Ski Touring in Armenia

Transcription

1 Ski Touring in Armenia Another unusual destination. We progress East for a new ski touring trip. This time we will discover mountains, high plateaux and people of Armenia. This country is born from the volcanoes of Mt Ararat, strong symbolic force of this country. A new trip four our group. Ski touring will give us another chance to explore mountains, wilderness and the roots of a rich history, heart of a civilization which is based ancient culture and Christianity. The high lights of this trip: Ascent of South pic of Mont Aragats 3897m after a night at the physician s resort 3300 m A round trip itinerary through beautiful remote valleys with daily ski ascents. Meeting the Armenian people their culture and traditions. Visit possible of the UNESCO listed sites of Etchmiadzin, Gegarhard, the high Azat valley. PRE CONTRACT DOCUMENT p 1 / 8

2 Trip date Start date of the journey: Fabruary, 5th at 8:30 am End date of the journey: February, 13rd at 2:30 pm. Skills Stamina Guiding Group size and Accommodation Meals Transportation Formalities This timetable might change, due to the flights scheduled. Minimal level required: For a good «all round» skier, with few tours experience. Some of the itinearies might requires carrying skis on the back pack. Maximum angle 40 eventually using ropes to secure progression. Ski Technical level required: 2 on a scale of 5 Physical condition required: 3 on a scale of 5 Walking time: Journey of 4-6 hours at a medium rythm of 300m per hour. (all details in the following planned itinerary) Height variation: Vertical of 800 to 1200 m daily (all details in the following planned itinerary) Luggage porterage: a daily 7 kg backpack and a 10 kg for Day 3. Name: Pierre Liotard Diploma: UIAGM High Mountain Guide Mobile phone : pierlio@aol.com Minimum number required: 5 participants Maximum number required: 5 participants Maximum number of groups: 1 Day 1 : Hotel 3* Erevan, twin room Day 2 : Hotel 3* Byurakan, twin room Day 3 : Physician s resort (hut) Day 4 : Guest house at Martouni, twin room If option Days 3 and 4 Day 3 : Hotel 3* Aghveran, twin room Day 4 : Guest house Martouni, twin room Day 5 : Guest house Eghegnadzor, twin room Day 6 : Guest house Eghegnadzor, twin room Day 7 : Guest house Garni, twin room Day 8 : Hotel 3* Erevan, twin room Full board Included with a local company, minivan with a driver and 4-wheel drive on day 6. Police formalities: it is compulsory to have a valid ID at least 3 months beyond the date of the trip. Please check the official website: Sanitary formalities: Tetanus, Diphteria and Polimyelitis, those vaccine must be up to date before any journey. In order to make the most of your stay, in the best conditions, we recommend you to have a medical check-up with your doctor to make sure you are fit enough to go trekking. PRE CONTRACT DOCUMENT p 2 / 8

3 Date, place and On February 5th, 2019 at 8:30 am in Geneva Airport, depending on the time to the flights scheduled. meeting. Transport to the On your own meeting. Date, place and time of the end of the trip Flight details On February 13rd, 2019 at 14:30 pm in Geneva Airport, depending on the flights scheduled. Possible flight ticket from Geneva Airport to Yerevan airport on economic class with one stop, for 409,65 price on the 29 th of October 2018, it could change at the date of booking, the price will be given at that moment. That includes checked luggage up to 23 kg. This airline ticket is not refundable and not modifiable, and operate with those 5 companies: Air France, Aeroflot, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Lot Polish Airlines. We will confirm you the name of the company at the booking. If you don t want the flight ticket with us, please inform us on your booking. Planned itinerary Day 1: Arriving at Erevan airport, transfer to the center town. Diner if the flight arrives 6-9 PM Night in a *** hotel Day 2: Ski touring in Kotayk area. Erevan-Mont Hatis 2526 m-byurakan Start from Erevan to Kaputan village ( 1hr) Ascent of mt Hatis, isolated cone between the range of Guéghama and and mot Aragat.Spectacular view on Mont Ararat 5165m (part of Turkish territory from 1918) and Aragats highest summit in Armenia. Possibility of another 500m ascent after a short 15mn transfer. Transfer to Byurakan Dinner and night in Hotel Ascent Descent + /- 1000m Road transfer 90kms 2hrs Day 3: Amberd-Aragats-lac Kari (3300m) Today bigger back pack as we will sleep in altitude. Short transfert 20 mns to the base of Mont Aragats (2000 mtrs), start of our ski tour to lake Kari 3300mtrs. Nice view on Amberd Fortress on the way. Original heartland of Pahlavuni familly Princes (VIIe-XIIIe ct) Installation at the physician s hut at 3300mtrs for the night mtrs PRE CONTRACT DOCUMENT p 3 / 8

4 5/7 hrs Road transfer 20km 30mns Day 4: Aragats-Byurakan-Sevan-Martouni Start on skis to the south pic of Aragats (3897mtrs) From the summit, nice view on the highest Armenian peak 4095mtrs and the vast and deep crater 350 deep x 3kms wide. Nice long descent to Byurakan 2000mtrs. On the road to Lac Sevan «the blue pearl» of Armenia 2000m Altitude (second biggest world clear water lake). Visit of Aayravank IX ct. We keep going to Noraduz and the 728 Khatchkars (Stone crosses) Dinner and night in a B&B in Martouni. +600m -1800m 6 hrs Road transfer 150km 2h15 OPTION J3 & J4; if the snow/forecast conditions make the ascent of Mt Aragats impossible the alternative will be: J3 Mont d 'ARA 2585m (Aghveran Mont d'aga Aghveran) Breakfast at the guest house before departure to Kotayk area and Mt d'ara ascent Visit of Neghuts monastery X-XIII ctr Dinner and night in Aghveran (hôtel) +/- 837m 4/5 hrs Road transfer: 20 mns J 4 Agvheran- Thegheniats-Noradzoun-Hayravank-Martouni After breakfast a short transfer towards Thegheniats mountains we ll use our skis to explore and visit historical sites. We ll drive to lake Sevan «blue pearl» of Armenia at an altitude of 2000mtrs Visit of Hayravanks IX century and Noraduz and the 728 Katchkars (stone crosses) Dinner and night in a guest house at Martouni 4/5 hrs +/- 1000m Road transfer in the afternoon 150km 2h30 Day 5: Silk road on skis! Martouni-VolcanArmaghan/Nshkharq- PRE CONTRACT DOCUMENT p 4 / 8

5 Caravanserail de Selim-Hermon 20mn transfer to Madina village (Armaghan volcano) or ( Nshkharq volcano). Highest Armenian plateau 2350m Ski from the summer sheppards village. To the summit 3227m. Drive through Selim pass and visit of the monastery XIVe ct part of the silk road. Dinner and night B&B at Eghegnadzor village. +/-1200m Road transfer 70km 1h20 Day 6: Ishkhanassar and Syunik area, an island of mountains Start to Syunik area, Ihskhanassar village (1h30 transfer) Short transfer with a Russian military 4x4. Ascent of mont Ishkanazar (3555m). Visit of the megalithic site of Karahundji, the oldest world space observatory (2000 Y BC)Back to Eghegnazodzor. Dinner and night in a B&B were we ll have a wine /cheese tasting and a cooking course m vertical ascent -1300m descent 5-6h Road transfer 170km 3h30 Day 7: Area of Vayot Dzor, Hermon-Gothanik Church. Smbat- Hermon Church Short transfer to Gogtanik village (30 mn) Ascent of Gogtanik summit 2495m, nice view on Vardenis and Vayot Dzor range. Transfer to the Gnishik canyon. Visit of Novarank monastery XIIIe ct one of the most famous in Armenia. Transfer to Khor Virap site Night in Garni B&B ski: +/ m 5hrs Road transfer 200 km 4hr Day 8: Garni Temple and Gueghard monastery and back to Erevan for a short visit. According to the conditions and the group choice, we will be able to do a short skiing trip in the afternoon Night in Erevan PRE CONTRACT DOCUMENT p 5 / 8

6 Day 9: Transfer to the airport This itinerary could change from the original planned route. It can be changed by the guide depending on the weather, the snow conditions, the stamina and the level of all the participants. It is up to the trip leader to decide if the conditions are safe, and he can change the itinerary if this is not the case. Total cost Extra cost The includes price 3129,65 per person with flight ticket departure from Geneva (price of 409,65 on the 29 th of October 2018, will be recalculated at buying time) Single room supplement: 95 per person. As described above: Flight ticket. Your full-time UIAGM High Mountain Guide for 5 skiers equipped with GPS, radio, Satellite Phone, and safety equipment. English speaking logistic guide (Not a ski specialist) All road trips Accommodation with full board: 8 x Breakfasts, 8 x Dinners, 7 x Picnics, 8 nights (3 nights in hotel. 4 in Bed and Breakfast. 1 in the Physicians hut). One way for Group transfer from and to the airport The price doesn t include Personal belongings. Personal insurance. Single bedroom, 95 per person. Extra nights All kind of drinks, soft and alcoholic drinks, and bottled water. Daily snacks, cereals bar, dried fruits easy to buy on site. Any activities not included in the schedule. Personal expenses. Entrance fees to historical sites. Tips. Other transfers not mentioned previously. Police and sanitary formalities. And anything not previously mentioned Terms 50 % deposit on registration (30 % on registration on the website, and after 20 % in addition when you receive the bill and an mail for secured payment on the days after) Balance 60 days before departure. Payments by direct transfer or credit card/debit card PRE CONTRACT DOCUMENT p 6 / 8

7 Cancellation except flight ticket non refundable from 60 to 45 days before departure: 30 % of the total travel fare; from 45 to 21 days : 50 % of the total travel fare ; from 20 to 14 days : 75 % of the total travel fare ; less than 14 days : 100 % of the total travel fare. Flight ticket non-refundable, non alterable. Insurance Every participant must hold a third-party liability insurance as well as an individual guarantee multirisk insurance to cover against any incident or any accident which could occur before or during the hiking trip. If necessary, we can offer you an alternative insurance options, which applies if you are a European resident: ASSISTANCE: repatriation, Search and Rescue 1 % of the amount of the trip cost. Cancellation 3,5% of the trip cost. In the case of purchasing both contracts, Assistance+ Cancellation 4,5% of the trip cost, you will also be covered for any days lost. Personal equipment necessary Terms and Conditions Insurance, see your assistance brochure Europ Assistance. Ski touring clothing «alpine winter style» Treckking shoes Sleeping bag + inner sheet Small rucsack for daily necessities. 32 liters, max 40 l. with a carrying ski system Goggles and skiing glasses Scarf or neck-warmer to protect against wind, cold, sun or powder. Sun screen for lips and face (high protection). Pocket knife for picnics. Foil Blanket Spare gloves sun hat light trecking throuser Water flask Beverages, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, muësli bars... Avalanche transeiver (new batteries) head torch (new batteries) Shovel and probe. ABS back pack if you have with a flight registration form for the plane Optional: Camera, video or binoculars. Alpine touring boots, with vibram soles and a «walk» position touring skis + skins+ couteaux equiped with light touring bindings (dynafit low tec type if possible) + sticks with large baskets (spare basket if possible) be aware that Carbon telescopic touring poles are quite fragile. ski wax Light aluminium crampons Light ice axe PRE CONTRACT DOCUMENT p 7 / 8

8 light harness Personnal pharmacy purifying water pills toilet paper plastic bags Please, warn the guide if a part of the equipement is missing, he will be happy to help as lond as it is possible. Non-exhaustive list. Cartographie PRE CONTRACT DOCUMENT p 8 / 8