Kanas Lake, Xinjiang · 9 days
Kanas is the kind of place that looks too good in photographs. In autumn it actually looks like that.
Kanas Lake, Xinjiang is a private tailor-made route in Xinjiang, running 9 days, best from Jun–Sep (autumn colour mid-Sep to early Oct). China Custom Tours (chinacustomtours.hk) arranges a dedicated vehicle and a Cantonese- or Mandarin-speaking guide; the vehicle serves your party only and there are no shopping stops.
- Duration
- 9 days
- Best season
- Jun–Sep (autumn colour mid-Sep to early Oct)
- Region
- Xinjiang
- Group size
- 4–12, private
- Shopping stops
- None
- Arrival cities
- Any Chinese city with an airport
Kanas Lake, Xinjiang private tour
Kanas sits at the far north of Xinjiang near the Kazakh, Russian and Mongolian borders — the only Chinese lake draining to the Arctic. Birch and larch forests turn gold in autumn, and the Tuva village of Hemu nearby is one of the few Tuva settlements in China. The defining feature of this route is distance: 700 km each way from Urumqi.
| Duration | 9 days |
|---|---|
| Best season | Jun–Sep (autumn colour mid-Sep to early Oct) |
| Region | Xinjiang |
| Suits | Families, elderly parents, first visits |
| Shopping stops | None |
Last updated 2026-10-13 · maintained by the China Custom Tours editorial desk
How this route runs.
Arrive Urumqi
Urumqi → Burqin
Burqin → Kanas
Kanas · Fish Pavilion · the three bays
Kanas → Hemu
Hemu at dawn → Koktokay
Koktokay → Urumqi
Tianchi Lake
Departure
The full day-by-day detail, including stops, driving times and hotel options, is sent with your personalised itinerary.
What you see along the way.
A 'colour-changing' lake that shifts between blues and greens through the day.
A Tuva village where we overnight so you can see the valley mist at dawn.
The best overlook of the lake — 1,068 steps up.
Striped yardang cliffs by the Burqin River, best at sunset.
The Irtysh gorge and the No. 3 mine pit — a geologist's detour.
Itemised, with nothing hidden.
Included
- Private vehicle and driver throughout
- Licensed guide (Cantonese or Mandarin)
- 8 nights accommodation including a Hemu guesthouse
- Admission and shuttle buses for Kanas, Hemu, Wucaitan and Tianchi
- Fuel, tolls and driver/guide expenses
Not included
- Flights to and from Xinjiang (bookable on request)
- Domestic flights (Urumqi–Kanas/Altay, bookable on request)
- Meals and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Questions about Kanas Lake, Xinjiang.
When is the best time for Kanas?
June to August is a cool green summer; mid-September to early October is the famous golden birch autumn, and also the busiest. Aim for around 15 September to 5 October, depending on that year's temperatures.
Are the distances really that long?
Yes — about 700 km each way from Urumqi to Kanas, which is why we use domestic flights so the time goes into the scenery rather than the road. It is also why we recommend a private car rather than a coach.
Are the Hemu guesthouses comfortable?
Hemu is mostly guesthouses, simpler than city hotels, but we pick ones with private bathrooms and good heating. The stars and the dawn mist are the point of staying there.
Is Xinjiang safe?
Cities and scenic areas are safe; security screening is thorough, which is normal. We advise carrying your ID at all times, and your guide accompanies you throughout.
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Rebuild this route around your dates.
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