Back to routes

North & South Xinjiang Expedition: A Luxury RV Journey From Ili Grasslands to Pamir Plateau · 12 Days

12-Day Private Journey: Ili RV Experience, Kashgar Flight & Pamir Plateau

‹›

For those seeking both North & South Xinjiang – RV in Ili with VIP access, one flight to skip long roads, and premium hotels.

Why this route works

• 🚐 The RV is the soul of this route — here's what it gives you:​
• Four nights of RV camping, each in a different landscape — and that's the real difference.​ You sleep inside the Nalati River Valley, inside Kuerdunin's spruce forest, on the Kalajun grasslands, and at Sayram Lake's Command Platform camp. Regular tourists enter these scenic areas at 9am, queue for shuttle buses, squeeze through 3-4 crowded hours, and are cleared out by 6pm. Your RV drives in after the crowds have left — you stay until the next morning. Sunset, a sky full of stars, and sunrise, all from your own doorstep, with no one else around. No hotel on earth can offer this.
• The RV is both your transport AND your room.​ By day it carries you along the Duku Highway and between the four great grasslands of Ili; by night it becomes your bedroom in the middle of the scenery. No packing up, no driving 1-2 hours back to a hotel — the scenery is outside your window all night.
• VIP drive-in to four scenic areas.​ Nalati, Kuerdunin, Kalajun, and Sayram Lake — the RV drives straight through the VIP gate. No shuttle queues, no transfers, no long walks. While others wait in line, you just go.
• Private bathroom, always available.​ Clean flush toilet and hot shower on board — no worrying about public toilets on the Duku Highway or deep in the grasslands. Drink water freely, no rationing.
• You don't drive — your driver is your trip host.​ A professional driver-guide handles every mountain road and everything around it: camp setup, hot pot dinner at sunset, drone photos of your family, luggage, check-ins. You simply enjoy.
• Fully flexible nights.​ If you ever prefer a hotel over the RV on a camping night, the driver takes you — no questions asked. Camping and hotels are combined by design, so you get the scenery AND the comfort.
• The RV camping experience — each night is different:​
• Night 1 — Nalati River Valley:​ The classic Ili grassland. Sleep in the valley, wake up to the morning mist rising over the meadows.
• Night 2 — Kuerdunin:​ Under the spruce forests. The air is cool and pine-scented. A completely different atmosphere from the open grasslands.
• Night 3 — Kalajun:​ The highest of the four grasslands. Sleep at 2,000m+, with the stars closer than you've ever seen them.
• Night 4 — Sayram Lake Command Platform:​ Overlooking the lake. Wake up to the famous golden mountain sunrise reflected on the water.
• ​🍽️ Meals on the road — simple, delicious, zero cooking:​
• The RV has a full kitchen and fridge, but you never have to cook. Before entering the scenic areas, your driver stops at local markets where you pick up ready-made food — roasted lamb, hand-pulled noodles, naan — plus fresh fruit and nuts. At the campsite, your driver sets up a picnic under the open sky: sunset over the grassland, a table of good food, no cooking, no dishes. Want the full experience? Buy hot pot ingredients at the market and the driver cooks a steaming hot pot right at the camp. Meals become part of the scenery.
• ​🚄✈️ Smart transport — RV takes the Ili scenic roads, flight skips 2,000km of empty highway:​
• The RV covers the entire Ili section — Duku Highway, Nalati, Kuerdunin, Kalajun, and Sayram Lake. These are the roads worth driving, and you drive every metre of them with VIP access. The one long, empty stretch — Urumqi to Kashgar — is a direct flight of about 2 hours, instead of a multi-day drive across the Taklamakan Desert. A business van handles the Kashgar and Pamir section. No day is spent fully in a vehicle.
• The result:​ 1 flight = roughly 2,000km of highway skipped. You spend 7 days in the RV exploring Ili's four great grasslands, then fly over the desert and arrive in Kashgar fresh enough to explore the same afternoon. Your time goes to the scenery, not to the road between.
• ​🏨 Accommodation — wilderness and comfort, mixed:​
• 11 nights total: 4 nights RV camping + 7 nights 4-5 diamond hotels.​ The RV nights are all inside the scenic cores — Nalati River Valley, Kuerdunin, Kalajun, and Sayram Lake. Days are spent chasing sunsets on the grasslands; nights are spent under the stars. The hotel nights include Urumqi 5-diamond (2 nights, unpack once), Yining 5-diamond (1 night), Kashgar 5-diamond (2 nights, unpack once), and Tashkurgan 4-5 diamond (1 night). Cities for proper rest, campsites for the stars — alternating, so you never repack every day.
• ​🏜️ Scenic highlights — every stop earns its place:​
• Duku Highway & Nalati (D2-D3):​ The legendary Tianshan crossing with Dushanzi Grand Canyon, then the River Valley and Sky Meadow grasslands by VIP drive-in, camping overnight in the valley.
• Kuerdunin & Kalajun (D3-D5):​ Spruce-forested Kuerdunin, wildflower Kalajun, and Falcon Terrace — three of Ili's great grasslands in one trip, sleeping deep in the prairie each night. Plus the Bagua City (Eight Trigrams Town) of Tekes on the way.
• Sayram Lake (D6-D7):​ Xinjiang's most beautiful alpine lake, full VIP loop — Swan Lake, Songshutou, Kelayongzhu — sleeping at the Command Platform camp with golden mountains at sunrise.
• Kashgar (D8-D9):​ The living Old City labyrinth, the opening ceremony, the Apak Hoja Mausoleum, and the Id Kah Mosque. No schedule, no rushing.
• Pamir Plateau (D10-D11):​ White Sand Lake's turquoise water, Karakul Lake mirroring the 7,546m Muztagh Ata glacier, Dragon Road's 600 bends, and Bandir Blue Lake. Overnight in Tashkurgan.

Detailed itinerary

Pricing logic

The final quote depends on travel dates, group size, domestic flights, hotel level, vehicle type and route feasibility. The sales team will confirm all inclusions before payment.

Usually included

• Transportation
• Exclusive 24-hour airport & railway station pick-up and drop-off services in Urumqi and Kashgar are included. One domestic flight within Xinjiang (Urumqi to Kashgar) is covered. Recreational vehicles (RVs) will be used for the Ili leg, and business vehicles for the Kashgar leg.
• Accommodation
• 11 nights’ accommodation in total, consisting of: 2 nights at a 5-diamond hotel in Urumqi, 1 night at a 5-diamond hotel in Yining City, 2 nights at a 5-diamond hotel in Kashgar, 1 night at a 4 or 5-diamond hotel in Tashkurgan County, plus 4 nights of RV camping at four sites: Narat Valley Grassland Campsite, Kuerdening Luxury Glamping Site, Kalajun Luxury Glamping Site and Sayram Lake Dianjiangtai Campsite.
• Scenic Spots
• Dushanzi Grand Canyon, Duku Highway, Narat Grassland, Narat Sky Grassland, Kuerdening, Kalajun Grassland, Falcon Platform, Tekes Bagua City, Liuxing Street, Guozigou Bridge, Sayram Lake, Swan Lake, Songshutou, Kelayongzhu, Swan Water Scenic Area, Kashgar Ancient City, Fragrant Concubine Garden, Local Mosque, Pamir Plateau, White Sand Lake, Karakul Lake, Panlong Ancient Road, Bandir Blue Lake, Golden Grass Beach, Stone City
• Tour Guide
• Professional driver-guide providing exclusive private customized service.
• Meals
• Daily breakfast at hotels is included;
• Insurance
• Comprehensive full-journey travel accident insurance is included.

Usually excluded

• Transportation:
• Round-trip international/domestic airfare.
• Accommodation:
• Single room supplement; personal expenses (e.g., laundry, minibar).
• Attractions:
• Optional activities; attractions not included in the itinerary.
• Guide Tips:
• Gratuities for the guide (optional).
• Meals:
• Lunches and dinners during the tour.
• Insurance:
• Additional personal insurance (supplemental coverage).