Safety on Hikes, Tours, and Events

Hikes, tours, and trips into nature are a great way to recharge, see beautiful places, and spend time with good company. However, mountains, trails, weather, roads, and even a simple walk outside the city always require care and attention.

This page was created to help participants understand in advance how to prepare, how to behave on the route, what the organiser is responsible for, and what remains the participant’s own responsibility.

We want every hike, tour, and event to take place calmly, safely, and without unnecessary risks.

The Main Rule

By taking part in a hike, tour, or event, you acknowledge the nature of outdoor activities, including physical exertion, changing weather, uneven trails, possible fatigue, delays, and other factors that cannot be fully controlled.

Even an easy route requires care. A free hike does not mean that you can join without preparation.

An Important Difference: Free Hikes and Paid Tours

Kudaidem may feature different types of events, including free hikes, open group walks, commercial tours, independently organised trips, city events, and other activities.

Free Hikes

If a hike is listed as free, it usually means that participation is informal or open to the public. Such hikes may not include professional instructors, guides, medical support, insurance, transfers, or a complete organisational service.

Each participant is responsible for assessing their own fitness, health, equipment, and readiness to complete the route. The organiser may show the direction, explain the approximate plan, and bring the group together, but is not required to act as a professional instructor, rescuer, or personal guide.

Extra care is required on a free hike. Watch where you step, do not fall behind without warning anyone, do not leave the group alone, do not overestimate your abilities, and understand in advance that personal safety is primarily the participant’s own responsibility.

Paid Tours and Organised Trips

The conditions of a paid tour depend on the specific programme. The tour page usually explains what is included in the price, such as guiding, transport, accommodation, meals, excursions, admission tickets, insurance, or other services.

Before submitting a booking request, carefully read the tour description, including its difficulty, duration, route, what is and is not included in the price, cancellation terms, participant requirements, and packing list.

The presence of a guide, tour leader, or instructor improves the level of organisation but does not remove the participant’s personal responsibility. In the mountains and during trips, it is important to follow the group rules, avoid arguing with the leader about safety decisions, and not create risks for other people.

Before Joining a Hike or Tour

Carefully review the event page before submitting your request.

Pay attention to:

• the meeting date and time;
• the meeting point;
• the route duration;
• the distance;
• the elevation gain;
• the difficulty level;
• the estimated return time;
• the participation format: free, paid, or price on request;
• any age, health, or fitness restrictions;
• the list of items you need to bring;
• the weather conditions;
• transport details, when transport is provided.

Do not choose a route based only on attractive photos. Check the actual details, including distance, elevation gain, difficulty, trail surface, season, and weather.

Assess Your Fitness

Even a beginner-friendly route can be tiring if someone has not walked for a long time, slept poorly, skipped a meal, is unwell, or arrives without suitable footwear.

Before taking part, honestly assess:

• whether you can walk for several hours in a row;
• whether you have breathing, heart, blood pressure, joint, or back problems;
• how well you tolerate heat, cold, wind, and uphill walking;
• whether you can return along the same route;
• whether you are ready to walk at the group’s pace.

If you have a chronic condition, a recent injury, severe fatigue, or concerns about your health, it is better to speak with a doctor in advance and inform the organiser about any important limitations.

Do not push yourself through a hike when you feel unwell. Mountains do not reward rushing or overestimating your strength.

What to Bring on a Hike

The packing list depends on the route, season, and weather, but it is always useful to have the basic essentials.

Footwear

Wear comfortable footwear with a good sole. Trekking boots or trail shoes with reliable traction are usually the best option.

Avoid hiking in brand-new shoes that have not been broken in, city sneakers, smooth-soled footwear, sandals, or heavy and uncomfortable shoes. Blisters, slipping, and foot pain can make the entire route difficult.

Clothing

Dress for the weather, but remember that mountain conditions can change quickly. It may be warm in the city while higher parts of the route are windy, cool, or rainy.

It is better to wear several layers:

• a base layer suitable for the weather;
• a light sweater or fleece;
• a windbreaker or rain jacket;
• a hat for sun or cold protection;
• spare socks when needed.

Avoid clothing that restricts movement, becomes soaked easily, or takes a long time to dry.

Water and Food

Bring enough water. A short hike usually requires at least 1–1.5 litres, but you may need more in hot weather or on a longer route.

Also bring a light snack:

• nuts;
• snack bars;
• dried fruit;
• a sandwich;
• fruit;
• something familiar and easy for your stomach.

Do not assume that there will be a shop, cafe, spring, or place to buy water along the way.

Protection From the Sun and Weather

Mountain sun can be strong even in cool weather.

Useful items include:

• sunscreen;
• sunglasses;
• a cap, sun hat, or buff;
• a rain jacket;
• light gloves during cooler seasons;
• a bag for rubbish and wet items.

Personal Items

We recommend bringing:

• a fully charged phone;
• a power bank;
• an identity document or a photo of it;
• cash;
• personal medication;
• a small adhesive bandage;
• wet wipes;
• hand sanitiser;
• a small flashlight if there is a risk of being delayed until dark.

Each participant must bring their own personal medication. The organiser is not required to carry medication for the specific medical conditions of individual participants.

How to Behave on the Route

On the route, it is important not only to reach a scenic point but also to return safely.

Walk at the group’s general pace. Do not move far ahead or fall behind without warning anyone. If you need to stop, adjust your footwear, drink water, take a photo, or step aside, tell the organiser or nearby participants.

Do not leave the trail unless necessary. A shortcut may be slippery, unstable, overgrown, or dangerous.

Do not approach cliffs, steep slopes, rocky edges, fast-moving water, or unstable ground. A photo is not worth the risk.

Watch where you step. Most unpleasant hiking incidents are caused not by extreme conditions but by ordinary inattention to rocks, roots, mud, ice, wet grass, holes, and branches.

Do not push other participants, joke around on dangerous sections, throw stones, or create situations that could frighten or injure people nearby.

If the Route Becomes Difficult

Do not stay silent if you feel unwell or find the route too difficult.

Immediately tell the organiser or nearby participants if you experience:

• severe weakness;
• dizziness;
• nausea;
• chest pain;
• shortness of breath;
• pain in the knee, foot, or back;
• a sudden decline in your condition;
• signs of overheating or hypothermia;
• panic or intense fear on part of the route.

It is better to stop early than allow the situation to become a serious problem.

If you realise that you cannot continue, the group or organiser will decide what to do based on the circumstances. This may include taking a break, slowing down, turning back, splitting the route, or requesting assistance.

Mountain Weather

Weather in Almaty, the foothills, and higher parts of a route may differ significantly. Forecasts are not always accurate.

Check the weather before leaving, but do not rely on the forecast completely. Wind, rain, fog, heat, cold, snow, or thunderstorms can develop quickly in the mountains.

If the weather becomes dangerous, the route may be changed, shortened, postponed, or cancelled. This is a normal safety measure, not a “ruined plan”.

Do not argue with the organiser if they recommend turning back or changing the route because of the weather, darkness, trail conditions, or a participant’s condition.

Behaviour Within the Group

A hike is not an individual walk. It is a group activity, and your actions affect other participants.

It is important to:

• arrive on time;
• give advance notice if you are running late;
• listen to organisational instructions;
• not leave the group alone;
• not change the route independently;
• respect the group’s pace;
• help other participants when it is safe to do so;
• avoid conflict;
• not prevent others from resting and enjoying the route.

If a participant behaves aggressively, disrupts the group, ignores safety rules, or puts other people at risk, the organiser may refuse to allow them to continue participating.

Alcohol and Dangerous Behaviour

Participants must not arrive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol or other substances must also not be consumed while moving along the route.

Mountains, roads, altitude, heat, cold, and physical exertion do not mix safely with reduced attention and coordination.

If a participant’s condition may be dangerous to themselves or the group, the organiser may refuse to allow them to join or ask them to stop participating.

Children and Teenagers

Participation by children and teenagers depends on the specific route and the event conditions.

If a child attends with a parent or legal guardian, the adult is responsible for the child’s safety, behaviour, clothing, food, water, and readiness for the route.

Children should be told in advance that they must not run ahead, approach cliffs, throw stones, leave the group, or touch unfamiliar plants, animals, or insects.

Children may not be allowed to participate in more difficult routes.

Pets

Ask in advance whether you may participate with a dog or another animal. Not every route is suitable for pets.

If the organiser allows a dog, the owner is fully responsible for it, including the leash, water, the animal’s safety, and its behaviour around people and other participants.

The animal must not disrupt the group, frighten people, attack other animals, or create a risk on narrow sections of the trail.

Transport and Travel

If transport is included in the tour or event, participants must follow boarding rules, arrive on time, avoid distracting the driver, and not leave rubbish in the vehicle.

If a participant travels independently, they are responsible for arriving at the meeting point on time and arranging their return journey.

The event description may include an estimated return time, but this cannot always be guaranteed. Timing may change because of weather, the group’s pace, traffic, road conditions, participant health, or other factors.

Do not schedule important appointments immediately after a hike or tour without leaving extra time.

Nature and the Environment

We visit mountains and beautiful places, so it is important to leave them clean.

Please:

• do not leave rubbish;
• take packaging, bottles, tissues, and food waste with you;
• do not break branches;
• do not pick rare plants;
• avoid unnecessary noise;
• do not frighten animals;
• do not light a fire where it is prohibited or unsafe;
• do not pollute springs, streams, or bodies of water.

A simple rule: after we leave, the place should be as clean as it was before or cleaner.

Campfires and Fire Safety

Fire safety is especially important in nature. During the dry season, even a small spark can cause a serious fire.

Do not light a fire without the organiser’s permission and without confirming that it is safe and permitted in that location.

Do not discard cigarette ends, matches, hot coals, glass, or other objects that may cause a fire.

If a fire is permitted, it must be fully extinguished before leaving. Never leave smouldering coals, even when they appear to be “almost out”.

No fires may be lit during an officially declared high-risk fire period or when open flames are prohibited.

Photos and Videos

Participants often take photos and videos during hikes and tours. This is normal, but safety is more important than content.

Do not record while moving through dangerous sections. Stop in a safe place before taking out your phone or camera.

Do not approach an edge for a photo. Do not ask other participants to take risky pictures. Do not fly a drone where it is prohibited, dangerous, or disruptive to other people.

If you do not want to appear in group photos or videos, inform the organiser in advance.

If You Fall Behind or Get Lost

If you lose sight of the group, do not panic or start searching randomly for a “shortcut”.

Stop in a safe place, call the organiser, or send a message in the group chat if one exists. Share your location, describe where you are, and wait for instructions.

Do not continue along an unfamiliar trail if you are unsure of the direction. This may make it more difficult to find you.

Save the organiser’s phone number in advance and fully charge your phone before the hike.

What to Do in Case of Injury

If you or another participant is injured, immediately inform the organiser or the group.

Do not try to continue quickly through severe pain. A minor problem on the route can become more serious if it is ignored.

Depending on the situation, the group may stop, provide basic assistance, change the route, call for help, or arrange a return.

Every participant should understand that help may not arrive immediately in the mountains. It is therefore better to reduce risks in advance through suitable footwear, enough water, a sensible pace, careful attention, and an honest assessment of your abilities.

Participant Responsibility

The participant is responsible for:

• their own health and physical readiness;
• choosing a suitable route;
• wearing appropriate clothing and footwear;
• bringing water, food, and personal items;
• following the group rules;
• arriving at the meeting point on time;
• honestly informing the organiser about important limitations;
• their behaviour on the route;
• their personal belongings, phone, documents, and money.

If you have questions about the route, it is better to ask before submitting your booking request rather than on the day of the hike.

Organiser Responsibility

The organiser aims to describe the route, timing, difficulty, participation conditions, and important event details in advance.

The organiser may:

• change the route;
• shorten the route;
• postpone the event;
• cancel the event;
• refuse participation if a person’s condition or equipment creates a risk;
• decide that the group should turn back;
• refuse participation when safety rules are violated.

Such decisions are made for the safety of the group, not to restrict participants.

When It Is Better Not to Go

It is better to cancel or postpone your participation if:

• you are ill;
• you have a fever, severe weakness, or dizziness;
• you recently suffered an injury;
• you do not have suitable footwear;
• you have not slept enough;
• you are unsure whether you can complete the route;
• the weather raises serious concerns;
• you are not prepared to follow the group rules;
• you plan to arrive without water, food, or basic equipment.

Missing one hike is better than being injured or creating a problem for the entire group.

Rules for City Events

Safety also matters when an event takes place in the city, at a venue, in an establishment, or in a public space rather than in the mountains.

Participants must follow the venue’s rules, avoid disturbing other people, treat property carefully, avoid conflict, and keep track of their personal belongings.

If the venue has an administration, security staff, entry procedures, or internal rules, participants are required to follow them.

Before You Start: A Short Checklist

Before leaving, check that:

• your phone is charged;
• the organiser’s number is saved;
• your footwear is comfortable;
• you have water;
• you have a snack;
• your clothing is suitable for the weather;
• you have a rain jacket or windbreaker;
• you have your personal medication;
• you know the meeting place and time;
• you understand the route’s difficulty;
• your family or friends know where you are going and approximately when you expect to return.

Our Position

Kudaidem is a project for people who want to walk more, travel, discover new places, and spend time with good company.

However, safety is always more important than the route, the photo, the summit, the clock, or the plan.

The best hike is not the one where everyone reaches the destination “at any cost”, but the one where participants return home safely, with positive memories and the desire to go again.

Please treat routes carefully and respect the group, nature, and your actual abilities.

Sources Used

• Fire Safety Rules of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Order No. 55 of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan.