Xinjiang has a vast territory with distant attractions. Chartered car travel is a comfortable and flexible way to travel. Here are some suggestions for designing chartered car travel routes in Xinjiang:?
I. Route Design Principles?
Attraction Selection: Combine Xinjiang’s natural scenery and cultural landscapes to select representative attractions.?
Time Arrangement: Consider the distance and road conditions between attractions, and reasonably arrange the travel time to avoid being too tight or too loose.?
Comfort: Ensure sufficient rest time during the trip, as well as appropriate dining and accommodation arrangements.?
II. Route Design Plan?
Plan A: Northern Xinjiang Yili Grassland + Sayram Lake + Duku Highway Little Loop?
Best Travel Time: May-September. If you want to enjoy flowers and grasslands, it is more suitable to travel in May-June.?
Recommended Duration: 5-8 days.?
Itinerary Arrangement:?
Day 1: Urumqi – Sayram Lake (Stay by the lake to watch the sunrise or sunset).?
Day 2: Sayram Lake – Karajun Grassland (Karajun is divided into Koksu Grand Canyon and East-West Karajun Grassland. It is recommended to visit East-West Karajun in June, and Koksu Grand Canyon in July/August/September).?
Day 3: Karajun – Nalati (Nalati is divided into Aerial Grassland and Valley Grassland, it is recommended to visit both).?
Day 4: Nalati – Bayinbrook (Swan Lake and Nine-Bend-Eighteen-Turn River, best viewed in the evening).?
Day 5: Bayanbulak – Duku Highway – Urumqi (only vehicles with less than 7 seats are allowed to pass; for groups of more than 6 people, it is recommended to split into two cars).?
Plan B: Koktokay + Kanas + Hemu + Colorful Beach + Ghost City Short Loop?
Best Travel Time: May to October, with the golden autumn photography season after mid-September being especially not to be missed.?
Recommended Duration: 5-7 days.?
Itinerary Arrangement:?
Day 1: Urumqi – Fuyun County (via Koktokay).?
Day 2: Fuyun County – Burqin (via Koktokay).?
Day 3: Burqin – Kanas (it is recommended to stay within the scenic area).?
Day 4: Kanas – Fish Viewing Platform – Hemu.?
Day 5: Hemu – Colorful Beach – Habahe.?
Day 6: Habahe – Ghost City – Urumqi.?
Plan C: Kanas + Yili Grassland + Duku Highway Panoramic Loop?
Best Travel Time: May to September, with the Duku Highway being better after mid-June.?
Recommended Duration: 8-12 days.?
Itinerary Arrangement:?
Day 1: Urumqi – Burqin.?
Day 2: Burqin – Kanas (it is recommended to stay within the scenic area).?
Day 3: Kanas – Fish Viewing Platform – Hemu.?
Day 4: Hemu – Colorful Beach – Habahe.?
Day 5: Habahe – Ghost City – Kuitun.?
Day 6: Kuitun – Sayram Lake – Nalati.?
Day 7: Nalati – Bayanbulak.?
Day 8: Bayanbulak – Duku Highway – Urumqi.?
Plan D: Duku Highway + Southern Xinjiang Scenery Short Loop?
Best Travel Time: June to September, with the Duku Highway generally opening around June 10th.?
Recommended Duration: 7-14 days.?
Itinerary Arrangement:?
Day 1: Urumqi – Kuitun.?
Day 2: Kuitun – Duku Highway – Nalati.?
Day 3: Nalati – Bayanbulak.?
Day 4: Bayanbulak – Duku Highway – Kuqa.?
Day 5: Kuqa – Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves – Aksu.?
Day 6: Aksu – Kashgar.?
Day 7: Kashgar City Tour (such as Kashgar Old Town, Kashgar Grand Bazaar, etc.).?
Day 8: Kashgar – Tashkurgan (via Karakoram Highway, enjoying the scenery of Karakul Lake and Mount Muztagh Ata).?
Day 9: Tashkurgan – Kashgar.?
Day 10: Kashgar – Hotan.?
Day 11: Hotan – Minfeng (via Taklamakan Desert).?
Day 12: Minfeng – Urumqi.?
III. Precautions for Chartered Car Services?
Choose a Formal Travel Company: Ensure that both the vehicle and driver have legal qualifications.?
Clarify Costs: Communicate clearly with the travel company about the total cost and payment method before chartering a car to avoid disputes later.?
Sign a Contract: Sign a formal contract with the travel company to clarify the rights and obligations of both parties.?
Purchase Insurance: It is recommended to purchase travel insurance for yourself and your companions to deal with unexpected situations.?
The above route design is for reference only, and the specific itinerary can be adjusted according to personal interests and time. When planning the itinerary, it is recommended to learn about the opening hours and ticket policies of each attraction in advance, as well as the weather and road conditions along the way.?