The best route to travel in Xinjiang depends on one’s travel time, preferences, and the types of landscapes they wish to experience. Here are some highly recommended routes:?
Kanas Circuit:?
Duration: 5-7 days?
Main attractions: Kanas, Hemu, Koktokay, and Devil City.?
Best travel time: September to October, as Kanas is particularly enchanting in autumn.?
Ili Circuit:?
Duration: 6-10 days?
Main attractions: Sayram Lake, Nalati, Xiata, Tangbula, and the Duku Highway.?
Suitable season: May to August, as the Ili River Valley is picturesque during this period.?
Great Circle Route of Northern Xinjiang:?
Duration: 13-17 days?
Feature: A self-driving tour around the entire northern Xinjiang, enjoying natural scenery such as grasslands, snow-capped mountains, and lakes, as well as the desert and Gobi landscapes of eastern Xinjiang.?
Suitable season: May to November?
Great Circle Route of Southern Xinjiang:?
Duration: 13-17 days?
Feature: Focuses on experiencing cultural customs, passing through places like the Taklamakan Desert and the Pamir Plateau.?
Best travel season: September to November and March to May?
Self-driving on the Duku Highway:?
Duration: Can be long or short depending on the itinerary arrangement.?
Feature: Known as the ‘most beautiful highway in the Tianshan Mountains’, it boasts rich landscapes of snow-capped mountains, grasslands, valleys, and forests along the way.?
Recommended time: June to September, as the road conditions are best and the grasslands along the way are the most beautiful during this period.?
Great Circle Route of North and South Xinjiang:?
Duration: At least half a month?
Feature: Combining the essence of northern and southern Xinjiang, this itinerary offers a diverse experience of Xinjiang’s scenery in a single trip.?
Suitable for travelers with plenty of time?
In addition, there are some specific themed routes, such as the 8-day 7-night ‘Journey North’ itinerary and the 9-day 8-night ‘Yiran Kanas’ itinerary. These routes have been carefully designed to meet the needs of different travelers.?
In general, Xinjiang boasts a rich and diverse range of tourism resources, and travelers can gain unforgettable experiences no matter which route they choose. It is recommended to select the most suitable route based on one’s actual situation and interests.?