Available

Group Size

Min. 4, Max. 10

Starting Point

Kayseri Airport / Göreme

Activities

Mountain Bike Enduro

Next Date

25. September - 2.Oktober

Costs

1480 €

Fitness

Physical fitness required

Bike Level

Experience on your bike

Adventure

How for to push into the unknown

The Package Includes

• 3 nights in traditional comfortable cave room "hotels", 2 nights in a traditional cave room "pansyion" (2 beds, 4 beds & 6 beds / room), one night million stars hotel (outdoors)
• Full Board with breakfast in the accommodation and dinner in a selected restaurant
• Packed lunch and snacks
• Transfers and shuttles by private bus with trailer
• Entrances to an underground city
• Local Certified MTB Guide (English Speaking)
• Second Snowmads Guide (Konsti) for groups larger than 6 people

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kayseri. Transport to Soğanlı Valley. We assemble the bikes and get to know the area by foot or bike. We can do a little Single Trail next to the house and get to know the area. Local Food welcome Dinner with the owner of the house.

Day 2

After breakfast we start exploring the rural side of Eastern Cappadocia. It feels good to move again and today we will pedal quite some distance through very interesting landscapes. This day is a mix of asphalt, dirt roads and some singletrail. We have lunch at an old underground church where we learn about the rich history of this area. The afternoon ride will be a bit shorter; In total we bike around 50km and around 800 meter altitude along the way. Dinner in the valley. 

Day 3

Another amazing breakfast in the quiet Soğanlı Valley. Transfer roughly one hour to the western part of Cappadocia. Again we use our bikes to explore the area passing shepherds mountain lakes & an ancient red church. Hami got something special planned for lunch today. After that we bike through the beautiful Ihlara valley where we find the first longer singletrail through green fields and crazy rock formations. 30-40 km 500 meter altitude difference. Dinner at the hotel. 

Day 4

A short transport gets us closer to the National Park of Göreme and we ride one of the most fun single trails down to a fairytale valley framed by huge natural towers and mysterious cave entries. At lunchtime we reach the National Park and our spot for the following night. The second half of the day is either for resting, or we explore another short trail. We are in the middle of the action now and this night will be something special. On a huge platform we can sleep underneath the stars in this magical protected area. We offer blankets, but a sleeping bag (at least a thin one) is needed. In case it gets rainy or anybody doesn’t feel comfortable, the place offers sleeping spots in the nearby caves.

Day 5 – Day 8

From now on it’s all about singletracks and fun biking action. Mountain Biking holiday in the village of Göreme. Our luggage already got transported to a nearby cave hotel with the best view over the area. From now on we explore the National Park and the nearby valleys straight from our hotel. There will be time to explore the village, do a balloon ride or just relax. One of our guides will always be available to do extra runs and more trails for the motivated ones.  On Day 8 we head back to the Airport of Kayseri. What a nice ride ☺

Skills And Fitness Required

Cappadocia offers a large network of beautiful trails from easy to difficult. In order not to reach your technical limits right away, you should already bring some experience on trails. You mountain-bike for a while now and often ride on moderately difficult single trails with easy to moderately difficult passages (heels, root passages, loose ground, stones,...). With your fitness you can master tours of up to 50km and 800m of altitude. Also two days in a row. (We will also have way shorter days and a transporter around) Through the caves and creeks we often pass very narrow passages, here sometimes we have to push our bikes for a bit. Basic fitness and mobility are therefore required.

What to bring?

Here is the most important information about bicycles: You don’t need a high-end bike, but it has to meet a certain level of requirements. Full-suspension enduro and/or all-mountain bikes are best suited. These cover a wide range of applications, downhill and uphill. Hard Facts:

• Fully: 120mm to 170mm travel
• Hardtail not recommended but possible with good skills
• Tire width: min 2.25
• TUBELESS (mandatory; very thorny terrain)
• Telescopic seat post (highly recommended)
• Weight: the lighter the better, preferably around 15 kilos (tours up to 50km with approx. 800m of elevation gain and carrying passages)
• Carbon or aluminum doesn't matter
• Knee and elbow pads are highly recommended
• Helmet: half shell + sunglasses
• Backpack: ~20l to 25l (day trips)

Also bring:

• Spare hoses (at least 2)
• Extra brake pads
• Water bottle
• Long Sleeve shirt (caution thorns)
• Suncream
• Wind jacket and mid-layer (it doesn't get colder than 1 degree, mostly it's closer to 25)
• Thin hut sleeping bag (We spend one night outdoors, blankets are provided)

Travelling with a bike?

At first glance, traveling by bike seems very difficult. With the right bag, however, it works surprisingly well. You will get picked up by the shuttle in Kayseri, so once you have handed your bag over to the plane, you don't have to carry it around much. If you don't want to buy a bike bag (approx. 450€) get in touch with us, we have a few in stock that you can rent for a small fee (50€).

Arrival

The easiest way to get to Kayseri is with Corendon Airlines (departures from Munich, among others) for around €150-200 round trip + bicycle luggage. Turkish Airlines also fly from Istanbul to Kayseri. Traveling by train is still very difficult to implement due to COVID regulations - but we're staying tuned. We will be happy to advise you on flight bookings and will also do this for you on request. Please note in the inquiry form. Getting there by MTB may seem complicated and impractical, but with the right bag, that's no longer a problem. Let us know if you need a bike bag, we will also lend it to you.

Food

There is a lot of good meat on the menu, but Jules was also well cared for on the test trip as a vegetarian. Vegan nutrition is certainly possible, but please note this in the comments. 

Accomodation

We are not focused on hotel stars, but in providing a sustainable down to earth way of travelling. We don’t trade fancy hotel rooms for the local experience, but we are always eager to make your stay as comfortable as possible. In Cappadocia you can experience a very unique type of accommodation. Except of one night spent outdoors in the national park (wich is no less exciting) we spend our nights in cave rooms carved into rock just like people did in this region for thousands of years. The first two nights we stay in bigger rooms (max 6 people; check also the photos). There are also double rooms and other options available, if you want more privacy. The other nights are spent in very comfortable double rooms with private bathrooms. Single room on request (surcharge 180€) Are you traveling alone? If possible, we will find a roommate (of the same gender) for you.

Visa Information

EU: Passport valid for at least 6 months. Please contact us for further information. COVID: We send current information about 4 weeks before the start of the trip. In the event of a cancellation due to Covid, we still offer very flexible cancellation conditions.

Which Insurance do I need

We recommend getting a cancellation protection at least. We work together with the Europäische Reiseversicherung and would be happy to make you an offer. If desired, check the box in the registration form.

How to book your trip

• Place your non-binding booking request
• You will receive your personal or group offer + a standard information sheet from us within three days
• Let us know if you want to accept the offer (valid for seven days)
• When you are ready you will immediately receive the travel contract with all further information
• Transfer the 20% advanced payment within seven days (you now have a spot for the trip)
• The remaining amount is due 20 days before the start of the trip (you will receive a reminder email)

Group Size

Min. 4, Max. 8

Starting Point

Tiflis

Costs

coming soon

Next Date

September 2022

Fitness

Physical fitness required

Adventure

How for to push into the unknown

The Package Includes

• 9 days of guiding by a trained mountain guide (4 days of trekking and 4-5 days of hiking from our accommodation)
• Accommodation and full board
• Rented tents and meals during trekking
• Transfer Tiflis-Mestia-Tiflis
• Introduction and training on how to move on ice

The Package Does Not Include

• Renting crampons, sleeping bags, matresses
• Getting to Tiflis
• Alcoholic drinks
• Tips

Itinerary

Day 1: Arriving in Tiflis
We are happy to help you with your journey and which flight to pick. Arriving on time for the first shared dinner would be desirable, though.

Day 2: Departure to Nakra and equipment check
After breakfast in Tiflis we head west into the mountainous region Svaneti. Our first destination is Nakra. In the afternoon we arrive at our accommodation and we familiarize ourselves with the equipment for the next days.

Day 3: Trekking starts
Alongside the Nakra river we hike towards the Russian border. We meet the Georgian border post on the way – since a special permission is needed for our route. The first stage takes around 3-5 hours and we spend the night by the Nakra river surrounded by gigantic waterfalls and 4000 meter peaks.

Day 4: Departure to Kvishi glacier
On the next morning we set out towards Kvishi glacier. We leave the Nakra valley and choose a side valley, where we leave marked paths and go our own way. Our goal for the day is to reach the glacier early, put up our tents and get used to the ice there. Ascent of the day around 3-5 hours.

Day 5: Crossing the glacier
After we check our equipment again we start off towards the ice. Our alpine guide Nick and a helper install fixed ropes to secure the first steeper part. After that the glacier flattens and we can catch our breath and enjoy. After hours on the ice and amidst massive rock faces we reach an oasis that seems a little out of place after 6-8 hours. A rich green pasture surrounds two little ponds with fresh mountain water that invited us to take a bath when we first got there. We called the spot „Paradise Lake“ and stay the night there.

Day 6: Back to civilization
We start this day with crossing at least two glacial streams. After that we head out of the valley and rich pastures and forests soon start replacing the barren glacial landscape. We cover around 15km on this day, though only downhill. We reach Mazeri in the evening and check in at our Local Snowmad Richard‘s Grand Hotel Ushba.

Day 7: Day of rest with the option to visit the Guli waterfall
On this day we get to know the life in Mazeri, visit locals and listen to Richard’s stories at dinner. If you’re motivated there is the option to set out for Shdugra waterfall with our mountain guide (5-6 hours). The Shdugra waterfall is the highest in Georgia and definitely worth a visit.

Day 8: Transport Mestia – Cloudbase Hut
Depending on the mood and energy levels of the participants there are two options for this day. One group can cross the Guli mountain pass with our guide. It takes 7-9 hours and around 1400 meters in altitude to get to our destination, the Cloudbase Hut. Who chooses to take this route is rewarded with a wonderful view of the Ushba and a visit to the Koruldi lakes. We take your luggage from the Grand Hotel Ushba directly into the accommodation to make the long ascent a little bit easier for you.
For all those who want to have a more relaxed day, we organize a transport from Mazeri to Mestia directly into the hut. Depending on whether the group is motivated we can visit the Koruldi lakes in the afternoon from the hut (ascent around 1h).

Day 9: Relaxing in the Cloudbase Hut
This day is all about the well-earned relaxation. The location of the hut on the southern slope above Mestia is perfect for relaxing in the hammock and in the evening friends from Mestia come around to have a BBQ.
There is also the possibility of course to explore the surroundings and go on short hikes.

Day 10: Mestia and option Ushguli
On this day we hike down to Mestia and get to know this very special mountain village. Our local Snowmads look after you – you can already look forward to the Georgian kitchen!
We also offer the possibility to go and see the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Uschguli on this day. If you’re interested, please say so in the inquiry.

Day 11: Departure
It’s been great!

Fitness

Enjoyment of exercise and physical fitness are required to participate in our trips, but you don’t have to do top performances on this trip. Our guides are of course eager to adjust the pace to the group as best they can, however, ascents up to 1500 meters in altitude or 15 km in flatter terrain should not be a problem for you.
You should be no stranger to longer mountain tours to meet the requirements of this tour. Surefootedness is absolutely necessary!
Participants may be excluded from certain runs or hikes if they don’t meet the requirements and / or endanger themselves, the group or the mountain guides.

Ice Climbing Skills

We will spend one day on the ice. You don’t necessarily need previous knowledge for that, though. The steep terrain will be secured with ropes and most of the way over the glacier is only mildly steep anyway (<20 degrees). You will be trained by our mountain guide in advance and we will only start ascending after everyone is comfortable with the equipment.

Equipment

• Hiking boots suitable for crampons (please find out if your crampons fit your shoes)
• Universal crampons
• 50-60 liters trekking backpack
• Sleeping bag (-5 Comfort)
• Sleeping mat with good floor isolation (please check if it’s working)
• Warm outdoor clothing, Gore-Tex or the like
• Functional clothing
• Sunglasses (suitable for glaciers) and sunscreen

If you need equipment to rent, please say so in the inquiry. And only take what you really need, every kg will be noticeable.

Group Size

For this trip the group size will be limited to 8 participants. This way we can assure you maximum safety and we can also prevent that a bigger group might distort the local processes.

For groups of four persons or more we can offer all dates and destinations for private groups,
companies or other constellations – please just inquire and we can put together a tailor-made program.

You can determine the extent on your own.

Accommodation And Meals

We spend the first night in Tiflis in a very modern hostel in double rooms. Welcome Dinner is included.
The second night we’ll stay in a small guest house in Nakra. Double rooms, dinner included.

During trekking we’re on our way with TNF Stormbreaker two-person tents. If you want to bring your own tent, please do so. Concerning food everyone is asked to help prepare meals while trekking.

2 nights in the Grand Hotel Ushba (Mazeri) with three meals double room/twin
2 nights in the Cloudbase Hut with two meals, multi-bed room
1 night in the guest house Phaliani with three meals and double room/twin

Getting There

Journey to get to our starting point is not included. If you need help with flights, you’re welcome to contact us.

Visa Regulations

Passport or ID card?
German and Austrian citizens can travel to Georgia with an ID card without any problems.

This applies to direct flights.

For flights with transfers in Istanbul,
Warsaw, Riga or Kiev we recommend travelling with passport,
because some airlines do not accept an ID card.

How to book your trip

• Place your non-binding booking request
• You will receive your personal or group offer + a standard information sheet from us within three days
• Let us know if you want to accept the offer (valid for seven days)
• When you are ready you will immediately receive the travel contract with all further information
• Transfer the 20% advanced payment within seven days (you now have a spot for the trip)
• The remaining amount is due 20 days before the start of the trip (you will receive a reminder email)

Group Size

Min. 4, Max. 7

Starting Point

Innsbruck

Costs

Next Date

(Deutsch) Winter 2023

Fitness

Physical fitness required

Ski Level

Experience on ski or snowboard

Adventure

How for to push into the unknown

The Package Includes

• Three days of freeskiing around Innsbruck with one of our athletes + local UIAGM mountain guide
• Four nights @ the brand new Montago BedxBeers, Innsbrucks’ finest hostel
• Breakfast, lunchpack & dinner
• Transportation
• Avalanche safety refresher course by our mountain guide
• Movie screening (Snowmads)

The Package Does Not Include

• Arrival & Departure
• Alcoholic beverages
• Lift tickets (calculate with 50-100€)

Skills And Fitness Required

Our trips are masterminded by professional athletes, but you definitely don’t have to be one to join us on them. For us sport is above all a medium to connect people and realise dreams, whether it’s winter or summer. Some skills may be required depending on the adventure, but mostly our journeys are designed for anyone that’s motivated, fit and excited to broaden their horizons. This trip is for experienced off-piste skiers/boarders. You should be able to ski all kinds of terrain with confidence and a good technique. This trip also requires handling skills and basic knowledge of climbing skins, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe. Experience in rappelling is not necessary. Physical fitness is mandatory for participating in our freeride trips. Our guides are of course eager to adjust the pace to the group as best they can, but hikes between 400 and 800 meters in altitude should not be a problem for you. Depending on snow, strength and motivation of the group hikes will take between 1-3 hours. Participants may be excluded from certain runs or hikes if they don’t meet the requirements and / or endanger themselves, the group or the mountain guides.

Lift-assisted Freetouring

A combination of freeride and touring. We adapt our daily plans to the current conditions. When there’s fresh powder, for example, we don’t waste time on long hikes if we have a lift available. The focus is on skiing as much powder as possible and touring skis help us approach the best possible snow conditions.

Equipment

Our trips are suitable for skiers and snowboarders (splitboard). For skiers we recommend skis with 90 to 115mm under foot. Best case would be with pin bindings and free-touring ski boots. We don’t exclude snowboarders, but please check the trip requirements and sign up only if you can fullfil them easily. Avalanche equipment (backpack, avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe) is mandatory. Helmet is recommended, but optional on this trip. We also suggest proper outer wear in order to adopt to changing weather conditions. Snow goggles, sunglasses, spare gloves, cap, possibly balaclava or mask. An airbag backpack is recommended, but not mandatory. If you need any rentals, let us know.

Group Size

For our freeride/touring trips the group size will be limited to 7 participants. This way we can assure you maximum safety and adapt the terrain to the skill level of the group. For groups of four persons or more we can put together a tailor-made trip that fits your needs perfectly. Just inquire and we’ll get back to you with a special offer.

Accommodation

The brand new Montagu Bed & Beers hostel in the heart of Innsbruck offers us various options to get some well-deserved rest. The standard option is a six-bed dorm with separate cabins for extra private sphere. For a single or double room option please make a note in the booking request and we will tell you the price depending on your request. For more info check out the Local Snowmads section. We provide a variety of local foods and keep the refrigerator filled for you to do your own breakfast and prepare lunch packs if needed. For the two included dinners we have special menus by our chefs from the Montagu hostel.

How To Get There

Sustainability is a big issue for us and we recommend you to travel by train or bus. Our accommodation is located in the center of the city and is perfectly connected to the public transport system. (We will provide a little goodie from our sponsors for those who took public transportation).

How to book your trip

• Place your non-binding booking request
• You will receive your personal or group offer + a standard information sheet from us within three days
• Let us know if you want to accept the offer (valid for seven days)
• When you are ready you will immediately receive the travel contract with all further information
• Transfer the 20% advanced payment within seven days (you now have a spot for the trip)
• The remaining amount is due 20 days before the start of the trip (you will receive a reminder email)

Duration

13 days

Dates

7th – 19th September 2020

Group Size

Min. 4, Max. 8

Activities

Motorbike & Hike

Starting Point

Chandigarh

Fitness

Physical fitness required

Skill Level

Experience required for the different activities

Adventure

How for to push into the unknown

The Package Includes

• Motorbikes, Royal Enflield 500ers or Himalayans + Fuel
• Backup Vehicle with driver and mechanic
• Twin room accommodation for the whole trip
• Breakfast and Dinner & Tea
• Water and Snacks on the road
• Tour Guide from Austria

The Package Does Not Include

• Flights
• Alcohol, tobacco & tips
• Your personal expenses
• Damage to the bikes

Required Equipment

• Hiking shoes
• Proper functional clothing (including warm jacket)

Language

The tour will be accompanied by our local partner Makemyride and guided by our Austrian Snowmad Steve. Steve speaks fluently in both English and German,
however, in order to get the most out of your journey and the characters you meet, it would be ideal if you can speak English.

Hiking

The hiking on this trip provides a perfect balance to sitting on a motorbike for hours.

While the hiking tours are not very long,
the mountains surrounding our route are simply breathtaking
and we strongly recommend you to join our Guide Steve and explore some places higher up.

Anyone who feels like resting or doing some cultural activities, is welcome to do so.

Visa Information

We recommend to use the online Visa application via https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

Passport should have at least six months validity from the date of arrival in India.
The passport should have at least two blank pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer.

International travellers should have return ticket or onward journey ticket,
with sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India.

Visa application should be done at least 1 Week before departure.

For more Informations and Instructions, visit: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

Food

India is known for its food. A broad variety of spices and colourful dishes make this trip a highlight.

Though we will not always be able to eat a-la-cart.

Depending on the stop, there are sometimes many option and sometime we get the common Thali-Dish.

There will always be vegetarian options available as this is also what most locals eat.

Handicapped People

This trip is not suitable for people with physical handicaps.

How to book your trip

• Place your non-binding booking request
• You will receive your personal or group offer + a standard information sheet from us within three days
• Let us know if you want to accept the offer (valid for seven days)
• When you are ready you will immediately receive the travel contract with all further information
• Transfer the 20% advanced payment within seven days (you now have a spot for the trip)
• The remaining amount is due 20 days before the start of the trip (you will receive a reminder email)