Freeride skiing in Kyrgyzstan - Tien Shan

Get together - Practical information

Group size

Guiding

AZIMUT mountain guide from France + local English-speaking guide.

Local ski guide: he introduces us to his country, acts as a link with the people, helps us find the best runs and liaises with the local teams. He also skis with us.

We work with a great team of guides. We choose them mainly for their friendliness, their teaching skills and their organisational skills. We listen carefully to our guides, work with them and make sure that their working conditions and pay are the best they can be.

Daypack

Bring a small day pack large enough to carry your personal belongings for the day such as (extra) clothing, a few snacks and security equipment. We strongly recommend that you wear an airbag.

Getting around

Comfortable minibus, 4x4 and snowmobile.

Ski lifts

The Karakol ski lifts are included in the cost of the stay.

How technical does it get ? How fit should I be ?

• Skill level

Pricing and insurance

Pricing

Payment

Insurance

Tipping

Accommodation, meals and formalities

During your stay

Depending on the composition of the group, you may be with someone of the opposite sex.

- We'll be staying in comfortable hotels and yurts, in rooms for 2 to 4 people. Bed linen and towels are provided.

- Dinners and breakfasts are taken in local restaurants and cafés or at the yurt camp.

 A single room supplement (hotels only) of €130 is possible, subject to availability.

-Snacks : details are important, especially after such demanding physical effort ! We've chosen to supply tasty, high-quality cereal bars.

By the way, our yurt camp: We sleep in our yurt camp, but please note that we're talking about nice, cosy yurts for two people with a toilet and bathroom (not the one with the cook right in the middle of the smell of horse tripe grease and your bed 2 metres from the stove where the cook is preparing the mutton stew that has to simmer all night). Anyway, you get the idea, you know us, we like nice places, places where you enjoy spending time. Trust us, this trip...it's the one to do!

Accommodation before and after your ski touring holiday

As soon as you register, we'll send you the names and contact details of accommodation where you can spend the night before or after your trip. This accommodation is close to the meeting points and you will often benefit from a preferential rate.

Currency & cash

The local currency is the som (KGS).  1 €= 100.56KGS (30.07.2021)

Passport

French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian nationals are exempt from visa and registration requirements for tourist or business visits of less than 60 days (2 months). They must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of their stay.

Make sure that the passport has been stamped by a border guard.

Passports must be in perfect condition (no stains, staples, paper clips, marks, tears, etc.).

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are compulsory, but some may be recommended. Make sure you're up to date with your usual vaccinations, as well as those for all the geographical areas you'll be visiting.

Updating your diphtheria-tetanus-polio (DTP) vaccination is recommended, as is the rubella-mumps-measles (MMR) vaccine for children. Vaccination against tuberculosis is also advisable.

Depending on local travel conditions, vaccinations against typhoid fever and viral hepatitis A and B may be recommended.

Vaccination against rabies may also be advisable in certain cases, depending on the conditions and location of your stay. Ask your doctor or an international vaccination centre for advice.

For all other information about health risks... please consult: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr

Téléphone & WIFI

In the event of an emergency or delay, you can contact our guide, whose number will be given to you before departure, or Azimut on 04 92 23 07 24. Pass on these contacts to your family and friends before you leave.

Free WIFI in hotels

WIFI at the yurt camps for a fee

SIM cards called "B Line" at around €4, which provide good 4G coverage.

Equipment - clothing & gear

Make sure to wear bright colours, it's good for the soul and gives photos a funky edge ! 

Skiing material (all in excellent condition)

• Freeride skis (or freeride rando skis) with touring bindings
• Ski skins and ski crampons (aka "couteaux")
• Poles
• Ski boots: opt for ski touring boots or freeride boots with good ankle flex and a better range of movement. Regular alpine ski boots will also do the job as climbs are relatively short.
• Avalanche safety kit: transceiver, shovel and probe (please let us know if you have your own, if not we lend them free of charge)
• Harness for glacier terrain (if you don't have one, you can borrow one)
• Daypack: capacity of 30 liters

Security advice: avalanche airbag backpacks are strongly recommended for you safety and security.

They help to stay on the surface in case of avalanche and minimize the risk of burial. Our guides use airbags. We highly recommend you to opt for high quality and reliable gear. If you don't have an avalanche airbag we rent them out at a very competitive price.

If you don't have the adequate equipment for the trip, don't worry and travel light: we rent out the required gear and hand it over at the start of the trip ! Our gear is relatively new, if not new, of good quality and adapted to your choice of activity.

Prices of rental equipment during the entire trip (these competitive prices only take into account the number of days of the trip):

You can choose to rent equipment when booking your trip, or lateron by clicking on “my account”. If any of the equipment you've chosen is out of stock you'll be notified and reimbursed.

Clothes

This list of clothes is designed to give you an idea of clothes it may be a good to have with you. By no means do you need to have the latest brands or the latest gear, but if you need to renew your wardrobe, this guide would be a good start.

Headwear

• Warm hat or buff/scarf
• Ski goggles (2 pairs) and sunglasses: UV factory 4 protective lenses. Photochromic glasses adapt to light intensity and are very useful
• Helmet (strongly recommended)

Bodywear

• Under layer: breathable long sleeved tops to maintain heat. A tip: merino wool is breathable and has anti-bacterial properties and is therefore less likely to smell as opposed to synthetic fabrics. Take this into consideration if you need to update your wardrobe.
• Middle layer: a light polar or synthetic jacket for an extra layer of heat during breaks
• Outer layer: a Gore-tex or similar type of jacket with a breathable waterproof membrane. Make sure it's lightweight and compact so it doesn't take up too much space in your backpack
• Bottom layer: trousers with a breathable waterproof membrane (Gore Tex or similar) with long side zips allowing air to flow, recommended on climbs
• Hands: light fleece or soft shell gloves, a pair of silk glove liners to go underneath, warm gloves with a breathable and waterproof membrane. Mittens are always a good idea for really cold days of for those of you who feel the cold !
• Swimming gear: it takes up such little space, it would be a shame not to bring it just in case. Avoid swimming shorts or bermudas, they are not usually allowed.

Footwear

• Ski socks: merino wool socks are breathable and have anti-bacterial properties and are less likely to smell as opposed to those made of synthetic materials. Think about them if you need to stock up.
• Slippers / Crocs recommended for evening wear.

Odds and ends

• a 1 litre flask (Thermos or Camelback)
• a pocket knife
• duck tape
• factor 50 sun cream
• a duffle bag holding up to 110 litres to leave at the hotel or in the vehicle. No suitcases.

Toiletries and first aid kit

- Personal toilet bag

- To make up a first aid kit, please find all relevant information on the Ifremmont website. 

Our guides use the following brands for their gear and you'll have the opportunity to test them during the trip:

• Arva
• Fritschi Swiss bindings
• SCOTT

And last but not least...