Plan your trip · Guide
Kyrgyzstan
What to know before travelling to Kyrgyzstan for the mountaineering course: entry, money, accommodation and health.
01 · The basics
Before you go
The course takes place in Ala Archa National Park, in the Tian Shan mountains, very close to Bishkek.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Getting there | International flight to Bishkek. |
| Entry | Citizens of many countries, including the European Union, can enter visa-free for up to 30 days within any 60-day period. The rule changed in early 2026: it used to be 60 days. Everyone else needs an e-visa from the official website, evisa.e-gov.kg. Check the requirements for your nationality. |
| Currency | Kyrgyz som. ATMs often fail and don’t always accept cards, so bring cash. |
| Accommodation | During the course you sleep at the Ratsek Hut, at 3,300 m. The Ala Archa eco-fee is included. |
| Weather | It’s cold at the hut and on the glacier, even in summer. |
| Plugs | Types C and F, 230 V. If yours are a different type, bring an adapter. |
02 · The trip
The mountaineering course
Mountaineering course in Kyrgyzstan
Four days of glacier skills for beginners: rope work and knots, moving on a glacier, ice-axe self-arrest and crevasse rescue. You can extend it with a summit of Uchitel Peak (4,560 m). On the way up to the Ratsek Hut, everyone usually carries their own pack, although porters can be hired.
All dates are in the departure calendar.
03 · Health and insurance
Health, altitude and insurance
- Altitude: our trips are designed to give you proper acclimatisation. Safety comes first, and with altitude we don’t take chances. If you have any questions, just ask us. More in altitude sickness and acclimatisation
- Insurance: it’s mandatory. It must cover the activity you’ll be doing, based on the maximum altitude and whether technical gear is involved, as well as helicopter rescue and evacuation and repatriation. Before departure you’ll also sign a waiver
- Vaccines: requirements depend on the country you’re travelling from. Check the latest on your country’s official health website or with a travel health clinic, or ask us
- Physical preparation: you don’t need any previous preparation; the course adapts to each person
Questions?
Got a question?
If you’re thinking about the course or would like to combine it with other Tian Shan peaks, write to us and we’ll reply by email.
See upcoming departures →