F6016 KALAJUN CIRCUIT TREK 11D10N

On the 2nd and 3rd days, while staying at Qiaxi Scenic Area and Tarim Scenic Area, there are shops selling basic snacks, alcohol, and beverages. You can make minor purchases and obtain simple supplies.

The highest pass is at 2,915 meters, and the campsites are around 2,200 meters in elevation. Under normal conditions, altitude sickness is unlikely. The overall difficulty of the trek is relatively low, and those with outdoor camping experience can participate. The 6-day trek covers 71 kilometers, with approximately 8 hours of hiking each day, and an average elevation gain of 500 meters per day. The 4th day has a higher intensity, with a 10-kilometer hike and a 900-meter ascent, but you'll still reach the campsite early, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the vibrant camp life. It’s a trek meant for enjoyment, not just for endurance.

The minimum temperature at the campsites is predicted to be around -5°C, considering the possibility of adverse weather conditions. Typically, nighttime temperatures are above 5°C. During the day, depending on weather conditions, the perceived temperature can range from 10°C to around 25°C. It is recommended to bring a sleeping bag with a comfort rating of -5°C. If your sleeping bag’s rating is insufficient, consider bringing a packable down jacket and down pants for extra warmth while sleeping. A down jacket is also essential for camp life.

Tents can be either a double tent for one person or a three-person tent for two people. They should be spacious and comfortable, with enough room to store gear inside to avoid theft or loss during the night. Both two-season and three-season tents are suitable, but avoid bringing park-style tents as this is a remote mountain area, and herders have not yet moved up for the season. The Xinjiang Club provides reliable Cold Mountain 2 or Cold Mountain 3 tents. If you do not have a tent, you can rent one or arrange to share with others in the pre-trip group, or you can ask customer service for assistance.

Each porter package has a weight limit of 15 kg per person. This limit is set to prevent overloading the horses, which could delay arrival at the campsite and disrupt the journey. Additionally, we recommend minimizing your gear, whether you are on a light or heavy load. Even with horses to carry your bags, bringing too much can lead to exhaustion, increase stress, and affect your mood. Horses will assist with carrying your load for the six-day trek, but from the start—shopping, packing, traveling to the airport, passing security, collecting luggage, boarding and alighting from trains, and other travel logistics—everything must be managed by you. Besides, managing your gear every morning and evening in the mountains consumes a lot of time, energy, and effort. To ensure a pleasant and relaxed journey and to maximize your experience in the wilderness, it is crucial to seriously streamline your gear. This has been a core principle of Lova Planet’s outdoor philosophy for the past two years.

Each day, people and horses travel separately and meet at the lunch spot and campsite. Therefore, you cannot access the items in the porter packages during the trek.

Gas canisters are classified as hazardous materials and cannot be carried by air, train, or bus. Therefore, they will be purchased by the support driver in Yining and distributed to everyone during the trip. Please inform customer service in advance of the quantity needed. It is recommended to bring 1.5 canisters of 230g per person.

The optimal period for the Kalajun activity is quite narrow, from May 6th to early June. During this less than one-month period, the scenery along the route is equally stunning, with no significant differences. However, there are notable variations. The red and yellow flower seas in the itinerary are distinct: the yellow flower sea is widespread, while the red flower sea is encountered only in one location. The red flower sea blooms during the afternoon of the fifth day’s itinerary, where the surrounding small hills are covered in red flowers. However, not every hill is visited; generally, you’ll visit one hill with the best blooms and photo angles for about an hour.

Many routes have this discussion, but who defines the "forward" and "reverse" directions? It's not a common concern, so this concept is problematic. It should be noted that some people traverse from east to west, while others go from west to east. Similarly, the Wusun route can be crossed from south to north or from north to south, making the terms "forward" and "reverse" irrelevant. For this route, we have chosen to traverse from east to west. We enter the mountains at the Kuerdening Scenic Area, arrive at the Qiaxi Scenic Area on the 2nd day, the Tarim Scenic Area on the 3rd day, the West Tarim Grassland on the 4th day, the East Kalajun Grassland on the 5th day, and exit at the Kalajun Scenic Area on the 6th day. The advantages of this choice are clear: the scenery gets increasingly beautiful as you go. The climax of the journey is on the 5th day, maintaining enthusiasm throughout. This avoids the situation where you see the major attractions in the first two days and find the following four days less interesting. This is why many hikers traveling from west to east end up exiting the Tarim Scenic Area on the 3rd day. The West Tarim Ridge Camp on the 4th day is the most important campsite along the route and the only one with a sunrise view. If you were traversing from west to east, you would miss this campsite and go straight to camp in the Tarim Scenic Area. Generally, campsites are located in valleys or by rivers, while this one on the ridge is rare, even in other routes in Xinjiang.

**Breakfast:** Milk powder, soy milk powder, oatmeal porridge, cooked porridge in a thermos, naan bread, mooncakes, Shaqima (Chinese sweet snack), Wang Wang Senbei (rice crackers), a small amount of protein, pickled vegetables. **Lunch:** Naan bread, instant noodles, mooncakes, Wang Wang Senbei, Shaqima, a small amount of protein. **Dinner:** Rice, noodles, Shanzhichu (pre-cooked meals), naan bread, protein, tomato egg drop soup, stir-fried vegetables. 1. **Staples:** 120 grams of rice/day or 150 grams of noodles/day, 0.5 naan/day, 0.5 cans of luncheon meat/day, 50 grams of milk powder/day, 30 grams of oatmeal/day. These amounts are per person per day and there is some flexibility. 2. **Vegetables:** Sweet garlic, garlic sprouts, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, bitter melon, dried mushrooms, dried beans, dried bamboo shoots, dried black fungus, kelp, etc. Choose according to preference. For camp stir-fries, try to focus on vegetables as greasy food can be unappetizing. Various wild vegetables (nettle【1st period】, shepherd's purse【1st period】, sand onion【1st period】, dandelion【1-2nd period】, wild garlic shoots【1-3rd period】) can generally be foraged during the trek. 3. **Beverages:** Ginger brown sugar 150 grams (not needed for everyone; bring more if you tend to feel cold or weak; dissolve in hot water upon reaching the camp in the evening), glucose + salt (to replenish electrolytes) 150 grams (dissolve in water bottles or hydration packs in the morning; glucose is not very sweet, so dilute it to avoid stomach acid and nausea), coffee or strong tea (for mental alertness before and during the trek). 4. **Snacks (bring sparingly):** Compressed biscuits (1 piece as a backup), chocolate, Snickers, dried cherry tomatoes, almonds, raisins, figs, almonds, fruit candies (avoid milk candies); choose based on personal needs. 5. **Personal Medications:** Medicines for colds, inflammation, fever, diarrhea, pain relief, band-aids, etc. If traveling with a partner or friend, coordinate similar items in advance so not everyone needs to carry their own. Kalajun has clean water sources at all campsites and lunch spots. The above suggestions are for reference only. Adjust based on personal preferences and tastes to increase appetite. Food items take up significant backpack weight, and carrying excess leads to waste and environmental impact. Focus on essentials.

**Equipment Requirements** The following descriptions do not require imported or domestic brands, nor do they require high-end or low-end products, but they must be included. If conditions allow, purchasing mid-to-high-end products will be more comfortable, durable, and provide better protection. 1. **Rain Jacket and Pants** - These are primarily for wind and light rain protection. If you don’t have suitable ones, a raincoat can be used as an alternative. Raincoats are essential in mountainous areas due to frequent rain. 2. **Soft Shell and Fleece Clothing** - For daily wear, providing warmth. Choose a medium thickness for soft shells and the softest, thinnest fleece for layering. Avoid heavy items as they are mostly unnecessary. Similar advice applies to other routes—avoid thick soft shells or fleece as they are difficult to adjust and only end up taking space in your bag. 3. **Down Jacket and Pants** - A down jacket is essential for camping. Down pants are optional but highly recommended if you hike above 2500 meters. If your sleeping bag isn’t warm enough, wearing down clothing can keep you warm. 4. **Quick-Dry Clothing** - For use in low-altitude areas. In consistently sunny weather or during a warm spell, high-altitude areas can also use quick-dry clothing. 5. **Warm and Moisture-Wicking Clothing** - A set for emergency use in your bag. If you have fleece clothing, this may not be needed. 6. **Socks** - Three pairs of quick-dry or wool socks, which are good for changing and provide antibacterial properties. Useful to prevent dampness from water or dew. No hot water foot soaks! No socks while sleeping at night! 7. **Sun Protection Scarf** - For sun and cold protection. One is sufficient. 8. **Thin Gloves and Fleece Gloves** - Wear thin gloves under normal weather, switch to fleece gloves in windy, rainy, or snowy conditions. Choose larger sizes to ensure blood circulation, as even thick gloves won’t keep you warm if they are too tight. 9. **Hiking Shoes** - Mid-height hiking shoes are adequate. Check them before departure to avoid adhesive issues due to aging. After the second session, trail running shoes are also acceptable, but they may get wet. Good walking habits are essential to prevent ankle injuries. 10. **Gaiters** - Required for the first session to protect against mud and dust. They are also useful for snow-covered paths. In later sessions, they are optional for those who prefer cleanliness. 11. **Headlamp or Flashlight** - There’s no likelihood of night travel. Headlamps or flashlights are optional. In this season in Ili, it gets dark around 11 PM, and dawn is at about 6 AM. You can use your phone’s flashlight if needed. The club will provide a small night light (2 grams), which is bright when plugged into a power bank. 12. **Knee Pads or Patella Straps** - Best to use patella straps for knee protection. If you don’t have knee issues, you may not need them as there are no long downhill or steep slopes. If traversing from west to east, you’ll encounter a long downhill section. 13. **Sunscreen and Lip Balm** - Although the altitude isn’t very high, UV rays are strong in the clear mountain air. Packing needs to be meticulous and categorized. Use waterproof bags for items that need protection from moisture, and organize other items separately. Carry a small bag of around 30L for daily essentials like rain gear, quick-dry clothing, lunch, snacks, half a day’s drinking water, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. The main bag can be a 100L+ duffel, with waterproof treatment for internal contents as the duffel’s waterproof ability is limited. Check equipment the day before departure; unnecessary items will be suggested for storage at the office or hotel, and any missing essentials must be purchased. Lightweight packing is crucial, especially for long-distance cross-province trips. Preparing in advance by understanding the destination, season, local sunrise and sunset times, climate, and trail conditions will make packing easier and the journey smoother. Adhere to proper outdoor practices; don’t carry more than necessary to avoid inconveniencing others. Save time, energy, and effort for experiencing the mountains and grasslands. For such a distant location in Xinjiang, don’t focus on the luxury of your gear—just make sure it’s adequate.

For down products, it's advisable to have them without focusing on brands. Outdoor gear is easily soiled and not convenient to wash frequently; each wash decreases its insulation performance. Therefore, buying ordinary down jackets is sufficient. Brands like Tian Shi, Black Ice, or KAILAS, which are priced around two to three hundred yuan during sales, are good options. If budget allows, you might consider high-end brands like Arc'teryx or ultra-light options like Montbell from Japan, which are renowned in the ultra-lightweight gear community. Down products inevitably experience down leakage. While big brands manage it slightly better, it cannot be entirely prevented. The down content is not a critical factor to consider; it's added to maintain the best loft and structure. High loft levels are not necessarily better as, in humid mountain conditions, higher loft can reduce insulation performance when wet. If you are sensitive to cold, choose thicker jackets with more fill.

If you're not carrying a lot of camera equipment, a 20,000 mAh power bank will be sufficient. You can charge your devices at the Chashi Scenic Area on the second day. When there is no phone signal, turn on airplane mode and battery-saving mode to conserve power, as taking photos uses very little energy. Regarding the weather, to capture stunning views and beautiful photos, rain is essential. Without rain or snow, the scenery won't be as striking. Therefore, rainy or snowy weather is actually a good thing. Consistently sunny weather is considered the worst possible condition.

Here is the summary of the Q&A for this issue regarding the Kalajun Grand Circuit. If you have any more questions, feel free to interact in the group or leave us a message. The Kalajun Grand Circuit is a beautiful and mysterious destination, attracting many visitors. If you want to experience the grandeur of nature and the local cultural charm, the Kalajun Grand Circuit is an option you should not miss.