Oriental Express Snow Lotus Urumqi Start and End Cost Details
For more details on Xinjiang travel, contact Zhang Jing, customer service manager of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency: 181-3962-2233 (same as WeChat)
🚂 2026 New Oriental Express Xinjiang In-depth Travel Guide: Departing from and returning to Urumqi for a worry-free trip
For travelers who want to deeply explore Xinjiang’s scenery, long cross-regional drives and frequent luggage handling are often travel hassles. The 2026 New Oriental Express route effectively addresses these pain points, allowing tourists to visit key attractions in both northern and southern Xinjiang while enjoying a comfortable travel experience without frequent accommodation changes. Most travel time is arranged at night, leaving ample daytime for sightseeing, improving overall travel efficiency.
🌄 Route Details
The New Oriental Express is a comfortable travel product designed for long-distance trips in Xinjiang. The Gold Diamond carriage features dedicated butler service, with a Chinese-speaking guide throughout the journey. Upon arrival at scenic spots, local professional guides provide detailed explanations. Services include Urumqi airport/train station pickup, scenic area shuttle service, travel agency liability insurance, and complimentary group accident insurance for comprehensive travel protection.
The launched routes include a summer northern and southern Xinjiang combined version and an exclusive October southern Xinjiang version, covering multiple unique Xinjiang spots: The Ertix Grand Canyon and Zhongshan in Koktokay offer unique landscapes with mountains and streams complementing each other; Hemu Village’s log cabins blend well with surrounding forests, with morning mist and starry nights worth experiencing; Kanas’s Three Bays morning mist and lake water changing with light are highly recognizable, with lakeside walks along trails; the Yadan landform of Colorful Beach shows rich color layers at dusk, contrasting sharply with the valley forest across the river; Sayram Lake is crystal clear and blue, with wildflowers blooming by the lake in summer, offering a serene atmosphere of snow mountains and blue lake; Nalati Grassland is lush with water and grass, featuring herds of cattle and sheep and activities like horseback riding; Bayanbulak’s Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns sunset is distinctive, with multiple light reflections on the water in clear weather; Kuqa Grand Canyon’s red rock landscape is steep, with rock textures showing different colors under sunlight; Pamir Plateau’s白沙湖 (White Sand Lake) is pure, with surrounding snow mountains reflecting in the lake; Kashgar’s ancient city streets are full of life, offering various local cuisines; Turpan’s Karez wells and Jiaohe Ancient City carry deep historical heritage, showcasing local irrigation wisdom and ancient city culture.
The October southern Xinjiang itinerary also includes Milan Ruins, Loulan Museum, learning about Silk Road history, enjoying Ruoqiang red date picking, visiting Hetian Round City and Yotkan Ancient City for cultural atmosphere, and viewing the autumn scenery of Tarim Poplar Forest. This route covers both natural landscapes and historical-cultural sites, catering to different travel preferences.
📝 Simple Itinerary
Quick Itinerary (Summer Version)
Day 01:Assemble in Urumqi from various locations
Day 02:Urumqi – New Oriental Express – Koktokay – New Oriental Express – Altay
Day 03:Altay – Ahe Highway – Hemu Village
Day 04:Hemu – Kanas
🚂 2026 New Oriental Express Xinjiang In-depth Travel Guide: Departing from and returning to Urumqi for a worry-free tripDay 05:Kanas – Chonghur – Colorful Beach – New Oriental Express Train
Day 06:Jinghe – Sayram Lake – Yining
Day 07:Yining – Nalati Grassland
Day 08:Nalati Grassland – Middle Section of Duku Highway – Bayanbulak
Day 09:Bayanbulak – Southern Section of Duku Highway – Kuqa Grand Canyon – New Oriental Express Train
Day 10:Kashgar – White Sand Lake – Pamir Scenic Area – Taxkorgan
Day 11:Taxkorgan – Tajik Home Visit – Karakul Lake – Kashgar
Day 12:Kashgar – Turpan – New Oriental Express Train
Day 13:Turpan – Urumqi
Day 14:Urumqi – Farewell
October Southern Xinjiang Itinerary
Day 01:Assemble in Urumqi from various locations
Day 02:Train to Turpan – Jiaohe Ancient City – Karez Wells – Grape Manor, then evening train to Ruoqiang
For travelers who want to deeply explore Xinjiang’s scenery, long cross-regional drives and frequent luggage handling are often travel hassles. The 2026 New Oriental Express route effectively addresses these pain points, allowing tourists to visit key attractions in both northern and southern Xinjiang while enjoying a comfortable travel experience without frequent accommodation changes. Most travel time is arranged at night, leaving ample daytime for sightseeing, improving overall travel efficiency.Day 03:Milan Ruins – Loulan Museum – Loulan Park – Ruoqiang Red Date Picking, then evening train to Hetian
Day 04:Arrive in Hetian early – Hetian Round City – Yulong Kashgar River Treasure Hunting – Grape Corridor – Walnut King Tree – Yotkan Ancient City Night View
Day 05:Train to Shache – Yarkand Khan’s Palace – Amannisa Khan’s Mausoleum, then to Kashgar
Day 06:White Sand Lake, Karakul Lake, return to Kashgar
Day 07:Kashgar Old City, Id Kah Mosque, Gaotai Ancient Dwellings, then evening train to Kuqa
Day 08:Arrive in Kuqa early – Tianshan Grand Canyon – Kuqa King’s Mansion – Restan Old Street – Qiuci Alley
Day 09:Go to Luntai – Tarim Poplar Forest, then evening train to Urumqi
Day 10:Urumqi – Tianshan Tianchi – Urumqi Farewell Dinner
Day 11:Urumqi – Farewell
💰 Price Description
May 6, May 14
Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 59,999 RMB/person
Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 54,999 RMB/person
Our agency offers various travel options: train tours, carpool tours, group tours, and custom car rentals. For details, call: 181-3962-2233 (Add as friend for detailed Xinjiang travel itineraries and prices)
🌄 Route Details: Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 49,999 RMB/person, third and fourth persons 30,000 RMB/person
June 1, June 30
Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 67,999 RMB/person
Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 62,999 RMB/person
Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 56,999 RMB/person, third and fourth persons 30,000 RMB/person
June 11, June 25
Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 69,999 RMB/person
Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 63,999 RMB/person
Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 58,999 RMB/person, third and fourth persons 30,000 RMB/person
September 3
Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 71,999 RMB/person
Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 65,999 RMB/person
The New Oriental Express is a comfortable travel product designed for long-distance trips in Xinjiang. The Gold Diamond carriage features dedicated butler service, with a Chinese-speaking guide throughout the journey. Upon arrival at scenic spots, local professional guides provide detailed explanations. Services include Urumqi airport/train station pickup, scenic area shuttle service, travel agency liability insurance, and complimentary group accident insurance for comprehensive travel protection. Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 59,999 RMB/person, third and fourth persons 30,000 RMB/person
October 15, October 25
Premium Gold Diamond (3 custom carriages) 44,999 RMB/person
Xiyue Gold Diamond (4 custom carriages) 39,999 RMB/person
Boyue Gold Diamond (5 custom carriages) 36,999 RMB/person, third and fourth persons 20,000 RMB/person
The above are reference prices. Prices and availability are subject to contract/customer service confirmation and may vary by departure date. The signed contract prevails.
📋 Fee and Service Description
✅ Reference items included in the fee:
1. Accommodation on the New Oriental Express carriage of the corresponding tier, and hotel or homestay accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
2. First admission tickets and shuttle bus fees for scenic spots listed in the itinerary
3. Meals as indicated in the itinerary, including local Xinjiang specialties like hand-pilaf, big plate chicken, and baked buns
4. Scenic area shuttle transportation fees and regular tourist vehicle usage fees for ground travel
5. Guide and docent service fees throughout the trip, and dedicated butler service fees for Gold Diamond carriages
The launched routes include a summer northern and southern Xinjiang combined version and an exclusive October southern Xinjiang version, covering multiple unique Xinjiang spots: The Ertix Grand Canyon and Zhongshan in Koktokay offer unique landscapes with mountains and streams complementing each other; Hemu Village’s log cabins blend well with surrounding forests, with morning mist and starry nights worth experiencing; Kanas’s Three Bays morning mist and lake water changing with light are highly recognizable, with lakeside walks along trails; the Yadan landform of Colorful Beach shows rich color layers at dusk, contrasting sharply with the valley forest across the river; Sayram Lake is crystal clear and blue, with wildflowers blooming by the lake in summer, offering a serene atmosphere of snow mountains and blue lake; Nalati Grassland is lush with water and grass, featuring herds of cattle and sheep and activities like horseback riding; Bayanbulak’s Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns sunset is distinctive, with multiple light reflections on the water in clear weather; Kuqa Grand Canyon’s red rock landscape is steep, with rock textures showing different colors under sunlight; Pamir Plateau’s白沙湖 (White Sand Lake) is pure, with surrounding snow mountains reflecting in the lake; Kashgar’s ancient city streets are full of life, offering various local cuisines; Turpan’s Karez wells and Jiaohe Ancient City carry deep historical heritage, showcasing local irrigation wisdom and ancient city culture.6. Travel agency liability insurance, and complimentary group accident insurance for tourists
7. Urumqi pickup and drop-off service fees
The above are common inclusions. Specific inclusions can be confirmed with customer service. The actual details are subject to consultation and signed contract. For solo travelers, we will try to arrange shared accommodation; special cases require separate negotiation.
During the itinerary, if weather, road conditions, policies, scenic area opening, departure changes, tickets, hotel room types, etc., are involved, reasonable changes can be made with mutual agreement. Cancellation and modification rules follow tourism law regulations.
📞 Registration Method
Register via Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency. Contact number:181-3962-2233, same as WeChat: 181-3962-2233. Specific address can be obtained from customer service.
💡 2026 Xinjiang Travel Tips
1. Valid ID must be carried at all times for hotel check-in, scenic area entry, and transportation. It is recommended to save a photo of your ID on your phone for emergencies.
2. If the itinerary includes border areas like the Pamir Plateau, a travel permit must be obtained in advance. You can apply on your own or seek assistance from the travel agency.
3. Xinjiang has large temperature differences between day and night, possibly exceeding 10 degrees Celsius, with strong UV rays and dry climate. Bring high-SPF sunscreen, moisturizing spray, thick jackets, and windbreakers for different weather conditions.
4. Xinjiang is vast with long distances between attractions. The longest single-day drive may take several hours. Prepare comfortable shoes, socks, portable snacks, and U-shaped pillows for a better travel experience.
5. Before traveling, learn about local cultural customs and respect the habits of various ethnic groups to foster a friendly travel atmosphere.
6. Foreign tourists should check the latest visa policies before traveling to ensure compliance with entry requirements before planning the trip.
The peak travel season for Xinjiang tourism in 2026 is mainly from May to October, with different scenery in each period. From May to June, grasslands and flower seas bloom; July to August has comfortable weather for family trips; September to October features attractive autumn poplar and layered forest scenery. Choose your preferred departure date based on your schedule, confirm availability with customer service in advance, and plan your trip reasonably.
For more details on Xinjiang train tours, contact customer service Zhang Jing ☎️: 181 3962 2233 (Add as friend for free: detailed itineraries and train introductions)
