TRIP OVERVIEW
Located in the northern area of the Xinjiang province, Hanas Lake is often called by locals as the most beautiful place in Xinjiang. You will not only behold its rugged mountain ridges and dense forests, but most important of all, an alpine lagoon that changes color with the weather. Its transformation can be quite dramatic; within a day, it can change from azure to emerald to dark green, or even display a hundred different shades of blue as you stand in front of the lake. The sight of the lake surrounded by thick evergreen forests, boulders and mountains, and friendly Kazak nomads passing through the area will make you feel as though you have come to a different part of the world. In addition, a journey across the picturesque grasslands of Altai and a stop in 'Devil City' will offer you an exotic and otherworldly experience.
- Day-by-Day Itinerary
- Price Policy
- Tour Remarks
(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
DAY 1 Home - Urumqi - Karamay (by air, LD)
Morning flight from Wuhan to Urumqi, suggest CZ6547, departure time:10:30am, arrival time: 15:00pm.
Upon reaching Urumqi, the capital of Xinjang, you will be met at the airport and have a short briefing on the itinerary of this tour. You will find very little difference between Urumqi and other large inland cities in China. But the region's exotic feel persists, and the markets, such as the Kashgar Market and Erdaoqiao Folk Handicrafts Market, certainly exude the atmosphere of the Silk Road. To save the driving time for next day, we would drive directly toward Burqin right after the pick-up service, stay in a good hotel(4 star) in Karamay.
DAY 2 Karamay - Burqin - Hemu (BLD)
After breakfast, we will continue to drive to Burqin with beautiful scenery along the road. On the way, visit the Devil City, assembles a Herculean castle built in medieval Europe. Whenever the wind blows, the sky instantly turns pitch dark, with huge volumes of sand streaming in from nowhere, further drive Hemu passing the small town of Buerjin, a town inhabited mostly by the Kazaks. Stay in the hotel at Hemu.
DAY 3-4 Hemu - Karakul Lake (Black Lake) - Hanas Lake - Jiadengyu (BLD)
Two days' riding distance:35km, riding time:11hrs (we may take more time because of the little kids).
This morning we will begin our horse-riding tour. Your local guide will arrange the horse and horseman for the tour follows. Before starting the tour there is a brief horse-ride training. From then on, the area we will pass is the exceptionally beautiful scenery untouched by tourists. The primary forest, the crystal Hanas River and Hemu River zigzag its way to far, the old wood bridge left from the age. You could visit the local nomadic village. We will spend the night at a charming lodge on the way (yurt near Karakul lake with public toilet).
At arrival of Hanas Lake, time permit, the guide will take you to the north of the lake to the Fish Watching Pavilion on the peak of a mountain (2,030 m/6,660 ft). The pavilion will offer you an unobstructed view of the entire lake, tiers upon tiers of peaks, glaciers as well as the grand river valley where you trekked through the day before. After descending the mountain, you could go speed-boating along the 24 km (15 mi)-long lake. Then take a short drive to Jiadengyu where we will stay tonight.
PS:Due to the limit of riding route condition, we simple picnic lunch will be arranged these two days.
DAY 5 Jiadengyu - Hanas Lake - Burqin (BLD)
This morning, after breakfast, we will drive back to Hanas Lake. Taking the shuttle bus to visit other places include Crouching Dragon Bay , the Moon Bay and Wild Duck Lake etc. The Crouching Dragon Bay , surrounded by a dense birch forest and set against a scenic backdrop of towering peaks, is a calm and serene sight. The lake is not alone here - a short distance away lies the mirror-flat Moon Bay , named after its perfect crescent shape. The Wild Duck Lake also deserves you to have a look, as wild duck, gooses and swans leisurely swim in the lake. Then go to visit local Tuvas's house, to see what they will do in their daily life. After lunch, we will say "Good-bye" to the Hanas Lake, and drive first back to Jiadengyu, we will visit the Multi-colored Bay (Wucai Bay), Eerqisi Lake, Hedi night market, and further drive to Buerjin.
DAY 6 Burqin - Urumqi (BLD)
Drive back to Urumqi, we will pass the Tuerban Tonggute Desert, and Kanameili Nature resort on the way. Stay in 4 star hotel in Urumqi.
DAY 7 Urumqi - Home (B)
Transfer to the airport for the flight Home.
Recommend: HU7759, departure time: 10:10am, arrival time: 13:55pm.
The tour cost includes
- Air-conditioned tourist van/bus(9-seat) for land transfer service when needed.
- Meals: 3 meals daily as listed in the itinerary.
- Accommodation: double-occupancy in 4 star hotel in big city, and the best hotel in small cities or counties, clean guest house/hostel/or home-stay in villages as clarified in the itinerary.
- One horse for each, vehicle to transfer the food and luggage or in the area with no road for vehicle some extra horses for carrying food and luggage as required.
- English-speaking guide, experience drivers when transfer involved and every 3-4 person one horsemen.
- Entrance fees: All first-entrance tickets to the tourist spots mentioned in the itinerary.
- Travel agency liability insurance.
The tour cost does not include
- Domestic airfare: in the above quotation form, flight tickets are calculated according to the following discounts:
Wuhan - Urumqi: recommend to take the flight CZ6547, the price for the adults is based on 20% discount, for the kids is based on 50%;
Urumqi – Wuhan: recommend to take the flight HU7759, the price for the adults is based on 30% discount, for the kids is based on 50%.
If we turned out to get better discount, we will lower the price accordingly.
- Personal gear required: if camping, a sleeping bag sufficiently warm to protect against minus 20°C (-4°F) in Jan-March, against -10°C or -5°C (14°F- 23°F) in April and May, against 0-5°C (32°-41°F) in June. Also: hiking boots; raincoat; cap; camera; sun-cream; sun-glasses; pocket knife; day-pack, etc.
- Expenses of a personal nature: favorite snacks, soft drinks, laundry , local or long-distance calls, etc.
- Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10/guest/day).
- Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.
- Any service persons to carry personal belonging while trekking (although this can be arranged, it should be unnecessary - participants should find that trekking with a single day-pack for personal items should suffice).
- Single supplement costs (for those who want accommodation on a single basis).
- Visa to China.
- Domestic and international flights and related airport taxes not listed in the itinerary.
- Supplementary trips, entrance fees and services not mentioned, and extra costs due to unforeseen circumstances.
Cancellation and Refund Policy for Tours Reservation
Cancellation in advance |
Cancellation penalty |
More than 30 days |
No Cancellation Fee |
30-10 days |
50% of the full payment |
9-0 days or no show |
100% of the full payment |
- As the exchange rate of CNY to USD is subject to Change, the final price will be calculated according to the Chinese currency CNY. We will alternate the price in USD according to the exchange rate when you pay.
- The train and flight schedule is taken according to present time table, they are subject to change according to the new schedule, we reserve the right to choose the flights.
- The detailed horseback riding notes will be provided after you confirm the trip.
- Reservation should be made at least one month before departure time.
- We reserve the right to alternate the visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary according to the weather condition and other unforeseen things.
- The part of the area we will visit has not been well developed like Beijing and Shanghai. While it is good to enjoy the well protected nature view and experience unique primitive fork customs, we should prepare for that even the star hotel is not so good and though we will try our best, the food may not be so delicate and various.
- This part of the grassland is the most beautiful one in China, but some of the places on the way are scattered with small stone or block where you are not supposed to run the horse, while there are wetland area where it is easy to get stuck in. It is very important to follow the local horseman's direction. To ensure the safety of the whole group, the horseman has the right to decide where to walk and where to run. All the participants are not allowed to leave the group without the accompany of the horseman.
- When you sign up for the riding tour, you acknowledge that there are risks involved in horse riding and confirm that you are fully aware of and accept these risks. You are strongly advised for your own safety to wear a hard hat (helmet) whilst in the vicinity of horses. You may or may not are required to sign a separate acknowledgement and acceptance of personal liability by the local supplier before being allowed to ride, and if you are not allowed to ride because you refuse to sign, you will have no claim against CAT or the supplier and will not be entitled to any refund or compensation.
- Tourist insurance is a must for the horse-riding tour, it is your own liability to make sure your insurance do cover this kind of horse-riding trip. Please provide us the confirmation of insurance company at least one week before the departure. If you are not allowed to take the tour because you couldn't provide the insurance covering the horse riding tour when the tour starts, there will be no refund or compensation for that.