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4 Days Kanas Hiking Tour

Superb Landscape & Enjoyable Hiking for All

Kanas boasts as one of the most beautiful places in China, which is absolutely right. Among the many magnificent experiences to explore this wonderland, such as photography, rafting, rock climbing, boating, horse riding, etc., hiking is the most recommended. It is the best way to enjoy the untouched natural beauty like a part of it. Kanas provides hiking on well-paved trails and primitive trails. You can experience both two hiking experiences in a single trip. The well-paved trails take you to the most beautiful river bays and the vast Kanas Lake, while the primitive trails take you to the off-the-beaten-track mountain area near Hemu Village. They both are not difficult-level hikes, and can be enjoyed by all kinds of travelers even kids and seniors.

Our 4 Days Kanas Hiking Tour ensures you have at least two full days hiking to the most beautiful area of Kanas, also some flexible time to explore things of your own interest. You will be accompanied by a local guide who knows the area very well so that you won’t miss out all the best experiences. Comfortable hotels, airport pick up and drop off, attraction tickets, sightseeing bus and breakfasts are all covered. The hiking itinerary can be tailor-made according to your interest and energy condition.

Kanas can be visited all year around but only the months between April~October are suitable for hiking. The temperature gap between day and night is very big. You should pack both hiking clothes and extra layers.

  • Type : Private Tour
  • Tour Code : CD-KNSHT-04
  • Price : from Request
    1. 1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one double-bed room in local hotel and traveling in low seasons;
    2. 2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
  • Theme : Nature / Culture
  • Physical Demands :

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

  • Hike the off-the-beaten-path to the Beautiful Peak to look for the hidden Kazak village and enjoy wide-and-open scenery of snow mountains, birch forest, river, meadows, herds, etc.
  • Walk leisurely on the plank road along the Kanas River to marvel at the picturesque Three Bays and chase seasonal colors reflecting on the crystalline water;
  • Escape the tourist’s crowd to explore the tranquil Taiga Trail along the lake shore of Kanas Lake to seek for the endless fun of wild nature and have a panoramic view of the lake from the Fish-watching Tower;
  • Spend some relaxing time in Hemu Village whose hosts are the descendants of the mighty army of Genghis Khan, and enjoy the magnificent sunrise and sunset.
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Itinerary Day by Day (Can Be Customized)
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Day 1 Kanas Airport Arrival - Hemu Village (L)

Kanas airport pick up & drive to Hemu Village

Welcome to Kanas, the most beautiful place in Xinjiang. Upon arriving at Burqin Kanas Airport, you will be welcomed by local tour guide and driver, then drive about 80 km (about 2 hours) to Hemu Village where you will stay over tonight.

Hemu Village is an important part of Kanas Scenic Area. It is one of the most beautiful villages in China, a magic place where you can get rid of the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in the creation of photography. The villagers are Tuvans who is a branch of Mongolian. The ancestors of Tuvas are believed to be solders of Genghis Khan. Currently, there are about 2000 Tuvas people living in Hemu and other two nearby villages – Baihaba and Kanas. Their houses are made of wood entirely without any steels and cements, and they still keep the old traditions of nomad living, Tibetan Buddhism, festival, etc. Small population, old-fashioned wooden house, exotic ethnic culture and wild surrounding forests all make Hemu Village a peaceful and primitive place. You will visit a local Tuvas family to find out what’s their living like, and get treated with local snacks, fruits and drinks prepared by the hosts. Sometimes, you can even a race chance to see Tuvas playing music and dancing. The rest is free for you to relax and exploring surrounding. Sunset here is fabulous. You can walk up to a higher hill to appreciate the sunset in the golden sunlight. The vast golden birch forests and green grasslands surround the peaceful village, together appear charming colors like an oil painting.

Kanas Arrival Idea

Kanas can be arrived by flight and driving. Currently Urumqi has the most frequent daily flights to Burqin Kanas Airport. Turpan, Yili, Boyue and several other Xinjiang cities also operate some weekly flights to Kanas. Travel to Kanas by land driving from Urumqi takes about 9 hours.

  • Beautiful Hemu River in September Beautiful Hemu River in September
  • Visit a local Tuvas family in Hemu Village Visit a local Tuvas family in Hemu Village

Day 2 Hemu Hiking (B)

Today's highlights: Hemu Village Sunrise, Hiking to Beautiful Peak

Get up early to catch the incredible sunrise which is also the MUST photo to be shot. When the sun rises and shines onto the mist curling up the villages, it is the moment to take one of the best pictures in your life. To shoot the sunrise, you need to walk along the plank road to the high places on the mountains near to the village. After the sunrise, go back to your hotel to have breakfast.

Today, you will enjoy a comfortable hiking around Hemu Village to the Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng). The hike is about 20km without many ups and downs, and needs about 5~6 hours, which can be done by all ranges of people, including kids and seniors. Some travelers prefer riding a horse to the Beautiful Peak, but hiking is the most recommended as it is full of off-the-beaten-track experiences. Compared with the paved plank trails in Kanas Lake Scenic Area, the road to the Beautiful Peak is more primitive, taking the dirt tracks through birches, meadows and hills. There are barely human activities until you get to the small Kazak village under the foot of the Beautiful Peak. Enjoy the god-given peaceful moments in the village where there is no noisy of tourist at all, also indulge yourself in the open landscape around you - snow-capped Beautiful Peak, open grassland, colorful forest, lovely herds… then you will hike the same direction back to Hemu Village.

After getting to Hemu Village, hop on a park bus (about 2 hours’ drive along the beautiful mountain road) to Kanas Lake Scenic Area for accommodation.

Notice: there is no restaurant and shop along the hiking. You can bring some snacks for lunch.

  • Morning mist in Hemu Village in Autumn Morning mist in Hemu Village in Autumn
  • Hemu - Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng) hiking Hemu - Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng) hiking
  • Hemu - Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng) hiking Hemu - Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng) hiking
  • Peaceful Hemu Village in Winter Peaceful Hemu Village in Winter

Day 3 Kanas Lake Scenic Area Hiking (B, L)

Today's highlights: Recumbent Dragon Bay, Moon Bay and Celestial Bay, Taiga Trail, Fish-watching Tower, panoramic view of Kanas Lake

Today is a full-day exploration of Kanas Lake Scenic Area including two enjoyable hiking experiences: Three Bays Hiking and Kanas Hiking.

Get up early to escape the crowds, then take a park bus to the Three Bays area. Start hiking from the Recumbent Dragon Bay and walk along the plank road along the Kanas River to Moon Bay and Celestial Bay, which is about 6km long, very leisure and beautiful. This section is the most beautiful part of the entire Kanas Scenic Area. The water here is crystalline, gentle and lovely. Along the two sides of the three bays are forests with alternate colors of green, yellow and golden, changing with the seasons. The trees, sky and clouds together project in the river, and appear a colorful reflection.

Then take a park bus from the Celestial Bay to the lakeside of Kanas Lake. There is a 5-kilometer-long plank road, known as Taiga Trail, following the eastern lake shore of Kanas to the deep wild forest. It is a scenic and relaxing experience as well as a good way to escape from the tourist crowds. You will walk through Siberian spruce forest, Wall of Root Carving, Taiga moors and reach at Tuluke Rock Painting at the end of the plank road, then return the same way.

Optional Kanas Lake Cruise – if you want to explore deeper area of Kanas, you can join the Cruise Program. The sightseeing ship sails to the heart area of the lake, the return to the lake shore, lasting about 45 minutes. Tell your guide if you get interested.

After the lakeside hiking, keep traveling to Fish-watching Tower - the highest location of Kanas Scenic Area. The Fish-watching Tower is located at 2056 meters on a mountain at the outlet of Kanas Lake. One needs to walk about 1000 steps up to reach the tower, but the rewarding is handsome - a panoramic view of Kanas Lake, and stretching eyesight to the snow mountains of the Friendship Peak (4374m).

Lastly, transfer by park bus back to your hotel. Have a good rest.

  • Winding Kanas River in July Winding Kanas River in July
  • Moon Bay (autumn) - the iconic sight of Kanas Moon Bay (autumn) - the iconic sight of Kanas
  • Taiga Trail along the lake shore of Kanas Lake Taiga Trail along the lake shore of Kanas Lake
  • Fish-watching Tower - high location to enjoy panoramic view of Kanas Lake Fish-watching Tower - high location to enjoy panoramic view of Kanas Lake

Day 4 Kanas Departure (B)

Kanas Burqin Airport drop off

Wake up in the peaceful morning of Kanas to have breakfast. The rest time of today is free for you to relax until your driver escorts you to catch your flight to Urumqi or other destinations.

The quotation for this trip is from Request Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in local hotels and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 6.85. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

What's included?

  • Professional licensed English-speaking guide;
  • Admission tickets for all attractions listed in the itinerary;
  • Accommodation as listed in the itinerary;
  • Necessary vehicle transfers as listed in the itinerary;
  • Kanas airport pick up and drop off;
  • Luggage Transfers: between airports (railway station) and hotels;
  • All meals as listed(“B” for Chinese and Western breakfast buffet in your hotel; “L” for Chinese Lunch in local restaurant; “D” for Chinese dinner in local restaurant.);
  • Accident insurance;
  • Our service charge, including tour planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

What's excluded?

  • China visa;
  • Personal expenses;
  • Accommodation not listed in the itinerary;
  • Single Room Supplement;
  • Tourist sites which are not listed in the itinerary;
  • Recommended optional activities;
  • Flights to/off Kanas (we can book for you);
  • Excess Baggage Charges;
  • Optional tips to guides, drivers, etc.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Hi Mr Wang,

Thanks! I had a weekend away to Xi’an, China to celebrate my birthday. It was an exciting weekend and it was certainly something off the beaten trail for most of my friends. The itinerary you have suggested provided good coverage of the city’s rich history. From the fascinating Terracotta Army to the City Walls to the sacred Mount Hua, to the Muslim Quarter to the Drum & Bell Towers, there’s an interesting story from every historical era in Xi’an. I managed to hike up Mount Hua from North Peak to West Peak, but I didn’t get to do the dangerous plank walk as it was closed.

The hotel Eastern House was very accessible too with food places within steps and its proximity to the Drum Tower is a plus. The room was very clean and comfortable.

At this point, I have to quickly mention our amazing tour guide Betty Jiao Yan who was assigned to us as part of our private tour package. She made our time feel so very special and I wonder if Xi'an would have been as awesome without her. She had such a positive and caring nature and when we had to say goodbye, we felt very sad. It was strange to miss a guide after only knowing her for 5 days! Luckily we still keep in touch on WeChat. Our driver Mr Ma was very polite, punctual and accommodating, making our travel a pleasant experience

Anne

Anne‚ Singapore, January 25, 2024

Hi Jack,

Thanks. The Harbin and Snow Town trip was excellent and very enjoyable. We are now in Japan skiing, and will send our feedback upon our return on 31st Jan.

Best wishes

Leong

Leong‚ Singapore, January 24, 2024

Hi Rita,

From my end, everything is remarkable! Jane is amazing! She really make us feel welcome.

All the hotels were amazing too! My parents also very impressed.

I will definitely reaching out again, next time when I visit China. There’s many more places I want to visit.

Best regards,

Jefry

Jefry‚ Indonesia, January 21, 2024

Dear Rita,

We are home. Thanks for arranging this nice trip. Everything worked out nicely except the smoking room problem in Chengde.

Thanks again.

John

John‚ USA, January 19, 2024

Hi Rita,

In response to your enquiries, we had a wonderful experience with the tour arrangements in both Guilin and Yangshuo. Both the tour guide and driver were very professional and handled the arrangements well.

I am surely recommending any friends or relatives who are interested in travelling to China in future to use China Discovery. Also, will be looking at other destinations for ourselves too.

Thanks once again for the wonderful experience.

Kwan

Kwan‚ Malaysia, January 18, 2024
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How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

1-on-1 Travel Consultant

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Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

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Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

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In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

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We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!

Photo gallery of this trip

  • Beautiful Hemu River in September Beautiful Hemu River in September
  • Visit a local Tuvas family in Hemu Village Visit a local Tuvas family in Hemu Village
  • Morning mist in Hemu Village in Autumn Morning mist in Hemu Village in Autumn
  • Hemu - Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng) hiking Hemu - Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng) hiking
  • Hemu - Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng) hiking Hemu - Beautiful Peak (Meilifeng) hiking
  • Peaceful Hemu Village in Winter Peaceful Hemu Village in Winter
  • Winding Kanas River in July Winding Kanas River in July
  • Moon Bay (autumn) - the iconic sight of Kanas Moon Bay (autumn) - the iconic sight of Kanas
  • Taiga Trail along the lake shore of Kanas Lake Taiga Trail along the lake shore of Kanas Lake
  • Fish-watching Tower - high location to enjoy panoramic view of Kanas Lake Fish-watching Tower - high location to enjoy panoramic view of Kanas Lake

Most Important Xinjiang Trip Notes

Essential Xinjiang Travel Guide
1. Xinjiang is so vast that a longer trip is more recommended!
Xinjiang is the largest province in China. Its size is about 3 times of France and full of both natural and cultural charms. Xinjiang is not only vast but also remote from major big cities. So it is strongly recommended to plan your trip as longer as possible so that you can make best use of both your time and money.
2. Best places to visit in Xinjiang and How to plan your itinerary?

Xinjiang can satisfy all your desires about different styles of travel, no matter you are seeking for nature fun, culture experience or some adventures. Generally speaking, Kashgar, Turpan and Urumqi are most popular as the Golden Triangle. They provide you Silk Road history and culture as well as Xinjiang featured scenery – beautiful lakes, gorges, mountains, etc. They are the best options for the first-timers, needing about 6~8 days. Kanas, with tranquil lake and bays, primitive villages and ethnic culture, is strongly recommended too. A trip to Kanas usually takes about 4~7 days. If you prefer natural landscape, the western Xinjiang offers you superb grassland, alpine like, wild flowers. Recommended places include Sayram Lake, Karajun Grassland, Naraty Grassland, etc. The southern Xinjiang has many hidden gems for an in-depth adventure, such as historical Silk Road cities, Takilamakan Desert, Hotan, Kuqa, etc. Such a trip usually costs over 10 days, but it is definitely worth your time and effort.

3. Xinjiang weather, best time and wearing tips?

Xinjiang is far away from the sea with surrounding high mountains, forming an obvious temperate continental climate. The temperature difference is large; the sunshine time is sufficient; the ultraviolet ray is strong; the air is very dry. Since Xinjiang has a vast area, the climate differs a lot by regions. Generally speaking, the southern Xinjiang is hotter than northern Xinjiang; northern Xinjiang has more rainfall than the southern area. You can easily find different places to travel in different seasons.

♦ April to June: Ili Apricot Valley, Tianshan Tianchi Lake, Sayram Lake, Tashkurgan, Naraty Grassland, Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar, etc.

♦ July to August: Urumqi, Sayram Lake, Karajun Grassland, Naraty Grassland, Kanas, Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar, etc.

♦ September to early November: Kanas, Taklimakan Desert, Populus Euphratica in Tarim Basin, Kuqa Grand Canyon, Tashkurgan, Naraty Grassland, Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar, etc.

♦ Mid November to March: Urumqi, Turpan, Kashgar, Kanas, etc.

4. How to get to & around Xinjiang?

Getting there: it usually takes a longer time than other China cities to get to Xinjiang. Travelers usually arrive in Urumqi first by flight or train then transfer to other cities of Xinjiang. Currently, you can take flights to Urumqi from Beijing (about 4 hours), Xian (about 42.5 hours), Shanghai (about 5.5 hours), Guangzhou (about 5 hours), Chengdu (about 3.5 hours), etc., or high speed trains from Dunhuang (about 4.5 hours), Lanzhou (about 11 hours), Xining (about 9.5 hours), etc. Kashgar is the secondly-used arrival hub. It operates some domestic flights to Xian, Chengdu, etc.

Getting around: from Urumqi, you can keep traveling by flights to Kashgar, Kanas, Kuqa, Ili, etc. Actually, traveling by driving is more popular than taking flight and train, because the best scenery can usually be reached by car. But it's hard to travel by public bus to many remote scenic areas.So let a travel agency like China Discovery arrange transfer for you is the best choice.

5. Xinjiang accommodation condition?

Apart from a few major cities such as Urumqi, Kashgar and Turpan whose hotels have complete facilities and wifi. In many other places, especially in some remote scenic spots, accommodation is relatively simple and basic, such as Kanas, Sayram Lake, Naraty, Tashkurgan, etc. where you can stay in a guesthouse, a homestay or a local yurt. Also, during the busy season from June to October every year, hotel occupancy will be much higher than normal days, so it is necessary to book your hotel in advance.

China Discover has included accommodation in our every tour package so that you don’t have trouble with booking hotels on your own. All our hotels are well-selected, comfortable, well-equipped with friendly services.

6. Useful Travel Tips to Visit Grasslands / Deserts in Xinjiang?

● Remember to always follow your groups instead of heading to the heart regions by your own, or you may get lost. Cell phone signal may be weak or zero in the grassland or forest areas in Xinjiang, stay calm.

● Wear the harness correctly when enjoying horse riding and follow the direction to keep safe!

More useful tips & packing list for desert travel in China >

7. What to Eat During the Trip in Xinjiang?

Xinjiang’s Uyghur food and other local cuisine will be a memorable part of your trip. The local Uyghur food is famous throughout China and popular among travelers. There are not only Uyghur foods, but also traditional Chinese food, Hui food, Kazakh food, etc. Some hotels and restaurants in bigger cities, such as Urumqi, Kashgar, Turpan, Ili, etc., also provide western food and coffee.

We usually cover your breakfasts in your hotels and lunches during your trip. Dinner is your own chance to explore local food or other food you are interested in. Feel free to let your guide know your dinning interest and requirement in advance so that you can arrange meals accordingly.

8. What is the Itinerary Time of Each Day?
Your daily sightseeing usually lasts about 8~10 hours, and differs by itineraries. If you are going to visit remote areas, such as Kanas, Sayram Lake, Naraty, Takilamakan Desert, etc., your sightseeing time is usually longer since there are some distant drivings to be taken. If you wish to watch sunrise and sunset, your sightseeing hours will be longer too. Your tour guide usually will tell you exact starting hour of each day.
Payment and Booking Guide
1. What kind of payment method do you accept?
PayPal, Wire Transfer/Bank Transfer, Western Union are acceptable before your arrival, and after your arrival, CASH is required.
2. How soon before our trip do you need payment?
Early booking is always better than being rushed, and we would suggest booking to be 2-3 month earlier than your arrival so as to guarantee the booking items. If you are interested in any of our tours, you can pay a deposit first and balance to be paid 30 days prior to your arrival. You can also choose to pay the full amount so as to avoid small loss caused by currency exchange rate fluctuation. If booking is less than 30 days, full payment is required.

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Winding Kanas River in July
7 Days Classic Road Trip to Heavenly Kanas Lake

Urumqi - Wu'erhe - Kanas - Burqin - Urumqi

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