| Heliski & Heliboarding in Russia (english) |  |
| ||||||||
F.A.Q. | ||||||||||
Russian Visa
You will not be allowed to enter Russia without a current visa. This should be applied for directly from the Russian Consulate nearest your place of residence. The procedure can be time consuming. Allow at least four weeks for getting a visa. Vertikalny Mir will supply you with the invitation nessesary for visa application once the full payment of your trip is done. A list of all the Russians Consulates and missions worldwide can be found at: www.russianembassy.net
Arrival
Since neither Sochi nor Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski host international flights during the winter time, you have to travel via Moscow anyhow. To choose the best travel plan, we recommend you to be into a contact with your local travel agent. Our representative will meet you at any time of your arrival in airport of Sochi (if you go for Caucasus heliski) or Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski (if you go for Kamchatka heliski). Then about half-an hour taxi ride will lead you to our base hotel.
Hotel and Service in Moscow
Any Moscow service is not included into the price of the heliski package you buy with us. However, we would be more then happy to give you any assistance you might need: airport terminal changing procedure, hotel information and booking, sight-seeing tours etc.
What to bring
Vertikalny Mir provides powder skis for those who would like to use them. You can enjoy riding with Salomon AK Rocket or Pocket Rocket skis size 165-175-185-195. These skis are available for STANDARD PACKAGE guests at no charge. The others will be charged 10 euros a day.
Your ski clothing should keep you comfortable between minus 15 degrees Celsius and plus five degrees Celsius. Footwear suitable for slushy conditions and a raincoat are useful for excursions on no-fly days. Ski boots and snowboards are not available at our operations. In addition to your ski clothes we recommend:
- waterproof boots or shoes
- waterproof jacket
- thermal underwear, warm clothes and sweaters
- gloves, warm socks, scarf or neck gaiters
- sunglasses and goggles, warm cap or hat
Bad weather days
No-fly days due to bad weather will happen. The alternative options of entertainment for our guests is listed below.
Krasnaya Poliana (Caucsus): guided off-pist skiing in the ski area, Sochi city-tour, speleo, tipical Russia bania (sauna) and spa entertainment.
Kamchatka: guided off-pist skiing in the ski area, city-tour and fish market visiting, dog sledging, natural hot-spring buthing.
Communications
International telephone lines are available from the hotel but sometimes they get cut off for some hours at a time. SIM cards are available in Krasnaya Poliana and Kamchatka. GSM mobile phones will work as well. Guests will need to check if their mobile home provider has an agreement with any of the local providers. Local providers at time of writing are MTS, Bee-Line and Megafon in Krasnaya Poliana and MTS, Megafon in Kamchatka.
Changing money
Most of the banks will accept US dollars or Euros only. Hotels generally have a foreign exchange counter. Whenever you change money, make sure that you keep the exchange certificate. Credit cards can be used for paying any expenses you may incur at the hotel. Extra heliskiing to be paied by cash only.
