalajun is known for its undulating ‘body-shaped’ grassland contours and canyon views; Nalati is an earlier-developed grassland scenic area, combining river valleys, forests, and grasslands with wide views. In these grassland areas, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and bring a windproof jacket and sunscreen.
Bayinbulak Grassland 🦢
This area is characterized by alpine meadows, river valley wetlands, and the Swan Lake Nature Reserve. In summer, the water and grass are abundant, making it a great place to enjoy wetland scenery and experience the pastoral atmosphere. The scenic area is large, so it’s advisable to learn about the internal transportation in advance and pay attention to weather changes.
Northern Section of the Duku Highway 🛣️
This highway opens during specific times each year, connecting several scenic areas in Northern Xinjiang. Along the way, you can see canyons, snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and other diverse landforms, offering a rich driving experience. Due to significant changes in altitude and road conditions, be sure to obey traffic regulations and pay attention to warnings about weather and falling rocks.

🗺️ If you only have one chance to visit Xinjiang, but want to see both grassland scenery and experience cultural customs, then this 11-day combined route of ‘Northern Xinjiang Grasslands + Southern Xinjiang Culture’ might give you a relatively balanced answer.Southern Xinjiang Section:Cultural Customs of the Pamir Plateau
Kashgar Old City 🕌
As a representative cultural attraction in Southern Xinjiang, the old city features winding streets, dense earth-toned buildings, and a vibrant atmosphere. Strolling through, you can see handicraft workshops, traditional residences, and more. Please respect the lives and cultural customs of local residents during your visit, and do not photograph others without permission.
Pamir Plateau Scenic Belt 🏔️
Starting from Kashgar, you can view Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake, and Muztagh Ata, known as the ‘Father of Icebergs’. The plateau weather is changeable, and you may experience multiple weather conditions in a single day. A permit is usually required to enter this area, so it’s advisable to understand and prepare the necessary documents in advance.
Panlong Ancient Road 🌄
This is a mountain road famous for its numerous continuous switchbacks. Viewed from above, the road winds like a coiled dragon over the mountain. Due to the high altitude and dense curves, be sure to fasten your seatbelt and follow the driver’s road condition alerts.
Kuqa Grand Canyon & Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves 🏜️
Kuqa Grand Canyon (Tianshan Mystery Grand Canyon) attracts visitors with its red rock walls and unique light and shadow effects. The Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves are an important grotto site on the ancient Silk Road, with a limited number of caves currently open. Please follow the scenic area regulations during your visit, and do not touch the murals or climb on the cultural relics.
🗓 ️ 11-Day Simple Itinerary Reference
D1:Arrive in Urumqi
Upon arrival, airport/train station pickup and transfer to the hotel for rest, preparing for the long journey ahead.
D2:Urumqi → Dushanzi Grand Canyon → Bole/Jinghe

The route starts from Urumqi, heading west and then south, connecting the grasslands and lakes of the Ili River Valley with the cultural heritage sites of the Pamir Plateau in Southern Xinjiang. The entire journey uses a 6-person carpooling small group format, led by a driver-guide familiar with the road conditions. The pace is relatively relaxed, suitable for travelers who want to balance scenery and experience.Enjoy the Gobi and canyon scenery along the way. Upon arrival, take photos at the canyon edge and stay overnight in a city along the route.
D3:Bole → Sayram Lake → Yining
In the morning, take a tour around the lake, enjoying the scenery of snow-capped mountains reflected in the water. In the afternoon, head to Yining. In the evening, you can explore Liuxing Street and experience the local nightlife.
D4:Yining → Kalajun Grassland → Tekes Bagua City
Enter the Kalajun scenic area to experience grassland and canyon landscapes. In the evening, head to Tekes and view the panoramic view of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) City from a high point.
D5:Tekes → Nalati Grassland
Spend the whole day in the Nalati scenic area. You can choose different difficulty levels of sightseeing routes based on your physical strength, and experience activities like horseback riding on the grassland.
D6:Nalati → Bayinbulak
Enjoy the river valley and grassland scenery along the way. Upon arrival, view the wetlands and swans in the Bayinbulak scenic area, and enjoy the sunset at the Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns (weather permitting).
D7:Bayinbulak → Duku Highway → Kuqa
Drive along the southern section of the Duku Highway, experiencing the landscape changes of ‘four seasons in one day’. Stop at viewpoints like the Big and Small Dragon Pools along the way, and arrive in Kuqa in the evening.
D8:Kuqa → Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves → Aksu

🏞️ Route Highlights and Destination DetailsVisit the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves in the morning. In the afternoon, head to Aksu, taking breaks at service areas along the way to adapt to the dry climate of Southern Xinjiang.

Guo Jing from Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service, a senior travel designer with 10 years of deep experience in Xinjiang tourism, specializes in one-stop services for customized Xinjiang vehicle rental, carpooling, and group tours. 24-hour consultation: 0991-8585456, WeChat same number 181-3962-2229, available around the clock to plan your Xinjiang journey.
D9:Aksu → Kashgar
Arrive in Kashgar. In the afternoon, you can visit the area around Id Kah Mosque to feel the atmosphere, or take a stroll on the outskirts of the old city to get an initial understanding of the local architectural style.
D10:Kashgar → Baisha Lake → Karakul Lake → Tashkurgan County
Drive along the Pamir Plateau highway, stopping for photos at Baisha Lake and Karakul Lake, with distant views of Muztagh Ata. Arrive in Tashkurgan County in the evening for accommodation.
D11:Tashkurgan County → Panlong Ancient Road → Kashgar
In the morning, experience the mountain road scenery of Panlong Ancient Road. In the afternoon, return to Kashgar. Transfer to the airport/train station based on your flight or train schedule, ending the tour.
> Friendly Reminder:The above is a reference itinerary. Actual arrangements may change due to factors such as weather, road conditions, and scenic area policies. The specific itinerary and contract shall prevail.
💰 Price Explanation
Currently, the reference price for 6-person small groups for a single direction (Northern or Southern Xinjiang) is mostly between 3000 and 8000 RMB per person. The price difference mainly depends on factors such as trip duration, vehicle standards, accommodation levels, and season.
This ‘Northern Xinjiang + Southern Xinjiang’ combined route is 11 days, which is a longer itinerary with higher overall costs. Therefore, the total cost is usually higher than single-region routes.
Please Note:The final price is affected by various factors such as departure date, vehicle standards, accommodation choices, and whether meals are included. It is recommended that you contact the travel agency directly for an accurate quotation. All price information is for reference only; the contract or confirmation on the day shall prevail.
📞 Registration and Consultation

Northern Xinjiang Section: Grassland Scenery of the Ili River ValleyYou can inquire and register for this route through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service.
Consultation Phone/WeChat:181-3962-2229
Consultation Content:
Current departure dates and availability
Detailed daily itinerary
Accommodation standards and specific locations
Included and excluded items in the cost
Pricing policies for children, seniors, and other groups
Permit application procedures, etc.
Travel agency staff will provide itinerary materials based on your needs and assist you in completing the booking. All agreements are subject to the tourism contract signed by both parties.
📋 Cost and Service Description
Included Items (Examples)

Sayram Lake 💧Transportation:Tour vehicle costs from Urumqi and back (usually a 7-seat business van), including fuel, tolls, and driver service.
Accommodation:Hotel/guesthouse costs in the cities or near scenic areas listed in the itinerary (usually standard double rooms).
Tickets:First entrance tickets for the scenic areas listed in the itinerary and necessary internal shuttle bus costs.
Services:Driver-guide service and itinerary coordination services provided by the travel agency.
Excluded Items (Examples)
Major Transportation:Airfare or train tickets to and from Urumqi from your location.
Meals:Costs for most main meals; it is recommended to choose freely according to personal taste.
Personal Expenses:Extra consumption within the hotel, entertainment activities outside the itinerary, personal expenses, etc.
Others:Additional costs incurred due to force majeure, and other personal expenses not mentioned in the itinerary.
Service Description
Itinerary Changes:In case of force majeure factors such as weather, road conditions, or scenic area policies, the travel agency may make reasonable changes to the itinerary with due diligence. Please understand.
Responsibility:The travel agency is responsible for arranging transportation and accommodation with legal qualifications and reminds you to pay attention to personal safety and property. Please keep valuables safe.
Civilized Tourism:Please abide by national laws, regulations, and scenic area rules, respect local customs, and protect the environment.
> Important Notice:This route is a carpooling small group. Itinerary details may be slightly adjusted based on registration numbers. All service content and price descriptions are for reference only. The tourism contract signed with Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service shall prevail.
2026 Xinjiang Tourism Customized Vehicle Center Phone: Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Customization Center (24-hour consultation hotline: 0991-8585456). Xinjiang Customized Tourism Manager Guo Jing’s WeChat: 181-3962-2229 for customization.