Services

We from Kobler & Partner want to offer as many services as possible. It is of great importance to us to address and resolve upcoming questions, ambiguities and problems as directly and uncomplicated as possible.

FAQ

High altitude mountaineering and supplemental oxygen

The use of supplemental oxygen often has a negative connotation, especially in the German-speaking world. But why is it?

  • Some claim that climbing with supplemental, or bottled oxygen is not ‘pure’.
  • About 98 percent of those criticising the use of bottled oxygen are armchair mountaineers.
  • As elite mountaineers want and must differentiate themselves from other mountain aspirants, they advocate climbs without the use of supplemental oxygen.
  • Is reaching a summit with bottled oxygen accepted, or do we only accept a summit by “fair means”?

Some people want to fulfil their dream to climb a big mountain and using supplemental oxygen hugely decreases the risk of getting frostbite, losing concentration or experiencing a slump in performance.
Using bottled oxygen increases the chance to reach the summit in good time and significantly decreases the chance to suffer illnesses or injuries.
The numbers of those reaching the summit without supplemental oxygen and getting into trouble during the descent speak for themselves.

Mountaineering does not have defined rules and regulations such as other competitive sports like running, rowing or show jumping.
For this reason, every ascent counts – no matter whether supported or unsupported. What’s important is to be honest about how and with what means a summit was reached. Moralists are then free to argue whether it was a “pure” ascent, or not.

With more than a dozen successful expeditions to Mount Everest, Kobler & Partner have gained a lot of experience using bottled oxygen, and we are keen to share our knowledge. We strongly recommend using supplemental oxygen when climbing an 8,000m peak.
Using supplemental oxygen remains an option, and the amount of oxygen needed is different for everyone. For this reason, bottled oxygen is not included in the overall expedition price. We are aware that many climbers will continue to attempt an 8,000m without supplemental oxygen despite our recommendation.

Price:

As checked and full oxygen bottles have to be purchased well before the start of the expedition, the costs have to be covered in advance. The rental price includes 1 oxygen bottle, 1 mask, 1 regulator as well as transport to and from the high camps.

The rental price for 1 oxygen set (1 cylinder including mask, regulator and transport) is USD 1,400. For each additional cylinder, we charge an additional USD 800.

In case of damage, the rented equipment will be repaired at the expense of the person renting it.

Travel Assurance

Our company is a member of the Guarantee Fund of the Swiss Travel Industry and we assure you the security of your paid contributions of a booked package holiday and return trip. Detailed information can be found at your booking terminal or at www.garantiefonds.ch.

The travel businesses and travel agencies that are members of the Guarantee Fund, deposit their customer’s money, according to the federal law, at the Fund. In case your booked package holiday cannot or only partially undertaken, because your affiliate goes into administration or files for bankruptcy, your deposited money for a package holiday will be refunded. In case you have already departed on your travel, the Guarantee Fond covers possible costs for the return trip. Therefore, please always make sure to book with a travel agency that is a member of the Guarantee Fond.

The Bundesgesetz über Pauschalreisen (Eng. federal law on package holidays) also regulates the contractual relationship between consumers and their contractual partners.

(This translation is not in any way, shape or form legally binding. The German version is the only version of this text that is legally binding.)

Sense and Purpose

Every Expedition that we offer has its peculiarities and has a different requirement profile. The following points give a short overview on the topic of expeditions and provide a basis for decision-making.

Originally, an expedition was a (often scientifically inspired) journey into yet unknown territory in order to gain knowledge about topographic or geological characteristics of the region in question (e.g. Albert Heim’s Himalaya expedition). Mountain climbers, too, set out to summit the virgin peaks and searched for possible routes. Not only the summit, but also the journey itself was their reward. These men were pioneers and often the best mountain climbers of their time. However, they frequently sacrificed their lives for the enterprise.

Except for first ascents, such undertakings are less risky today, as the route and destination are generally known and the logistics, as well as the weather forecasts are significantly optimised and more precise. Starting from our own experiences and the experiences of our predecessors, our expeditions are also suitable for «average consumers», i.e. alpinists, who are physically and mentally fit and have stamina. Our expeditions are no longer journeys into the great unknown, but they offer impressions regarding local customs and culture, weather conditions, cold, altitude (etc) which can indeed be new to the participants. Last but not least, participants also have to exhibit mental toughness, patience and endurance.

It is irresponsible and even dangerous to take part in an expedition that is – physically and/ or mentally – excessively demanding. For this reason, we have tried to define as precisely as possible the requirement profile of every expedition on offer. This document offers the possibility to self-evaluate your abilities and skills on an objective basis.

We deliberately avoid asking potential expedition members to hand in so-called «tour lists» (a written collection of tours/ expeditions/ trekkings done so far), since they are generally misleading. We carefully plan and prepare our expeditions, and we expect our clients to do the same when it comes to personal preparation. Our highest aim is to accompany our clients during every phase of the expedition, beginning from the budding dream to climb a certain mountain and ending with the journey back home. Reviewing his or her expedition experience, every participant should come to the conclusion of having chosen the right expedition with the appropriate requirement profile.

Download the Profilecheck and assess yourself.

Lookup the recommended offers.

Early booking discount

We from Kobler & Partner want to reward guests who book early with a discount.

All travel offers with the label “Early Booker Discount” are available at a discounted price, under the condition that the signed booking form has arrived at Kobler & Partner and has been confirmed by Kobler & Partner 180 days before the beginning of the travel.

All additional services are excluded from the early booker discount.

For travel offers that require extraordinary administrative efforts, the discount only is applicable if the booking form has arrived at Kobler & Partner and has been confirmed by Kobler & Partner at least 270 days before the beginning of the travel offer.

Currently the early booker discount is applicable to the offers: Mt. Everest and Mt Everest Express, all travels to Antarctica and Greenland.

Generally speaking discounts are not stackable.

Vouchers

All our offers are beautiful products that offer unforgettable one-of-a-kind experiences. A Kobler & Partner voucher makes for an excellent gift for friends and loved ones.

Travel Assurance

Our company is a member of the Guarantee Fund of the Swiss Travel Industry and we assure you the security of your paid contributions of a booked package holiday and return trip. Detailed information can be found at your booking terminal or at www.garantiefonds.ch.

The travel businesses and travel agencies that are members of the Guarantee Fund, deposit their customer’s money, according to the federal law, at the Fund. In case your booked package holiday cannot or only partially undertaken, because your affiliate goes into administration or files for bankruptcy, your deposited money for a package holiday will be refunded. In case you have already departed on your travel, the Guarantee Fond covers possible costs for the return trip. Therefore, please always make sure to book with a travel agency that is a member of the Guarantee Fond.

The Bundesgesetz über Pauschalreisen (Eng. federal law on package holidays) also regulates the contractual relationship between consumers and their contractual partners.

(This translation is not in any way, shape or form legally binding. The German version is the only version of this text that is legally binding.)

MEDIA

We from Kobler & Partner participate in projects by print media, on the internet, in radio and on television. For these projects it is important to us to authentically portray our opinions, professions and fascinations.

Print
Newspaper: „Sonntagszeitung“, 13.1.02, -„Ski Ahoi!“, Autor: B. van Dierendonck
Newspaper: „Der Bund“, 9.12.06, – „Wilder Osten und dünne Luft“, Autor: Mischu Wirth
Newspaper: „Der Bund“, 22.4.06, – „Hinauf zum Wächter der Salzwüste“, Autor: Mischu Wirth
Newspaper: „NZZ“, 27.3.08, – „Neues Leben auf alten Inkapfaden“, Autor: Tommy Dätwyler
Newspaper: „Tages Anzeiger“, 6.10.12, -„Der Everest ist noch nicht zu Ende gedacht“ mit Kari Kobler
Newspaper: „Der Bund“, 14.6.13, – „Ist es denn so verwerflich, wenn jemand ein kleiner Held sein möchte?“ mit Kari Kobler
Magazin: „GEO“, 2.2.14 – „Das Himalaya- Experiment“, Reporter Lars Abromeit
Newspaper: „20min“, 23.5. 2012 – „Der Everest ist ein Tummelplatz der Eitelkeit“
Magazin: „Der Bergsteiger“ , 15.6.18- „Viermal Viertausend“, Autorin: Astrid Därr
Magazin: „Abenteuer & Reisen“, 9/17 – „Dünne Luft“ – Aconcagua- Argentinien, Autorin: Astrid Därr
Magazin: „terra – Faszination unserer Erde“ 3/18 – Aconcagua-Trekking – Das Dach Amerikas liegt in Argentinien“, Autorin: Astrid Därr
Magazin: “Inspiration”, 01-2019 – “Schweizer Gaucho” – Gipfelgruss Kari Kobler

TV
SRF: „ Forschung in Eisigen Höhen“ 20.10.05 – Die Schweizer Muztagh Ata Expedition 2005, F. Senn, O.C. Honegger
SRF: „Die wahren Helden des Everest“ (3/3), 15.7.2009
SRF: „Mein anderes Russland“, 26.2.2018 „Ein Amateur am höchsten Berg Europas“ mit Christoph Franzen

Radio
SRF1: „Forschungsexpedition Himlung Himal“, 30.9.2013
SRF1: „Medizinische Unsicherheiten auf der Tour“ 24.4. 2013, mit Michael Sahli
SRF1: „Die Durchfall-Masche in Nepal“ 24.8. 2018, Interview mit Kari

Online
Bächli Bergsport-Blog: Aconcagua 360° – einmal rundherum mit Gipfelglück
Reiseziele.ch, 21-06-2019: “Auf dem Gipfel des Aconcagua – ein unvergleichliches Erlebnis”
Ferientrends.ch, 16-07-2019: “Höhenflug: Auf dem Gipfel des Aconcagua”