Which hike to choose? - Total cost and complexity of overseas trips

To choose a trip abroad, in addition to your own aesthetic preferences, you need to take into account two important factors - the complexity of the route and the total cost of the event.

The complexity of the route is influenced by the duration of the hike, the nature of the terrain, the quality of the trails, altitude above sea level, weather conditions, the weight of the backpack (the possibility of creating a drop-off), the presence of technical sections. The total cost of the trip consists of the cost of the tour itself, air tickets and local expenses. And, I must say, the results of this addition are impressive:)

The numbers (i.e. prices) were easily summarized in a cost comparison table (see below), but the features of the routes that determine their complexity had to be described in words (even lower).

I sincerely hope that you are not afraid of difficulties, and this text will help you better prepare for them and choose a hike more consciously (and not make you think of hiding under the sofa and not going anywhere).

I can tell you with absolute certainty that you shouldn’t even start choosing a trip abroad until you have acquired at least minimal tourist experience in simpler hikes in the Carpathians and Crimea. A couple of these 6-day hikes will allow you to get to know your own body better and understand what it is capable of. The phrase “1000 meters of altitude gain” will take on real meaning, taste and color for you:) Soberly assess your strengths, because in foreign trips there is no recalculation - you pay 100% of the cost of the tour even if you do not reach the finish line.

Lycian Way (Türkiye)

In terms of complexity, the route is very close to Crimean hikes of similar duration. We live in tents, cook over a fire, and carry everything on ourselves in backpacks. But along the route there is an opportunity to replenish food supplies, so the backpacks are relatively light - everyone gets not 9-10, but only 4-5 kg ​​of food. In spring (April-early May) Turkey has quite comfortable conditions for hiking. It is warmer here than in Crimea during the same period. The daytime is not too hot yet (+20), the nights are no longer cold (+10). But don’t relax, if it rains, it gets sharply cold in the highlands (15 during the day, 0 at night). Maybe even sprinkle some snow. But as soon as you go down to the sea, life gets better again. The sea, by the way, is warm - you can swim.

In summer and early autumn it is usually very, very hot on the Lycian Way. Springs dry up, rivers hide under stones, tourists languish in the heat (+35 during the day, +20 at night). Sunscreen, bucket hats and long sleeve shirts are essential. There is no off-road on the Lycian Way - the entire route follows good trails and dirt roads. Only in the upper part of the ascent to Takhtali there will be a section with boulders, and in early spring there may be snow fields that can be overcome without problems even in sneakers - the snow is dense, last year’s. But on the long descent from Tahtala, many people’s knees give out.

Unreal Cappadocia (Türkiye)

This tour usually acts as an addition to the previously described “Lycian Way”. We live in a hostel (dormitory room for 10-15 beds) with a hot shower and other pleasures of life. We will have breakfast at the hostel, dinner in restaurants, lunch with packed lunches. Every day we go on long “radial trips” (6-8 hours). We carry small, light backpacks (bottle of water, raincoat, lunch ration). +25 during the day, +7 at night. The trails are excellent.

To the Heart of Annapurna(Nepal)

This is the most affordable way to see the Himalayas. The route is simple enough to try to complete it with only the experience of several Crimean campaigns behind you. We spend the night in mountain shelters - lodges, and eat there too, so there is no need to carry tents, rugs, food, boilers, etc. We only carry clothes and sleeping bags with us. The average weight of a backpack is 10 kg. But you don’t even have to carry it, but hire a porter (he carries 20 kg for $14 a day).

2/3 of the trek to Annapurna Base Camp passes through the “comfortable jungle” - +25 during the day, +10 at night, surrounded by rice fields or rhododendron jungle. We spend 3 days and 2 nights in a cold alpine zone, where it is +15 during the day and 0 at night. It is during these 3 days that you have every chance to get acquainted with the miner - headache, general weakness, nausea, etc. But if it gets really bad, you can always retreat - go down to the place of the previous night and wait there in the shelter for the group to return.

The trails are very good, often paved with stone slabs. But on endless descents and ascents, these stone steps can significantly weaken the psyche and put stress on the knees:) Don’t think that this route is a complete “ball”. Due to the lack of oxygen and significant changes in altitude, even walking with light backpacks or without them at all, you will get tired and exhausted.

Trek to Everest (Nepal)

Unlike the previous trek, the route to Everest Base Camp is 100% through the cold alpine zone (+10 during the day, -5 at night). You can’t go here without high-altitude experience (at least 3500m), without knowing how strongly your body will react to the lack of oxygen. Some people will get sick on the second day, others will feel a little bad after a week - but sooner or later it will “get over” everyone. At such altitudes, a person is constantly freezing, even if the air temperature is far from extreme. An ordinary runny nose can easily transform into dangerous pneumonia. Therefore, on the trek to Everest, a warm winter sleeping bag, a down jacket, good boots, thermal underwear and other means of insulation are vital. Accommodation and meals in lodges (unheated shelters). The number of personal items is strictly limited - 14 kg (due to the flight to Lukla). To minimize the burden (and risk) we always hire porters. There is a high probability of unexpected expenses (for a helicopter in case of bad weather). The whole difficulty of the route to Everest lies solely in the lack of oxygen - the trails here are for the most part excellent (trodden and flat), only at the pass there is a difficult section.

Jade Dragon(China)

A very civilized route - we live in decent hostels (with hot water, bed linen and Wi-Fi), eat in restaurants, walk along extremely improved routes. The only equipment you need is cameras and backpacks (to have somewhere to put souvenirs). The main factors that make a trip to China “difficult” are the insane density of events, constant flights and transfers (and the associated lack of sleep), as well as quite considerable financial costs. The weather in China can be very different - from hot subtropics (+30) to high-mountain tundra (+5).

Prokletie Durmitor(Montenegro)

The main attractions of this route are the warm sea and steep cliffs. The main difficulties of this hike are also associated with them - the hot climate and difficult terrain. During the day, the air can warm up to +30, forest fires are common, and at night the temperature drops sharply to +7 (warm clothes are a must). The route has many sections with large boulders and various sizes of loose rock. There are places (radial road to Karanfily and Bobotov Kuk) where you have to cling with all your hands. Purely visually, many passes look impressive (i.e. they gain height steeply). And in general, the daily altitude gain on this route is consistently high (at least 600 meters). In comparison, hiking in Montenegro is technically more difficult than the Lycian Trail in Turkey. But the backpacks are not too heavy (we buy food for the second half of the hike on the spot) and there are a lot of radials (at least 5), where we walk lightly. We sleep in tents and cook on a stove.

Upper Svaneti(Caucasus, Georgia).

In addition to the already mentioned thickets of hogweed and slippery grassy slopes in Georgia there are many midges and horseflies following free-grazing herds of cows and horses. It’s a pleasure to walk 20 km a day on such trails. Daily elevation gain is from 800 to 1500 meters (this is a lot). It is impossible not to mention the cultural component of the trip - medieval settlements, impressive Svan towers, colorful local population. It is possible to make a transfer, which significantly lightens the backpack, because you need to carry not only food, but also gasoline for the burner. The route will include a couple of crossings over mountain streams and rivers. We overcome some of them by jumping over rocks, but we cross the largest ones on horseback (from a neighboring village).

Trek to Kazbek (Caucasus, Georgia).

This short route is as much an addition to a hike in Svaneti as Cappadocia is to the Lycian Way. Please note that this is not mountaineering, not climbing to the top of Kazbek, but only a hiking trip to an altitude of 4300m. The height, by the way, is quite sufficient to get some idea of ​​the miner. Part of the route goes directly along the glacier, part along compacted mud and snow, so boots (rather than sneakers) are preferred as footwear for hiking Kazbek. At night at an altitude of three kilometers it is quite cold, maybe minus - a warm sleeping bag, gloves, and a hat will not hurt.

Climbing Elbrus from the North. (Caucasus).

An ordinary mountaineering climb, with all the accompanying joys of life. A wildly heavy backpack at the start, and an almost empty backpack at the top. Constant acclimatization running up and down in the same places in order to somehow pacify the inevitable mountain climber. Among other things, you will need special equipment - crampons, an ice ax, real mountain boots (plastic ones are possible), a winter sleeping bag, a down jacket. We live in tents, cook on a primus... A very difficult day of ascent - 1900 meters of elevation gain, 10 hours to storm the summit, 3 hours to descend. Temperatures range from +25 at the foot, to -10 on the night of the assault.

Trans-Ili Alatau(Tien Shan, Kazakhstan).

This is a completely new route, which means there will be many surprises. The actual level of difficulty is difficult to predict, so we will consider it high. There will be a lot of loose and off-road terrain on the route - you can't do without boots. They will come in handy when we cross the glacier, or when the mountains are covered with fresh summer snow. Daily evening thunderstorms are expected. The altitude of the passes and overnight stays is sufficient for initial acquaintance with mountain sickness. There will be a drop off, how could we live without it:)

Now you know how to choose a trip abroad? If you still have questions, write or call us - we will help you choose the appropriate route