Our operations in Russia are suspended for an indefinite period.
Last winter, we became a part of a new skitouring project in the Altay Mountains, East Kazakhstan.
Unlike Russia these days, Kazakhstan is a peaceful,  hospitable and safe country,
with relatively easy logistics and visa-free for most nationalities.
Being part of Siberia geographically, Altay Mountains provide the same guaranteed powder skiing from early November.
We operate on 25 sq. kilometres of exclusive terrain, with the best tree skiing in Central Asia,
and offer guaranteed first-class skitouring, along with authentic and comfortable accommodation.
To find out more, please visit Altay Mountain Lodge & Yurts website.

Luzhba is basically a small train station in the middle of Siberia; a few huts surrounded by mountains, all covered with deep powder snow. The snowpack is protected from the wind by trees - mostly spruce, with some Siberian cedars and classic Russian Birch. Low temperatures and very little moisture keep the snow light and fluffy - a special present from Siberian nature to any skier or snowboarder.

We’ve been operating in this wonderful place since 2012. Here we find a simple life far from civilization, where every day is about skinning up the mountain, breathing fresh air, then jumping into cold smoke powder. But your trip to Siberia is not only powderskiing, incredible northern scenery and Siberian weather. It is also an experience of local life. After your day of skiing or splitboarding you return to the hut, following the smell of Borsch which disperses as a trickle around the area. Then, you will taste the joys of the Banya (traditional Russian bathhouse) where you finally warm up; until you are ready to jump into the snow and lift the tone of your body and spirit. The evenings are also special, with superb local cuisine and time chatting with new friends sitting by the fire. If you feel like it, local home-distilled vodka will help you tell your story to other people from around the world.

Luzhba is famous for its early and heavy snowfalls. As there are no ski lifts, its slopes remain unskied for a long time, so each group will find its own “private” powder. For many years, we have developed our knowledge of this place, and can proudly say that nobody else knows these mountains better than us. Our professionalism and experience also ensures that your stay will be safe. If you want to get a first class experience of powder skitouring, simply come to Luzhba to have it all. Good memories are not only included, but guaranteed.

Itinerary
Due to its remote location, we can only reach Luzhba by suburban train, which goes just once a day.
Friday: Evening flight from Moscow to Abakan city.
Saturday: Arrive in Abakan; transfer to Biskamzha train station, suburban train to Luzhba; check-in to Luzhba lodge late afternoon.
Sunday to Friday: Ski tour/splitboarding – six full days.
Saturday: Early morning departure from Luzhba on suburban train to Biskamzha station; transfer to Abakan city; overnight in the hotel.
Sunday: Morning flight to Moscow.

Booking
Dates&Prices
Dates 2021/2022 (dates of arriving to Abakan and departing from):

November 20-28
November 27 - December 05
December 04-12
December 11-19
December 18-26
December 26 - January 03
January - month off
February 05-13
February 12-20
February 19-27
February 26 - March 06
March 05-13
March 12-20
March 19-27

Dates 2022/2023 (dates of arriving to Abakan and departing from):

November 19-27
November 26 - December 04
December 03-11
December 10-18
December 19-27
December 26 - January 03
January - month off
February 04-12
February 11-19
February 18-26
February 25 - March 05
March 04-12
March 11-19

Price: 1 780 €

Group discounts available, contact us for details.

Price includes:

  • Organization of the whole trip from/to Abakan airport.
  • 6 full days of skitouring and guiding.
  • Accommodation in Luzhba Lodge, 7 nights, with daily Banya (Russian bathhouse).
  • Hotel in Abakan (one night on the way back).
  • All meals in Luzhba (breakfast, mountain lunch, aprés ski soup and snacks, dinner).
  • Group transfers - airport Abakan - Biskamzha station, Biskamzha station - Abakan, Abakan - airport, tickets to suburban train.
  • Transportation of luggage from train station to the hut by snowmobile.

Extra expenses:

  • International and domestic airfares
  • Meals in Abakan
  • Personal insurance
  • Wine and spirits
  • Personal expenses
Self-guided programs

We also offer self-guided programmes in Luzhba Skitouring Lodge. Please contact us to get all the information and details.

Cooperation with the visiting guides

We are glad to cooperate with our colleagues from all over the world. If you are a Mountain or Ski Guide and looking for a trip to Luzhba with your private group, just contact us and we will be glad to organise your Siberian trip.

Program Logistics
There are 2 flights per day from Moscow to Abakan (ABA), with S7 and Aeroflot.

On your arrival, we will meet you in Abakan airport, then drive in a comfortable bus to the Biskamzha train station, with a breakfast stop on a way. We arrive to Biskamzha station around noon, take a walk around the village, and have a dinner at local cafe. At 13-45, we depart to Luzhba by suburban train, and arrive there at 15-30. At Luzhba train station we meet a snowmobile to carry all our kit to the hut, while we walk or skin there (about 1,5km). The rest of the day - free time and relaxing in Banya.

We'll spend the next six days in this magical Siberian corner, enjoying the silence, splendid views and exceptional powder skiing.

On the following Saturday, we depart from Luzhba at 09-20 in the morning by suburban train, and arrive to Biskamzha station in two hours. Then we drive you to Abakan, where you spend the night in a cosy hotel before taking a morning flight to Moscow.

If you are visiting Priiskovoe Snowcat Skiing before/after your trip to Luzhba, we will organize all the logistic, just let us know about your plans.

Daily schedule
Morning: Breakfast, preparation and start touring. We'll be touring and backcountry skiing/snowboarding as long as possible, according to the wishes of the group and safety concerns. If somebody wants to finish earlier, there is generally an opportunity to return to the hut.
On our return to the hut there is aprés-ski soup and snacks, then free time and banya (Russian bathhouse).
Evening: Dinner and free time.

Accommodation
We stay in a wooden hut built in 2016 which is simple, but very warm and clean. It is heated by a boiler and has electricity. The hut has a drying room, chill-out zone on the ground floor and several bedrooms. There are a few toilets and wash basins inside, as well as a few toilets outside. Each bedroom is for 4 people max. There are comfortable beds, with mattresses and bed linen. You also have personal electrical sockets. The dining room is a separate, spacious building.

In the lodge we also have one private room with a king size bed and en-suite bathroom (shower and toilet). You can arrange it for a surcharge - 385 Eur per room (max 2 persons).

We have WiFi in the hut by cellular network and a 2G type of connection - not bad for such a remote place! It is fast enough to check e-mails, news or Facebook.

The Banya (Russian bathhouse) is the best way to warm up and relax after a long day skiing. The Banya is in a separate building, where a large amount of hot steam is created with the help of water and hot air. Inside the Banya, there are wide wooden benches along the walls, built up one above the other like steps. You can sit or lay on the benches - the higher up the bench, the hotter the air is. Having warmed up enough, you leave the steam room for a break. You can pour cold water over yourself from a tub, or follow the Siberian method and jump straight into the snow. You can use a tub to mix hot and cold water and have a wash. It's as easy as taking a shower, but this traditional process is a more "natural way”. Overall, the Banya is not just a place to warm up and wash; it is a real Siberian experience and will become a great memory!

Hotel in Abakan
On a way back, you spend one night in Abakan city. Our hotel is the brand new 4-star "Asia Hotel". This is situated in the centre of the city, has two restaurants (we highly recommend "Food&Bar 114" with local cuisine) as well as some restaurants and bars within walking distance.

Meals
We do our best to make the food, as well as the skiing, a remarkable part of your trip. This includes traditional Siberian and Russian dishes with premium local ingredients, but also modern cuisine. There will be a special evening during the week, a Pelmeni master-class, where we make meat dumplings and freeze them on skis! There are three hot meals a day. Here are some examples of the menu:

- Breakfast: Porridge with Siberian berries; omelette or fried eggs; bliny (Russian pancakes similar to the French crepe); cereal with milk. Tea, coffee.
- Lunch: Soups (chicken broth, chilly soup, etc.) and hot snacks such as home-made pies with meat and vegetables.
- Dinner: Salads; dishes with meat or fish; sides (pasta, rice, potato etc.); stewed vegetables. We use local meat and fish, whenever possible. Dessert: Traditional Russian sweet pies with berries.
- Snacks during the touring: Dried fruits/nuts, chocolate bars, sandwiches.

You can purchase local alcoholic drinks at the accommodation for a reasonable price (beer, liquors, vodka). If you prefer any other alcoholic drinks, you are welcome to bring them with you, without any charge.

Our chef can accommodate any special dietary requirements and food allergies. Our guests are asked to complete a registration form, and mention any dietary needs so we can be fully prepared for your arrival. Please note that all food is purchased before the trip starts and we don't have another opportunity to buy anything or change the menu after reaching Luzhba.

Guiding &Group Size
Unlike many other skitour operators, we keep group size relatively small, to provide best possible skitour and skiing experience. Maximum group size is 6 persons. There is one guide per group, plus a tail-guide if required.

Prerequisites
Because of the nature of the backcountry terrain, we ask our guests to meet a certain level of fitness and skiing ability. To join our groups, you should be:
- Intermediate or higher level of skiing/boarding, including in deep-snow conditions.
- Healthy and in good physical shape.
- Able skin up at least 1000 vertical meters per day.

Terrain
Most of the time we ski the tree-line zone, with pillows, long open lanes through the trees, and peppery lines through rocks.
Runs are from 200 to 700m vertical with slopes from 25 to 40 degrees.
On an average day the vertical drop will be 1200-1300m, but varies of course according to the group's abilities.

Skiing
There is only one type of snow in Siberia in the winter - powder. So, we are definitely looking only for powder skiing/snowboarding, and even don't think about other snow conditions. In past years all our guests were satisfied with the snow quality, check the Testimonials section.

Weather
The climate in Western Siberia is continental: In winter the temperatures from north to south range from -10 to -40 degrees Celsius, and in the summer they range from +15 to +35. The average day temperature in Luzhba in December is minus 10-12 Celsius (about 10 Fahrenheit). With low humidity, no wind and the strong sun, it feels no colder than winter in the Alps. Even on the slightly colder shaded sides of the mountains it is still comfortable for skiing and boarding. However, this is Siberia, and occasionally (1-2 days every few weeks) morning temperatures can drop to minus 25-30 Celsius (minus 13-22 Fahrenheit). Once the sun's up it gets warmer, and our guides will chose sunny terrain for skiing. Plus, skinning up is always quite warming and runs will be shorter in such days. On cold days we don't ski far from the hut, so we can return every few runs to warm up with a hot tea, and then continue ski touring. Although such days are rare, it is a good idea to be ready for these cold temperatures.

During snowfalls skiing and boarding is still very straightforward as most of the time we are riding in the tree-line. Even on big fields and couloirs, there are enough reference points to aid visibility. Usually, you will ski the best deep and light powder on such days!

Weather forecast for Luzhba you can check here – AccuWeather.com, rp5.ru

Visa
To travel to Russia, most foreign nationals are required to have an Entry Visa to Russia. Russian visas can be obtained at your local Russian Embassy or Consulate. In order to apply for a visa you will need proof of your forthcoming visit to Russia, which will be supplied by Skiing In Siberia on receipt of your final payment. Provided all the documents are ready, the process usually takes no more than 3-10 working days for a Russian Tourist Visa. However, we strongly recommend you apply at least one month in advance of your trip. It is also possible to ask special agencies for a full visa service.

Insurance
Being adequately insured is a condition of booking a trip with Skiing in Siberia. You must have travel and medical insurance, which covers Backcountry skiing/freeriding, skitouring/splitboarding etc. For your peace of mind and to avoid any financial hardship that an unexpected cancellation could cause, we strongly recommend getting Trip Cancellation insurance.

Time in Luzhba - GMT+7

Telephone and Internet
There are only 2 mobile operators covering Luzhba area: Megafon and Beeline. Check which one connects with your operator - Most likely it will be one of these providers.

We have WiFi in the hut by cellular network and a 2G type of connection - not bad for such a remote place! It is fast enough to check e-mails, news or Facebook.

Language
 Not many people in Russia speak a foreign language (more likely in big towns, less in the countryside). But people are helpful and will easily understand what you need. The alphabet is Cyrillic so reading can be difficult. We recommend you purchase a phrase-book in advance.
During your trip, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Some of our Ski Guides speak German and French as well, but our general language is English. For private groups, we can try to arrange the guide who speaks your language.

Money
The Russian currency is the Rouble (RUB). No other currencies are accepted for payments. Cards are accepted in most big shops, hotels and restaurants, but this type of payment is still not as wide-spread as in Europe or America. We strongly recommend that you have enough cash with you for the whole holiday. You can change money in banks (closed on weekends and national holidays) or use an ATM (there are plenty in all towns and cities). You might need some cash on the way to and from Luzhba, and some to pay for alcoholic drinks during your stay. We accept Roubles in cash only. Credit cards are not accepted and there is no ATM.

Moscow transit
There are three international airports in Moscow; Domodedovo (DME), Sheremetyevo (SVO), and Vnukovo (VKO). Depending on your flight plan, you might need to change airports which can be a time consuming. If you do need to change airports, we strongly recommend you allow at least 2 hours for your airport-to-airport transfers.

Please service your skis or board before arrival, or bring pocket waxes as there is no ski-service on our base. We have some repair parts and tools to fix the most common problems which might arise, but we do not have equipment for hot waxing.

We advise you to carefully read the following list. You will not be able to buy or rent the equipment on the spot (except limited quantity of skitouring skis), so do bring everything with you. If you have any questions about equipment or items on (or not on) this list please don’t hesitate to e-mail and ask our advice.

Ski rental. We have few pairs of skitouring skis for rent. Please, check the details by contacting us.

Here is an example of set of clothes that we recommend. You can change it according to your preferences, but be sure that your clothes suit the weather and temperature during your trip.

Clothing:

  • Heavy/mid weight socks compatible with your footwear - 2-3 pairs.
    Heated electric socks or insoles is a very good option and highly recommended.
  • Base Layer Top and Bottom, warm – 2 pieces each.
  • Mid-Insulation Layer Top - Polartec 100 or analog.
  • Mid-Insulation Layer Bottom – Polartec/Powerstretch pants or analog.
  • Warm jacket – Synthetic or down.
  • Weather Layer Top - Gore-Tex/Softshell or other waterproof breathable jacket.
  • Weather Layer Pants - Gore-Tex/Softshell or other waterproof breathable pants.
  • Down jacket warm to minus 25-30°C.
  • Hats (warm and light).
  • Light gloves
  • Insulated gloves
  • Insulated mittens
  • High snow boots
  • Slippers for the lodg

Ski gear:

  • Skis or Splitboard. We recommend skis 110mm underfoot or wider.
  • Skins. Glue should be in good condition, renew if necessary. Tail clips strongly recommended. No glueless skins, please, it does't work with low temperatures!
  • Touring Boots
  • Telescopic Poles
  • Ski helmet
  • Binding/Boot/Pole/Skin Repair Kit - tools and parts to fix your personal gear

Avalanche gear:

  • Transceiver (two antenna minimum), extra batteries.
  • Probe
  • Shovel

Personal equipment:

  • Backpack, 25-30 litres.
  • Personal First Aid kit (blister kit, your personal medications)
  • Thermos or insulated flask, 1L. Good idea to have both.
  • Sunglasses (CE rated 3 or 4)
  • Ski goggles, plus extra pair.
  • Headlamp, extra batteries.
  • Sun/Cold and Lip Cream (factor 30+).
  • Personal toiletries, towel.