Northern Xinjiang is a long-distance landscape journey through the Altay mountains, Kanas lake country, steppe, desert and the western Tianshan. It is not one loop with guaranteed roads. A sensible first trip chooses either Altay–Kanas or Ili–Sayram, using Urumqi as the air and rail hub. Allow seven to ten days for one region and treat weather, seasonal access and vehicle planning as core parts of the experience.
