The mountain Lake Kol-Ukok

If you take a horseback riding option you need advanced horseback riding skills.  Take a horse riding class several times for getting prepared to ride a horse in the mountains for 4-5 hours every day.

Trekking optional also may request some prepared training. The altitude is high and you will cross several mountain passes, the highest one is Kum-Bel pass (3 600m).  We recommend you train with sport or jogging 2-3 times a week in the run-up to your trip.

Clothing for hiking in temperatures from +25C to -0C. A detailed kit list will be sent to you when you book on.

During the tour, you will do camping in the wild for 1 or 2 nights. Depending on the season and local nomads’ migration you may be welcomed in the family yurts near the lake Kol-Ukok.  The villages Kara-Talaa and Kochkor offer nice family-run guesthouses.

We provide you with mineral water where it is available to buy on the way in the village shops when we travel by vehicle. In fact, will have bottled water for two first days. But during all trek-days, we will not able to carry the much mineral bottled waters, we take water from the springs and rivers for cooking and for tea-coffee after well boiling for sure. For drinking, you can use water filters. We offer you to bring the water purified pills from your side. In Kyrgyzstan, people used to drink from the rivers and spring source and we don’t use water filters and any pure file pills. Therefore, you will not able to find the water pure file pills or portable filters in Central Asia at all.

The itinerary is also available to do by trekking. All the luggage will be carried by packhorses and the duration of the trekking time will be one or two hours more daily.

The basic hints for travelers.

• During your travel time, please respect local culture, customs, traditions, and religion.
• Try to buy local products and make a benefit for the local economy.
• Always give fair prices for lodging, food and other services.
• Take off your shoes, when entering home or yurt stay.
• Smoking is prohibited at home.
• Please share your ideas on food and accommodation preferences.
• Ask people for photographing them.
• Be friendly and try to get in contact.
• Be careful during the evening and night time and aware of mass meetings.
• Be careful with your documents, money and valuable items.
• Be aware of pickpockets and strangers at bazaars and streets.
• If someone asking for documents, wallets or cameras, saying that they are from the police, ask them to go police together.
• Never give your belongings to strangers.
• Wear good hiking shoes for outdoor activities.
• Bring warm waterproof clothes even in summer.
• Have your torch sunscreen and repellent.
• Do not drink very cold water from unknown sources.
• Drinking alcohol at high altitudes is unsafe.
• If the food is fat or not acceptable for you can taste a bit and say thanks.
• Do not drink cold water after eating out, better hot tea or c It helps in high altitude digestions cases.
• Wear warm clothes in the mountains, usually after eating out.
• Bring your medicines and first aid kit.
• If you feel unsafe or have issues to discuss, please share with your staff, host or tour manager.
• Collect your litter. Pack up all non-biodegradable rubbish.
• Please don’t drop cigarette butts or litter.
• High altitude vegetation is very fragile. Save the environment.
• Use toilets in nature wherever available. Where are none, stay at least 40-50 m from streams and water sources and bury all waste and paper.
• Leaving footprints, take just your photographs.