Complete itineraries, route planning, day-by-day travel plans for Xinjiang.
February is the month Xinjiang holds its breath between two seasons. I have driven the north in early February when the snow was still knee deep, and again near the end of the month when the…
January is the quietest month I know on Xinjiang’s roads. I drove into the Tianshan in January once, and for 220 km between Urumqi and the high passes I met maybe a dozen other cars.
Most visitors picture Xinjiang in high summer, with green grasslands and crowded scenic shuttles. I prefer December. The highways empty out, the hotels drop to their lowest prices of the yea…
November is Xinjiang at its quietest: empty roads, rooms at a third of summer price, and the first snow. It suits budget travelers and photographers who do not mind the cold.
June turns the Ili Valley purple with lavender and green with new grass, and the Duku Highway finally opens. It is my favorite month for blooming landscapes without the crowds.
May is Xinjiang at its quietest: apricot blossoms, fresh green grasslands, and prices a third of summer. The roads are mostly open and the famous sights are nearly empty.
August is Xinjiang at full volume: green grasslands, real festivals, and every mountain road open. Yes, it is hot and busy, but with an early start it is still a glorious month.
September is the month I tell every traveler to come to Xinjiang. Golden birch, cool clear days, and thin crowds make it the best time to see Kanas, the Ili Valley, and Sayram Lake.
The Kashgar to Tashkurgan drive is the most dramatic day on Xinjiang’s roads. Here is the permit, the altitude, the lake stops, and how to do the Pamir without rushing it.
Taking older parents to Xinjiang needs a slower plan: low altitudes, trains over long drives, and real rest. Here is the gentler route that still shows them the best of the region.
