Journey to Aksu and Sabakh peaks
The Best 12 Days Trek in the Pamir Mountains
Tour destinations: | Kyrgyzstan, Pamir-Alay area | View the map »» | |
Itinerary duration: | 12 days / 11 nights | ||
Best season: | late June – early September | ||
Tour itinerary: | Bishkek - Osh - Uzgarysh village - Laily-Mazar - Sabakh peak - Aksu peak - Uzgarysh village - Osh - Bishkek |
We invite all fans of mountains to take part in a beautiful trek to Sabakh (5283 m) and Aksu (5365 m) peaks in Kyrgyzstan. This mountain trek takes place in a remotest picturesque area in the Pamir-Alai, featuring fantastic landscapes resembling South American Patagonia, pointed peaks, breathtaking heights, coniferous forests and rapid streams.
• Throughout the trekking, personal belongings and equipment are carried by horses:
The itinerary includes 4 river valleys and 2 mountain passes. Since all your things are carried by horses, all you are to do is to enjoy the surrounding landscapes. Daily trips are from 4 to 14 km long, overnights are in campsites provided with everything necessary for comfortable staying.
• Equipment is provided for personal use:
To make both the trek and your preparations for it as pleasant as possible, we provide our guests with trekking equipment for the entire duration of the tour for free. The list of provided pieces of equipment can be found in the list of included services.
• Meals
Throughout the trekking tour, three times a day you will be provided with diverse hot meals, with attention to vegetarians. The service staff includes a cook, assistant cooks and waiters. Kitchenware for cooking and tableware are also provided in full.
- Itinerary,
Services & Cost - VISA
- USEFUL INFORMATION
route map, meals, staff - FAQ
To open full description just click the row of each day.
Itinerary | ||
Day 1. | Arrival in Bishkek. Flight to Osh. Arrival in the international airport “Manas”. Domestic flight to Osh. Meeting at the airport. Transfer and check in at a hotel. Sightseeing in Osh: sacred Sulaiman-Too mountain, visit to the observation deck, walk through the central square of the city, local bazaar. Overnight at the hotel. |
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Day 2. | Transfer to Uzgarysh village (350 km; 7-8 h). Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Uzgarysh village (1200 m), the starting point of the trekking. Uzgarysh is a typical Kyrgyz mountain village with established centuries-old lifestyle. The local villagers are very hospitable and engaged in animal husbandry, tobacco cultivation and apricot gardening. Accommodation in a traditional guest house on arrival. Dinner. Overnight at the guest house. |
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Day 3. | Laily-Mazar River valley, confluence with the Uryam River. In the first half of the day we walk through apple and apricot groves. Towards noon, the valley we travel along narrows into a gorge, and the path crosses the narrow valley of the Layli-Mazar River towards its confluence with the Uryam River (1800 m). Overnight in a tent camp. Travel time: approximately 5-6 hours; Altitude difference: + 600 m. |
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Day 4. | Laily-Mazar River valley, confluence with the Sabakh River. The upper reaches of the Sabakh River. A little way along the main valley with beautiful alpine meadows, and we turn left, into the Sabakh River valley. After a steep climb we pass through the narrow ‘gates’ of the gorge and suddenly find a broad upper valley stretching before us with all its incredible beauty. Overnight in a tent camp. Travel time: approximately 6-7 hours; Altitude difference: +900 m. |
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Day 5. | Hiking to the foot of Sabakh peak (5283 m). From the camp we make a one-day trip to the upper reaches of the Sabakh River valley. There we climb an ancient moraine to obtain a fantastic view of majestic Sabakh peak. Mind-blowing sheer rock faces that rush into the sky all around the Sabakh River valley bring to mind comparisons with Patagonia. Overnight in a tent camp. Travel time: approximately 4-6 hours; Altitude difference: +500 m. |
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Day 6. | Udobniy pass, Uryam River valley. Crossing the Udobniy Pass (4140m) is, certainly, one of the most difficult parts of the trip. From the top of the pass we can enjoy the view of both valleys – those of the Sabakh River and Uryam River valleys. The pass behind, we quickly descend a path meandering on a steep stony slope into the cosy Uryam River valley covered with juniper forests. There we again set up a camp, where we shall spend two nights. Overnight in a tent camp. Travel time: approximately 6-7 hours; Altitude difference: +500 m. |
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Day 7. | Radial hiking to the upper reaches of the Uryam River. From our camp we make a one-day trip to the upper reaches of the Uram valley, one of the most beautiful in the region. On our way we enjoy breathtaking views of some of the most expressive landscapes, which include rocky faces, waterfalls and fragrant flowering meadows. Overnight in a tent camp. Travel time: approximately 3-6 hours; Altitude difference: +/- 500 m. |
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Day 8. | Uryam Pass - Ak-Mechet River valley. Passage across Uryam Pass (3760m) is one of the most spectacular moments of the route. An easy path and splendid scenes accompany us throughout the day. From the mountain pass we obtain a view of Parus peak (5037 m) and the top of Sabakh peak (5283 m). As we descend from the pass, we make a camp, from which we can enjoy the sight of the grandiose north face of Aksu peak (5355 m). Overnight in a tent camp. Travel time: approximately 5-6 hours; Altitude difference: + 800 m, - 950 m. |
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Day 9. | Radial hiking to the foot of Aksu peak. Hiking to the foot of the Aksu (5355 m) north face is the culmination of the entire tour. This pyramidal peak with a snow cap has the north face that drops vertically for almost 2 km. The grandiose cirque is decorated with the following peaks – two-headed Iskander peak (5120 m), Admiralteyets peak (5090 m), Petrogradets peak (5163 m) and Blok peak (5239 m). Overnight in a tent camp. Travel time: approximately 5 hours; Altitude difference: +/- 500 m. |
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Day 10. | Ak-Mechet River valley - Laily-Mazar River valley - Uzgarysh village. Alternating green meadows and juniper forests, crystal streams and sky-high summits are the main components of the tour’s last day, when we descend to the Layli-Mazar River valley. At the Uzgarysh village we have a farewell dinner seasoned with oriental hospitality. Overnight at a guest house. Travel time: approximately 6 hours; Altitude difference: - 1400 m. |
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Day 11. | Transfer Uzgarysh village – Osh (350 km; 7-8 hours). After breakfast, you will travel back to Osh. Arrival in Osh in the late afternoon. You will have time for walking around the city. Overnight at a hotel. |
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Day 12. | Osh - Bishkek. Departure from Bishkek. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. The end of the program. Domestic flight to Bishkek. Departure from Bishkek. |
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The cost of the tour includes:
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As already mentioned, the participants need not buy and bring with them heavy and bulky equipment for the tour, because we shall provide them for free with special equipment for the entire period of the program. All they need to have is suitable clothes, shoes and accessories to feel comfortable during the trekking part of the tour.
The cost of the tour doesn’t include:
- International flights;
- Personal gear (shoes, clothes);
- Medical insurance.
Additional Services:
- Single room - 50 USD/per room /per night;
- Double room – 70 USD/per room /per night.
The cost of the program includes accommodation in hotels, local guest houses as well as in the tent camps.
Hotels. We recommend accommodation in small cozy hotels often decorated in a national style. This type of accommodation is completely unique. It combines modern comfort in every detail and a culture of hospitality in a chamber atmosphere with almost home cosiness.
► Guest houses. Accommodation in guest houses will allow you to take a dip into traditions and habits of local people, while maintaining the proper level of comfort. These are traditional houses located in remote mountain villages equipped with all necessary amenities for comfortable stay.
► Tent Camp. Accommodation in tents for 2 persons. Tents are designed for all weather conditions, they are wind-resistant and waterproof, for comfortable stay tourist mats and sleeping bags will be provided.
City | Hotels | |
Osh | Sunrise Osh hotel 3* | or similar |
Note:
Participants of this program should have special clothes and equipment listed below:
Clothes and equipment for the program "Journey to Aksu and Sabakh peaks": | ||||
1 | Trekking boots or hiking shoes and/or sandals (Teva, Keen or similar). | |||
2 | Assault jacket GORE-TEX (RedFox Vector GTX III or similar). | |||
3 | Suit POLARTEC (for instance, jacket BASK Kondor V3 + trousers BASK Vinson Pro V2) | |||
4 | Sunglasses. | |||
5 | Skin tight linen thermals POLARTEC thin thermals to wick moisture away from the skin (for instance RedFox Dry Zone) | |||
6 | Thin Gloves, Fleece, Polartec, WindBloc and thick insulated gloves (for instance,RedFox Ice) | |||
7 | Peaked cap or panama hat + insulated winter hat. | |||
8 | Knitted T-shirts. | |||
9 | Thermal socks, like Boreal TREK Thermolite or similar + ordinary socks. | |||
10 | Backpack 40-60 l. | |||
11 | Lip balm. | |||
12 | Sun cream (SPF 25-40). | |||
13 | Knitted T-shirts. | |||
14 | First-aid kit (personal). |
Transportation.
Depending on the size of a group the following means of transportation are used during the tour:
"Toyota Sequoia" |
"Mitsubishi Delica" |
"Mercedes-Benz Sprinter" |
Visa to Kyrgyzstan
Under current rules visa-free stay within unlimited period on the territory of Kyrgyzstan is granted for the nationals of the following countries:
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List of states granted visa-free stay up to 90 days: Mongolia, Ukraine
List of states granted visa-free stay up to 60 days
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Visa-free access to Kyrgyzstan up to 30 days: Malaysia
In order to enter Kyrgyzstan you are to possess an international passport.
Itinerary brief description
This trekking is rather easy and is suitable for anyone with good physical condition. Tourist above 16 and under 65 years of age can join this tour provided they have no serious health problems and their doctor does not object to participation in such kind of tourist activities. Children younger 14 can also join this trekking tour provided they are accompanied by their parents.
Trekking on foot covers from 6km to 12km a day with altitude difference up to 1000m. The route runs at the maximum altitude of 4140m above sea level. Each participant carries his own rucksack with personal belongings, supply of drinking water and first-aid kit. The rest of the gear (the weight of the gear should not exceed 15kg per person), as well as group camping equipment and supply of provisions is transported by pack-horses. Typically the region enjoys rather stable weather: it’s warm and sunny, though some rain is possible, which relieves the monotony of the trip. The daytime temperatures range between +15° to +30°С, whereas at night the temperature can drop as low as +8 or +10°С.
Starting point
Tourists should arrive to Osh - the starting point of the tour on the date the tour begins. All expenses connected with early arrival or late departure on completion of the tour should be covered by tourists themselves. In this case our company can arrange transfers to and from the airport as well as book the hotel.
Route Map
Bivouac and kitchen equipment provided by Central Asia Travel Company during the trekking route
- Tents are used for accommodation of two persons. The tents are wind-resisting and water-proof and are suitable for any weather conditions. For comfortable stay we will provide tourist mats and sleeping bags.
- The tent camp is equipped with a big Dining-tent with tables and camp chairs.
- Throughout the trek we provide tableware in full.
- We use camping gas burners and gas bottles or firewood (collected along the way) for cooking.
- To cook dishes during the trek we provide gas burner with gas cylinders or a supply of firewood.
- The tent camp is equipped with portable camping WC.
Communication means - radio and GPS navigator - are always available on the route.
Personal equipment and clothes provided by Central Asia Travel Company during the trekking route
• | Sleeping bag. |
• | Camping sleeping pad. |
• | Raincoat. |
• | Telescopic walking stick. . |
• | Metal thermos bottle.. |
• | Forehead flashlight. |
Personal equipment and clothes which tourist should bring himself
• | Trekking boots or hiking shoes and/or sandals (Teva, Keen or similar). |
• | Assault jacket GORE-TEX (RedFox Vector GTX III or similar). |
• | Suit POLARTEC (for instance, jacket BASK Kondor V3 + trousers BASK Vinson Pro V2) |
• | Skin tight linen thermals POLARTEC thin thermals to wick moisture away from the skin (for instanceRedFox Dry Zone) |
• | Thin Gloves, Fleece, Polartec, WindBloc and thick insulated gloves (for instance,RedFox Ice) |
• | Peaked cap or panama hat + insulated winter hat. |
• | Knitted T-shirts. |
• | Thermal socks, like Boreal TREK Thermolite or similar + ordinary socks. |
• | Backpack 40-60 l. |
• | Lip balm. |
• | Sun cream (SPF 25-40). |
• | Sunglasses. |
• | First-aid kit (personal). |
Service staff includes:
• A mountain guide, the leader of the group responsible for the settling of organizational issues and ensuring of safety during the trek and in associated activities.
• A professional cook responsible for the provision of most delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners (European and Asian cuisine). One of the priorities of our policy is to ensure balanced, healthy, delicious and beautifully served meals even far from civilization.
• Suport team, whose responsibility is to pitch and take down tents, lay the table for meals, wash up, pack the loads on horses, make fire and so on.
Personal belongings and equipment are carried by horses.
Meals
Throughout the trek programme you will be served hot meals three times a day.
Below you can find the menu of one of the trekking days:
Breakfast: First dish: cereal porridge (semolina, oats, rice). |
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Lunch: Buffet lunch: assorted bread, fresh salads, canned fish, cheese, sheep cheese, assorted meat appetizers, tea (black and green) sweets, cookies, wafers, fruits (apples, pears), dried fruits (apricot, raisin, figs, etc.), assorted nuts. |
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Dinner: First course - soup (European or local cuisine). |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can attempt this trek? Should the participants of the tour have prior trekking experience or prepare themselves physically?
- Can people with health problems participate in this programme?
- Is travel insurance compulsory for this tour?
- What is the weather like in the mountains?
- What are the probabilities of encountering some dangerous creatures (besides relatively harmless mosquitoes) such as snakes, spiders, scorpions, mites etc.?
- Is it allowed to pick up mountain herbs and flowers? Which plants should be avoided?
- How are meals organized during the trek programme?
- How about communication facilities during trek travel?
- How good is Internet access?
- Visa, permits.
- Who can attempt this trek? Should the participants of the tour have prior trekking experience or prepare themselves physically?
This trekking is rather easy and is suitable for anyone with good physical condition. Tourist above 16 and under 65 years of age can join this tour provided they have no serious health problems and their doctor does not object to participation in such kind of tourist activities. Children above 14 can also join this trekking tour provided they are accompanied by their parents.
The offered trekking tour can be graded as simple-average, which means no special skills in mountaineering are required. The escort team consists of an experienced high altitude guide able to choose the right path and advise you on the precautions to be taken in each section of the route. During the tour you will have to trek on foot long distances. Therefore the only condition for those willing to participate in this trekking programme is absence of medical contraindications to such activities. - Can people with health problems participate in this programme?
Please note, that the route of the tour runs through mountains with considerable altitude differences (the maximum altitude is 4140 m above sea level). The participants can experience some symptoms of altitude sickness which disappear when the descent from the mountains starts. Therefore the tour may not be suitable for persons suffering from heart or respiratory problems (hypertension, asthma). We recommend you to consult your doctor before planning this tour. - Is travel insurance compulsory for this tour?
Yes, it is. The medical insurance of up to $ 10,000- 15,000 should be obtained before leaving your homeland. - What is the weather like in the mountains?
In the summer the weather is fair and sunny with daytime temperature reaching +28°С. At night, however, and on rainy days the temperature drops to +8 or + 10ºС which makes the availability of warm jacket rather useful. - What are the probabilities of encountering some dangerous creatures (besides relatively harmless mosquitoes) such as snakes, spiders, scorpions, mites etc.?
Though such a probability exists, it is too small as proved by our long experience of organizing trekking tours. - Is it allowed to pick up mountain herbs and flowers? Which plants should be avoided?
It is advisable not to touch the plants you are not familiar with as some of them can be rather toxic (for example giant fennel can sting you when you touch its leaves). It is forbidden to pick up Red Book plants. The mountain slopes are home to many medicinal herbs including mint, origan, thyme, which you can pick up and brew a delicious ‘mountain tea’. The banks of the rivers are covered with bushes of dog rose and sea-buckthorn. - How are meals organized during the trek programme?
You will be escorted by a cook and other service staff responsible for arranging regular and tasty meals. You don’t need to bother about tableware, kitchen utensils and equipment as we provide all these as well as tables, chairs, and tents throughout the whole trek programme.
Below you can find the menu of one of the trekking days:
Breakfast:
First dish: cereal porridge (semolina, oats, rice).
Second dish: cooked eggs with sausages, omelette, pancakes, thick pancakes, toasted bread, cottage cheese pancake, etc.
Buffet table: cheese, sausage, assorted bread, butter, ketchup, marmalade, chocolate paste, sweets, cookies, wafers, dried cream, honey, sugar, halavah.
Drinks: selection of hot drinks, such as tea (black and green), coffee, cocoa.
Lunch:
Buffet lunch: assorted bread, fresh salads, canned fish, cheese, sheep cheese, assorted meat appetizers, tea (black and green) sweets, cookies, wafers, fruits (apples, pears), dried fruits (apricot, raisin, figs, etc.), assorted nuts.
*In case of camp lunch first course is added.
Dinner:
First course - soup (European or local cuisine).
Second course - various dishes of European cuisine with assorted garnish, as well as a choice of local dishes.
Buffet table: assorted bread, cheese, sausage, ketchup, spices (mustard, various dressings), sweets, cookies, wafers, sugar.
Drinks: selection of hot drinks, such as tea (black and green), coffee, cocoa, thin jelly.
Dessert: watermelon, melon, fruits.
Drinking water is provided from crystal-clear mountain springs. However, it is recommended to drink only boiled water. In cities and during long transfers it is advisable to use bottled water. - How about communication facilities during trek travel?
Cellular telecommunication is available in Osh and on the way to Uzgarysh settlement. In the mountainous areas, especially in mountain valleys, there are difficulties with signal receipt. Tour manager is equipped with portable satellite terminal to provide uninterrupted external link. Moreover, the group is provided with walkie-talkie to ensure trouble-free connection between trekkers. - How good is Internet access?
Internet access is available only in Osh. There are many internet-cafes there. In Uzgarysh settlement and in the mountains there is no Internet access. - Visa, permits.
Kyrgyzstan has considerably simplified its visa policy and today citizens of 70 countries of the world enjoy visa-free access to this Central Asian state.
Visa-free entry to the territory of Kyrgyzstan is granted for the nationals of the Russia, the CIS countries and a number of citizens of European and other foreign countries.
The details on Kyrgyz visa, rules of entry and stay on the territory of Kyrgyzstan you can find here.
To enter the territory of Kyrgyzstan the foreign national must have a foreign passport valid for not less than 6 months following the termination date of the tour.
It is also important that before their trip to Kyrgyzstan foreign nationals arrange travel medical insurance with coverage of up to $10,000-15,000.
In case you can’t find the answer to your question on our site, please call our tour operators team for assistance.
E-mail: adventure@centralasia-travel.com
Photo of the tour:
Our video gallery:
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Сharms of Kyrgyzstan’s nature |
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Pamir Experience 2016 |
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