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Itinerary
Altay Ski Touring: The Ultimate Remote Adventure
Date and group size

Add-ons

All meals are included in the price of this trip. Special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian menu, some food allergies) can be accommodated, please let us know down below if you have any.

Add more flexibility to your trip

Things come up, and sometimes plans need to be changed. Check out our flexible cancellation options. Booking fees are non-refundable after 48hours in all cases.
57hours flexibility options
Deposits

When booking a trip, you can either pay for it in full or reserve your spot with a 30% deposit. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

Cancellations

After 48 hours, booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. You can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

Basic
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48 hours grace period.
Flexible
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Super Flexible
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Summary
Altay Ski Touring: The Ultimate Remote Adventure
Itinerary
Altay Ski Touring: The Ultimate Remote Adventure
Date(s)
--
People
1 Person
  • Altay Ski Touring: The Ultimate Remote Adventure - 1
    -
    Subtotal
    Booking fees
    Group discount
    People
    Cancellation policy
Cancel in the first 48h for free
Reserve your spot with a minimum deposit
Travel and medical insurance available

  • Discover one of the world’s most remote skiing destinations on this 8-day ski touring adventure in the Altay Mountains of East Kazakhstan. We’ll venture far away from civilization, but we’re bringing all the essentials: an expert guide, accommodation in comfy yurts with daily banya sessions, all meals and snacks and in-country transfers are taken care of. Gear up and disappear into the dream of every powder hound.

    • Our journey into the Altay Mountains begins with your afternoon arrival in Ust-Kamenogorsk (UKK). From there, a 3.5-hour bus ride followed by a short snowmobile transfer will bring us to the Altay Mountain Lodge, our base camp for the week. Nestled in the snow-covered Altay range, the lodge offers a true escape from civilization. After settling into our yurts, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner. The evening is yours to unwind in the banya or turn in early to prepare for the days ahead.

      Meals: Dinner
      Accommodation: Altay Mountain Lodge

      Snow-covered yurts at Altay Mountain Lodge

    • For the next six days, we’ll explore the wild, untouched terrain surrounding Altay Mountain Lodge. We’ll start each morning with a hearty breakfast to fuel us for a day of ski touring or splitboarding. For those who want to go further into the wild, we have snowmobiles to reach more distant areas.

      Our exclusive terrain spans 25 sq km (9.7 sq mi) of deep powder and a variety of slopes, from steep descents to open glades and well-spaced tree runs. Our runs will range from 400 to 900 m (1,312 to 2,953 ft), with slope gradients between 25 and 40 degrees. We’ll cover 1,200 to 1,300 m (3,937 to 4,265 ft) of vertical ascent per day, but we can adjust this based on the group’s skills and ambitions. Post-ski, we’ll return to the lodge for dinner and recovery in the banya before bed.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Accommodation: Altay Mountain Lodge

      A skier climbs a slope of untouched snow in the Altay Mountains

    • Our final morning in the Altay mountains begins with an early breakfast before we depart for Ust-Kamenogorsk. We’ll arrive in time for your afternoon flight home, and we’ll part ways with memories of the untamed wilderness of the Altay Mountains.

      Meals: Breakfast

      A snowmobile parked between the yurts at Altay Mountain Lodge

    • What you get on this adventure:

        • 8-day guided Altay ski touring adventure (6 full days of ski touring)
        • An experienced mountain guide with extensive knowledge of the area
        • 7 nights of accommodation in the yurts (twin room)
        • Daily banya (bathhouse similar to sauna)
        • All meals at the lodge—breakfast, mountain lunch, après-ski soup and snacks, and dinner
        • Group transfers by bus and snowmobiles
        • Transfers to and from airport
        • Daily snowmobile support for the approach, if needed

      What’s not included:

        • International and domestic airfares
        • Alcoholic beverages
        • Personal expenses
        • Guide gratuities — optional
        • Personal insurance — mandatory

    • This Altay ski touring adventure is suitable for skiers with great physical fitness and at least intermediate skiing or snowboarding skills, especially in deep-snow conditions. You will spend 6 consecutive days skiing or splitboarding in varied and occasionally challenging backcountry terrain. To enjoy this adventure, you should be able to skin up at least 1,000 vertical meters per day and have at least a few weeks of previous ski touring experience. To ensure your safety and the safety of your group, be honest with your skill level.

    • Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

      Clothing:

        • Heavy/mid weight socks compatible with your footwear (2-3 pairs)
        • Heated electric socks or insoles highly recommended
        • Warm base layer top and bottom (2 each)
        • Mid-insulation layer top (Polartec 100 or analog)
        • Mid-insulation layer bottom (Polartec/Powerstretch pants or analog)
        • Warm jacket (synthetic or down)
        • Waterproof breathable weather layer top (e.g. Gore-Tex/Softshell)
        • Waterproof breathable weather layer pants (e.g. Gore-Tex/Softshell)
        • Down jacket suitable for temperatures as low as -20 to -25°C.
        • Warm, lightweight hats
        • Light gloves
        • Insulated gloves
        • Insulated mittens
        • High snow boots
        • Slippers for the lodge

      Ski gear:

        • Skis or splitboard — skis 110mm underfoot or wider recommended
        • Skins with good glue condition (no glueless skins); tail clips strongly recommended
        • Touring boots
        • Telescopic poles
        • Ski helmet
        • Personal repair kit for your bindings, boots, and poles
        • Electric ski boot dryer

      Avalanche gear:

        • Transceiver (three antennas) and extra batteries
        • Probe
        • Shovel

      Personal equipment:

        • 25-30L backpack
        • Personal first aid kit (blister kit, personal medications)
        • Thermos or insulated flask (1L capacity) — recommended to have both
        • Sunglasses (CE rated 3 or 4)
        • Ski goggles, plus an extra pair
        • Headlamp and extra batteries
        • Sun, cold and lip cream (SPF 30+)
        • Camera — optional (but recommended)

      Please note that there is no ski-service or rental option in the area (except a limited number of ski touring skis). Make sure you bring your equipment with you in good condition. Service your skis or board before arrival and bring pocket waxes.

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    • Equipment rental is not available for this Altay ski touring adventure, except for a limited quantity of ski touring skis. Please service your skis or board before arrival or bring pocket waxes, as there is no ski service at your guides’ base. While repair parts and tools for common issues are available, equipment for hot waxing is not provided. The remoteness of the area offers incredible untouched snow, but it also means you should come prepared with all the necessary gear.

    • Group sizes and pricing

        • For this Altay ski touring adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1, plus a tail-guide if needed.
        • It takes a minimum of 1 person for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants.

      A guided Altay ski touring adventure can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

      Min. age requirements

        • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
        • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join this Altay ski touring adventure on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

      If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

    • The starting point of your Altay ski touring adventure is Ust-Kamenogorsk, also known as Oskemen. To get there, most people fly into Ust-Kamenogorsk Airport (UKK). You will meet your guide upon your arrival at the airport in the afternoon of Day 1. From there, a 3.5-hour bus ride and a brief 10-minute snowmobile transfer will bring you to the lodge.

    • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

      Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

      Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

      Please note that travel and medical insurance is mandatory for this trip.

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