Tekes

Day Trips

Land at Ürümqi or Altay airport then drive through rolling hills to Tekes County. Meet a local guide who shares regional history on the journey into the valleys. Arrive at a cozy guesthouse and settle into your traditional yurt-style room.

Enjoy a hearty Xinjiang lunch featuring hand-pulled noodles and fresh salad. Walk through the nearby village of Kelawuz and chat with Kazakh herders about their nomadic lifestyle. Explore rustic stone houses, admire wood-carved doors and learn about local animal husbandry.

Dine on roasted lamb skewers cooked over an open flame. Experience an intimate folk music performance around a campfire under a blanket of stars. Retire early to rest for the adventures ahead.

Start the day with a nourishing breakfast of flatbread, yogurt and local honey. Set off on horseback along the emerald Tekes River, guided by experienced riders. Traverse wildflower meadows and spot grazing horses in the distant hills.

Stop for a picnic lunch of dried fruits, cheese and tea at a riverside glade. Continue trekking up gentle slopes to enjoy panoramic views of the valley below. Capture photos of cascading streams and grazing yaks against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks.

Return to camp for a warm bowl of lamb stew infused with root vegetables and spices. Share stories with fellow travelers around the fire as the sun dips behind the mountains. Drift to sleep in your yurt listening to the river’s soothing murmur.

Travel to the famed Hemu Village nestled between alpine forests and the Kanas River. Wander wooden walkways lined with birch trees and observe villagers weaving carpets and crafting wooden utensils. Learn about Tuvan art traditions from local artisans.

Relish a home-cooked meal featuring wild mushrooms, fresh herbs and hand-made noodles. Join a workshop to try your hand at traditional felting and leatherwork. Listen to elders recounting stories of seasonal migrations and forest lore.

Attend a Tuvan throat-singing demonstration in a centuries-old communal hall. Indulge in roasted chestnuts by a hearth lit with birch logs. Rest in a cozy guesthouse loft, lulled by distant owl calls.

Head to Kanas Lake for a sunrise boat cruise on its turquoise waters. Watch mist rise off the surface as you learn about the lake’s mysterious folklore. Spot rare Siberian cranes and other migratory birds along the shoreline.

Disembark for a guided hike on the scenic riverside path. Pause at vantage points to admire the dramatic confluence of the Hemu and Baihaba rivers. Enjoy a picnic lunch beneath towering larch trees.

Return to Tekes County and sample a feast of pilaf, local cheese and fresh vegetables. Toast to the day with a glass of homemade berry wine. Relax in your guesthouse and plan for tomorrow’s exploration.

Depart early for Baihaba Valley, renowned for its pristine wilderness. Trek through dense spruce and fir forests with a park ranger. Learn about the valley’s flora and fauna, including rare moose and sika deer.

Visit a Kazakh horse farm nestled on a grassy plateau. Participate in a riding demonstration and groom friendly local ponies. Enjoy a rustic lunch of butter tea and lamb dumplings prepared by farmhands.

Camp beneath a canopy of white birch along the valley edge. Cook dinner over an open fire while sharing travel tales with newfound friends. Drift to sleep amid the soft whickering of horses and rustling leaves.

Journey to a pristine white birch forest famed for its autumn colors. Follow winding trails past slender trunks that shimmer in the sunlight. Search for hidden streams and secret glades where wild berries grow.

Settle in a clearing for a gourmet picnic featuring smoked trout, fresh bread and seasonal fruit. Learn to forage safely under the guidance of a local botanist. Capture photographs of dappled light filtering through golden leaves.

Return to your Tekes guesthouse for a hearty dinner of hand-pulled laghman noodles. Enjoy a traditional dance performance featuring colorful costumes and rhythmic drums. Recline by the hearth and sip warm milk tea before bed.

Travel to a nearby Tuva minority hamlet for a homestay experience. Greet your host family and tour their wooden farmhouse decorated with traditional motifs. Participate in morning chores like fetching water and feeding livestock.

Share in the preparation of a family lunch, learning to knead dough for flatbreads and stir-fry local greens. Listen to grandparents recount epic folk songs and legends of the steppe. Try on traditional Tuva costumes and join an impromptu dance circle.

Enjoy a multi-course feast with your host family, featuring heirloom recipes passed down generations. Share photographs and stories from your journey. Sleep in a comfortable guest room awash in lamplight and gentle laughter.

Head to the Snake River Canyon for an adrenaline-packed white-water rafting trip. Receive safety training and paddle through class II and III rapids. Feel the rush of cool spray as you navigate rocky gorges.

Stop at a riverside beach for lunch of grilled meats and seasonal salads. Hike up to an overlook to witness the canyon’s towering limestone walls. Photograph the river’s emerald currents twisting through steep cliffs.

Return to Tekes town center and sample street-food delights like stuffed buns and sweet sesame cakes. Stroll the nightly market to shop for handwoven textiles and local honey. Rest in your hotel with eager anticipation for dawn’s next adventure.

Set out before dawn for Bayanbulak Grassland, famed as the Sea of Swans. Watch thousands of migratory swans take flight across the misty plains. Sip steaming tea as the sun paints the grasslands in golden hues.

Explore the vast meadows on horseback, guided by a Kazakh nomad. Spot wild horses, marmots and Tibetan gazelle roaming free. Break for a nomadic-style lunch of dried yogurt and flatbread under a felt tent.

Return to Tekes for a leisurely farewell dinner featuring local grain vodka and hearty stews. Discuss wildlife encounters and swap photos with fellow travelers. Pack your bags while listening to distant wolf calls echoing through the valleys.

Enjoy a final breakfast of buttery naan and fresh yogurt at a local café. Take a guided walking tour of Tekes town’s markets, mosques and wooden streets. Purchase last-minute souvenirs like handmade carpets and metalwork.

Savor a celebratory lunch of lamian noodles and aromatic lamb kebabs. Reflect on the beauty and diversity you’ve encountered across Tekes County. Transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

Toast to a memorable trip with a cup of hot milk tea at the departure lounge. Share photos and contact information with new friends you’ve met along the way. Board your flight carrying the spirit of Tekes back home.