Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Ürümqi
You'll arrive in Ürümqi and get settled into your 5-star hotel. Before dinner, there's a mandatory gear check and safety orientation to go through, so you know what to expect on the expedition. Later that evening, you'll have a welcome dinner with traditional Xinjiang lamb kebabs, which is a nice way to start things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Gourmet welcome dinner featuring Xinjiang lamb kebabs)
Included Activities
- Mandatory gear check and safety orientation
- Gourmet welcome dinner featuring Xinjiang lamb kebabs
Landmarks Ürümqi - Day 2
Ürümqi to Wind Turbine Fields to Camp #3
After breakfast, you're driving from Ürümqi to Dabancheng to check out Asia's largest wind farm with over 200 turbines. You'll grab lunch featuring traditional Chaiwopu spicy chicken, then head out for a 7.4km hike to your first wilderness camp. Once you arrive at Camp #3, you'll get training on setting up expedition-grade tents.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Chaiwopu spicy chicken (UNESCO-recognized culinary heritage)), Dinner
Included Activities
- Photoshoot at Asia's largest wind farm (200+ turbines)
- Taste Chaiwopu spicy chicken (UNESCO-recognized culinary heritage)
- First wilderness camp setup training
Landmarks Dabancheng Wind Farm - Day 3
Camp #3 to Three-Fork Ice Lake to Base Camp
This is a big day with an 18.8km trek across glacial moraine terrain to reach Base Camp at 3,550m. You'll see Bogda Glacier up close with its 4th century ice formations, which is pretty remarkable. By late afternoon, you'll be positioned for sunset photography from the high-altitude base camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Navigate glacial moraine terrain
- First contact with Bogda Glacier (4th century ice formations)
- Sunset photography at 3,550m
Landmarks Three-Fork Ice Lake Bogda Glacier - Day 4
Base Camp Acclimatization
You're staying at Base Camp (3,550m) today to let your body adjust to the altitude. There's a snow lotus identification workshop during the day, which gives you something to do while resting. Later, you'll join a night photography masterclass to capture the Milky Way over the glacier.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Altitude adaptation protocol by UIAA-certified guides
- Rare snow lotus identification workshop
- Night photography masterclass (Milky Way over glacier)
Landmarks Bogda Glacier - Day 5
Glacier Tongue Exploration
You'll explore the Glacier Tongue on Class II glacier terrain, so you're getting more technical now. First, you'll learn crampon techniques so you can walk safely on ice. After that, you'll venture into a blue ice cave with all equipment provided. A glacial hydrology field lecture rounds out the day's activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Crampon technique training
- Blue ice cave exploration (equipment provided)
- Glacial hydrology field lecture
Landmarks Glacier Tongue Blue Ice Cave - Day 6
Base Camp to Ürümqi
Start early to capture a final mountain sunrise from Base Camp. There's a digital detox ceremony to mark the end of your expedition experience. Then you'll descend 23km and drive 90km back to Ürümqi. The day finishes with a farewell banquet featuring local Uyghur cuisine and champagne to celebrate what you've accomplished.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Celebratory farewell banquet with champagne toast)
Included Activities
- Final mountain sunrise capture
- Digital detox conclusion ceremony
- Celebratory farewell banquet
Landmarks Ürümqi - Day 7
Departure from Ürümqi
You'll receive your expedition completion certificate and GPS track data from the expedition leaders. A private transfer will take you to the airport, scheduled 3 hours before your flight departure. That gives you plenty of time to get there without rushing.
Included Activities
- Expedition completion certificate
- GPS track data delivery
