Contact provider for price	9 Days	Year-round
Comfort accommodations		Exertion level: 3
Operator: WildChina		12 people max

Northwest China’s Xinjiang province boasts an astonishingly diverse landscape, from deserts to lush alpine backcountry. In the northeast part of this region—at the heart of the Bogda Range of Tianshan (the Heavenly Mountains)—the crest of Bogda Peak reflects off the sapphire waters of Tianchi, an alpine lake surrounded by primeval forests. Not far from these majestic heights lies Turpan, an ancient desert basin city 150 meters (500 feet) below sea level, one of the lowest points on Earth and one of China's hottest and driest.


We head to the shores of Tianchi and begin our journey through the Bogda Range, ascending through a landscape of lush meadows and crystalline lakes, which transforms into white-capped mountains and icy glaciers. After camping at Bogda Peak Base Camp, and an exhilarating and rewarding hike up to an elevation of 4,100 meters (13,450 feet), we spend time in the Tianshan Valley before descending into the depths of the Turpan Depression to explore the oasis city of Turpan and its ancient neighbor, Jiaohe.