Heli ski and heli board in Central Asia, Northern Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan. 8 days.

Region: Northern Tien Shan (Suusamyr and Terskey Ala Too ranges), Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan
Activity: heli skiing and heli boarding, 7 nights at hotels.
Trip Category: regular
Difficulty: medium to challenge, need of special skill and gear. Kids from 18 years are allowed (14-17 y.o. with parents only).
Dates: January - April.
Fixed dates for Season-2021 tours to join:

Suusamyr
22.01 - 29.01 +

Ever been heli skiing? or heli boarding?.. It's the ultimate snow experience for a skier or boarder. Interested? Then come and enjoy your heli-ski/boarding winter vacation  in the heart of the Tien Shan Mountains! If you can ski, you can Heli-ski! You don't have to be an expert!

     If you can ski intermediate slopes at your ski area, then you can heli ski with us on our heli ski program. If you have ever dreamt of going heli skiing in the mountains; if you have seen the movies of heli skiing and doubted whether your have the ability to do it - well you can go heli skiing or heli boarding with us in Tien-Shan mountains where the powder snow is deep, the air is fresh and the experience exhilarating. Enjoy mountains over 4000 meters and spectacular views! Up to 1200 vertical meters of varied shapes include glacier snowfields, ridges and cols. Most of the areas has no ski facilities and many side valleys and mountains are seldom visited but have good landing places on high mountain passes, ridges and glaciers where it is possible to start descents. Then the helicopter takes the group to another location.

     Your guide will select the route within a zone according to avalance danger, the weather and your group's skill. Our guides are professionals, most concerned on safety and comradeship. We employ three guides for the program. The guides carry radios and can contact with the helicopter or the mountain rescue rangers. They also carry emergency equipment.  

     We use the powerful Russian Mi-8-MTV helicopters, which are known in many countries as good and reliable machines. It is powered by two turbo-prop jet engines and has a carrying capacity of two tons. It can carry a group of 15-16 skiers and boarders, depending on weight and altitude, plus the guides and the crew. Two pilots operate the Mi-8-MTV, which means extra safety. You can be sure that the helicopters are controlled by pilots, who are very experienced in heli ski and mountain rescue operations. For more information please have a look here.

Brief area description

See sat map

Altitudes (point of the beginning of skiing): 3500 – 4100 m.

Descents down: 800-1200 vertical meters.

Length: 1,5 – 5 km.

Weather: average temperature (daytime) is -10°C

Heliskiing areas description

1) Kyrgyz Ala Too - Suusamyr (see Fixed dates above)
Altitudes: 3800-4200 m, altitude differences: 500-1300 m, slopes length: 1,5-8 km. A variety of descent routes, a lot of slopes, powder snow descents. Very continental type of climate leads to "powder" snow type of slopes from December to April. Flight time from Bishkek: 45 min.

With a lot of ski runs, there is a tremendous variety of slopes to accommodate all levels of skiers and boarders from intermediate to expert.

Weather and snow conditions every winter are hardly predictable but we’ll do our best to find accessible slopes in this area!

2) Terskey Ala Too (see Fixed dates above)
Altitudes: 3000-4500 m, altitude differences: 500-1200 m, slopes length: 1,5-7 km. Most wide area for heliskiing, with a variety of descent routes, a lot of slopes of different exposition. It it possible to change the area in a case of bad weather. Flight time from Bishkek: 2 hrs 10 min.

Accommodation

In the mountains:

1) Kyrgyz Ala Too - Suusamyr: "Too Ashuu" ski resort, DBL. Wooden 4-room huts with the attached toilet and shower. Dining hall, bar.

2) Terskey Ala Too: **** hotel in Karakol, DBL or Jergalan ski resort 40 km far from Karakol (a bit cheaper option then Karakol!)

Optional accommodation in Bishkek: “Asia Mountains” ***, “Shumkar Asia” *** , “Alpinist” *** Guest  Houses, DBL or SGL (optional) BB. Rooms with attached bathroom, TV, refrigerator, aircon. Optional **** accommodation (+$120 p/p)..

Group size

13 skiers normal, 15 maximum.

For more information concerning staff, gear, safetry etc. please check it carefuly!

Itinerary (Suusamyr area)

Itinerary (Terskey Ala Too area)

Price: please for an offer!

Included:

-  visa support and OVIR registration if necessary
-  all transfers according to the program, incl. transfer to/from skiing area
-  accommodation during skiing days in the mountains (see the area information above)
-  FB during skiing days (incl. lunch boxes)
-  8 (Suusamyr) or 9 (Terskey Ala Too) hours of helicopter rental for the skiing**  
-  experienced guides
-  radio connection
-  rescue equipment - bippers, shovels, probes, backpack ABS (Peter Aschauer GmbH)
-  farewell dinner in Bishkek or Karakol on Day 6


Notes:

** The price includes for Suusamyr: 8 hours helicopter flight time during heli ski days and flights Bishkek-ski area-Bishkek (1 hr); for Terskey: 9 hours helicopter flight time during heli ski days and flights Bishkek-ski area-Bishkek (4 hr). Standby helicopter time at the foot of skiing slopes is not included in the price, it’s free of charge. Extra flight time is approx. $260 per hour per person, refund for unused (bad weather etc.) heli time: $180 p/p p/h..

One hour rent of helicopter allows you to ski down 3-4 times (800-1200 vertical meters each time). On a good day it is possible to make about 6 trips (about 2 hours of helicopter rental) or even more. 

The prices of above are for 7-days heliski tour program. We can arrange heliski tour of any length. Please please for an offer for tailor-made trip!  

Not included:

-  international flights
-  Kyrgyz visa fee
-  insurance (you MUST have the insurance with minimal coverage of $10,000, incl. heliski activity!)
-  skiing equipment
-  extra hours of helicopter rental  (see above)

Options at the Suusamyr base:

-  single accommodation supplement, *** to ***** hotel accommodation in Bishkek, additional excursions
- skiing at the ski resort ($12-15 per person per day) 
- snowmobile riding ($100/hour)
- paragliding (tandem flight with expert guide)
- speedriding
- sauna 
- bar, disco, karaoke