1. What are the requirements for insurance policy?
To participate in any Lenin Peak expedition the purchase of an insurance policy is OBLIGATORY!
Below you can check the list of our requirements to the insurance policy.
1) GLOBAL VOYAGER CAN NOT INTERVENE as an insurance company assistant. Our company does not work with GLOBAL VOYAGER assistant. In case the client has purchased an insurance policy in any company whose assistant is GLOBAL VOYAGER, medical and transportation expenses will be covered by the client.
2) The sum of the policy must cover not less than USD 10000,00.
3) In the field "occupation" (or "sports practice") "Mountaineering" must be notified.
4) As Country of stay - Kyrgyzstan
5) The effective dates of the insurance policy must be included and coincide with the dates of Stay in Kyrgyzstan
6) The insurance policy must cover at least "first aid" and "transportation of the injured" by helicopter if necessary. The amount of coverage for the "transportation of the injured" must be at least $ 10000,00 (be sure of this point to be included during the formalization of the insurance policy)
Attention. Responsibility for the reliability of the insurance company and for the accordance of insurance policy to the Ak-Sai Travel demands holds by the owner of insurance.
2. Full package include registration in rescue team, what does it mean?
Due to the fact that the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic can’t help us in case of emergency situation on the Lenin Peak region, we’ve been forced to organize our own rescue team. The “Ak-Sai Travel” Company has experienced and competent professional experts in that field, who have saved many lives.
Registration in the rescue team is the safety guarantee to a person who climbs a summit!
Registration in our rescue team has two main components: 1) Information, 2) Search and rescue.
1) Information. Prevention of various emergencies - issuing radio stations, communication with each climber 4 times a day (8-00, 12-00, 16-00, 20-00), tracking all Ak-Sai Travel clients on the route, daily radio transmission of the weather forecast, warning of the danger areas on the route (avalanche hazard, cracks, etc.)
2) Search and rescue: the main task is an urgent response to any emergency situation that may happen in this area.
Please note that the members of our rescue team are guides and staff of high-altitude camps, and they are all need to do theirs main work during the season. In case of emergency, the head of the Camp 1 (he is also the Head of the Rescue team) appoints responsible person to conduct rescue. All other members of the rescue team come under his subordination. All capable clients, and especially members of the group in which the emergency happened, are also involved in all possible assistance for saving lives and obey the orders of the head of the rescue team.
Such experience has been successfully used by us for many years. For example, there were 14 rescuers and two transportation of "cargo 200" from the height of 6,300 meters and 6,600 meters to BC carried out by the "Ak-Sai Travel" Company in 2019.
We remind that to participate in any Lenin Peak expedition the purchase of an insurance policy is OBLIGATORY! This allows us to keep rescue system work.
3. Is it possible to obtain border permit via Ak-Sai Travel Company separately from buying tour package?
"Ak-Sai Travel” Company do not provide border permit without buying package. Providing border permit we automatically take responsibility for a customer and hold it till the end of his stay in Kyrgyzstan.
4. Who need registration on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic?
Foreign citizens are required to carry out the registration procedure on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic within five working days from the moment of crossing the State Border of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Date and terms of exemption from registration for foreign countries you can find on our web site: https://ak-sai.com/en/info/Kyrgyzstan-visa
Registration on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic, if it is necessary, is included into the cost of your package. Please take care that your passport was on time provided to the manager of the Ak-Sai Travel Company. Also please check preparedness of the registration list in your passport. Otherwise, a fine of 10,000 SOM will be withheld from you for violation of the order of stay on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.
5. What are the qualification requirements for climbing Lenin Peak?
The classical route to Lenin Peak does not involve steep rock or ice climbing but you always keep in mind that this is 7 thousand meters peak.
Ascenders should have:
- Good physical and functional conditions for a long time work at high altitude area.
- Experience in using crampons;
- Rope working skills;
- Group moving skills;
- Have knowledge on self-restraint on a snow slope and rise from an ice crack.
Experience in high-altitude climbing more than 6000 meters is advisable.
If your climbing experience is small we advise you to use the guide service or join our fixed departure dates program under the leadership of the experienced mountain guide.
6. What is mountain sickness? What are the symptoms and recommendations for good acclimatization?
Mountain sickness is a morbid state of the human body which has risen to a significant heigh-altitude, which happens due to hypoxia (insufficient supply of oxygen to tissues), hypocapnia (lack of carbon dioxide in tissues) and makes significant changes in all organs and systems of the human body.
With improper treatment or wrong actions (delay evacuation), mountain sickness can even lead to the death of the sick person. Sometimes are very quickly.
To ascent summit safety you should have good acclimatization!
7. What equipment is needed for climbing?
Full list of required equipment you can find on our website in mountaineering section on the page of Lenin Peak in the tab “List of required equipment”. For your convenience equipment is accompanied by a link to the store's website, where you can purchase it.
8. What equipment can I rent from «Ak-Sai Travel» Company»?
We can provide the following equipment for rent:
Gas stove Kovea , Cookset Kovea, Static rope (25-40m), High-altitude tent RED FOX Explorer (2 - bed), Ice axe, Crampons, Avalanche shovel, Sleeping bag, Sleeping pad , Harness, Carbines (2 pc.), Jumar, Helmet, Telescopic Sticks.
* The cost for rent you can find in Additional services tab.
9. Is it possible to purchase food and equipment for climbing in Bishkek or Osh?
Products can be purchased in Bishkek and in Osh. This can be done in supermarkets or at numerous bazaars. Do not forget that the amount of baggage carried on the flight Bishkek-Osh is limited! Equipment can be purchased only in Bishkek, in specialized stores, such as "Red Fox" http://redfox.kg/
10. What is the most favorable time for climbing?
Meteorological conditions under the Lenin Peak are unpredictable. Both months-July and August are considered favorable for the ascent. We can just recommend you have reserve days for waiting a good weather.
11. How to book an expedition to the Lenin Peak?
For booking expedition you need to send your request to the email: adventure3@ak-sai.com. Manager will send you booking form and answer all your questions. We will also need scan of your passport and an insurance policy to prepare all the necessary documents before the expedition.
12. What are the rules for the payment procedure?
In case of booking, we require 30% of prepayment from the total amount according the final invoice.
The rest of the balance must be paid not later than 1 month before the beginning of the expedition.
You can transfer money via bank account or make a payment online from the bank card (in both cases, the bank charges % for the service). Sometimes, partial payment for the tour is possible upon arrival in Bishkek or in Osh (this possibility is discussed in the process of correspondence).
Terms of cancellation:
1) If you inform us about the cancellation of expedition 1 month before departure, we will refund you the deposit afterdeducting banking services and the cost of the border permission.
2) If you inform us about the cancellation of expedition less than 1 month, but not later than 7 days before the beginning of the expedition, we will refund your deposit after deducting banking services, the cost of the border permission, the fine for cancellation of the hotel reservation and Bishkek – Osh ticket issue.
3) If for some reason you could not come to the expedition, and we were not informed about this in advance (not less than 7 days before the beginning of the expedition), 30% of deposit is not refundable, but the remaining amount (70%) can be moved to the next year.
13. Will someone meet me at the airport?
At the airport in Bishkek / Osh you will be greeted by a representative of the "Ak-Sai Travel" Company with the nameplate. He will accompany you to the hotel and provide all the necessary documents (border permit, voucher, air ticket etc.)
14. Where is it better to exchange money for the Kyrgyz currency (SOM)?
All out airports have 24-hours exchange offices, but the rate is very bad. It is better to exchange currency in the city. On the way from the airport to the hotel you can ask the driver to stop at the exchange office, or you can go to any nearest bank in your free time.
15. Where can I find the schedule of transport Osh - Base Camp “Achik-Tash”- Osh?
The transport schedule you can find on our website in mountaineering section on the page of Lenin Peak in the tab “Transport schedule”. If you can’t make use of our fixed arrival/ departure dates you can always preorder an individual transfer for extra charge. The cost of an individual transfer can be found in the additional services price-list.
16. What kind of food is provided at camps under Lenin Peak?
A balanced and delicious full board meal awaits you at the Base Camp and Camp 1. In the Base Camp there is a buffet breakfast. In Camp 1, an early breakfast is specially provided for customers from 3:00 to 4:00 on request. If you purchase a full package №1 or №2 you need to take care about high altitude food by yourself in advance. You also can purchase a set of high altitude food at Camp 1 for an extra (see the "Additional Services" tab on the website). Participants who purchase full package №3 or ascension as part of the group receive fixed set of high-altitude food at Camp 1.
17. Which currency I should carry for expedition?
It is better to take US Dollars, because all prices are formed in this currency. You can also pay in Euro or KG SOM but the rate in the mountains will be significantly different from the rate in the city.
18. Where can I find information about the guides that will work in the 2018 season?
Please follow the tab "Our guides"to get more details about guides that will work with us in the season 2018.
19. Where can I order porter services and how to pay for it?
From the Base Camp to the Camp 1, we use horses to carry loads. Porter service usually order at the Base Camp or Camp 1 the day before climbing and pay on the spot (3 USD per 1 kg). The cost of services you can find on our website in the "Additional Services" tab. Porter services are paid on the spot directly to porters.
20. What does it mean – early check-in? How we have to consider it and pay?
Basically, all international flights arrive early in the morning but the standard check-in at the hotel is from 2 P.M. If you check- in before the 2 P.M. you should pay for extra one day accommodation. If you do not want to use early check-in, you can leave your luggage at the hotel, walking somewhere or waiting in the lobby until 2 P.M.
Attention! For those who directly arrive to Osh and then go to BC, we organize a light breakfast in our office.
21. What additional expenses should I expect?
If your package do not include full meal board you have to pay for your lunches and dinners (around 4-5 USD per meal) on days when you will be in Bishkek or in Osh city. If necessary, you can purchase products for high-altitude camps, as well as gas cans, if it is not included into your package. Also all packages do not include the services of porters, an Internet connection, a bath at BC and Camp 1 and drinks in the bar. (See the "Additional Services" tab on the website in the Lenin Peak section).
22. Could I charge my gadgets at the Base Camp and Camp1?
At the Base Camp there is a permanent source of electricity: electric sockets are located in the dining room and in each tent. At Camp 1, electricity provides by the generator; gadgets can be charged in evening from 18:00 to 22:00.
23. How does an electrical socket at the Base Camp and Camp 1 looks like?
At the Base Camp and Camp 1, 220V, Type C, Euro Plug sockets are used.
Also there are European sockets Type F, Schuko, with grounding.
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