2026 New Year Celebration in Northern Xinjiang 6 Day Private Car Tour in Snowy Forests and Plains of Northern Xinjiang, 4WD Vehicle Fee Standards & Recommended Itinerary Prices
Contact Manager Zhang Jing at phone number 18139622233 or WeChat 18139622233 to send itinerary and quotation
New Year’s Eve Spectacle in Northern Xinjiang’s Snowy Forests and Plains:2026 6-Day In-Depth Sightseeing Guide with 4WD Vehicles
❄ ️【Route Highlights:Northern Xinjiang’s Secret Realm in a Frozen Fantasy】
Winter in Northern Xinjiang transforms it into a fairy-tale world draped in snow, where the snowy plains of the Altai Mountains intertwine with Siberian fir forests to create breathtaking forest and snow landscapes. During the 2026 New Year’s Eve period, this region will welcome its peak season for ice and snow tourism, offering visitors the chance to experience:
Kanas Lake ‘Blue Ice Secret Realm’:In winter, Kanas Lake freezes over with a meter-thick layer of blue ice, which shimmers with a gem-like luster under the sunlight, while the lakeside rime corridor stretches for 10 kilometers.
Morning Mist and Starry Sky in Hemu Village:The Tuvan wooden houses are blanketed in snow, with morning smoke blending with the mist at dawn, and at night, the Milky Way is clearly visible, providing photography enthusiasts with the opportunity to capture the starry sky alongside the snowy houses.
Ice and Snow Crossing on the Northern Section of the Duku Highway:Although some sections are closed in winter, professional guides can lead snowmobile expeditions through ice and snow canyons with walls up to 3 meters high.
Urho Ghost City’s Ice and Snow Yardangs:Gale-force winds sculpt the yardang landforms covered in ice crystals in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, creating a surreal landscape where light and shadow intertwine with the snow at sunset.
🚗 【Simple Itinerary:6-Day Immersive Ice and Snow Experience】
Day 1:Gather in Urumqi
After arriving in the afternoon, check into a hotel in the city center. Recommended free activities:
Shop for unique souvenirs such as Atlas silk scarves and rawap instruments at the International Bazaar
Taste various ethnic cuisines like roasted stuffed buns, hand-pulled rice, and pomegranate juice on Lingguan Lane
New Year’s Eve Spectacle in Northern Xinjiang’s Snowy Forests and Plains: 2026 6-Day In-Depth Sightseeing Guide with 4WD Vehicles In the evening, attend the pre-trip briefing organized by the travel agency and receive a cold-weather supply pack (including hand warmers, non-slip ice cleats, etc.)
Day 2:Urumqi → Heavenly Lake of Tianshan → Fuyun
Morning:Take a 2-hour drive to Heavenly Lake of Tianshan, then ride a horse-drawn sleigh through 3 kilometers of snowy plains to get a close-up view of the snow-capped Bogda Peak
Afternoon:Drive for 5 hours through the Gurbantunggut Desert, with opportunities to track naturally occurring animal footprints along the way
Evening:Check into the Fuyun County Geological Hotel and enjoy a feast of local cold-water fish
Day 3:Fuyun → Koktokay → Burqin
Morning:Visit Koktokay National Geological Park, explore the No. 3 Mine (a meritorious mine), and experience snowmobiling across the Irtysh River Canyon
Afternoon:Drive for 4 hours to Burqin, stopping at Chonghur Town along the way to photograph the rime forest
Night:Participate in the New Year’s Eve celebrations on the Sino-Russian Border风情 Street and watch Russian dance performances
Day 4:Burqin → Kanas → Hemu
All day:Transfer to a 4WD off-road vehicle for an in-depth exploration of the Kanas Scenic Area
Climb Guanyu Platform for a panoramic view of the icy Three Bays
Hike a 2-kilometer icy plank road from Moon Bay to Wolong Bay
❄️【Route Highlights: Northern Xinjiang’s Secret Realm in a Frozen Fantasy】Evening:Check into a century-old wooden house homestay in Hemu and experience making traditional Tuvan fur skis
Day 5:In-Depth Tour of Hemu
Early morning:Take a horse-drawn sleigh to the Haden Platform for a panoramic view of the morning mist
Morning:Ride horses across the Meilifeng Grassland (accompanied by a professional horse handler at a 1:2 ratio)
Afternoon:Participate in interactive experiences such as snow football matches and photography lessons on how to create instant ice by splashing water
Night:Gather around the fire pit to taste Tuvan milk tea and listen to the Chuwuer (reed pipe instrument) performance
Day 6:Hemu → Urho Ghost City → Urumqi
Morning:Drive for 6 hours across the Junggar Basin, stopping at the Karamay Oil Field Viewing Platform along the way
Afternoon:Tour the special ice and snow edition of Urho Ghost City and participate in the ‘Wind-Eroded Castle’ themed photography contest
Evening:Arrive at Urumqi Diwopu Airport to conclude the trip
💰 【2026 Custom Vehicle Rental Fee Standards】
Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency offers three vehicle options (fees include driver’s salary, fuel, tolls, and basic insurance):
Winter in Northern Xinjiang transforms it into a fairy-tale world draped in snow, where the snowy plains of the Altai Mountains intertwine with Siberian fir forests to create breathtaking forest and snow landscapes. During the 2026 New Year’s Eve period, this region will welcome its peak season for ice and snow tourism, offering visitors the chance to experience:Economy:5-seat city SUV (e.g., Toyota RAV4)
Low season (November-March):800 yuan/day
Peak season (December-February):1200 yuan/day
Comfort:7-seat business van (e.g., Buick GL8)
Low season:1200 yuan/day
Peak season:1800 yuan/day
Professional:4WD hardcore off-road vehicle (e.g., Toyota Prado)
Low season:1500 yuan/day
Peak season:2200 yuan/day
Fee Adjustment Notes:
A 30% holiday service fee will be added during the New Year’s period (December 30-January 2)
A 10% discount is available for custom vehicle rentals of 6 consecutive days or more
Driver’s accommodation and meal allowance:150 yuan/day (or accommodation arranged uniformly by the travel agency)
Kanas Lake ‘Blue Ice Secret Realm’: In winter, Kanas Lake freezes over with a meter-thick layer of blue ice, which shimmers with a gem-like luster under the sunlight, while the lakeside rime corridor stretches for 10 kilometers.Excess mileage fee:3 yuan/kilometer for distances exceeding 300 kilometers per day
📞 【Registration Method】
You can register through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency and consult with Manager Zhang Jing, the customer service manager, for specific departure dates and availability. Only 20 groups are accepted per day, so it is recommended to book 30 days in advance.
📋 【Fee and Service Description】
Fees include:
Custom vehicle rental service (including snow tires and chains)
Professional driver and guide service (with over 5 years of driving experience on icy roads)
First entrance tickets to scenic spots within the itinerary (Kanas, Hemu, Ghost City, etc.)
5 nights of characteristic accommodation (including 2 nights in wooden houses within the scenic area)
Travel accident insurance (coverage of 500,000 yuan per person)
Fees do not include:
Major transportation to and from Urumqi from various locations
Morning Mist and Starry Sky in Hemu Village: The Tuvan wooden houses are blanketed in snow, with morning smoke blending with the mist at dawn, and at night, the Milky Way is clearly visible, providing photography enthusiasts with the opportunity to capture the starry sky alongside the snowy houses. Secondary consumption items within the scenic area (e.g., 150 yuan/person for snowmobiling in Kanas)
(Single travelers will be matched for shared accommodation whenever possible; a full-trip supplement of 1200 yuan will be charged if matching is not possible)
Personal expenses and fees resulting from uncontrollable factors
Special reminders:
The specific itinerary may be subject to change due to weather, road closures, or other factors; a supplementary agreement can be signed after mutual consent is reached
Strictly follow the driver’s instructions when driving on icy roads; do not request dangerous driving behaviors on your own
Daily departure times will be dynamically adjusted based on sunrise times to optimize photography lighting conditions
⚠ ️【Compliance Reminders】
All prices and service standards are subject to the ‘Xinjiang Domestic Tourism Contract’ signed by both parties. Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency promises:
No arranged shopping stops or self-funded additional items
No use of private vehicles without operational qualifications
No promises of completely traffic-free/delay-free conditions and other uncontrollable matters
Refund and cancellation rules will be strictly enforced in accordance with relevant provisions of the ‘Tourism Law’
This New Year’s season, let’s drive 4WD off-road vehicles through Northern Xinjiang’s icy secret realms, await the first rays of the New Year’s sun in front of Tuvan wooden houses, and capture the magnificent poems of the forest and snow plains with our lenses. Act now and embark on your frozen fantasy journey!
Contact Manager Zhang Jing at 18139622233 or WeChat 18139622233 to send itinerary and quotation
