Urumqi → Heavenly Lake → Kanas → Hemu → Sayram Lake → Nalati Grasslands → Bayanbulak → Duku Highway → Kuqa Grand Canyon → Kashgar → Pamir Plateau (White Sand Lake / Karakul Lake) → Turpan → Urumqi. Fourteen days, approximately 5,000 kilometres, three nights aboard the train and ten nights in premium hotels.
Urumqi → Beitun, Jinghe South → Yining, Kuqa → Kashgar, Kashgar → Turpan. Overnight segments are timed so you sleep through transit and wake at the next destination. The entertainment carriage hosts a welcome reception and farewell gala.
Urumqi (Wanda Realm, 2 nights), Kanas (Manyunjian or similar), Hemu (resort hotel), Yining (5-diamond), Nalati (Jinling Mountain Lodge), Bayanbulak (4-diamond), Kashgar (Radisson, 2 nights), Taxkorgan (Crown Hotel).
Xinjiang in spring. Wildflowers emerge, the grasslands turn green, and tourist numbers are at their lowest. Northern Xinjiang is crisp and clear with lingering snow on the peaks. Please note: the Duku Highway is closed in spring. The route uses alternative mountain roads between Nalati and Kuqa.
Best for: value-conscious travellers, photographers capturing spring blooms, and those who prefer uncrowded attractions.
| Platinum Gold Diamond · 铂悦金钻 | RMB 26,8884-berth · twin 37,888 |
| Imperial Gold Diamond · 玺悦金钻 | RMB 58,999 |
| Supreme Gold Diamond · 至尊金钻 | RMB 65,999 |
Per person, twin-share. Land single supplement: RMB 8,000 (6,000 on Platinum Gold Diamond).
The prime season. Long daylight hours, warm temperatures across the entire route, and the Duku Highway, one of China's most spectacular mountain roads, is fully open. Ili lavender peaks in mid-June. The Pamir Plateau is accessible and crystal-clear. This is the window that gives you everything Xinjiang has to offer.
Best for: travellers who want the complete experience. First-time Xinjiang visitors. Photographers chasing the Ili lavender bloom (June) and the golden-hour light of mid-summer. The Duku Highway is only open June through early October.
| Platinum Gold Diamond · 铂悦金钻 | RMB 27,8884-berth · twin 38,888 |
| Imperial Gold Diamond · 玺悦金钻 | RMB 62,999 |
| Supreme Gold Diamond · 至尊金钻 | RMB 68,999 |
Per person, twin-share. Land single supplement: RMB 8,000 (6,000 on Platinum Gold Diamond).
The golden season. Southern Xinjiang cools to a comfortable warmth. The poplar forests turn amber. The Tianshan peaks are framed against deep blue autumn skies. The Duku Highway remains open (closes early October). This is the connoisseur's choice, the highest prices of the year, but also the most sublime conditions for exploring Kashgar, the Pamirs, and the desert south.
Best for: seasoned travellers who have done summer Xinjiang and want autumn light. Photographers chasing golden poplars and harvest-season landscapes. Those who prefer moderate temperatures for southern Xinjiang exploration.
| Platinum Gold Diamond · 铂悦金钻 | RMB 27,8884-berth · twin 38,888 |
| Imperial Gold Diamond · 玺悦金钻 | RMB 66,999 |
| Supreme Gold Diamond · 至尊金钻 | RMB 72,999 |
Per person, twin-share. Land single supplement: RMB 8,000 (6,000 on Platinum Gold Diamond; RMB 4,000/3,500 on the October southern departures).
The schedule above is the flagship Snow Lotus (雪莲紫金号) series. Licensed channel publications also list a second third-generation train group, the original second-generation fleet — the Gold Diamond / Blue Diamond formation branded 星熠号 (Xingyi) — and dedicated South Xinjiang autumn editions. Prices are per person and published by the channel; confirm with the operator before booking.
10 North-South Xinjiang sailings on a second third-generation set: Apr 18, May 18, Jun 9, 23, Jul 7, 22, Aug 5, 31, Sep 14, 27 — plus a 10-day North Xinjiang short route on Aug 20. This is the value configuration of the third generation: the same en-suite standard and hotel level as the flagship at a distinctly lower fare.
Platinum Gold Diamond: about 8 m² four-berth compartments with upper and lower bunks. Rates: spring four-berth 26,888 / twin 37,888; summer and autumn 27,888 / 38,888.
Availability (operator chart, October 2026): the Apr 18, Jun 9, Jun 23, Aug 31, Sep 14 and Sep 27 Platinum sailings are already sold out. Open on this set: May 18, Jul 7, Jul 22, Aug 5, the Aug 20 short route and both October southern departures. All 14 Purple-Gold (Imperial & Supreme) sailings remain open.
The official 2027 sales plan (August 2026 edition) lists two formations. Mixed Gold & Blue Diamond: 13 sailings May 10 - Oct 27 (11 north-south 14-day, 2 southern 11-day), Blue Diamond 4-berth from RMB 16,800; Blue Diamond 2-berth from RMB 20,800; Gold Diamond king from RMB 33,800. Independent Blue Diamond: 13 sailings Apr 15 - Oct 15, four-berth RMB 24,800, two-berth RMB 28,800.
Entry tier of the New Orient Express brand.
Four October sailings: Purple-Gold on Oct 15 & 25; Platinum on Oct 13 & 26. Platinum Gold from RMB 16,888 (third berth; four-berth 21,888, twin 27,888); Imperial from RMB 38,999; Supreme from RMB 46,999. Routing: Turpan → Ruoqang (Milan ruins, Loulan museum) → Hotan → Yarkand → Kashgar & Karakul Lake → Kuqa → Luntai Tarim poplar forests → Heavenly Lake.
Dedicated southern-Xinjiang autumn programme.
| Departure | Day | Season | Duku Highway | Imperial · 玺悦金钻 | Supreme · 至尊金钻 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16 | Thu | Spring | Closed | 58,999 | 65,999 |
| May 7 | Thu | Spring | Closed | 58,999 | 65,999 |
| May 20 | Wed | Spring | Closed | 58,999 | 65,999 |
| Jun 2 | Tue | Summer | Open | 62,999 | 68,999 |
| Jun 16 | Tue | Summer | Open | 62,999 | 68,999 |
| Jun 30 | Tue | Summer | Open | 62,999 | 68,999 |
| Jul 14 | Tue | Summer | Open | 62,999 | 68,999 |
| Jul 28 | Tue | Summer | Open | 62,999 | 68,999 |
| Aug 11 | Tue | Summer | Open | 62,999 | 68,999 |
| Aug 30 | Sun | Autumn | Open | 66,999 | 72,999 |
| Sep 13 | Sun | Autumn | Open | 66,999 | 72,999 |
| Sep 27 | Sun | Autumn | Open | 66,999 | 72,999 |
Source: official 2027 sales plan (August 11, 2026 edition) and operator product sheets. Prices are per person, twin-share, in RMB. Land single supplement: RMB 8,000/person on Imperial and Supreme (4,500 on Platinum spring sailings, 6,000 on summer sailings and the Aug 20 short route; 4,000/3,500 on the southern departures). Train departure times use 2026 reference schedules; 2027 specifics will be confirmed when the annual railway schedule is published. All dates and prices are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
The schedule above covers the New Orient Express (Snow Lotus) only. Four other trains in the fleet have since published a 2027 season: Panda Express Chengdu (7 departures, 16 days, from RMB 66,999), Jinxiu Tianfu (8 departures, 16 days, from RMB 79,880), White Cloud Express (7 Xinjiang departures, 18 days, from RMB 98,880, plus seven Yunnan departures from RMB 49,880) and Jinxiu Dongfang (8 departures, 16 days, from RMB 138,888). Every 2027 date and fare across all five trains sits in one table on our 2027 departure calendar.
Availability (operator charts, October 2026): on Jinxiu Tianfu, the Gilded Ode sailings of 29 August and 15 September and the 5 June sailing are sold out in both cabin grades; 9 and 26 July hold the widest availability (booking terms on our Jinxiu Tianfu booking page). On White Cloud, the chart lists 6 June, 26 June and 14 September for Xinjiang, with one or two Kuanjing suites open on the June dates and Yayun open throughout; the other published sailings are being confirmed with the operator (booking terms on our White Cloud booking page).
The Silk Road Express, Hulunbuir Express, Anyi Express, Tianshan Express and Beautiful Sky Road Express have not yet published 2027 schedules. We update this page as soon as their operators release them.
For a general seasonal guide covering all trains, see our Seasonal Departures Calendar. To register interest in a specific train or route, contact us and we will notify you when 2027 dates are confirmed.
Ready to secure your suite aboard the third-generation New Orient Express? Departures are limited to 6 or 8 guests per carriage, the most desirable dates fill quickly.
Enquire About 2027 Departures →