Don't Waste Your Money on Yetti Tour
check_circlePros
- The guides were knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna, but that's about where it ended.
- The scenery was indeed breathtaking, but it wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the trip.
- The itinerary was somewhat flexible, but only if you were willing to deal with the chaos.
- The tour operator had a decent website, but don't let that fool you.
- The other group members were friendly, but that's not enough to save a poorly run tour.
- The Yetti Tour office staff were friendly, but only over the phone, not in person.
cancelCons
- The pre-trip communication was a disaster, with essential info only provided at the last minute.
- The food was a complete mess, with a bland and unappetizing menu that left me hungry.
- The guide was subpar, lacking the experience and leadership skills to handle a group of tourists.
- The tour organization was chaotic, with a lack of clear instructions and a general sense of disarray.
- The customer support was non-existent, with phone calls and emails going unanswered.
- The value for money was nowhere to be found, with a hefty price tag for a subpar experience.
Editor's Summary
I booked the Treasures of the Altai Mountains - Hike to Shavlyinsky Lakes tour with Yetti Tour, but my experience was a total disaster from start to finish. The pre-trip communication was abysmal, with essential info only provided at the last minute. The food was a complete mess, with a bland and unappetizing menu that left me hungry. The guide was subpar, lacking the experience and leadership skills to handle a group of tourists. The tour organization was chaotic, with a lack of clear instructions and a general sense of disarray. The customer support was non-existent, with phone calls and emails going unanswered. And to top it all off, the value for money was nowhere to be found, with a hefty price tag for a subpar experience. If you're looking for a hassle-free and enjoyable tour experience, I'd suggest avoiding Yetti Tour at all costs.
Specifications
My Disastrous Experience with Yetti Tour
I recently had the misfortune of booking a trip with Yetti Tour for the Treasures of the Altai Mountains - Hike to Shavlyinsky Lakes tour from July 29 to August 7, 2024.
To put it bluntly, my experience with Yetti Tour was a total letdown. If you're looking for a monotonous food experience, a subpar guide, poor tour organization, and weak customer support, then Yetti Tour is your best bet.
Here's why I'm still fuming:
Pre-Trip Experience - A Recipe for Disaster I had a ton of questions before the trip, but their 12 years of experience organizing hikes and expeditions didn't exactly translate to helpful answers. I had to wait until the last minute to get the lowdown on essentials like shoes and tent weight.
This lack of communication set the tone for the rest of the trip, leaving me feeling unprepared and uncertain about what to expect.
Food - A Bland and Unappetizing Mess The gear was woefully unbalanced, with some group members lugging around an extra 8-9 kg on their backpacks while others had nothing. The instructor, who claims to have carefully planned the menu for years, served up the same cold, disgusting meal every day: two slices of bread, two triangles of processed cheese, and two small pieces of cheap meat product.
Breakfast was basically wallpaper paste with added nuts or raisins, and dinner was a measly 40-50g of cheap kielbasa and 1 tablespoon of boiled corn. You'd think that after a long day of hiking, you'd be looking forward to a decent meal, but nope - you got the same old bland stuff every day.
Your complaints about this unfair situation will be ignored, despite their claim of a highly attentive guide.
The food was a major letdown, and the lack of variety and nutrition made the trip even more challenging.
On the transportation front, we were offered a single fan tied to the driver's seat with duct tape instead of air conditioning at 28°C. You'll be sweating more and seeing less, as the guide's main goal is to get you to the campsite as quickly as possible.
Accommodations - Basic Amenities Were a Luxury The accommodations were subpar, with coffee running out on the 3rd or 4th day and tea on the 7th or 8th day. You won't be able to have a warm cup of tea by the campfire in the evening, which was a major disappointment.
This lack of basic amenities made the experience even more frustrating.
Guidance and Support - A Total Lack of Help As a beginner, you won't get any guidance during the hike. You'll be left to figure things out on your own, which was intimidating and overwhelming at times.
Despite their claim of full informational support, you won't be taught how to adjust your backpack, pack your gear, or use trekking poles. The guide will often be far away from you, leaving you to fend for yourself.
This lack of guidance and support made the experience even more challenging.
I would not recommend Yetti Tour to anyone. If you're looking for a high-quality hiking experience, look elsewhere. There are plenty of other tour operators out there that offer a much better experience.
The Bottom Line From the moment I booked the trip, I knew something was off. The communication was lacking, and the pre-trip experience was a disaster. The guide seemed more interested in getting us to the campsite quickly than in ensuring our safety and well-being.
The food was a major issue, with the same bland and unappetizing meals served every day. The accommodations were subpar, with basic amenities like coffee and tea running out far too quickly.
The lack of guidance and support was staggering. As a beginner, I was left to figure things out on my own, with no instruction or guidance from the guide. This made the experience even more challenging and overwhelming.
In the end, I would not recommend Yetti Tour to anyone. The experience was a disaster from start to finish, and I would advise anyone looking for a high-quality hiking experience to look elsewhere.
Avoid Yetti Tour at All Costs If you're looking for a monotonous food experience, a subpar guide, poor tour organization, and weak customer support, then Yetti Tour is your operator. But if you're looking for a high-quality hiking experience, look elsewhere. Trust me, you won't regret it.
Don't waste your money on Yetti Tour. There are plenty of other tour operators out there that offer a much better experience.
