Siberia and Altai Mountain Planning
Air ? The easiest method for us was flying from Chicago-Frankfurt on United, and then Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. The following airlines fly to Moscow: Alitalia, Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airlines, Delta, LOT, Lufthansa, and Swiss International. Almost every airline connects through somewhere and usually arrives at Sheremetyevo1. There are also two other major airports in Moscow - Domodedovo, and Vnukovo.
Visas? Had to get a single-entry Russian visa. Either obtain one from your local Russian Embassy or check out Russian Visa Online. I personally think it's just easier to do it on-line if possible.
Hotels? Only one hotel was necessary. Out by the Frankfurt Airport for the night before we flew home to Chicago. I always go on-line and pick the least expensive hotel by the airport with shuttle service to and fro. This time it was the Steigenberger Esprix Hotel Frankfurt that had the best price.
Health? The usual innoculations for travel. Hep A, keep your Polio booster up-to-date, Tetanus, and Typhoid, etc. None compulsory but we always take precautions. Always check the Centers for Disease Control updates to see what they suggest. Mountain Travel recommended buying bottled water in Moscow. The water would be boiled out on trek, but we also carry along iodine water purifying tablets in case the boiled water runs out and we need to refill water bottles from a stream while hiking.
Travel Insurance? Travel insurance is a must for us and we never leave home without it. We buy Cancellation, Emergency Evacuation and Medical Protection insurance, usually Travel Guard - Travel insurance starts at $30 and depends on the tour cost. It just took one last-minute cancellation (Pneumonia) two days before a trip and losing thousands of dollars to convince us. And over many years, we've had three other cancellations - two medical and one death in the family but these were insured and Travel Guard refunded all monies without any problem.
Equipment and Clothing? The usual camping equipment - day packs, sleeping bag, air mattress, hiking poles (our 3rd and 4th legs), flashlights, toilet paper, plastic water bottles - tents would be provided. Waterproof jacket and pants, lots of layers, long underwear, fleece, gloves, hats, etc. and the all important hiking boots. It would be hot in Moscow, and who knows what the weather could be out on trek. We'd spend most of our time at elevations between 7,000 and 8,000 feet, and mountain weather is always changeable. I detest being wet and/or cold, ergo....packed thermal underwear. It weighs nothing and you'll be glad to have it if needed. All other clothes would be stored in Barnaul while out on trek. There was a weight limitation on our trekking duffel (30 pounds), the most a horse would carry. Speaking of air mattresses -- on our first trek in the mid 1980's, the two of us dorks were too stupid to know about air mattresses and spent an entire week in Nepal sleeping on the cold, hard ground. No wonder I never slept! Buy one!!
What was included?
- All accommodations - The Hotel Rossia in Moscow, Mountain Lodge Vysotnik (before and after trek), 9-day trek, and Barnaul Hotel
- All arrangements in the field - camp meals, cook staff (notice the word "STAFF"), group gear and equipment
- Welcome and farewell dinners and breakfast/lunch/dinner every day
- Ground transportation, airport transfers and baggage handling
- Guides and sightseeing admission fees
- Basic medical and evacuation insurance - You must have this but does anyone really think someone will get to you in time during a medical crisis in remote Siberia? Come on...let's have a little reality check here...
That was everything involved. Visas, passports and airline tickets in hand, it was off to Moscow...
