Beyond Nepal, Asia holds some of the world’s most distinctive mountain adventures: the hidden Kingdom of Bhutan, the high-altitude Indian Himalayas, and the rugged, untamed ranges of Kyrgyzstan’s Tian Shan. Explore sacred dzongs, classic trekking peaks and technical mountaineering courses, all organised by Thin Air Trekking & Expeditions.
Nepal has its own page with all our treks and expeditions there: Everest Base Camp, Annapurna, Langtang, Mera Peak and Lobuche East, with dates and details.
Mountaineering Course, Kyrgyzstan
Ala Archa is a stunning National Park in the Tian Shan mountains, just 40 km from Bishkek. Known for…
Friendship Peak, Indian Himalayas – May 2027
Friendship Peak is a stunning 5,289-meter summit in the Indian Himalayas, offering a perfect blend of adventure and breathtaking…
Discover Bhutan is a 4-day cultural journey through Paro, Thimphu and the Punakha valley, ending with the hike up to the Tiger’s Nest, with a private Bhutanese guide the whole time. It is easy on the legs and takes you to one of the most unusual countries in the world.
Friendship Peak (5,289 m), in India’s Himachal Pradesh, is a very good first high-altitude climb: 8 days from Manali, suitable for beginners with good fitness. Kyrgyzstan has two very different trips: a 4-day mountaineering course on the Ak-Sai glacier, to learn glacier travel, crevasse rescue and rope work from scratch, and a 7-day winter tour with horse riding, skiing in Karakol, hot springs, eagle hunters and nights in a yurt.
In western Kazakhstan, Mangystau is something completely different: 7 days by 4×4 across the dried-up floor of an ancient ocean, with white chalk cliffs, striped canyons and nights camping under the desert sky. Gentle walking, no altitude, and almost no other travellers.
Bhutan can be visited almost all year: spring and autumn bring the clearest views, and winter is cold but with very clear days and fewer visitors. Friendship Peak is climbed in May or September, before and after the monsoon. The Kyrgyzstan winter tour runs from November to March.
Our Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan winter departures over the UAE National Day break are on our National Day trips page.
Visas and practical details are in our guides to Bhutan, India and Kyrgyzstan.
What is Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fee?
Bhutan charges every visitor a daily Sustainable Development Fee as part of its high-value, low-volume approach to tourism. Our Discover Bhutan price already includes the SDF and the visa. We explain how it works in Bhutan’s SDF fee explained.
Do I need experience to climb Friendship Peak?
No previous mountaineering experience is required, but you do need good fitness, and having done multi-day treks before helps.
Do I need experience for the Kyrgyzstan mountaineering course?
None. The course is designed for complete beginners and covers glacier travel, crevasse rescue, self-arrest and rope work.
Is Kyrgyzstan worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you like snow and quiet. We tell you what to expect, how cold it gets and what to pack in Kyrgyzstan in winter.