The concept of our tours
We are fundamentally moving away from large groups, round dances. The optimal number of people in groups for climbing and long expeditions is no more than 8-10 including guides, and for simple hikes and trips such as active tours and excursions 10-12. This allows you to create a certain fabulous, friendly atmosphere, reduces the likelihood of conflicts and division into micro interest groups. Therefore, further in our work, we will lean towards an individual travel format. Of course, if you contact us with a group of friends or it will be a corporate party, we will be able to hold it at the proper level, for the required number of people.
Three fundamentals of our trips
In our work, we always rely on safety, fun and results. It is very important that these three concepts go side by side, and in the order when I wrote. Because when there are the last two, then for someone the journey can be the last, “when there is no fun, but there is a peak in the record book, it is not clear why you live …”.
Safety:
- GPS and navigation. Even if the guide has been on the route many times, the weather can change instantly.
- Radio communication, satellite and mobile communication. In large groups, in complex expeditions, at least two walkie-talkies per group, as well as a satellite phone, in conditions where mobile communications are not available.
- Group first aid kit. The guide always has a set of medicines for emergency medical care.
- Risk assessment on the route: each guide assesses the risks on the route, taking into account: weather, climate change, current snow and ice conditions, rockfall hazard, water level in rivers, the state of the group and each participant individually, etc.
- Registration, communication with local rescue services. There is always an algorithm for interacting with local services that can help in the event of an emergency.
Atmosphere, Fun:
Each guide tries to create a friendly, positive atmosphere. But each participant contributes to it. The task of the guide is to ensure that not only the route corresponds to the declared one, and ensure safety, but to ensure that there is a positive attitude and that even in the most difficult conditions the participants do not lose joy.
Result:
A number of factors that precede the achievement of the result of the event: your physical fitness, psychological compatibility in the group and morale, risk assessment before the route and on time, weather and other factors. Which we try to manage and prevent. But unfortunately, not everything depends on us, and the weather often affects the mountains.
Experience Gaining
We adhere to the point of view that the acquisition of experience should be gradual and you need to start with a simple one, gradually gaining qualifications. For those who have chosen the path of sports improvement, we have developed a series of training programs, mountaineering schools in the Caucasus, Kyrgyzstan and the Alps. See more Mountain School. Schedule
What do we offer
We offer you a ready-made logical and interesting route, from the simplest to the most difficult, from one day to several weeks; product layout, modern equipment, experienced and qualified instructors, friendly atmosphere of our hikes.
You can always find a compromise, and it is very important for us that you, when planning your vacation with us, can feel comfortable at all stages of preparation and participation in the campaign, climbing.
We are quite flexible and even with a minimal group, we try to make a trip! The route is not a dogma – there is no task to pass it “from and to”!
In our trips, full authoritarian democracy reigns, led by a guide, at the same time, we always listen to your opinion, make adjustments along the route, taking into account the opinion of each participant both before entering the route and on the spot.
Stages of preparation and conduct of hikes:
Application and clarification of the request. You’ve sent an application. At this stage, the manager clarifies your interest, whether you have chosen the right program, whether you have sufficient experience.
Agreement and prepayment. Nothing inspires hope that you will go on an adventure with us – like a prepayment. In addition, this is an obligatory ritual that will allow us to do all the preparatory procedures for the trip in advance: buy tickets, buy food, order permits, etc. We sign the contract.
Preparation. The earlier you apply and start preparing for your trip, the better. At this stage, you can agree on a list of equipment, get the necessary lessons / lectures about training and the travel area. Train.
Chat and meet. No later than 30 days in advance, we create a chat with the guide and participants in watsaap. Where you can ask questions to the guide, get to know the group, and in general you have a channel of communication with live participants, and not a chat bot on the site.
Organizational moments. At this stage, we coordinate with you the place and time of the meeting. Equipment rental, etc.
Hike payment. Usually we take an advance payment of 20-50%, and the rest of the amount the participants pay directly to the guide at the meeting.
Start of the hike and meeting. At this stage, we finally met with you. Additional purchase of the necessary food, we rent the missing equipment. On the first evening, we usually get to know each other in a nearby cafe, or around a campfire. The guide acquaints you once again with the program, clarifies once again all the organizational issues. You are undergoing a safety briefing.
Hike/Journey. Yes, you are finally on your way. The guide distributes the weight on the route, shares the food and the weight of the public equipment equally. Monitors the schedule of movement, the morale of the participants, organizes kitchen duty, communication with service contractors on the spot. Provides security.
Control communication on the route. We try to keep in touch with guides on the route, even if they are somewhere far away in Kamchatka or at pass 5000 in Nepal. You can add your relatives to the general chat, where we will send updates from the group to your relatives.
Trip final. Presentation of certificates and souvenirs, summarizing. Planning new joint trips.
Feedback, reviews. Your feedback and rewiews helps us a lot! To take into account all the shortcomings in the work of the team of managers, guides, take into account wishes for improving the program and make a cool product. Therefore, if after the trip you receive a letter asking you to fill out a review or the manager calls, be sure this is important for us!
Note: some tours are conducted by partners, there may be some deviations from the format of interaction and organization, but one way or another, their actions are aimed at a positive attitude, safety and results.
Mountains to all! Best regards, founder and guide Ivanchenko Oleg.