Mountaineering in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia - Ak-Sai Travel

Mountaineering Expeditions

in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan

Guided expeditions, mountaineering training, high-altitude climbs and base-camp services on our own infrastructure — from your first 5,000 m summit to all five Snow Leopard 7,000ers. Operating since 1998.

Climb in Central Asia with Ak-Sai Travel

28 Years of Experience

Expertise in high-altitude mountaineering and expedition planning

4 Own Base Camps

Achyk-Tash, Lenin Peak Camp 1, North and South Engilchek

All Five Snow Leopard 7,000ers

All five 7,000 m peaks of the Snow Leopard program are available through our expeditions

Medical & Rescue Support

Doctors at base camps and registration with the rescue team for all programs (except Pobeda Peak)

One Team for the Entire Expedition

Permits, transport, camps, and route support are coordinated by one local team

Where do you start?

Answer four questions and we will show the expeditions that fit and the packages inside each one.

1. Your highest altitude so far
2. Glacier and rope skills
3. Time you can take
4. Climbing format

Expeditions by altitude

Training & First Summits at Altitude

Training runs year-round; summit climbs operate from June to August. Already comfortable on crampons, ropes, and glaciers? Skip straight to 6,000 m.

Mountaineering Training in Ala-Archa Training from$900

Mountaineering Training in Ala-Archa

Guided Mountaineering Training

7-Day Alpine Skills Course Rock, ice, and ropework training with real ascents in the Ala-Archa mountains.

DifficultyBasics → Advanced
SeasonAll Year
Length7 Days / 6 Nights
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Yukhin Peak Climb (5130 m) Guided Without guide 5130 m from$600

Yukhin Peak Climb (5130 m)

Pamir 5000+ Peak

A Non-Technical 5000 m Summit in the Lenin Peak Region Climb Yukhin Peak (5130 m) for panoramic views of Lenin Peak, the Trans-Alay Range, and the vast Alay Valley.

DifficultyMedium
SeasonJune – August
Length7 Days / 6 Nights
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Uchitel Peak & Yukhin Peak Climb Guided 4530 m | 5130 m from$1,500

Uchitel Peak & Yukhin Peak Climb

Tien Shan & Pamir 4000+ Peaks

Two Accessible Summit Climbs in Kyrgyzstan Climb Uchitel Peak (4530 m) in Ala-Archa National Park and Yukhin Peak (5130 m) in the Lenin Peak region on one guided climb.

DifficultyMedium
SeasonJuly – August
Length11 Days / 10 Nights
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6,000 m peaks — Your First Real Expedition

Technical climbs in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Razdelnaya Peak Expedition (6148 m) Guided 6148 m from$1,650

Razdelnaya Peak Expedition (6148 m)

Pamir 6000+ Peak

A High-Altitude Training Climb in the Pamirs Climb Razdelnaya Peak (6148 m) on the classic Lenin Peak route with professional mountain guides, structured acclimatization, and full Base Camp support.

DifficultyAdvanced
SeasonJuly – August
Length12 Days / 11 Nights
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Marble Wall Peak Expedition (6400 m) Guided Without guide 6400 m from$1,000

Marble Wall Peak Expedition (6400 m)

6400 m | Central Tien-Shan 6000er

A Technical 6000 m Climb in the Central Tien Shan Climb the northernmost six-thousander in Central Asia via a route combining glacier travel, exposed ridges, and high-altitude camps.

DifficultyAdvanced
SeasonJuly – August
Length21 Days / 20 Nights
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7,000 m Summits — The Snow Leopard Gateway

A standard progression to your first 7,000 m summit. The next level of high-altitude climbing.

Lenin Peak Expedition (7134m) Guided Without guide 7134 m from$1,000

Lenin Peak Expedition (7134m)

7134 m | Pamir Classic 7000er

A Classic 7000 m Expedition in the Pamirs Climb Lenin Peak via the classic route with the support of Ak-Sai Travel’s established expedition infrastructure.

DifficultyAdvanced
SeasonJuly – August
Length20 Days / 19 Nights
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Khan Tengri Peak Expedition (7010 m) Guided Without guide 7010 m from$2,100

Khan Tengri Peak Expedition (7010 m)

7010 m | Tien Shan Classic 7000er

A Technical 7000 m Climb in the Tien Shan Climb Khan Tengri (7010 m), one of the highest and most recognizable peaks in the Tien Shan.

DifficultyAdvanced
SeasonJuly – August
Length21 Days / 20 Nights
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Multi-peak & Advanced Expeditions

The hardest expeditions we run. Pobeda is the only Snow Leopard peak we don't offer as a guided expedition — its objective hazards and narrow summit windows make this format unsuitable.

Communism (Ismoil Somoni) & Korzhenevskaya (Ozodi) Peaks Expedition Guided Without guide 7105 m | 7495 m

Communism (Ismoil Somoni) & Korzhenevskaya (Ozodi) Peaks Expedition

Pamir 7000er

A Double 7000 m Expedition in the Pamirs Climb two of the Pamir’s 7000m peaks in one expedition season: Korzhenevskaya (Ozodi) Peak (7105 m) and Communism (Ismoil Somoni) Peak (7495 m), the highest summit in the Pamirs.

DifficultyAdvanced
SeasonJuly – August
Length29 Days / 28 Nights
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Pobeda Peak Expedition (7439 m) Without guide 7439 m from$2,100

Pobeda Peak Expedition (7439 m)

7439 m | Tien Shan 7000er

One of the Most Demanding 7000 m Climbs in the Tien Shan Climb Pobeda Peak (7439 m), the hardest and most dangerous of the region’s seven-thousanders.

DifficultyAdvanced
SeasonJuly – August
Length27 Days / 26 Nights
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Lenin Peak & Khan Tengri Expedition Without guide 7134 m | 7010 m from$3,600

Lenin Peak & Khan Tengri Expedition

Central Asia 7000 m Peaks

Two 7000 m Peaks in One Central Asia Campaign Climb Lenin Peak (7134 m) in the Pamirs and Khan Tengri (7010 m) in the Central Tien Shan on one self-guided high-altitude expedition.

DifficultyAdvanced
SeasonJuly – August
Length35 Days / 34 Nights
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Climbs on All Five Snow Leopard Peaks

The Snow Leopard is a classic mountaineering objective: summit all five 7,000 m peaks of the former USSR. Established in 1967, the program covers peaks across the Pamir and Tien Shan, where we operate year-round.

We organize expeditions on all five mountains, with base camps, fixed ropes, and helicopter logistics available across the programme. Several of our senior guides also hold the Snow Leopard title themselves.

7,495 m Ismoil Somoni (Communism) Peak Pamir · Tajikistan — Highest of the five
7,439 m Pobeda (Jenish Chokusu) Peak Tien-Shan · Kyrgyzstan — The Hardest
7,134 m Lenin Peak Pamir · Kyrgyzstan — The Classic First
7,105 m Korzhenevskaya (Ozodi) Peak Pamir · Tajikistan
7,010 m Khan Tengri Peak Tien-Shan · Kyrgyzstan — Northernmost 7,000er on Earth

Climbing one of the five for the first time? Start with Lenin Peak. Working toward the full set? See the Snow Leopard expeditions.

Meet Your Mountaineering Guides

Every guided expedition is led by a certified mountaineering guide.

Aleksandr Shirobokov

Aleksandr Shirobokov

High-Altitude Guide
  • Mountaineering Instructor
  • 20+ High-Altitude Summits

Climbed peaks in the Pamir, Tien Shan – Khan Tengri Peak, Lenin Peak, E. Korzhenevskaya Peak and Communism Peak

Aleksey Ivanov

Aleksey Ivanov

High-Altitude Guide
  • Category I in Tourism Sports
  • Water Tourism Instructor-Guide

Tourism instructor-guide with experience in organizing hikes for schoolchildren (GBU “Travel Laboratory”, School 2094). Certified in trekking and water tourism instruction, additional education in tourism and physical education. Climbed Elbrus (south route) and Lenin Peak (4 ascents: 2024–2025).

Andrei Fedorov

Andrei Fedorov

High-Altitude Guide
  • International-Class Master of Sports in Mountaineering
  • Snow Leopard

Climbed peaks in the Pamir, Tien Shan, Altai, Sayan, Caucasus and Himalayan ranges (including ascents of Mount Everest and Ama Dablam, as well as an expedition to Mount Jannu), and in the Alps (including Mont Blanc)

Artyom Cheremnykh

Artyom Cheremnykh

High-Altitude Guide
  • Master of Sports in Mountaineering
  • Snow Leopard

Сlimbed Mount Elbrus more than 30 times and the seven-thousanders of Pamir and Tien Shan more than 15 times. Most significant ascents include: Free Korea Peak, Semiletkina Massif (6a) in winter; Free Korea Peak, first ascent as a duo with A. Syshchikov, 5B, in winter; Millennium of the Baptism of Rus Peak, first ascent 6A, as a duo with M. Davi

Azat Akbashev

Azat Akbashev

High-Altitude Guide
  • Category I in Mountaineering
  • Technical Routes up to 4B in Pair

High-altitude experience: Lenin Peak (6 ascents), Khan Tengri (3 ascents), Pobeda Peak (attempt, 2016), Korzhenevskaya Peak (2 ascents, including guided night solo in 2015), Communism Peak (2017, guided). Guide experience: 2014–2015, 2017, and 2018–2025 at Ak-Sai Travel.

Denis Urlaev

Denis Urlaev

High-Altitude Guide
  • Mountaineering Instructor
  • 20+ High-Altitude Summits

Climbed extensively in the mountain regions of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Crimea; proficient in fundamental and advanced knots, as well as movement techniques on snow, ice, and rock terrain. Completed technical routes including Svobodnaya Korea Peak (5A), Semyon Tyan-Shansky Peak, Baychechekey Peak, Aktoo Peak, and Box Peak; multiple routes in Crimea up to 6A, and in Uzbekistan up to 5A

Roman Kuropyatnikov

Roman Kuropyatnikov

High-Altitude Guide
  • Former Candidate Master of Sports in Tourism
  • Category II in Mountaineering

Mountaineering experience includes Belukha (3A), Fisht (1B), multiple routes on Elbrus (1B–2B), Kazbek (2B), as well as Taulan, Severnye Zubtsy, and KyzylTash. Completed an ascent of Lenin Peak via the 4B route in 2025.

Roman Ogorodnikov

Roman Ogorodnikov

High-Altitude Guide
  • Category III Mountaineering Instructor
  • 20+ High-Altitude Summits

Сlimbed peaks in the Pamir, including Lenin Peak, and has extensive experience of climbing Mount Kazbek and Mount Elbrus

Sergey Kadola

Sergey Kadola

High-Altitude Guide
  • Category I in Mountaineering Sports

Climbed Khan Tengri (north and south routes) and Lenin Peak (7 ascents), with experience in expeditions in the Tien Shan region.

Vitaly Shipilov

Vitaly Shipilov

High-Altitude Guide
  • Master of Sports in Mountaineering
  • Snow Leopard

Master of Sports in Mountaineering, Snow Leopard title holder. High-altitude guide and instructor since 2017, certified mountaineering instructor and mountain guide. Experienced in major expeditions across Tien Shan, Pamir, and Himalayas, including Manaslu (8,163 m) without oxygen. Three-time Russian Champion in high-altitude mountaineering, nominee of the Golden Ice Axe of Russia award. Specializes in acclimatization, group guiding, and technical climbing.

Talk to Our Mountaineering Team

Choosing the right expedition depends on your high-altitude and mountaineering experience. Tell us about your background and goals and we’ll recommend a program that matches your level, or let you know honestly if you need more preparation for your chosen route.

Send an Inquiry

Tell us your highest altitude, previous climbs, and planned expedition dates.
Or contact us directly: info@ak-sai.com · WhatsApp +996770901616

FAQ

What's the difference between a "guided" and a "non-guided" climb?

A guided expedition is a fully organized program with a fixed departure date and a guide accompanying you from base camp to the summit and back. Ak-Sai Travel’s guide plans the route, manages acclimatization, and makes route and safety decisions based on weather and mountain conditions. Everything is included: transfers, accommodation, meals, high-altitude food, and group equipment.

A non-guided climb is a different format: we provide base camp infrastructure, transfers, permits, helicopter logistics where required, and access to prepared routes with fixed ropes. You and your team manage the climb itself, including route decisions and acclimatization. A guide can be added as an optional service.

When can I climb in Central Asia?

The main high-altitude season runs from July to August, with most 6,000 m and 7,000 m expeditions scheduled between early July and mid-August, when conditions are generally most suitable for summit attempts.

Lower-altitude programs have a longer season. Yukhin Peak departures start in late June, while the Mountaineering Training course in Ala-Archa is available year-round.

Do I need prior high-altitude experience for Lenin Peak?

We recommend previous experience at 6,000 m or higher. At minimum, climbers should have solid glacier skills, including crampon use, rope-team movement, and crevasse self-rescue.

The classic route does not involve technical rock or ice climbing. The main challenge is the altitude, with the summit reaching 7,134 m.

Haven’t climbed above 5,000 m yet? Start with Yukhin Peak  (5,130 m) or Razdelnaya Peak (6,148 m) with access to the same infrastructure used for Lenin Peak.

What insurance do I need?

Climbing insurance is mandatory for all 6,000 m and 7,000 m expeditions: minimum $30,000 total cover, with at least $20,000 specifically for helicopter evacuation, and “Alpinism” or “Mountaineering” declared as the activity. For the Ala-Archa training course the bar is lower: $10,000 total, $10,000 evacuation.

Each expedition page includes detailed requirements. Please review them carefully before purchasing your insurance policy.

I'm not sure which peak is right for me. What should I do?

Talk to our team about your climbing experience: your highest altitude, previous climbs, ropework and glacier skills, how much time you have, and what you want to achieve.

Based on this, we will recommend one or two programs that match your experience and goals. If you are not ready yet, we will also suggest what you can do to prepare.

Mountaineering Expeditions in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia

Mountaineering in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia: The Essentials

Kyrgyzstan is roughly ninety percent mountains, and it holds three of the five 7000 m peaks of the former Soviet Union: Lenin Peak (7134 m), Khan Tengri (7010 m), and Pobeda Peak (7439 m). The other two, Communism (Ismoil Somoni) Peak (7495 m) and Korzhenevskaya (Ozodi) Peak (7105 m), stand in the Tajik Pamir. We have organized mountaineering expeditions to all five since 1998, from our office in Bishkek, with our own base camps, our own guides, and rescue capability on every programme except Pobeda Peak. The expedition season runs from June to August, with the 7000 m climbs concentrated in July and August.

The 7000 m Expeditions: Lenin Peak, Khan Tengri Peak, and Pobeda Peak

Lenin Peak is the most achievable of the three and a common choice for a first 7000 m expedition, because the classic North Face route asks for endurance and acclimatization rather than advanced technical climbing. The climb starts from Achyk-Tash Base Camp at 3600 m and moves through three camps at 4400 m, 5300 m, and 6100 m. Khan Tengri is a different mountain: a marble pyramid in the Central Tien-Shan with fixed-rope ascents and exposed ridge climbing, reached by helicopter from Karkyra to South Engilchek Base Camp at 4000 m. Pobeda Peak is the hardest of the five, with winds, blizzards, and temperatures down to −30 °C, and we offer it as a self-guided expedition for highly experienced mountaineers only.

Expeditions in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan

The Pamir double expedition pairs Korzhenevskaya (Ozodi) Peak and Communism (Ismoil Somoni) Peak in one 29-day season, from Moskvin Base Camp at 4360 m, which is reached by helicopter and sits 13 km from both summits. In Kazakhstan we climb Marble Wall Peak (6400 m), the northernmost 6000 m peak in Central Asia, from Almaty via Sliyaniye Base Camp at 3200 m.

Climbs Before Your First 7000 m Peak

If you have not climbed above 5000 or 6000 m yet, start lower. Uchitel Peak (4530 m) in the Ala-Archa is a real summit close to Bishkek, Yukhin Peak (5130 m) in the Pamir gives genuine altitude without technical climbing, and Razdelnaya Peak (6148 m) is the standard step before Lenin Peak, climbed from the same base camp. Each of these runs as its own expedition, so you can build experience across seasons on routes we operate ourselves.

How to Choose a Mountaineering Expedition

Match the peak to your experience, not your ambition. For a first 7000 m summit, Lenin Peak is the standard advice. For technical climbers, Khan Tengri. If you are between the two, ask us: we would rather move your plan by a season than send you unprepared.