Questions & Answers
What should I bring with me?
What type of payment method do you accept?
Do you accommodate special dietary needs?
How long is the ski season?
What happens in the case of extreme weather conditions?
How long is the ski day?
What equipment is supplied?
Additional skiing
What do the rates I see for backcountry skiing include?
Why Skiing/Boarding with us?
Do the skis/snowboard for backcountry ski/board is different from usual skis/snowboard?
What level of experience do I need to backcountry ski?
What altitude I will be skiing/boarding at?
How much snow should I expect on the slopes?
Does Tree Skiing/boarding is possible in Kyrgyzstan?
What is the best time for backcountry skiing ?
What is the backcountry ski look like?
What is backcountry yurt?
What facilities does winter backcountry yurt camp offers?
Where the hell is Kyrgyzstan?
Do I need a visa for Kyrgyzstan?
What I have to bring with me?
Personal:
- Passport
- Ski/Snowboard clothing
- Sunscreen, your favorite book, music, a journal, and don't forget the camera!
- If you'd like, favorite "Energy Snacks" and sweets from home.
Gear:
Guests are required to have all appropriate equipment:
- Airbag (strongly recommended)
- Snow shovel (a must have)
- Avalanche probe (a must have)
- Avalanche beacon (a must have)
- Avalung (strongly recommended)
- Hard - shell Helmet (strongly recommended)
- Skis/Splitboard: Powder or Free ride. Wider then usual skis and give skiers the advantage of turning with ease in any snow conditions. We recommend minimum of 100mm under foot.
- Poles: A pair of pole.
- Bindings: Backcountry touring bindings or adapters.
- Boots: Make sure you have a comfortable and durable pair of boots. Make sure your boots have enough hinging action to allow you to push your knees forward without having to release your top buckle. To allow for comfort make sure your boots are not tight around your toes, ankles or the lower part of your shins. We do recommend that you carry your boots with you on the plane to ensure they arrive when you do.
Please note: We have very limited choice of gear available for rent.
What type of payment method do you accept?
We do accept bank transfers and cash on arrival.
Do you accommodate special dietary needs?
Diets and allergies are concern for many ppl including us. Our cooks will accommodate any special dietary needs. Please contact us with detailes prior to your holiday so we can prepare in advance of your arrival.
How long is the ski season?
Our ski season starts in December and lasts until mid May. Yurt camp is operated December - March. In parts of the country, April and May present amazing conditions and opportunities to access deeper summits and zones that are otherwise too cold or too dangerous mid-winter.
What happens in the case of extreme weather conditions?
If you don't like an idea of staying in the camp, playing Yatzee or cards, practicing your beacon search, drinking vodka, visiting banya and doing other nice stuff...besides that we can offer sightseeing and hot springs tours, or skiing at one of the local ski resorts.
How long is the ski day?
Typical day:
Breakfast served 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Departure 08:30 AM
Lunch is on the hill
End of day 16:00-17:00
What equipment is supplied?
Sleeping bag+liner+pillow, sleeping mat, all kitchen ware. None of Ski/Board gear is provided so guests are required to bring their own equipment. We can only provide you with snow shovel, avalanche probe and avalanche beacon in case yours is broken or lost.
Additional skiing
It is not always possible to prolong your stay in the camp as other groups may be booked shoulder to shoulder with your gang. Check on the spot or please use our booking calendar for detailes.
What do the rates I see for backcountry skiing include?
Packages are all inclusive. Pls check the detailes for every package.
Why Skiing/Boarding with us?
- Our company remains small enough for all our trips to be special
- Eco friendly
- Expertise and sensitive Guides (1 guide for every 4 skiers/riders)
- Value - It doesn't matter how much money you have, or how much you are willing to spend. We realize you want the best price, but without sacrificing quality. We will provide you only with solid value at all times. Also look what's included...
- Variety - We deliver atmospheres from casual to formal, adventurous to ultra deluxe. Everything from hotels and tour packages, trekking or heliskiing getaways, guided and do-it-yourselfjj8y7 uhh 0809mjku0i90=m[juy8hg765ghob6h7j89mmtours or superb craft tours to enchanting eco tours. Whatever your vacation or business travel requirement, we'll find the perfect fit for you.
- Destinations - The choice of runs, length, aspects and incline is almost unlimited. Your choice can be overwhelming! There is always a destination that is just right for you.
- Flexibility - You can ski as much or as little as you like. Glaciers or trees, gentle or steep, beginner or expert, it is up to you. Endless mountains of pristine, untouched terrain is all waiting for you.
Do the skis/snowboard for backcountry ski/board is different from usual skis/snowboard?
It is well advised to get the powder skis/snowboard (Free Ride; Fat skis, Wide skis +100 mm) which make skiing/ridding more accessible and enjoyable for intermediate skiers, as well as help the skier/rider feel free on different snow conditions. Powder skis are usually much fat than usual skis, while snowboarders are well advised to bring Splitboards. We recommend minimum of 100mm under foot.
What level of experience do I need to backcountry ski?
It is hard to say what level of experience required for backcountry ski/ride. Of course you should have skiing/boarding experience at conventional downhill resorts, also you should have an experience of skiing on blue runs as well as on black runs without hesitation and in any snow/weather conditions. You should be acquainted with side slip, step up sideways, traverse and kick turns (changing your direction while standing on the spot). Ski a few days before you plan to leave to backcountry ski getaway, try yourself on steeper runs and off piste slopes whenever you can. Take some lessons if needed.Skiing/ridding the powder is not that different from other styles of skiing/boarding. It is normal for the first time to have some doubt in your possibilities. These doubts will usually be gone soon after the first few runs.
What altitude I will be skiing/boarding at?
Mostly we will ski on the terrains which placed between 2300 m and 3800 m above sea level.How much snow should I expect on the slopes?
Every other season the situation can slightly change. On average, in the areas where we actually ski, snow level ranges from 1,5 m. to 2,2 m. Since the skiing/boarding area is very large snow level may vary.
Does Tree Skiing/boarding is possible in Kyrgyzstan?
Oh yeah, its one of the advantages not available for heli skiers as they normally ski above tree line. We do tree skiing every day on the way back to camp from playground terrain which is above tree line.
What is the best time for backcountry skiing
Backcountry season in Kyrgyzstan starts in December and lasts until April. This is the time of the most optimal snow conditions for pleasant skiing/boarding. Every season of the year there are different snow conditions: spring time, the snow may vary from corn snow on south faces to light powder on the north faces. Spring is considered to be the prime time for backcoutnry skiing as this time of the year days become longer and air temperatures warmer. Skiing/Boarding down by corn snow is very tempting as it requires much less effort then on any other snow.
What is the backcountry ski look like?
Backcountry skiing is not for beginners. Skiing conditions and landscapes can vary from glaciers with steep slopes to tree skiing and can range from light powder to hard crust, heavy snow (sodden with water) or anything in between. Our guides will do their best to find the most suitable or optimal conditions for you, but however due to safety reasons, skiing possibilities may become more restricted by guides or helicopter pilots. You also might be involved to encounter a mixture of different conditions. We offer overwhelming number of runs for the exclusive use of 15 skiers/boarders (maximum). Runs may vary in length from 800 to 1,500 vertical meters and are located in the heart of Kyrgyz Tien-Shan Mountains with thousands of breathtaking panoramas, amazing peaks and glaciers.
So its called Backcoutnry Ski - What about Snowboarders?
Snowboarders are more than welcome but required to have splitboards for approaches.
What is backcountry yurt?
Yurt is a traditional hand crafted tent like dwellings of Kyrgyz people ,it has a wooden structure and wrapped with reed screen and felted layers. There are no windows except the one at the very top used as a chimney in the past and only one door.
What facilities does winter backcountry yurt camp offers?
Our winter backcountry yurt camp consist of several yurts: guest yurt, guide's yurt and dinning yurt where we also gather together for breakfasts and dinners. Outhouse is located behind the yurt, banya, fire place.
Where the hell is Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan is located in the north east part of Central Asia bordering Kazakhstan in the North, Uzbekistan in the West, Tajikistan in the South West, to the border of China in the South.
Do I need a visa to Kyrgyzstan?
Many nations do not need a visa to Kyrgyzstan. However there are some that still need a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan pls check our visa section for detailes.
