Question 1

What should I pack for a hike or trek in Alay Mountains?

Audrey · Accepted Answer

Our recommended packing list for the Best of Alay Mountains Trek includes the following:

Warm clothes and layers as it gets warm during the day, but it can go below freezing at night and when it rains. This means having layers like fleece and light jackets during the day, as well as a down jacket for comfort at night.
Good hiking shoes. Ankle support is not necessary, but it might be useful to have when going up some of the steep inclines.
Small day pack to carry a camera, water, sunscreen, snacks, extra clothing layers.
Sun protection as the sun is very strong at altitude: Sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 30 or above), and a sun hat /cap
Water- and windproof jacket and pants. It gets especially windy on the mountain passes and this provides another layer of warmth, in addition to protection from rain.
Walking sticks are recommended (we can provide for an additional fee if you don’t have them)
Medical kit for treating blisters, traveler’s diarrhea and other minor illnesses
Water purification tablets or drops if you want to clean the spring water
Refillable water bottle as we want to avoid single-use plastics waste in the fragile environments of the mountains
Lip balm: your lips get chapped very easily in the mountains
Wet wipes and/or anti-bacterial gel to clean hands
Hat and gloves to wear at night for warmth
Head lamp to navigate campsite and yurt camps at night
Warm sleeping bag (you can rent this from us if you don’t have one). Yurts and homestays provide blankets. Some people like to bring a sleeping bag liner with them as well for extra warmth and comfort.

All our hiking and trekking tours in the Alai Mountains include luggage transfer by horse. We ask all to leave all the unnecessary luggage in Osh city at our office and take only the items needed for this trek. You can take two bags: a small day backpack carried by you each day where you put your bottled water, wallet and other personals items and a bigger backpack carried by the luggage horses where you can put your clothes, pants, sleeping bag and other gear. The bigger backpacks carried by horse should weigh 10 to 15 kilos. Horses have special bags designed for the trek. Each horse carries about 60 to 70 kilos.

Question 2

What should I pack for a hike or trek in Alay Mountains?

Audrey · Accepted Answer

Our recommended packing list for the Best of Alay Mountains Trek includes the following:

Warm clothes and layers as it gets warm during the day, but it can go below freezing at night and when it rains. This means having layers like fleece and light jackets during the day, as well as a down jacket for comfort at night.
Good hiking shoes. Ankle support is not necessary, but it might be useful to have when going up some of the steep inclines.
Small day pack to carry a camera, water, sunscreen, snacks, extra clothing layers.
Sun protection as the sun is very strong at altitude: Sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 30 or above), and a sun hat /cap
Water- and windproof jacket and pants. It gets especially windy on the mountain passes and this provides another layer of warmth, in addition to protection from rain.
Walking sticks are recommended (we can provide for an additional fee if you don’t have them)
Medical kit for treating blisters, traveler’s diarrhea and other minor illnesses
Water purification tablets or drops if you want to clean the spring water
Refillable water bottle as we want to avoid single-use plastics waste in the fragile environments of the mountains
Lip balm: your lips get chapped very easily in the mountains
Wet wipes and/or anti-bacterial gel to clean hands
Hat and gloves to wear at night for warmth
Head lamp to navigate campsite and yurt camps at night
Warm sleeping bag (you can rent this from us if you don’t have one). Yurts and homestays provide blankets. Some people like to bring a sleeping bag liner with them as well for extra warmth and comfort.

All our hiking and trekking tours in the Alai Mountains include luggage transfer by horse. We ask all to leave all the unnecessary luggage in Osh city at our office and take only the items needed for this trek. You can take two bags: a small day backpack carried by you each day where you put your bottled water, wallet and other personals items and a bigger backpack carried by the luggage horses where you can put your clothes, pants, sleeping bag and other gear. The bigger backpacks carried by horse should weigh 10 to 15 kilos. Horses have special bags designed for the trek. Each horse carries about 60 to 70 kilos.