How to Book Your Ideal Trekking Tour in Kyrgyzstan
Here are some tips on how to book your trekking tour to Kyrgyzstan without encountering any issues, especially during the peak summer season.
What You Need to Know:
As mentioned in this article, the best time for trekking in Kyrgyzstan is during the summer (from mid-June to early September). If you plan to embark on a trek during this season, it's advisable to book your tour well in advance.
Despite being a mountainous country, Kyrgyzstan has a limited number of locals working in the trekking industry — good mountain guides and porters are in short supply. Closer to mid-June, many guides are already booked, and situations arise where tourists request tours for August in July, finding that many companies have no availability due to being sold out.
Despite being a mountainous country, Kyrgyzstan has a limited number of locals working in the trekking industry — good mountain guides and porters are in short supply. Closer to mid-June, many guides are already booked, and situations arise where tourists request tours for August in July, finding that many companies have no availability due to being sold out.
Summer in the Tian Shan Mountains
Tips to Avoid Unpleasant Situations:
- Book your tour in advance: Even if you plan to visit Kyrgyzstan in August, it's better to book your tour in May.
- Clarify the organizer: Find out who will be organizing your tour and who you'll be in contact with after booking. In Kyrgyzstan, numerous agents assist tourists in obtaining services from other companies. In our case, we provide informational support, and once the tour program is confirmed, you stay in direct contact with the trekking organizer to discuss everything from prepayments to arrangements after your journey.
- Always make a deposit: Most trekking organizers require a deposit for booking, providing assurance that the reservation is secured for you. Cases are known where a tour organizer didn't request a deposit and later sold those dates to other clients because it was more advantageous. Remember, the deposit is also your guarantee. The level of the deposit may vary among different organizers (it's normal for Kyrgyzstan). With ours, for instance, being 30% of the total tour cost.
The number of places in yurt camps in the mountains is limited, so advance reservations are crucial
- Confirm inclusions: Always confirm with the organizer what is included in the tour cost to ensure that additional expenses do not become an unpleasant surprise. Some companies may provide information such as "Accommodation included", but not all may specify whether it is double occupancy, and you may end up sharing a room with someone else or incurring an additional charge for single occupancy. While we make an effort to provide the most comprehensive information on this, if you plan to book a tour elsewhere, pay careful attention to this aspect.
- Book single accommodations in advance: If you need single accommodations in a hotel, tent, or yurt, it's crucial to book these in advance (during the tour booking but not later). This is because if you decide to book single accommodations later, there might be no available spots in your chosen hotel.
- Inform the organizer about specific requirements: Inform the organizer in advance about any specific requirements that are important to you. This will help avoid unpleasant situations. For example, if you require special dietary considerations, notify the organizer before the tour and cost are finalized, ensuring that the trekking organizer can provide the necessary conditions at each stage without additional charges. If you have allergies to certain medications, inform them so that the organizer is aware.
- Get international medical insurance: Given the nature of the tours, having international medical insurance is necessary, even just as a precaution.
- Be aware of cancellation policies: Almost all local companies have strict cancellation policies. While details may vary, in most cases (as with ours), if you decide to cancel your booking 30 days or less before the tour starts, you won't receive a refund of the deposit. This is an important rule to be aware of.
By being mindful of these points and adhering to them, you can ensure the best experience during your trekking tour in Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, we have an article where we discuss how many days to plan for such a trip, which might also be useful information for you.
