Ski Touring In The Tien-Shan Mountains
About this tour
90% covered by mountains with an average
altitude of 2,750 meters, Kyrgyzstan is the
ideal destination for all fans of skiing,
snowboarding and ski touring. The sublime
winter landscapes of the Tien Shan, resorts
with original concepts between tradition and
modernity, a cultural and geographical
change of scenery is guaranteed! Climb or
descend slopes where fresh snow is never
lacking (January – March being the ideal
period) in the company of experienced guides.
The strong points :
• Skiing in a wild and virgin nature
• The discovery of Kyrgyz culture
• Nights in the yurt, the comfort of the
nights in a double / twin room
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Karkara, Kyrgyzstan
Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! After meeting your guide and driver at Manas International Airport, we head to the Karkyra Valley, along the northern shore of beautiful Issyk-Kul Lake. Issyk-Kul means "hot lake" in Kyrgyz. Lake Issyk Kul is also the second largest mountain lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in Peru. Once we arrived in Karkyra, we stay in a chalet.
Day 2: Karkara, Kyrgyzstan
General control of the equipment. We check first to make sure everyone has all of their safety equipment. Ski touring to the Charkuduk pass, the Tup valley, the Tuz gorge. (average elevation of 500 to 1000 m.) Night in a chalet in Karkyra.
Day 3: Karkara, Kyrgyzstan
General control of the equipment. We check first to make sure everyone has all of their safety equipment. Ski touring to the Charkuduk pass, the Tup valley, the Tuz gorge. (averageelevation of 500 to 1000 m.) Night in a chalet in Karkyra.
Day 4: Karkara, Kyrgyzstan
General control of the equipment. We check first to make sure everyone has all of their safety equipment. Ski touring to the Charkuduk pass, the Tup valley, the Tuz gorge. (average elevation of 500 to 1000 m.) Night in a chalet in Karkyra.
Day 5: Karkara, Kyrgyzstan to Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan
Today we go to the village of Jyrgalan, our new ski touring location. On the way, we can enjoy the hot springs of Aksu Gorge. Arrival in Jyrgalan, installation and rest.
Day 6: Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan
Jyrgalan Valley - a valley known for its summer pastures and especially popular in winter for its magnificent ski touring tracks. Radial ski touring around Jyrgalan. Night in a homestay.
Day 7: Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan
Jyrgalan Valley - a valley known for its summer pastures and especially popular in winter for its magnificent ski touring tracks. Radial ski touring around Jyrgalan. Night in a homestay.
Day 8: Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan
Jyrgalan Valley - a valley known for its summer pastures and especially popular in winter for its magnificent ski touring tracks. Radial ski touring around Jyrgalan. Night in a homestay.
Day 9: Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan to Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Quiet morning. Departure to Karakol. In Karakol, visit of the historical museum of Karakol where you can admire the permanent exhibition hall of Ella Maillart. Thanks to his photos, you will be immersed in the atmosphere of the 1930s, a period during which the lifestyle of the Kyrgyz nomads was upset by the campaigns of sedentarization and collectivization under the rule of Stalin. The collection includes 112 photos taken by Ella Maillart in 1932 during her six month expedition to Central Asia, an unprecedented feat for this first European woman to attempt this crazy adventure. Visit of a very pretty wooden mosque built entirely by the Dounganes, a population of Chinese origin (the Dounganes fled China after the Hui Minorities War in the 19th century) then of the remarkable wooden Orthodox cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Lunch in town. In the afternoon, visit to the Prejvalsky Museum, dedicated to the famous Russian geographer explorer who gave his name to the Mongolian wild horse. Dinner in a traditional Doungan house. Night in a guest house.
Day 10: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan to Bokonbayevo, Kyrgyzstan
Departure to Jety Ögüz, a lush valley with its remarkable red sandstone rock formations—the 'Seven Bulls' from which the valley takes its name. One-hour walk to get to the best of these rocky structures. On the way, visit the Skazka Valley, which presents magnificent rock formations on the bottom of Lake Issyk Köl. Arrival in Bokonbaevo, accommodation with the locals.
Day 11: Bokonbayevo, Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Quiet morning, a meeting with a falconer who will give us a demonstration of eagle hunting. Flight hunting involves using a trained bird of prey to hunt prey and kill it for its trainer. If falconry is a practice that has never been very widespread in Europe, the nomads of the Silk Road, for their part, have long used birds of prey to hunt. They mainly help themselves with eagles and hawks. This secular art was, in all likelihood, developed by the Kyrgyz people who lived in the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan and in the regions adjoining Tajikistan. It has been listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by Unesco since 2010. Departure for Bishkek. We drive until the end of the afternoon towards the capital. Afternoon free to stroll in the vibrant atmosphere of Osh Bazar, an ideal place to make the last purchases before the return trip or to enjoy a few last visits. Farewell dinner with your team.
What's included
The price does not include: | The international flight (or any other route to the meeting point) that everyone must book, according to the time indications on the program for a departure from foreign countries | Insurance (non-exhaustive list: cancellation insurance for flights, luggage insurance, individual insurance for medical care and repatriation, civil liability insurance on site, etc.) | Alcoholic drinks | Activities, excursions, visits not mentioned in the itinerary or suggested and specified as optional | The personal expenses | Rental of ski touring equipment (skis, avalanche transceiver—avalanche victim detector) | Depending on the health constraints that may apply: the amount of the pre-return PCR test (35 € or 40 $), to be kept in an envelope until the last day | Tips
What to know
We offer you a carefully designed and tested itinerary. However, it is indicative and scalable. Without any commitment on your part, do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to collect your expectations, to arrange with you the itinerary of your choice and to send you a personalized and detailed estimate.
Route & locations
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Karkara, Kyrgyzstan