The best route to Xinjiang varies from person to person, depending on travel time, personal interests, and itinerary arrangements. However, several classic routes can be recommended for choice: Kanas Loop, Yili Loop, Kanas-Yili Loop, Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop, and Southern Xinjiang Grand Loop.?
Kanas Loop (5-7 days):?
Mainly explore the Altay region, with attractions including Kanas, Hemu, Koktokay, and the Devil’s City.?
The best travel time is from September to October, when the scenery is most enchanting.?
This route focuses on natural scenery. The fairyland-like beauty of Kanas Lake and the wooden huts of the Tuvans are not to be missed highlights.?
Yili Loop (6-10 days):?
Explore the Yili River Valley surrounded by Tianshan, including attractions such as Sayram Lake, Nalati, Xiata, and Tangbula.?
Suitable for travel from May to August, especially for apricot blossoms in spring and grasslands in summer.?
The Yili Loop changes with the seasons, each with its own charm, making it an excellent choice for experiencing the diverse natural scenery of Xinjiang.?
Kanas-Yili Loop (11-13 days):?
It combines the essence of attractions from both the Kanas Loop and the Yili Loop.?
Suitable for travel from May to October, it is the most essential natural scenery tour route in Northern Xinjiang.?
This route allows you to appreciate the stunning scenery of Kanas and Yili at one time.?
Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop (13-17 days):?
A self-driving route around the entire Northern Xinjiang, focusing on enjoying scenery.?
Based on the Kaiyi Loop, it also includes desert and Gobi landscapes in the eastern Xinjiang areas of Turpan, Hejing, and Hami.?
Suitable for travel from May to November, it is a classic choice for self-driving tours in Xinjiang.?
Southern Xinjiang Grand Loop (13-17 days):?
It overlooks the Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop across Tianshan, focusing on experiencing cultural customs.?
It mainly passes through places such as the Taklamakan Desert, Pamir Plateau, and Kunlun Mountains.?
The best travel season is from September to November and March to May, when you can deeply experience the unique customs and historical culture of Southern Xinjiang.?
In addition, there are scenic highways such as the Duku Highway, known as the "Most Beautiful Highway in Tianshan", with a total length of 561 kilometers. It spans across Tianshan and boasts rich and varied landscapes along the way, including snow-capped mountains, grasslands, gorges, forests, etc.?
. If time permits, you can also consider including it in your itinerary.?
In short, Xinjiang boasts numerous tourist routes, each with its unique charm and scenery. When choosing, you can consider your interests, time, and budget comprehensively to select the most suitable tourist route for yourself.?