Signature Journey · Northern Xinjiang
Northern Xinjiang Grand Loop
12 Days · Small-Group Road Journey
Xinjiang is too big to experience from one base.
This 12-day road journey crosses Northern Xinjiang from the deserts around Urumqi to the forests of Altay, the blue waters of Kanas and Sayram Lake, the grasslands of Ili and the mountain roads of the Tianshan.
It is a journey built around the road itself — long drives broken up by some of the most spectacular landscapes in western China.
Duration
12 Days / 11 Nights
Group Size
2–6 Travellers
Trip Style
Small-Group Scenic Road Trip
Transport
Premium 7-Seat Touring Vehicle
Accommodation
Scenic-Area Stays in Hemu & Kanas + Comfortable Hotels
Start / End
Urumqi → Urumqi
Trip Focus
Landscapes · Road Trips · Photography · Nature
Guide
Driver Service Only
Why This Journey
One Journey. Many Xinjiangs.
Hemu Village
Stay inside the Hemu scenic area and explore a remote wooden village surrounded by birch forest and mountains — with time to walk along the Hemu River, see the wooden houses and photograph the village from the viewpoint.
Kanas
Stay inside the Kanas scenic area rather than rushing in and out. Walk around Kanas Lake and explore the famous Three Bays: Fairy Bay, Moon Bay and Wolong Bay.
Sayram Lake
Drive around one of Xinjiang's most beautiful alpine lakes with time to stop at different viewpoints, including a sailing experience when weather conditions allow.
Ili & Six Star Street
Explore Yining's colourful Six Star Street and experience a local-style portrait photography session.
Xiata
Travel deep into the Tianshan landscape at Xiata, with views toward the Muzart Glacier.
Kalajun Grassland
Drive through the rolling hills and vast grasslands of Kalajun before exploring the dramatic Kuokesu Canyon.
Nalati
Experience Nalati by road, moving through high grassland, valleys, forests and pastoral landscapes.
Duku Highway
Finish the journey with one of China's most iconic mountain roads, crossing the Tianshan through grasslands, forests, mountain passes and snow landscapes on the drive back toward Urumqi.
The Route
A loop through Northern Xinjiang
Starting and ending in Urumqi, the route crosses north to the Altay, west to Sayram Lake and the Ili valley, then returns through the Tianshan on the Duku Highway.
Urumqi
Altay
Hemu
Kanas
Karamay
Sayram Lake
Yining
Xiata / Zhaosu
Kalajun
Tekes
Nalati
Duku Highway
Urumqi
Suggested Itinerary
Twelve days on the road
Day 1 — Arrive in Urumqi
Arrive in Urumqi and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. If time allows, explore Urumqi independently. Overnight in Urumqi.
Day 2 — Urumqi → S21 Desert Highway → Altay
Begin the road journey north along the S21 Desert Highway, crossing the landscapes of the Gurbantunggut Desert with a stop near the Karamaili sand dunes. Continue toward Altay. In the evening, experience sunset from Jiangjun Mountain, with the seasonal sunset music event when available. Overnight in Altay.
Day 3 — Altay → Hemu
Travel into the Altay Mountains and enter the Hemu scenic area. Spend the afternoon exploring Hemu Village — Hemu Bridge, the birch forest, the Hemu River, traditional wooden houses and the village viewpoint. Stay inside the Hemu scenic area.
Day 4 — Hemu → Kanas
Enjoy a slower morning in Hemu. Travellers who want to wake early can visit the viewpoint for sunrise and morning mist over the village. Later, continue to Kanas and spend the afternoon exploring Kanas Lake and the surrounding landscape. Stay inside the Kanas scenic area.
Day 5 — Kanas → Three Bays → Karamay
Spend the morning exploring the famous Three Bays — Fairy Bay, Moon Bay and Wolong Bay. Then leave the Altay region and continue south toward Karamay. Overnight in Karamay.
Day 6 — Karamay → Sayram Lake
Drive west toward Sayram Lake. Enter the scenic area by road and explore the lake with freedom to stop at designated viewpoints — lakeside viewpoints, swans, mountain reflections and sunset, with a sailing experience when weather permits. Overnight near Sayram Lake.
Day 7 — Sayram Lake → Yining
Return to Sayram Lake in the morning for softer light and mountain reflections. Continue toward Yining, stopping at a lavender field depending on season. In the afternoon, explore Six Star Street — a local-style makeover and portrait photography experience is included. Overnight in Yining.
Day 8 — Yining → Xiata → Zhaosu
Travel south into the Tianshan landscape. Enter Xiata Ancient Trail National Forest Park, drive through the scenic area and look toward the Muzart Glacier. Overnight in Zhaosu.
Day 9 — Kalajun Grassland → Kuokesu Canyon → Tekes
Drive into the Kalajun Grassland and explore the rolling Eastern and Western Kalajun landscapes by road. Continue to Kuokesu Canyon for views of the turquoise river, canyon landscape and famous grassland formations. Finish the day in Tekes. Overnight in Tekes.
Day 10 — Tekes → Nalati Grassland
Travel toward Nalati and explore the grassland by road — routes potentially include the Sky Grassland, Valley Grassland, forest landscapes and mountain viewpoints. The exact driving route may vary according to local traffic management and conditions. Overnight in Nalati.
Day 11 — Duku Highway → Urumqi
Drive one of the most famous roads in China. The Duku Highway crosses the Tianshan Mountains through grasslands, forests, high passes and dramatic mountain landscapes, with possible stops at mountain viewpoints, snow landscapes and scenic road sections. Continue back to Urumqi. Overnight in Urumqi.
Day 12 — Depart Urumqi
Transfer to the airport or railway station. Journey ends.
Experience Highlights
More Than Just the View
- Stay inside Hemu scenic area
- Stay inside Kanas scenic area
- Kanas Three Bays
- Sayram Lake scenic drive
- Sailing on Sayram Lake when weather allows
- Yining Six Star Street
- Local-style portrait photography
- Xiata mountain drive
- Kalajun Grassland road experience
- Kuokesu Canyon
- Nalati scenic driving
- Duku Highway crossing
The Road Trip Experience
The Road Is Part of the Journey
Xinjiang is enormous, and this journey covers serious distances. Some days involve five to seven hours on the road, and the Duku Highway day can be considerably longer.
But these are not simply transfers. The changing landscape — desert, forest, lakes, grassland and the Tianshan Mountains — is part of what makes travelling through Xinjiang so memorable.
About the Duku Highway
The Duku Highway is seasonal and weather-dependent. If the road is closed, an alternative route back toward Urumqi will be used.
Who Is This For?
This Journey Is For You If...
- You want to see a lot of Xinjiang in one trip
- You love road trips and big landscapes
- You want both Altay and Ili rather than choosing only one region
- You like lakes, mountains and grasslands
- You enjoy photography
- You are comfortable with long scenic driving days
- You prefer a very small group rather than a large coach tour
Before You Go
Good to Know
- This is a small shared group of 2–6 travellers.
- This itinerary includes professional driver service but does not include a dedicated tour guide.
- Some driving days are long because of the scale of Xinjiang.
- Accommodation inside Hemu and Kanas is more limited than in major cities.
- Breakfast is not included during the scenic-area stays in Hemu and Kanas.
- Mountain and grassland weather can change quickly.
- Some experiences depend on weather and local operating conditions.
- The Sayram Lake sailing experience may be cancelled in strong winds.
- Lavender is seasonal and is generally relevant only for departures from approximately early June to mid-July.
- The itinerary may be adjusted due to traffic, road closures, weather or scenic-area regulations.
- Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and warm layers are recommended.
Want to see Xinjiang the long way?
Tell Rui your travel dates and group size, and I'll help you check departures and whether this journey is the right fit for you.