North Xinjiang
Koktokay, Kanas & the Duku Highway
11 Days · One Complete Road Journey
Urumqi · Altai · Kanas · Ili Valley · Tianshan
Forests in the north. Gobi in the middle. Grasslands in the south.
The Idea
A road trip that never repeats a road.
Xinjiang is vast.
The best way to understand it is not by staying in one place, but by watching the landscape change through the window.
This 11-day loop leaves Urumqi and travels north into the Altai Mountains, west across the open desert around Karamay, south into the green Ili Valley, and finally back across the Tianshan Mountains. No major section of road is repeated.
Across one journey, you move through landscapes that feel almost unrelated to one another — alpine forest, turquoise lakes, empty gobi, Kazakh grasslands and high mountain roads.
Duration
11 Days / 10 Nights
Start / Finish
Urumqi → Urumqi
Travel Style
Road Trip / Private Overland Journey
Region
North Xinjiang
Recommended Season
June–September
Difficulty
Moderate
Travel Pace
Active / Long-Distance Road Trip
Best For
Scenery · Photography · Nature · Remote Landscapes
Why This Journey
Seven reasons for the loop
01
A True Xinjiang Loop
Travel through northern Xinjiang without retracing the same route.
02
Kanas & Hemu
Experience the forests, rivers and traditional wooden villages of the far north.
03
Sunrise at Sayram Lake
Stay by the lake so you can experience it at first light before continuing into the Ili Valley.
04
The Duku Highway
Cross the northern section of one of China's most spectacular mountain roads.
05
The Ahe Highway
Travel from Altay towards Hemu through mountain pasture, forest and open high country.
06
Koktokay
Explore the Altai landscape and visit the extraordinary Number Three Mine Pit.
07
The Ili Valley
Discover Yining, Six Star Street and the summer grasslands of Nalati.
The Landscapes
Three landscapes.
One road journey.
North
Forests & Water
- Hemu
- Kanas
- Birch forest
- Larch forest
- Mountain rivers
- Turquoise lakes
Middle
Gobi & Open Space
- Junggar Basin
- Karamay
- Oilfields
- Empty desert roads
- Huge horizons
South
Grassland & Mountains
- Sayram Lake
- Ili Valley
- Nalati
- Kazakh summer pasture
- Tianshan Mountains
Route Overview
A complete loop
Starting and finishing in Urumqi, the route runs north to the Altai, west across the Junggar Basin, south into the Ili Valley and back over the Tianshan.
A Complete Loop
No Major Road Repeated
Urumqi
Heavenly Lake
Fuyun
Koktokay
Altay
Ahe Highway
Hemu
Kanas
Karamay
Sayram Lake
Yining
Nalati
Duku Highway
Urumqi
Day by Day
Eleven days on the road
Day 1Arrival in Urumqi+
Arrive in Urumqi and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest before the road journey begins.
Overnight · Urumqi
Day 2Heavenly Lake → Fuyun+
Leave Urumqi and travel to Heavenly Lake — Tianchi — on the northern side of the Tianshan Mountains. The alpine lake sits at around 1,900 metres beneath Bogda Peak and is surrounded by spruce forest and summer pasture. Continue north across the Junggar Basin towards Fuyun.
Overnight · Fuyun
Day 3Koktokay → Altay+
Visit Koktokay in the Altai Mountains. Explore the river valley and dramatic granite landscape, then continue to the Number Three Mine Pit, a vast spiral mine associated with rare minerals including beryllium, lithium and tantalum. The area also sits beside the Irtysh River — the only river in China that eventually drains into the Arctic Ocean. Continue to Altay.
Overnight · Altay
Day 4The Ahe Highway → Hemu+
Travel along the seasonal Ahe Highway from Altay towards Hemu. This is not simply a transfer day. The road itself is part of the experience, passing through open mountain pasture, birch and larch forests and remote herding country. Arrive in Hemu in the evening.
Overnight · Hemu
Day 5Hemu Sunrise → Kanas+
Wake early for the famous Hemu morning. If conditions allow, mist settles into the valley while the wooden houses and surrounding birch forest emerge in the first light. Continue to Kanas Lake, explore the lake and climb towards the Fish-Watching Pavilion for panoramic views.
Overnight · Kanas
Day 6Kanas Three Bays → Karamay+
Visit the famous Three Bays along the Kanas River — Reclining Dragon Bay, Moon Bay and Fairy Bay. Continue south out of the Altai Mountains and watch the landscape change from forest into pasture, scrub and eventually open gobi. Approach Karamay through the vast oilfield landscape.
Overnight · Karamay
Day 7Karamay → Sayram Lake+
Travel west and south-west across the open landscape towards the Tianshan Mountains. Arrive at Sayram Lake, which sits at approximately 2,073 metres and is surrounded by high ridges and seasonal pasture. Stay near the east gate so you can experience the lake at sunrise.
Overnight · Sayram Lake
Day 8Sayram Sunrise → Guozigou → Yining+
Wake early for sunrise over Sayram Lake. Continue through Guozigou — Fruit Valley — and pass the spectacular Guozigou Bridge, descending from the mountains into the green Ili Valley. In Yining, explore Six Star Street, known for its distinctive street layout and for Uyghur, Kazakh, Russian and Tatar cultural influences.
Overnight · Yining
Day 9Yining → Nalati Grassland+
Travel east through the Ili Valley to Nalati Grassland. Spend the afternoon among high summer pastures, rolling green hills, spruce forest and distant snow mountains. Kazakh herding culture is still part of everyday life here during the warm season.
Overnight · Nalati
Day 10Duku Highway → Urumqi+
Travel north across the Tianshan Mountains on the northern section of the Duku Highway — one of the defining road journeys of Xinjiang. The road climbs from grassland through forest and high mountain terrain before dropping back towards the northern side of the Tianshan, and the landscape can change dramatically within a single day. Return to Urumqi and finish the journey at the International Grand Bazaar.
Overnight · Urumqi
Day 11Departure from Urumqi+
Transfer to Urumqi Airport for your onward journey.
Overnight · —
Kanas & Hemu
The Far North
- Hemu village
- Morning mist
- Kanas Lake
- Fish-Watching Pavilion
- Moon Bay
- Fairy Bay
- Reclining Dragon Bay
The Altai is one of the most distinctive landscapes in China. Here, the dry landscapes associated with much of Xinjiang give way to mountain rivers, birch forest, Siberian larch and traditional wooden villages.
The journey includes both Hemu and Kanas, with overnight stays designed to let you experience these places outside the busiest daytime hours.
Sayram Lake
Stay for sunrise.
Many travellers pass Sayram Lake during the day.
This itinerary stays by the lake so you can experience it first thing in the morning.
At sunrise, the light moves across the basin while the surrounding pasture is still quiet.
Altitude
2,073 m
Best For
- Sunrise
- Wildflowers
- Mountain views
- Photography
The Road Is Part of the Trip
Ahe Highway
Altay → Hemu
A seasonal mountain road travelling through forest, high pasture, remote valleys and herding country.
This is not a transfer. The road itself is the experience.
Duku Highway
Nalati → Northern Tianshan
One of China's legendary mountain roads. Travel from grassland through spruce forest, high passes, snow and mountain terrain before descending towards the dry northern side of the range.
Four seasons in one day
Who This Trip Is For
Is this journey for you?
Good For
- Road trip lovers
- Landscape photographers
- Couples
- Friends
- Small private groups
- Travellers interested in remote China
- People who love mountains and lakes
- Travellers comfortable with long driving days
- People who want to see Xinjiang beyond one city
Less Suited To
- Travellers who dislike long drives
- People looking for a slow resort-style holiday
- Travellers who need luxury accommodation every night
- Travellers wanting a mostly urban itinerary
Road Trip Reality
Xinjiang is big.
Distances in Xinjiang are unlike most other parts of China. Several days on this journey involve long hours on the road.
The driving is not simply a way to get between attractions — watching the landscape change is one of the main experiences of the trip.
This journey is best suited to travellers who enjoy overland travel and are comfortable spending significant time in the vehicle.
Seasonal Road Information
This is a seasonal route.
The full itinerary is designed for departures between June and September, when the seasonal mountain roads used by the journey are normally open.
The Ahe Highway and Duku Highway can be affected by snow, heavy weather, rockfall or temporary closures. The northern section of the Duku Highway normally operates only during the warmer months.
Road conditions and local safety restrictions always take priority over the planned itinerary. If a road is closed, the route may need to be adjusted.
When To Go
Three ways to travel the loop
June
Best For
- Wildflowers
- Green grasslands
- Long summer evenings
- Ili lavender season
July–August
Best For
- Green landscapes
- Warm weather
- High mountain roads fully open
September
Best For
- Autumn colour
- Golden birch and larch
- Photography
- Cooler temperatures
Late September is particularly popular around Hemu and Kanas and accommodation can book early.
Accommodation
Accommodation is arranged throughout the route in locations including Urumqi, Fuyun, Altay, Hemu, Kanas, Karamay, Sayram Lake, Yining and Nalati.
Some remote destinations, particularly Hemu and other scenic areas, may have simpler accommodation standards than major Chinese cities.
Exact hotel properties and categories will be confirmed with the final quotation.
Meals
- Breakfast — included from Day 2 onwards according to the itinerary.
- Lunch — not included.
- Dinner — not included.
Lunch and dinner remain flexible so travellers can explore local food along the route.
Important Travel Information
Carry your passport throughout the journey. It may be required for hotel check-in, scenic area entry and road checkpoints.
Xinjiang officially uses Beijing time, even though it lies far west of Beijing. In midsummer, sunset can be around 22:00 and daily life may run later than travellers expect.
Price
On Request
Pricing depends on travel dates, number of travellers, vehicle type, accommodation preferences and final route arrangements.
Tell me your travel dates, number of travellers and preferred travel style, and I'll help you build the right version of this Xinjiang road trip.
Customisation
Make the loop yours.
This is a reference itinerary and can be adapted around your interests, pace and travel dates.
Want more time in Kanas? Prefer slower driving days? Want photography-focused stops? Want to combine North Xinjiang with Kashgar or South Xinjiang?
Tell me what kind of trip you are looking for and we can reshape the route.
Eleven days.
One complete loop.
No road twice.