13 Days 12 Nights
Specific Tour
18 people
Chinese, English
This 13-day Xinjiang Duku cycling journey takes you across the most breathtaking landscapes of northwest China’s Ili River Valley — from the red Danxia cliffs near Dushanzi to the alpine meadows of Nalati, the Bagua town of Tekes, the rolling horse pastures of Zhaosu, and the crystal-blue waters of Sayram Lake.
Riding the northern section of the Duku Highway (G217), one of China’s most famous mountain roads, followed by the scenic Yizhao Highway (S237) over the alpine divide, this route combines high-altitude passes, vast grasslands, and Kazakh nomadic culture. A support van follows the group on every riding day, carrying luggage, spares and water, so you can focus on the road.
The tour is designed for regular road cyclists: daily rides range from 70 to 95 km, with total riding distance around 635 km and cumulative climbing of roughly 5,040 m. One rest day in Tekes lets you recover and explore the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) town.
Why can’t we organize the full Duku Highway ride from Dushanzi to Kuqa?
The Bayinbulak Grassland section of the Duku Highway is not accessible to foreign visitors. This regulatory limitation means we cannot design a cycling tour covering the entire Duku Highway from start to finish. Our itinerary instead features the spectacular northern Duku segment, which is fully open for international guests.
About Duku Highway:
Originally built as a national defence highway, the Duku Highway broke ground in 1974 and took 10 years to complete, opening to traffic in 1983. Before its construction, travellers had to take a long detour of over 1,000 km to cross the Tianshan Mountains between northern and southern Xinjiang. This engineering marvel cut the journey distance dramatically. Constructed by tens of thousands of road-building soldiers working in brutal alpine conditions, the highway is also known as the “Hero Road”. 168 soldiers sacrificed their lives during the decade-long construction, leaving behind this legendary mountain route across the Tianshan range.
This Xinjiang cycling route winds through the Tianshan Mountains, with riding elevations ranging from approximately 1,400 m up to 3,200 m.
Difficulty of this tour: Moderate to Challenging
Best Time to Cycle the Xinjiang Duku Highway, Nalati Grassland & Sayram Lake:
June–September (peak July–August; late August–September ideal for autumn tones) The Duku and Yizhao Highways are generally open from early June through early October, and closed for the remainder of the year due to heavy snowfall.
Fully Customisable Journeys
This itinerary serves only as a reference. All of our trips are fully customisable. We tailor your cycling adventure to suit your riding level, personal interests, travel dates, group size and hotel preferences. Share your vision with us, and we will build your ideal Hulunbuir cycling experience.
Pricing Information
The displayed prices are our lowest rates, based on twin-share accommodation and valid within our booking window. Final pricing is subject to change according to group size, hotel availability and your selected travel dates.
Our bike rental includes a front bike bag, helmet and water bottle cage.
Yes. We offer road bikes, hybrid bikes and mountain bikes subject to availability. Please tell us your preference at the time of booking.
Yes, E-bikes are available for an extra charge. Please reserve your e-bike early as stock is limited.
We carefully select comfortable local hotels and boutique inns for this tour, with daily breakfast included. All rooms are private twin or double occupancy. A single supplement applies if you prefer your own private room. Some properties offer laundry machines. Hotel upgrades are available upon request at an additional cost.
It depends on the group's pace. We schedule regular rest stops every 60–90 minutes for water, snacks and electrolyte drinks, typically after long steep climbs or before extended downhill sections. We also include longer lunch breaks.
Yes, non-riding guests can join the tour. They travel in the support vehicle and share the same accommodation and meals. A separate non-rider rate applies.
Yes, the support vehicle is equipped with a well-stocked first-aid kit. Our guides are trained in basic first aid.
Our support vehicle is on hand. You may hop into the support car and continue with the group to the next stop with no penalty.
We do not include travel insurance in the package. We strongly recommend you purchase comprehensive travel and cycling insurance covering medical emergencies, evacuation and trip cancellation before departure
Our support team carries spare parts and tools. Minor repairs will be done on site. If the bike cannot be fixed, we will provide a replacement bike.
Safety is our top priority. In the event of severe weather, we may adjust the route, shorten the riding distance, or re-plan the ride day within your travel window. Any resulting cost changes will depend on the specific arrangements and could be higher or lower.
We accept bank transfer, credit card payments and selected online payment platforms. A deposit is required to secure your booking, with balance due 30-60 days before the tour starts.
Member Since 2025
