Level 2 combines linear and radial hikes with day-to-day transitions or one-day radial trips within 5-6 hours. Such routes run mainly along well-maintained trails, but may include short sections of complex or poorly marked paths. During the day, the participants pass a distance of 8 to 11 km with a total rise of 400 to 700 m. A weekly Layer 2 liner may include one longer daytrip with a lift up to 1000 m.

Programs for Level 2 radial campaigns are available to everyone, regardless of the level of physical fitness, including families with young children. To participate in Level 2 linear trips, it is necessary to be in good physical shape and it is desirable to have the experience of hiking, not necessarily mountain. As a rule, children from 7-9 years old who already have experience of hiking with parents can take part in such linear hiking.

Level 3 characterizes linear trips in a group with a guide or independently on routes with 6 — 9 hours daytime junctions. These routes take place mainly along well-marked paths. On the routes there may be complex areas, including short areas with support, but not requiring special expertise and equipment for passage. Some of the Layer 3 trekking routes include glacier crossings with a sloping incline — these routes are only guided by participants, and participants are provided with the necessary equipment to ensure safety. The total increase on the routes of Level 3 is in the majority of campaigns 600-1000 meters per day with the length of the daytime travel of 10-15 km. At the same time, Level 3 campaigns can include 1 — 2 more extended daytime jumps with a more significant lift. On the route participants will need to carry a backpack with personal items, water and light meals, usually weighing 7 — 8 kg, depending on individual needs.

To participate in the campaigns of Level 3 you need to have a good physical shape. It is desirable to have experience in mountain hikes. Participants should be prepared for transfers without long and frequent stops, at least every second day of the trip. The outfit must be tested beforehand, the footwear — it is different. To prepare for the campaign will be useful for any training — long running, swimming, biking and even regular walking on foot stairs instead of the elevator.

Level 4 is a linear hike with extended routes and correspondingly long daytime jumps on most days of the hike. The total daytime rise is 1200 meters on average, in exceptional cases — up to 1800 meters, descents — up to 2000 meters per day, daytime distances — up to 20 km. Routes of linear hikes with a guide can pass through glaciers of a large area. Many (but not all) Level 4 routes take place in high-altitude regions with unstable weather conditions. On Level 4 routes, there may be extended areas with a poorly marked path. Such routes partially pass through small areas, there may not be shelters on the way throughout the day’s journey.

Participation in all campaigns of Level 4 requires the experience of mountain hikes. To participate in the independent campaigns of Level 4, it is desirable to have the skills of orienteering. It is necessary to be in excellent physical shape. You should prepare for daytime jumps up to 10 hours with minimum pauses — on long routes of Level 4 it is important to stick to the schedule of the trip.

Level 5 is assigned to linear campaigns in high-altitude regions with significant glacial cover. These are areas located above 3000 meters above sea level. We organize such trips only individually, accompanied by a guide. On the glacial routes it is required to carry a backpack weighing not less than 10 — 14 kg with individual things and equipment. On the days of crossing large glaciers, it is often necessary to start the road before dawn at 5 am, as by the middle of the day the weather conditions in such areas are significantly deteriorating.

In addition to the glacial routes, by Level 5 we characterize complex vi-ferrates. These are vi-ferrates with a significant set of heights, vertical staircases and passages, cut through in steep «walls» at a considerable height.

To participate in the campaign of Level 5, you must have experience in mountain hikes and be in excellent physical shape. On the glacial routes, one should be prepared for difficult weather conditions and strictly observe the schedule of the route. Via-ferrates of Level 5 require the experience of passing through the fiasco and, accordingly, the ability to use safety equipment on sections of any profile

Although the Fan Mountains are considered warm all smoothly when hiking in the mountains you need to think about clothes.

A waterproof and windproof light jacket is an indispensable attribute of every person going on a hike into the mountains.

Trousers for trekking can be almost any – from loose pants from natural fabrics to narrow tight-fitting synthetic materials. It is not necessary to have special trekking trousers. The main thing that in trousers it was comfortable to walk on mountains. Absolutely not suitable for mountains jeans and dense cotton pants – they restrict the movement and dry out for a long time.

Fleece jacket will be in demand every evening. An alternative is a warm sweater.

Thermal underwear is always necessary, because in the event of a bad weather, the temperature can drop dramatically even during the day. In addition, thermal underwear can be useful in the morning, when the air has not yet warmed up.

Headgear and gloves may be needed especially for those who are going on a hike in June or September. In any period, a bandage on the ears will be useful.

Jacket and pants from rain or cloak-cape. The best means from a rain – trousers and a jacket from the rubberized material which are put on top of the basic clothes.

Easy removable clothing. In the mountain shelter can be convenient to clean removable clothing – T-shirt and light trousers – one set.

Boots for trekking are a must and a key element of the equipment. For the mountains do not fundamentally fit sneakers and sneakers. If there are no trekking shoes, then they need to be purchased – they will be useful not only in the mountains and for hiking in the forest.

Having bought new trekking boots, it is important to carry them before you go on a long trip.

The sole of trekking shoes must be fluted, non-slip, rigid and at the same time flexible enough. It is also important when choosing shoes to pay attention to materials inside and on the surface of the shoe. It is better to exclude shoes with a coating of leather and suede, as in these shoes when walking is hot and the foot is not “breathing”. Today, there is a mass of artificial materials that have high water resistance, while quality membranes allow excess moisture to evaporate from the shoe.

High boots are preferable to low ones in all respects: they better “hold” the foot on an uneven surface and protect the bundles and protrusions of the large and tibia from stone impacts, which can be very painful. Some of our routes include glacier crossings, such as crossing the Kaznok Pass, Dukdon, Chimtargu, on these routes we recommend high boots and they should be able to join climbing cats.

Backpack. Depending on the duration of the trip and the amount of things that you plan to take on the route, we recommend taking a backpack from 30 to 50 liters. Before going on the route, a map and a thin sleeping bag will be added to the backpack, in a folded and packed form, having a cylinder shape of 20 cm in length and 8 cm in diameter.

Sleeping bag. For overnight stays in mountain conditions it is necessary to have a good sleeping bag. ARTZ has good sleeping bags of BASK. Sleeping bags

Syntepone TML PLACID and downy sleeping bags with goose down. Such sleeping bags can be rented from us.

Means of personal hygiene. In a linear campaign it is necessary to take with itself personal hygiene means: a towel, soap, shampoo, tooth accessories. The bathrooms in the guest houses have toilet paper and soap. There is nothing in the showers – everything you need should be taken with you.

Sticks for trekking. We strongly recommend using trekking sticks – they allow you to redistribute part of the load from foot to hand while walking and are especially useful on the descents.

From other things you need to have with you:

•  first-aid kit (necessarily – adhesive plasters)
•  a jar or a bottle for water (we recommend taking at least 2 liters of water for the day’s transition)
•  mobile phone with charger
•  cream from the sun (necessarily, the degree of protection – as for the beach on the sea in August)
• sunglasses
• penknife
• whistle (in case of an emergency)

For every day transition it is desirable to provide for light meals (chocolate, dried fruits, nuts).

We recommend taking a thermos – in the mountain shelters, where you stop for the night, you can ask to fill it with hot water before going on the route.

The ZTDA has established clear and valid internal safety rules when conducting hikes, which are followed by our guides. In accordance with our security policy, we attract only local guides to work on the routes, consisting of a professional association of mountain guides in the region of trekking. Most of them are people who grew up in Zerafshan and know “every stone” in their region, peculiarities of meteorological conditions and are able to act in any situations.

We organize not only trekking in groups accompanied by a guide, but also we are one of the leading organizers of independent campaigns in several regions of Zerafshan. Our safety criteria limit the season, regions and routes of independent tours. Participants of such hikes receive from us detailed safety and logistics instructions prior to going on the route and can call us from the route by an emergency support phone available 24 hours a day. In addition, our coordinators monitor the passage of the route by the participants of independent campaigns, being in contact with the managers of the mountain shelters on the route.

Every participant of trekking must know simple rules of action in emergency situations. This is important for participants of all walks – both in the group with a guide, and independent.

• Rain and thunderstorm in the mountains
• In case of rain and thunderstorms in the mountains it is necessary:
• Wear a rain suit or raincoat.
• Find a sheltered place and wait out the rain or thunderstorm. For this, it sometimes makes sense to deviate from the route, for example, if there is a mountain shelter or a bivouac nearby.
• If there is no shelter or a prolonged rain, you can continue the path with the utmost care, – carefully walk on the stones. In case of heavy rain, find a safe place and wait for the downpour. In mountainous areas one of the most dangerous disasters is mudflows.
• In case of prolonged rain, if there is such a possibility, you can shorten the route at your discretion by using the map.
• When approaching a thunderstorm, leave the hill in a lower place and find shelter.
• How to deal with an accident in the mountains
• In the event of an accident in the mountains, you should call the helpline in the mountains and provide the following details:
• exact location of the incident;
• type of trekking performed by the group (trekking, mountaineering, etc.);
• the total number of people in the group;
• the number and condition of the victims;
• weather conditions on the scene;
• telephone number for communication (the line must remain free).

Acoustic and light signals in case of an accident in the mountains

It is necessary to remember the general rules for giving signals about help in the mountains.

•  Request for help: give a signal with light or sound 6 times for 1 minute. Repeat the same signal after 1 minute.
•  Respond to a request for help: give a signal with light or sound 3 times for 1 minute. Repeat the same signal after 1 minute.

We work on the system from door to door. That is, if you buy a tour, then we organize a meeting, accommodation, meals, transportation, guide services and so on. We recommend that prior to departure we agree on all the conditions of the tour. A free recommendation is always available.

Tajikistan can be seen at any time of the year. But to really see all the beauty can be from late May to October. April, May, November can organize jeep tours. In the remaining months city tours.

The required amount of water depends on individual needs and on weather conditions. It can be 1 liter and 3 liters. On a normal, sunny summer day, each participant should have at least 1 liter of water per day transition. In hot weather – more. We recommend: (A) take water with a reserve and (B) do not count on the possibility of replenishing the jar from the sources along the way. Water can be bought in guest houses, on tours ARTS will provide 1.5 liters of boiled water.

In the highlands mobile communication is not available on all sections of the route but in almost all guest houses. In the valleys there is a mobile connection. A similar situation with mobile Internet. You can not count on uninterrupted mobile communication on the tours.

On a set of services the guest house is close to a simple hotel. In fact, the guesthouse is the home of a local resident who provides it to tourists. Guest houses have staff. Sleeping rooms – for two four people. A couple can order a separate room. There are separate rooms in most guest houses, but not in all. Mattresses, pillows, blankets are in all shelters. There are beds not in all guest houses. In some guest houses, they are laid on the floor in the national style. There is hot and cold water in the guest houses. Shower is available in almost all guest houses with rare exceptions. Guesthouses include a simple breakfast and, if desired, can order lunch and dinner.

Tajikistan is one of the safest countries for tourists. The locals are famous for their hospitality. It is not uncommon when a tourist is invited into the house and treated for free.