Six Great Grasslands of Ili River Valley: Light Trekking Adventures

Arrive in Yining City, Xinjiang, from all over the world. This exotic river valley town serves as the starting point of your epic adventure.

• Hotel Check-in — Arrive at the designated hotel, check in, and pick up your welcome travel kit.
• Free Exploration — Feel free to explore the Kazanqi Folk Custom District, Liuxing Street Old Town, or the Ili River Bridge to soak in the vibrant local culture.
• Pre-trip Orientation — Gather for a welcome dinner in the evening, where your lead guide will introduce the itinerary, hiking pace, and safety guidelines, followed by a mandatory gear check.

After breakfast, drive across the Tianshan mountain branches into the vast, picturesque Zhaosu Grassland.

• Scenic Drive — A 4-5 hour scenic drive with sweeping views of rolling grasslands and soaring peaks along the way.
• Heavenly Horses Bathing in the River — Arrive in Zhaosu and head to the wide wetlands to spot herds of Ili horses galloping through the river, with a chance to watch traditional equestrian performances.
• Alpine Jade Lake — Visit an alpine lake perched at an altitude of around 2,200 meters. Surrounded by glaciers and emerald slopes, its jade-green waters offer a perfect setting for a light acclimatization walk.
• Arrive at Xiata Township — In the evening, check into Xiata Township or a nearby town to rest and gear up for tomorrow's trek.

In the early morning, venture deep into the Xiata Scenic Area to begin a light trek along an ancient glacial route.

• Xiata Ancient Trail Trek — Take the shuttle bus into the valley and hike 8-16 km round-trip along the ancient post road from the hot springs or Jiangjun Bridge, taking in stunning vistas of the Muzart Glacier and surrounding snowcapped peaks.
• Valley Trail Lunch — Enjoy your packed lunch among river valleys or flower-covered slopes, feeling the cool alpine breeze from the snow mountains.
• Tekes Bagua City — Drive to Tekes County and explore the unique Bagua City (Eight Trigrams City), famous for having no traffic lights. Spend your evening wandering through the lively night market to sample delicious local food.

After breakfast, head to the world-renowned Kalajun UNESCO World Natural Heritage site to experience the grand splendor of the 'Prairie in the Sky'.

• Flower Terrace Trek — Take the scenic shuttle to Flower Terrace (Xianhuatai) and hike up to the 'Three-tiered Peneplain' viewing platform to overlook rolling 3D grasslands backed by distant snow peaks.
• Meadow Trail Lunch — Enjoy a packed lunch on open grassy slopes while immersing yourself in nature's bounty.
• Falcon Terrace — Hike along the ridge to Falcon Terrace (Lieyingtai) to learn about local raptor culture and gaze across at the striking 'Spotted Forest' of the Kurdai Grand Canyon.
• Prairie Camp Night — Arrive at the West Kalajun Prairie Camp in the evening. Stay in a luxury twin tent, chat under the stars with your teammates in the cool evening breeze, and enjoy a unique night on the grasslands.

Wake up to morning sunlight and the soft sounds of sheep grazing on the prairie. After camp breakfast, continue deeper into Kalajun.

• Pastoral Trail Trek — Trek approx. 10-12 km along traditional nomadic trails toward Kalajun's East Gate. Walk alongside herds of livestock amidst vibrant wildflowers and rolling slopes, with views stretching to the snowline.
• Valley Descent — In the afternoon, exit via Kalajun East Gate and enjoy a scenic drive down through the winding valley toward Gongliu.
• Rest in Gongliu — Check into a comfortable hotel in Gongliu to unpack, take a hot shower, and unwind after your trek.

After breakfast, head deep into the Kurdening Nature Reserve for an immersive forest canyon trek.

• Damohe Valley Traverse — Board the shuttle bus into Kurdening's interior and follow the valley into Damohe Valley, experiencing a rich terrain mix of alpine meadows, dense spruce forests, and babbling streams.
• Canyon Trekking — Led by your guide, trek 10-12 km down from high grassy ridges into the Little Kurdening Canyon, crossing dense woods, mountain streams, scree slopes, and open fields.
• Forest Picnic Lunch — Enjoy a packed lunch in a quiet forest clearing or by a grassy stream bank.
• Sayram Lake Sunset — Exit the canyon in the afternoon, cross the famous Guozigou Bridge, and drive along mountain roads to Sayram Lake. Reach the eastern shore by evening to walk along the lake and watch the sunset reflections.

In the morning, discover the enchanting beauty of Sayram Lake—known as 'The Last Tear of the Tianshan Mountains'—from various vantage points.

• Sayram Lake Loop Drive — Drive counterclockwise along the lakeside highway, stopping at key scenic spots for photos to admire the tranquility and grand scale of the lake.
• Kegu'erqin Ridge Trek — Ascend from the trailhead on the south shore, climbing steadily through pine forests and mountain meadows up to the Kegu'erqin Ridge at an elevation of 2,450 meters.
• Ridge Vista Hike — Reaching the ridge, take in breathtaking vistas of the emerald lake and snow peaks to the north, and the dramatic Guozigou Canyon to the south. Trek 8-10 km along the undulating ridge line.
• Farewell Dinner — Descend back to the lake by afternoon and drive back to Yining City. Celebrate the journey with a joyous farewell dinner in the evening.

Today is departure day. We will arrange your airport or train station transfer according to your schedule.

• Airport Transfer — Private vehicle transfer to the airport or train station.
• Free Time — If time permits, feel free to shop for souvenirs or explore Yining at your own pace.