Kyrgyzstan - Kit List

The list below provides a guide on what kit you should bring with you on expedition. It is your responsibility to ensure this kit is fit for purpose: serviceable, suitable for the environment and an appropriate fit. We encourage you to bring muted colours.

Temperature can drop to -15 or -25 degrees C at night, with day-time temperatures unlikely to reach more than 5 degrees C. The later in the season your expedition is, the more likely it is you’ll experience the coldest temperatures. Climate change has meant temperatures are trending upwards, but they have also been increasingly unpredictable.

There will be an opportunity to purchase further kit in Bishkek before the expedition if you are missing something, but please do not rely on this as expedition supplies are not well stocked and tend to be far more expensive.

Feel free to contact us for any questions regarding kit. We can recommend quality brands at different price points, as well as good rental options.

Required kit

• A sleeping bag rated down to -20 degrees C (rental options now available)

• A thermal sleeping bag liner

• A quality roll mat for use in cold environments (R rating of at least 5)

• Comfortable base layers to sleep in

• Bras, pants and socks as required

• Sunglasses - minimum of Cat3, and ideally ones that wrap around your eyes for full coverage

• Warm hat, gloves and scarf/snood (can be combined with glove and hat liners)

• Daytime thermal layers (top and bottom)

• A warm fleece

• A warm puffer

• An outer layer - something that is windproof and water resistant

• Warm winter walking trousers

• Windproof over trousers

• Quality walking boots that have sufficient insulation for cold temperatures - it’s a good idea to wear these in

• A day bag of around 30l-40l

• At least x1 1l water bottle

• A flask of around 1 litre

• A head torch with spare batteries

• Personal first aid kit - for example, painkillers, wound dressings, blister plasters, tweezers, assorted plasters, zinc oxide tape, antiseptic spray/wound wash, antiseptic cream, support bandages

• Moisturiser and lip balm

• Personal wash kit - for example, toothbrush, toothpaste, antibacterial hand gel, sunscreen (factor 50), small towel, wet wipes, flannel, sanitary products as needed, contact lenses as needed. Please ensure your products, such as soap, are fully biodegradable

Recommended kit

• A method of viewing wildlife. Encounters can be at some distance. We do not provide binoculars, scopes or camera equipment to individual guests. We use several high-end scopes, which will be predominantly used by our expert spotters. However, owing to our small group sizes, guests will have ample opportunity to use them, but note they are a resource shared among the group. Most guests will bring binoculars and camera equipment only, and use the shared scopes when available.

• Camera equipment

• Warm, comfortable trousers for the evenings

• Comfortable slip on boots for around camp - wellies and a pair of thick socks work well

• A blow-up pillow

• Spending money - credit cards are widely accepted at ATM terminals in Bishkek. USD is generally easiest to exchange if you prefer to bring cash.

• Battery pack and relevant cables

• Notebook and pen

• Comfortable town/travel day clothing

• Swim wear for a dunk in the alpine streams

• A book