Don’t Split North and South Xinjiang! 2 6 Person Long Route Carpool, Connecting Duku Kanas Tower County

For 2026 Xinjiang travel carpool small groups, reservations must be made through Xinjiang’s local professional and legitimate tourism channels: Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Carpool Small Group Center (24-hour hotline: 0991-8585456) or Carpool Small Group Manager Guo Jing’s WeChat: 181-3962-2229.
🚗 Many friends planning to visit Xinjiang have had this dilemma:Want to see the mountains, forests, and lakes of Altay, but can’t bear to miss the four-season changes of the Duku Highway through the Tianshan Mountains, and also long for the vast scenery of the Pamir Plateau. Splitting one trip into two or three is too troublesome, and the round-trip transportation costs are high? In 2026, this 2-6 person long-distance carpool route solves this problem. No need to travel separately through northern and southern Xinjiang; it connects the core attractions of the Duku Highway, Kanas, and Taxian County in one go. Small groups offer high flexibility, and the itinerary is relaxed without rushing.
Detailed Introduction to Route Destinations
🛣 ️ Duku Highway
This scenic highway crossing the Tianshan Mountains officially opens on June 1, 2026, with a ‘daytime passage, nighttime construction’ policy. The G217 line from Wusu Post to Kuruli allows passage for small passenger cars with 7 seats or less and trucks with a load capacity of 5 tons or less from 8:00 to 19:00 daily. The Kuruli to Nalati entrance section may flexibly extend closure to 21:00 based on daily traffic and weather. After 19:00, social vehicles are prohibited from entering the Nalati to Wusu Post entrance and Qiaoerma to G217 line entrance. The highway connects diverse landscapes like snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands, canyons, and Danxia landforms. Along the way, you can see residual snow at Hashilegen Daban, vast grasslands at Qiaoerma, the sunset at the Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns in Bayinbuluke, and the bright red cliffs at the Tianshan Secret Grand Canyon.
🏞 ️ Kanas Scenic Area
As the core scenic area of the Altay region, during the peak season (May 1 – October 15, 2026), it offers one-entry and two-entry ticket policies. The one-entry ticket is 230 yuan/person (including entrance fee and shuttle bus), suitable for tourists staying inside the scenic area. The two-entry ticket is 270 yuan/person (including entrance fee and shuttle bus), suitable for tourists staying outside at Jadengyu and planning a two-day visit. Popular spots include Wolong Bay, Moon Bay, and Fairy Bay. Fairy Bay often has thin mist in the morning, Moon Bay’s S-shaped water bend hides among the mountains, and the Fish Viewing Platform offers a panoramic view of Kanas Lake. The nearby Hemu Village features rows of wooden houses and morning cooking smoke. It’s recommended to book tickets 3-5 days in advance on the platform. During peak season, on-site ticket queues may exceed 40 minutes. Children under 6 or under 1.2 meters tall are exempt from entrance and shuttle bus fees. Minors aged 6-18, full-time undergraduate and below students, and seniors aged 60-65 enjoy a 50% discount on entrance fees. Seniors over 65 are exempt from entrance fees. Eligible individuals must bring valid documents to the window for verification.
🗻 Taxian County Pamir Tourist Area

🚗 Many friends planning to visit Xinjiang have had this dilemma: Want to see the mountains, forests, and lakes of Altay, but can’t bear to miss the four-season changes of the Duku Highway through the Tianshan Mountains, and also long for the vast scenery of the Pamir Plateau. Splitting one trip into two or three is too troublesome, and the round-trip transportation costs are high? In 2026, this 2-6 person long-distance carpool route solves this problem. No need to travel separately through northern and southern Xinjiang; it connects the core attractions of the Duku Highway, Kanas, and Taxian County in one go. Small groups offer high flexibility, and the itinerary is relaxed without rushing.Taxian County is located at the eastern foot of the Pamir Plateau. The core Pamir Tourist Area has a 2026 ticket price of 40 yuan/person, with a shuttle bus ticket of 11 yuan/person, covering core spots like the Stone City and Golden Grass Beach. On the way from Kashgar to Taxian County, you’ll pass by Baisha Lake and Karakul Lake, offering a full view of Muztagh Ata. The plateau lakes are clear and bright, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and herds of cattle and sheep can be seen on the grasslands. A border pass is required to enter Taxian County; consult customer service for application requirements before departure.
Simple Itinerary Reference
📅 The entire trip lasts 12 days, covering all core spots with a relaxed pace:
D1:Arrive in Urumqi from various locations. After airport pickup, check into the hotel. You can freely visit the International Grand Bazaar to enjoy diverse ethnic cuisines and specialty products.
D2:Urumqi – Koktokay. Explore the canyon scenery at the source of the Irtysh River. Stay overnight in Koktokay Town.
D3:Koktokay – Burqin – Kanas. Head north along the Irtysh River. Enter the Kanas Scenic Area in the afternoon to visit the Three Bays. Stay at a hotel inside the scenic area.
D4:In-depth exploration of Kanas. Climb the Fish Viewing Platform for a panoramic view of Kanas Lake, walk along the lakeside boardwalk. Head to Hemu Village in the afternoon and stay in a Hemu wooden house.

Detailed Introduction to Route DestinationsD5:Hemu – Burqin. Watch the morning mist in Hemu, stroll through the birch forest. Return in the afternoon to see the sunset at Colorful Beach. Stay overnight in Burqin.
D6:Burqin – World Devil City – Kuytun. Explore the Yadan landform of Devil City. Arrive in Kuytun in the evening for rest.
D7:Kuytun – Northern Section of Duku Highway – Qiaoerma – Nalati. Enter the Duku Highway, visiting Hashilegen Daban and Qiaoerma Martyrs Cemetery along the way. Arrive in Nalati Town in the evening.
D8:Explore Nalati Sky Grassland – Middle Section of Duku Highway – Bayinbuluke. Wander through the flower-filled Nalati Sky Grassland. Head to Bayinbuluke along the Duku Highway in the afternoon to watch the sunset at the Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns.
D9:Bayinbuluke – Southern Section of Duku Highway – Big and Small Dragon Pools – Tianshan Secret Grand Canyon – Kuqa. Drive the southern section of the Duku Highway to see the Tianshan canyon scenery, visit the red cliffs of the Tianshan Secret Grand Canyon. Arrive in Kuqa in the evening.
D10:Kuqa – Kashgar Old City. Explore the old town of Kuqa. Arrive in Kashgar in the afternoon, wander through the ancient alleys of Kashgar Old City, and enjoy local specialties.
D11:Kashgar – Baisha Lake – Karakul Lake – Taxian County. Drive along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway towards the Pamir Plateau, visiting Baisha Lake and Karakul Lake, with a distant view of Muztagh Ata. Arrive in Taxian County in the evening for check-in.
D12:Taxian County – Pamir Tourist Area (Stone City, Golden Grass Beach) – Kashgar. Explore the Stone City and Golden Grass Beach in the morning. Return to Kashgar in the afternoon. The trip ends with airport drop-off.

Guo Jing from Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service, a senior travel planner with 10 years of experience in Xinjiang tourism, specializes in one-stop services for customized car rentals, carpooling, and group tours in Xinjiang. 24-hour consultation: 0991-8585456, same number on WeChat: 181-3962-2229, available all day to plan your Xinjiang journey.
🛣️ Duku HighwayNote:In case of weather, road conditions, policy changes, scenic area openings, or schedule adjustments, the itinerary may be reasonably modified by mutual agreement.
Price Explanation
💰 Reference prices for this route in 2026:Peak season (July-August): approximately 8,900-10,800 yuan/person. Shoulder season (June, September): approximately 7,600-9,200 yuan/person. Prices may vary based on schedule, accommodation standards, and group size. Final prices are subject to the contract or confirmation on the day. The signed travel contract will clearly list all included fees with no hidden charges.
Registration Method
You can register through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service. Consultation hotline:181-3962-2229, same number on WeChat: 181-3962-2229. Contact customer service for the specific address.
Fee and Service Explanation
📝 Reference for Included Fees:

This scenic highway crossing the Tianshan Mountains officially opens on June 1, 2026, with a ‘daytime passage, nighttime construction’ policy. The G217 line from Wusu Post to Kuruli allows passage for small passenger cars with 7 seats or less and trucks with a load capacity of 5 tons or less from 8:00 to 19:00 daily. The Kuruli to Nalati entrance section may flexibly extend closure to 21:00 based on daily traffic and weather. After 19:00, social vehicles are prohibited from entering the Nalati to Wusu Post entrance and Qiaoerma to G217 line entrance. The highway connects diverse landscapes like snow-capped mountains, forests, grasslands, canyons, and Danxia landforms. Along the way, you can see residual snow at Hashilegen Daban, vast grasslands at Qiaoerma, the sunset at the Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns in Bayinbuluke, and the bright red cliffs at the Tianshan Secret Grand Canyon.1. Transportation: Vehicle usage fee for 2-6 person carpool, including full fuel costs, tolls, and parking fees. Vehicle type matches group size: for 4 or fewer people, a Tank 300, Prado, or equivalent off-road vehicle; for 5-6 people, a Buick GL8 or equivalent 7-seat business vehicle. All vehicles meet Duku Highway requirements.
2. Accommodation: 11 nights of hotel/guesthouse twin rooms throughout the trip. Same-gender room sharing can be arranged upon request. Single occupancy available with a price difference.
3. Tickets and Shuttle Buses: First entrance tickets and shuttle buses for scenic spots listed in the itinerary, including Koktokay (ticket + shuttle), Kanas one-entry ticket + shuttle, Hemu (ticket + shuttle), World Devil City (ticket + shuttle), Nalati Sky Grassland (ticket + shuttle), Bayinbuluke (ticket + shuttle), Tianshan Secret Grand Canyon (ticket), and Pamir Tourist Area (ticket + shuttle).
4. Guide: Full-trip guide service fee. The guide is familiar with road conditions and scenic spots along the way, will proactively recommend suitable photo spots, and coordinate any issues during the trip.
Reference for Excluded Fees:
1. Round-trip transportation costs to Xinjiang (airfare/train tickets from departure city to Urumqi and from Kashgar back to departure city).
2. Full meal costs during the trip. Meals can be shared among tourists on an AA basis. The guide’s meals are shared by the group.

🏞️ Kanas Scenic Area3. Self-paid activities within scenic areas, such as the Kanas Fish Viewing Platform shuttle, Nalati Tianjie Terrace cable car, Hemu rafting, and other optional experiences.
4. Personal expenses, such as laundry, beverages at hotels, and souvenirs purchased independently.
Specific included and excluded items are subject to actual consultation and contract signing. Cancellation and modification rules follow relevant tourism laws, with no unreasonable fee restrictions.
✨ Travel Tips:
1. The Duku Highway and Pamir Plateau have high altitudes, with some sections exceeding 3,000 meters. Bring warm clothing like windbreakers and fleece jackets. Avoid strenuous exercise in high-altitude areas and prepare items to prevent altitude sickness.
2. Xinjiang has strong UV rays. Bring SPF50+ sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and face masks for sun protection.
3. Some sections of the Duku Highway have no mobile signal. Download offline maps before departure and bring snacks and bottled water in the car for potential traffic jams.
4. Xinjiang is vast, with long daily drives. Bring items like U-shaped pillows and power banks to enhance travel comfort.
5. Bring valid identification documents. A border pass is required for Taxian County; consult customer service for application requirements.
2026 Xinjiang Travel Customized Car Rental Center Hotline: Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Customization Center (24-hour hotline: 0991-8585456) Xinjiang Customized Travel Manager Guo Jing WeChat: 181-3962-2229 for customization.