Helicopter Tour to Khan-Tengri Peak (3 Days)

You leave Bishkek early in the morning and drive east along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake toward the Karkyra valley, with a stop for lunch at a café on the way at Boom Gorge.

By evening you reach Karkyra camp at the foot of the range, where you settle into a double tent and have a buffet dinner.

Overnight: Karkyra camp, double tents.

Meals: lunch, dinner.

After breakfast, you take a helicopter flight across green valleys and high meadows, then over snow-covered ridges, Merzbacher Lake, and the Engilchek Glacier.

The flight takes about 45 minutes and ends at South Engilchek Base Camp (4,000 m), at the foot of Khan-Tengri (7,010 m) and Pobeda Peak (7,439 m).

Spend the rest of the day at base camp. You can take a short walk to the climbers’ monument or walk towards the glacier (if you have trekking poles and footwear).

Overnight: South Engilchek Base Camp, double tents on wooden platforms.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Fly back to Karkyra by helicopter, breakfast at Karkyra, then transfer by road to Bishkek.

The trip ends in Bishkek.

Meals: breakfast, lunch box

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights

Start / End: Bishkek → Bishkek

Group size: To 14 people

Accommodation: Tents throughout (Karkyra camp and South Engilchek Base Camp)

Activity level: Medium; short walks around the base camp, but high altitude makes the trip physically demanding.

Best season: July to August

The two helicopter flights are the heart of this trip and depend on mountain weather. Flights may be delayed or moved if conditions are unsuitable.

The high point is South Engilchek Base Camp at 4,000 m, reached by air in a single flight. You may feel the effects of the altitude during your night at base camp, as you reach 4,000 m in a single flight. Good general fitness is recommended. This is not a mountaineering trip, but if you have experienced altitude problems before or have a heart condition or severe asthma, please tell us when booking.

Mountain weather changes fast. Days can be warm and nights are cold, even in summer, so bring warm layers. At about 4,000 m, nights are cold whatever the month.

• Warm layers: a fleece or warm jumper, a warm hat, and gloves
• A waterproof jacket or poncho, and trekking trousers
• Trekking boots with ankle support
• Good sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm; the sun is strong at altitude
• A headlamp with spare batteries
• A refillable water bottle or two
• A small personal first-aid kit (plasters, painkillers, any personal medication, rehydration salts)
• Thermal underwear for the base-camp night

Baggage: There is a weight limit for luggage on the helicopter, with a standard allowance ~15 kg per person.

The local currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bank cards are accepted in Bishkek; outside the capital, plan to pay in cash.

If you bring US dollars or euros to exchange, bring notes of 50 and 100 in clean condition, without stamps, inscriptions, or damage, as damaged banknotes are not accepted by banks and exchange offices. US dollar notes must be issued from 2009 or later. Euro notes should be no larger than 100.

• The base camp is simple and well run: double tents on wooden platforms, with meals cooked at the camp. It is not a hotel.
• There is little or no mobile signal in the mountains, so tell people at home you may be out of contact for the base-camp night.
• English is a second language for most of our team, so a reply can come back short and to the point even when the person writing it is being friendly.
• Tell us about dietary restrictions at booking, not at the camp.

Do I need any climbing or trekking experience? No. There is no climb and no technical ground. The active part is limited to short walks around the base camp, so the main thing to be ready for is the altitude (4,000 m) and a night in a tent at base camp.

How high do we go, and will I feel it? The base camp is at 4,000 m, and you reach it by helicopter in one flight. You may feel the effects of the altitude during your night at base camp, as you reach 4,000 m in a single flight. Good general health and fitness help. If altitude has been a problem for you before, talk to us first.

What if the weather stops the helicopter? Helicopter flights depend on mountain weather and may be delayed by 2–3 hours or up to one day. If the flight is delayed, you will spend the additional day at Karkyra Camp at no extra charge.

Is this the same base camp the Khan-Tengri climbers use? Yes. South Engilchek Base Camp is the starting point for expeditions to Khan Tengri and the same base camp used by our climbers.

Can we book a date that isn’t listed, or go as a private group? Yes. Private trips and dates outside the listed departures may be available on request. Please contact our manager to discuss your preferred dates and group size.