There are multiple options for pure-play tours in Xinjiang. Here are some recommended routes and their characteristics:?
Kanas Circuit (5-7 days):?
This route mainly focuses on exploring the Altay region, with scenic spots including Kanas, Hemu, Koktokay, and the Devil’s City. The emerald-green waters of Kanas Lake seem to cleanse the dust of your soul, while Hemu Village makes you feel like you have stepped into a fairy tale world.?
The best travel time is from September to October, but early spring also has its own unique charm.?
Yili Circuit (6-10 days):?
Explore the Ili River Valley surrounded by the Tianshan Mountains, including scenic areas such as Sayram Lake, Nalati, and Xiata. The summer in Ili is almost the most beautiful place in the entire Xinjiang, with grasslands and valleys, and mountains covered in flowers forming a breathtakingly beautiful picture.?
Suitable for travel from May to August, especially during the summer.?
Kanas-Yili Circuit (11-13 days):?
This route combines the essence of the Kanas Circuit and the Yili Circuit, representing the most beautiful natural scenery tourism route in Northern Xinjiang. You can visit the scenic spots of the above two circuits, such as Kanas, Hemu, Sayram Lake, and Nalati.?
Suitable for travel from May to October, experiencing the natural beauty of Northern Xinjiang.?
Northern Xinjiang Grand Circle (13-17 days):?
This is a route for self-driving around the entire Northern Xinjiang. In addition to the scenic spots in Kanas and Yili, it also includes desert and Gobi landscapes in the eastern Xinjiang regions such as Turpan, Hejing, and Hami. This route has it all and is suitable for tourists who love self-drive tours.?
The best travel time is from May to November.?
Southern Xinjiang Grand Circle (13-17 days):?
This tourist route, overlooking the Northern Xinjiang Grand Circle across the Tianshan Mountains, focuses on experiencing cultural customs. It mainly passes through places such as the Taklamakan Desert, the Pamir Plateau, and the Kunlun Mountains, allowing you to feel the remnants of the Silk Road and the magnificent beauty of the thousand-year-old Populus euphratica.?
The best travel season is from September to November and March to May.?
In addition, there are special itineraries such as the Duku Highway Self-Drive Tour (10 days). This highway, known as the "Most Beautiful Highway in the Tianshan Mountains", spans 561 kilometers from Dushanzi to Kuqa, crossing the Tianshan Mountains. Along the way, you will encounter landscapes such as snow-capped mountains, grasslands, canyons, forests, etc. It is undoubtedly the pinnacle of self-drive tours in Xinjiang.?
You can choose a suitable itinerary for a pure-play tour based on your own time, interests, and preferences. The scenic beauty and cultural customs of Xinjiang will surely make you reluctant to leave!?