Recommendations for the most classic car rental routes in Xinjiang
Consultation hotline for chartered tour in Xinjiang: (same as) 0991-8585456
Xinjiang is divided into southern Xinjiang and northern Xinjiang. Southern Xinjiang is mainly known for its human landscapes and cultural relics, with major destinations such as Kashgar, Hotan, and Kuqa, represented by plateau scenery and desert scenery; northern Xinjiang is mainly known for its natural scenery, with major destinations such as Kanas and Yili, represented by lakes, forests, and grasslands. From June to September each year is the most beautiful season for the natural scenery of northern Xinjiang, so during this period, traveling in northern Xinjiang is the choice of most tourists. Therefore, the following recommended routes mainly focus on northern Xinjiang.
Recommended 5-7 Day Chartered Car Routes
If you only have about 5-7 days, it is recommended to choose one destination in Northern Xinjiang for an in-depth tour: either Kanas Lake or the Yili Grasslands. Both destinations start and end in Urumqi, with a round-trip distance of around 2,200 kilometers. The specific itinerary is as follows:
5-day In-depth Tour of the Kanas Lake Loop
Day 1: Urumqi – Burqin (via East Route, National Highway 216)
Day 2: Burqin – Kanas (recommended to stay within the scenic area)
Day 3: Kanas – Fish Viewing Platform – Hemu
Day 4: Hemu – Colorful Beach – Khabarovsk
Day 5: Habahe – Ghost City – Urumqi (via the West Route on National Highway 217)
This route circles around the Junggar Basin, visiting the most representative attractions around Kanas Lake (including Hemu Village, Colorful Beach, Ghost City, etc.). These attractions encompass lakes, forests, primitive villages, Yardang landforms, and other scenery most representative of Xinjiang.
If you have 6 days, you can take National Highway 216 to Koktokay in the first day and go to Burqin in the second day; (Koktokay is commonly known as "Little Kanas", featuring geological canyons and primitive forest scenery. In May 2017, it was awarded a World Geopark by UNESCO.)
If you have 7 days, it is recommended to stay an extra night at Kanas Lake on top of the 6-day itinerary. You can visit Baihaba Village, which will allow you to deeply experience all the beautiful scenery of the Kanas scenic area. The itinerary will also be very relaxed, suitable for seniors and family travel. Baihaba Village is also an original village, known as the "First Village in the Northwest". Compared to Hemu Village, the scenery here is richer, with not only primitive natural scenery but also the Sino-Kazakh Grand Canyon and Sino-Kazakh Boundary Monument. It was also the location for the reality show "Dad, Where Are We Going?" in 2016.
5-day Panoramic Tour of the Yili Grassland Loop:
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 Grasslands. It is recommended to visit East & West Karajun in June, and Koksu Grand Canyon in July, August, and September)
Day 3: Karajun – Nalati (Nalati is divided into Aerial Grassland and Valley Grassland, it is recommended to visit both)
Day 4: Nalati – Bayinbuluke (Swan Lake and Nine-Bend and Eighteen-Turn River, better viewed in the evening)
Day 5: Bayinbuluke – Duku Highway – Urumqi (only vehicles with 7 seats or less are allowed to pass. If there are more than 6 people, it is recommended to split into two vehicles)
Yili and Yining often confuse people, who may think they are two places. In fact, "Yili" is a general term for a region, with the full name of "Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture", and its capital city is "Yining City". The Yili region is commonly known as "Jiangnan Beyond the Great Wall", and the entire region is dominated by grassland scenery. There are five or six grasslands of various sizes, but each has its own unique style. If you have enough time, it is recommended to choose three to four for in-depth tourism. You will be amazed by the different stunning beauty that each grassland brings you.
If you have 6 days, it is recommended to add a Zhaosu Grassland on the second day. The rapeseed flower fields in Zhaosu are very spectacular in July;
If you have 7 days, it is recommended to add a Kurdining scenic area on the day from Karajun to Nalati. The scenery of the Schrenk spruce in Kurdining is very unique.
If you want to see northern Xinjiang (Kanas Lake and Yili Grassland) in 7 days, it’s not impossible to travel by car throughout, but you’ll basically be covering more than 500 kilometers each day, which is truly just a glimpse and a visit here and there.
Another way to tour northern Xinjiang in 7 days is to use two flights, which won’t be as exhausting, but some scenic spots along the way will have to be sacrificed, such as the Duku Highway. The specific itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Urumqi – Kanas (by plane)
Day 2: Kanas – Hemu
Day 3: Hemu – Burqin
Day 4: Burqin – Ghost City – Kuitun
Day 5: Kuitun – Sayram Lake – Yining
Day 6: Yining – Bayanbulak
Day 7: Bayanbulak – Nalati – Urumqi (by plane)
8-10 Days Chartered Car Tour Route
If you have 8-10 days, you can choose to include the two major scenic areas in northern Xinjiang (Kanas Lake and Yili Grassland). After all, it’s not easy to come to Xinjiang. The specific route reference is as follows:
Day 1: Urumqi – Burqin (via East Route, National Highway 216)
Day 2: Burqin – Kanas (recommended to stay within the scenic area)
Day 3: Kanas – Fish Viewing Platform – Hemu
Day 4: Hemu – Colorful Beach – Khabarovsk
Day 5: Khabarovsk – Ghost City – Kuitun
Day 6: Kuitun – Sayram Lake – Nalati
Day 7: Nalati – Bayanbulak
Day 8: Bayanbulak – Duku Highway – Urumqi
If you have 9 or 10 days, you can design a slightly more relaxed itinerary, such as staying overnight at Sayram Lake or adding the Karajun scenic area. The most economical time arrangement for northern Xinjiang is 8 days, as this will save one day of accommodation and transportation costs. However, the recommended optimal time arrangement is 9-10 days, which won’t be too tiring.
11-15 Days Chartered Car Tour Route
If you have around 11 to 15 days, you can plan a small northern and southern Xinjiang loop tour. This loop covers representative attractions in both northern and southern Xinjiang, and you won’t backtrack throughout the journey. The specific reference route is as follows:
Day 1: Urumqi – Burqin (via East Route, National Highway 216)
Day 2: Burqin – Kanas (recommended to stay within the scenic area)
Day 3: Kanas – Fish Viewing Platform – Hemu
Day 4: Hemu – Colorful Beach – Khabarovsk
Day 5: Khabarovsk – Ghost City – Kuitun
Day 6: Kuitun – Sayram Lake – Yining
Day 7: Yining – Karajun – Tekes
Day 8: Tekes – Nalati
Day 9: Nalati – Bayanbulak
Day 10: Bayanbulak – Duku Highway (Kuqa Section) – Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon – Kuqa
Day 11: Kuqa – Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves – Korla
Day 12: Korla – Luoburen Village – Urumqi
III. Approximate cost of chartered tours in Xinjiang
Chartered car expenses
The cost of chartered tours in Xinjiang is higher compared to other places. The reason is simple: Xinjiang has long distances and high costs.
Generally, the daily cost of a 5-seat sedan is around 1000-1200 yuan, which includes the driver’s labor cost, fuel cost, and toll fees. It does not include the driver’s board and lodging expenses. If the hotel is booked by a travel agency, some hotels have driver’s room agreements with travel agencies, some of which are free, while some only charge a bed fee of 80-100 yuan, which is quite cost-effective. This chartered car cost basically does not limit the number of kilometers per day, as long as you don’t drive at night, it’s fine.
The cost of a 5-seat SUV is slightly higher, about 100-150 yuan higher per day. The general models are domestic brands like Haval, Huanghai, Landwind, or joint ventures like Hyundai, Kia, etc.
The price of an 8-seat SUV is higher, such as the frequently used Toyota Land Cruiser, with an average daily price of around 1000-1600 yuan.
Ticket expenses
Tickets to scenic spots in Xinjiang are relatively expensive, and most scenic spots have shuttle buses. The total price of all tickets and shuttle buses for the Kanas loop is around 900 yuan, and for the Ili Grassland loop, it is around 700 yuan. Therefore, the total price of all tickets and shuttle buses for the Northern Xinjiang loop costs about 1600 yuan.
Meal expenses
Xinjiang’s diet is mainly based on wheat noodles, supplemented by beef and mutton, with a heavy taste. Common fast food includes noodles with sauce (commonly known as hand-pulled noodles), fried noodles, pilaf, meatball soup, etc. Generally, you can get full with 20-25 yuan. Sichuan cuisine in Xinjiang is also very common, with per capita consumption around 30-50 yuan. It is recommended to mainly eat fast food in scenic areas and not to easily try so-called specialties, which are expensive and may not be authentic. On the contrary, along the way, there will be some special snacks and delicacies in cities or small counties, which the driver usually knows about, and you can ask the driver to take you there to taste.
IV. Points to note for chartered tours in Xinjiang
Plan your route in advance and book your hotel in advance.
Before departure, be sure to make a travel plan, determine your itinerary, and then arrange accommodation as soon as possible. Because when the peak season in Xinjiang comes, it is often the case that from inns to five-star hotels are fully booked. Don’t have the idea of booking when you get here.
Don’t be cheap and directly rent a car from a driver.
Some drivers will post private car rental information online and claim to be able to help you design an itinerary for free and book hotels, but the actual situation is often that they will breach the contract at the last minute before departure or hand you over to other drivers.
The big hidden danger of directly renting a car from a driver is the lack of service guarantee during the trip. In case of disputes, it can only depend on your luck.
Carry your discount certificates; the discounts on tickets are very attractive.
With the increasingly developed transportation, you can choose to take various scheduled buses for a fully self-guided tour in Xinjiang, or you can choose to take a train or plane directly to your destination. But as mentioned before, ‘the most beautiful scenery in Xinjiang is all along the way’. If you want to truly appreciate the magnificent scenery of Xinjiang, it is recommended that you choose a chartered tour! Beautiful Xinjiang is waiting for you.
Consultation hotline for chartered tour in Xinjiang: (same as) 0991-8585456