Sayram Lake & Nalati Grassland Tour

Itinerary: 5 Days Urumqi - Sayram Lake - Fruit Valley - Yining - Nalati Grassland - Yining

Yining, near the border with Kazakhstan, is about 390KM on the west of Urumqi. The tour to Yining starts from Urumqi. If you arrive there by air, it will take about 1.5 hours. However, to enjoy the beauty of Xinjiang on the way and reduce the budget, bus ride seems to be a better way.

Take the regular coach from Nianzigou Passenger Station to Yining. Not to miss the Sayram Lake, you need to get off half way and try to stop another passing coach after visiting the Lake. So, we suggest you try to rent a car, which will be flexible and you can set up early in the morning. To see the Lake, drive 240KM westward along No. 312 national highway (Urumqi-Kuitun) to reach Kuitun. Then drive 337KM along the Tunsai highway (Kuitun-Sayram Lake). En route, visit the Aobao of Jing River. Arrive at Sayram Lake - the famous mountain lake in Xinjiang in the late afternoon. Hike around the Lake to enjoy the stunning and charming natural scenery. Stay overnight in the camp.

Trek around the Lake if you did not finish that in the previous day. Then, drive along the road from Urumqi to Yining for several kilometers to reach the fairyland of Fruit Valley. In ancient times, the Valley was served as a controlling strategic section of the North Silk Road. It is a 28 km-long Valley covered with wild fruits, apricot trees, rare trees and exotic flowers everywhere. After seeing the sapphire-colored Lake and the charming Valley which are near to each other, you can not help exclaiming over the present bestowed by the Nature. Stay over the night either by the Lake or in the Valley. Groups of travelers are attracted here even for the night view.

Drive towards southwest along National High Way No. 30 and transfer to National High Way No. 218 after passing Qingshui Overpass. After about 5 hours, you will arrive at the second largest grassland in Xinjiang - Nalati Grassland. If you need rest and buy something to eat and drink, you may stop at Yining as you will pass through there. Get to the Grassland in the afternoon. Enjoy the grand grassland. You can have a horse riding on it as well. Stay overnight in the camp or the guest house.

► Important Note
If you do want to visit Nalati Grassland, you have to be clear about the following points:
• Foreign visitors are required to get a Special Travel Permit when visiting there and the surrounding area.
• Some local Travel Agencies can apply for the Permit for travelers. However, travelers will need to fax or scan their valid passport two months before the visit.
• The facilities of the Guest Houses in the Grassland can not be compared with the hotels in other cities. Neither can the meals be compared to those in the cities.

Continue to enjoy the scenery on the grassland in the morning. Drive back to Yining in the afternoon. En route, enjoy the landscape of Yili River Valley. There is no Youth Hostel in Yining, Instead, you may choose a local hotel for the night. For your information: Yining Friendship Hotel (2 stars) is located in the center area with convenient location and good price. Address: No. 7, 3rd Lane, Stalin street, Yining, Xinjiang; Tel: 86-999-7823111.

Your tour ends today. You could take the train C8748 0954/1518 back to Urumqi or you could take the 9-hour coach at Yining Great World Station and enjoy the scenery of the oasis and the Gobi Desert on the way.