Your first mountain peak over 7000m!
Places filled: 6/8
We are aiming for altitude records and will attempt Lenin Peak (7134 m) in the Pamir Mountains in Kyrgyzstan. Lenin is considered one of the easiest 7000 m peaks and is therefore well-known and often climbed. However, it is definitely not an easy mountain hike. Since the peak is over 7000 m, completely authentic high-altitude conditions await you, where breathing is difficult, movement is difficult, winds are strong and temperatures are bitterly cold. But we like effort and adventure!
It's a long expedition, so we're making it a little more enjoyable and taking advantage of the infrastructure set up on the mountain: horses help us carry our equipment, we eat food prepared by chefs, and if we want, we can even surf the web. For an additional fee, you can scrub yourself clean under hot water - what more could you want? These are the services at base camp, from there the tents are brought to us, but you have to bring your own food and sleeping bag.
To increase safety, a local guide will accompany the locomotives.
What are the basic requirements to participate in this trip?
Previous mountain hiking experience above 5000 m required, preferably above 6000 m.
Very good physical shape — long days in high-altitude conditions, sometimes with a heavy backpack.
Skills for moving along a mountaineering route. Use of special equipment, moving in a roped off area, techniques for rescuing from an ice crevasse.
Overview – short & sweet
Goal: Lenin Peak (7134 m, standard route)
Dates: 10.–31.07.2025 + flight time
Activity: mountain hiking
Adventure guides: Kaspar Kirss ja Kaarel Kuslap
Technical difficulty level: 3/5 (suitable for technically advanced users)
Physical difficulty: 5/5 (high altitude, physically very difficult)
Group size: 8 (including 2 locomotives)
Trip price – €3990
Please note: For community members discount of -5% applies (3800 €).
👉 SEE EQUIPMENT LIST HERE 👈
Travel cost
Price includes
Travel arrangements and on-site guidance
Elamus+ group leaders (2) and a local mountain guide
Overnight stays before and after the mountain in a hotel/hostel/apartment
Airport transfers and transportation included in the itinerary
Lenin Mountain Permit and Nature Park Entrance Fees
Secure storage of belongings/equipment at the bottom of the mountain and at base camps
Transport horses to and from base camps (up to 25 kg)
Tent pitches at all camps
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at base camps
Services at base camps:
Using the dining tent
Mobile phone charging at base camps
Use of toilet tents in base camps
Warm water, coffee
Stylish Elamus+ designed sports shirt
Pictures and video from the trip
Health assessment and pulse oximeter for the group
Group pharmacy (including high-altitude medications)
Elamus+ mountaineering preparation package (valued at €200)
Access to online mountaineering webinars
Winter mountaineering training day
Summer trial hike/training
Price does not include
Flight tickets (from ~1000 €)
Insurance (travel insurance and mandatory sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking)
Personal hiking equipment
Additional services on the mountain (porters to high camps, shower, internet, etc.)
Meals at high camps and food and drink off the mountain
Extra activities and transportation for them
Tips (optional)
Personal hygiene products and medications
Registration for the trip
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, you must pay an advance payment (400 €) within 3 working days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by e-mail; 3 months before the trip, 50% of the trip cost and 1 month before the trip, the remaining cost. If there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
To register for the trip, you must have mountain hiking experience of at least over 5000 m and be in very good physical shape. If in doubt, contact the operators and discuss whether the mountain is suitable for you. An interview will be conducted with those who register.
Schedule and activities
DAY 1: We gather in Osh
Sõiduaeg: 5 h / distants: 280 km
The journey to Lenin begins in Osh, the largest city in southern Kyrgyzstan. The drive from Osh to the base camp of the "Edelweiss Glade" takes about 5 hours and passes through the Pamir Mountains, crossing two picturesque passes - Chyiyrchik (2408 m) and Taldyk (3615 m). The journey passes through the Alay Valley and finally reaches the base camp of the Edelweiss Glade at an altitude of 3600 meters.
At the base camp, you will find amenities: traditional yurts, a sauna, showers, toilets, Wi-Fi, a medical point, equipment rental and dining tents. Accommodation is in heated tents. The quality of the food is high - the menu includes Asian and European dishes, including vegetarian options. Hot tea and coffee are also available, as well as fresh bread and samsa, which are baked in a traditional tandoor oven.
After arrival, an acclimatization walk will be made to the Leek Meadow (3800 m), where you can see wild meadows and living signs of marmots. If desired, you can also climb to the observation platform, which offers a view of the Achik-Tash Valley (translated as “Open Rock”).
Overnight stay at the "Edelweiss Glade" base camp (3600 m).
Day 2: We start the acclimatization program
Tõus: 550 m / matkaaeg: 4-5 hAfter breakfast, we will make an acclimatization hike towards the Puteshestvennikov Pass (4150 m). A good road leads to the Puteshestvennikov Pass, which usually takes about 1,5-2,5 hours to complete. The road runs through the picturesque Lukovaya glade, passes waterfalls and a beautiful canyon through which the left branch of the Achik-Tash River flows. From the pass, an amazing view opens up of the XIX Party Congress Peak (5920 m), Spartak Peak (6183 m), Lenin Peak (7134 m) and the Lenin Glacier. After reaching the pass, we descend back to the base camp and rest.
Overnight stay at the "Edelweiss Glade" base camp (3600 m).
Day 3: Petrovsky Peak Observation Deck
Tõus: 500 m / matkaaeg: 4-5 hAfter breakfast, we will make an acclimatization hike to the observation deck of Petrovsky Peak. Petrovsky Peak (4700 m) is one of the easiest peaks and is located close to the base camp, making it ideal for the initial phase of acclimatization. We will ascend to an altitude of approximately 4100 meters, from where we will have a majestic view of the vast Alai Valley, where there are several lakes, and the mighty Zaalai mountain range with its main peak - Lenin Peak.
After that, we descend back to base camp and rest. We prepare our equipment for the next day, when we head out on an acclimatization hike to higher base camps.
Overnight stay at the "Edelweiss Glade" base camp (3600 m).
Photo: Kaspar Eevald
Day 4: Towards Lenin
Tõus: 800 m / matkaaeg: 6-7 hPart of today's route to the Puteshestvennikov Gorge (4150 m) is already familiar to us. After that, we descend back down, which is much easier and faster. Then the trail becomes almost horizontal and runs along the left moraine ridge for a very long section. Then we cross a wild mountain river and ascend along the trail that takes us to the Lenin Glacier. Moving along the glacier tongue, we finally reach Camp 1 (4400 m), located on the central moraine.
We arrive at Camp 1 (C1), also known as ABC (advanced base camp; 4400 meters), where accommodation and rest take place. Camp 1 is the closest camp to the mountain, which is a great advantage for alpinists, as it allows you to save time and energy during the ascents and descents of Lenin Peak.
Camp 1 is an oasis of life and comfort, surrounded by snow, ice and rock. It offers warm dining and relaxation areas in yurts, toilets, a sauna, camping showers, a medical station and lockers.
Overnight stay: camp 1 (4400 m).
Day 5: Juhhini Peak (5130 m)
Tõus: 750 m / matkaaeg: 5-6 hJuhhini Peak (5130 m) is a beautiful five-thousand-meter mountain, located within walking distance of C1 (4400 meters). There are no steep ice or rock sections on this route, so no additional special equipment is needed for the ascent. Most of the time we move on snow, and in some sections the slope angle is about 20-30 degrees. The descent is along the same path.
Overnight stay: camp 1 (4400 m).
Day 6: First rotation begins
Tõus: 900 m / matkaaeg: 5-10 hThe transition from C1 to C2 is one of the most dangerous parts of the expedition, due to avalanches, covered and large open crevasses. In 2022, a very small but steep section of the route was created, so all climbers now have to use a grab (jumaar) to overcome this part.
The best time to leave C1 is at 4 am. We will leave along the glacier directly to the middle of the North Face, avoiding many crevasses, until we reach a steep snowy climb (80 meters, 35–40°), which we will traverse on a support rope or as a serpentine. After that, we will move up the slope of the North Face. Regardless of the amount of snow and the time of day, this slope is avalanche-prone, as an avalanche can be triggered by ice collapse. To minimize the risk of avalanches, we recommend resting for no more than 5-10 minutes at a time. An early start will allow us to avoid long walks under the scorching sun, which makes this section of the route very tiring.
Further, moving to the right, we reach a snowy plateau called the “frying pan” (“Skovoroda”). This section is extremely dangerous due to avalanches, so it must be passed as quickly as possible, avoiding even short rest stops, not even for 5 minutes.
After crossing the “Frying Pan”, we ascend the slope that leads to Camp 2 (C2). We complete the entire section with crampons and ropes.
Overnight stay: camp 2 (5300 m).
Day 7: Razdelnaya Peak (6148 m)
Tõus: 800 m / matkaaeg: 4-7 hThe best time to start the climb is before 9 am. Starting from C2, we climb along a 30–40° slope to the ridge, keeping to the left side of the rocks. It can be windy on the ridge. After reaching the ridge, we move along a flat ridge to the left and then head towards Razdelnaya peak (6148 m). The climb to the summit is along a snowy ridge with a slope of 30–40°, the surface is very snowy. C3 (6100 m) is located near this peak.
The most difficult part of the climb is the section between 5850 meters and camp 3. There are many covered crevasses in the upper part (between 6000–6100 m), so you have to be extremely careful! We will be climbing with crampons and ropes.
Overnight stay: camp 3 (6100 m).
DayAD 8-11: Descent C3>C1>BC and rest days
We descend along the familiar path back to the green fields, rest and wait for the summit weather. Resting at an altitude of 3600 meters amidst greenery and coziness is essential to gather energy for the main climb of the entire expedition. The well-developed infrastructure of the base camp allows you to fully recover: you can have a good rest in heated tents, relax in the sauna, enjoy a warm and tasty meal and fresh fruit in comfortable yurts, play volleyball, write a detailed letter to your family with the latest news or post pictures and information on your social media.
For those who want to be active on their day off, we recommend hiking to the lakes of the Achik-Tash Valley. The most famous and picturesque of them is Lake Tuprak-Kel, which is associated with many legends.
days 12-15: there's a smell of peak in the air
Tipupäeva tõus: 1034 m / matkaaeg: 10-14 hNow we are monitoring the weather forecast very carefully to choose the best window for the summit. Once the date is set, we will ascend C3, sleeping the night in each camp along the way.
You have to leave the summit camp (C3; 6100 m) very early – around 3.00:4.00–XNUMX:XNUMX in the morning.
We start walking towards the summit traverse and descend to the saddle. There are a few dangerous, mostly covered gaps in the saddle. From the saddle we move up along a rocky path until we reach the ridge plateau. Here some teams set up a temporary camp (C4; 6400 meters), we can manage without it.
The ascent continues along a wide ridge to a narrow icy slope (known as the “Knife”). Strong winds are possible on this section of the road. The slope of the “Knife” is approximately 35–50° and its length is 60–70 meters. Here there is a great risk that the wind may push the north face towards the slopes. The trail continues along rocky ridges and then moves up along a rock-snow climb (20–30 meters long) until we reach the snowy plateau of the Parachutists (6900–7000 meters).
The trail becomes more difficult in the snow. It is recommended to cross the plateau in good visibility, constantly checking the direction with GPS, as there is a high risk of getting lost in bad weather conditions.
We continue along a long snowy section of the summit trail to Lenin Peak (7134 meters), where we see a path marked with stones and a small bust of Vladimir Lenin.
We descend from the summit back to the summit camp (C3) along the same path we took up.
The recommended time to start the descent is 14.00:XNUMX PM, regardless of whether you have reached the summit or not.
Overnight stay at camp 3 (6100 m).
Days 16-18: Descent to base camp and reserve day
More important than reaching the summit is getting back home alive. We will pass through the “Frying Pan” for the last time and hike to base camp with all our equipment. If the summit climb goes according to plan, we will stay here for one more day to enjoy all the charms of a civilized base camp. We can once again go to the sauna and eat a meal prepared by the chefs. The heated tents now seem especially wonderful, where we can play the last card games in the evening.
Day 19: Transfer to Osh
We will make a short stop on the way at the Taldyk Gorge to look back on the whole adventure and take a selfie with the entire mountain range. Upon arrival in Osh, it is possible to buy fridge magnets and other souvenirs that will remind you of the biggest adventure of the summer. It will probably take some time to recover from such a long mountain trip.
Overnight: Hotel in Osh
Day 20: Flight home
Those who want to limit their trip to the mountains can now board a plane and fly home with vivid impressions and memories of a very awesome trip. However, those who didn't get enough of Kyrgyzstan have the opportunity to stay a few days longer and explore the sights on their own.
NB! There may be minor changes to the schedule and planned activities. for example, due to weather and conditions or the wishes of passengers.
Photo: Jaan Künnap, 1989; “For the first time, the Estonian flag on top of a mountain over 7000m”
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a Kyrgyz-speaking country in Central Asia. Business is also conducted in Russian. Approximately 6,7 million people live in Kyrgyzstan and it is divided into seven regions and two cities of central authority. We are heading to Osh region. The currency used is the Kyrgyz som (1 € = ~92 som), but for larger transactions, the US dollar is also accepted.
Prices are rather cheap: you can expect to spend around €10-20/day while spending time in the city. Card payments are possible, but there may be a minimum amount when paying, and you should always have cash on hand. There are ATMs in the city.
Tipping in restaurants is recommended, but not mandatory, and is generally 10-15%.
Travel to KYRGYZSTAN
Estonian citizens can travel to Kyrgyzstan visa-free for 60 days
There are no mandatory vaccines other than the usual ones, but the hepatitis A vaccine is recommended. Additional information can be found at vaktsineeri.ee and travel medicine offices
There are currently no Covid-19 restrictions.
You can consult with the tour operator regarding flight tickets, but it is important to be in Osh (OSS) no later than the morning of July 10th.
Lenin or Abuali ibn Sino
The mountain was discovered in 1871 and named after the governor of Turkestan, Konstantin von Kaufmann. In 1928, the Soviet authorities renamed the mountain in honor of Vladimir Lenin. For a long time, Lenin Peak was considered the highest point in the Pamirs, but in 1933 it was discovered that Ismoil Somon Peak (formerly Communism Peak) was 360 meters higher.
Technically, Lenin is a fairly easy mountain: you only need classic glacier climbing skills, crevasse rescue skills, and the ability to use standard glacier equipment. You don't need ice picks or rock climbing skills. Despite this, it is a high mountain, where the main dangers are altitude sickness, extreme sub-zero temperatures, and avalanches. Therefore, you need proper warm sleeping gear, clothing, and mountain boots (see equipment list above).
While on the mountain, we will stay in local tents throughout the trip.
There are 4 camps on the regular route:
Base Camp (3600 m)
Camp 1 (4400 m) or ABC
Camp 2 (5300 m)
Camp 3 (6100 m)
Tipping porters is not mandatory, but is appreciated if the service is good.
Base camp services
Services included in the price:
Secure storage of belongings/equipment at base camps
Camping sites at base camps (in heated tents)
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at base camp and C1
Using the dining tent
Mobile phone charging at base camp and C1
Use of toilet tents in base camps
Garbage removal from base camp
Services available for purchase at an additional cost:
Equipment rental (according to local price list, which is rather expensive)
Gas 230g can = 10 USD
Washing facility/sauna at ABC = 30 USD
High-speed internet (WiFi) = 5-10 USD / 1 h
Porters for high altitude camps (1 kg)
Base Camp —> C1 = 3 USD
C1 → C2 = 10 USD
C2 → C3 = 12 USD
C3 → C4 = 25 USD
C4 → Top = $35
Travel documents and footnotes
The participant is responsible for the validity and condition of their travel documents. For this trip you will need:
passport
sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking (read more on the FAQ page). A suitable sports insurance policy must be carried and is a prerequisite for participating in the mountain hike.
travel insurance.
Estonian citizens can stay in Kyrgyzstan visa-free for 60 days.
Summits are not guaranteed. As you might expect, weather is king in the mountains. So it is entirely possible that weather or dangerous conditions will prevent us from even attempting the summit. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an awesome experience!
Although at the end of the day everyone is still responsible for their own actions and consequences, we do our best to mitigate the risks associated with mountaineering. As a result, the group leader has the right to make ongoing decisions about the competence of the participants, the suitability of their equipment, physical/mental capacity, etc. and, if necessary, for example, to prohibit participation on summit day if it endangers the health of the group or the participant themselves. Hopefully, of course, there will be no need for this.
Read more also travel conditions or feel free to ask the adventure locomotives.
Don't worry, let's do it!
It seems difficult. Can I still do it?
Yes, you can. Trying to reach such a high peak may seem daunting at first glance, but it is definitely doable – especially if you have a good hiking guide at your side. You need to train and mentally prepare yourself for the effort. However, no mountain should be underestimated and reaching the top is not guaranteed. For this trip, we also assume previous mountain hiking experience at least over 5000 m, preferably over 6000 m.
But I don't have any travel gear, who can afford to buy it?
You'll have to spend a bit, because on such a high and cold mountain, proper equipment wears out. However, hiking and climbing equipment can be rented at a very reasonable price and can also be borrowed from friends. In addition, you can use any kind of clothing you have, especially sports and ski clothing.
What are the risks and will I survive?
It is an extreme sport/hobby that can be life-threatening, but there is no need to be overly afraid. Of course, there are certain dangers in the mountains and you have to take them into account, but that is what makes it such an exciting and exclusive experience. The most important thing for the group leader is to ensure the safety of the participants. The point is still to have an enjoyable experience and not to lose this mountain. The main dangers on Lenin are cold, storms and altitude sickness.
Okay, I registered. Now what?
Well, theoretically you could just vanish into thin air and appear on a plane. That's possible, but we highly recommend taking part in preparatory events - it's part of the fun. We organise preparatory hiking training, advise on suitable insurance and equipment, where to rent cheaply, what to train for, etc. We will definitely review the equipment you have collected just before the start of the trip and send reminders about important things.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
