A winter in Kyrgyzstan like no other
You will discover the losted shepherds of the Tien Shan range. Yak's farmers are living in difficult conditions but they will open their warm house and yurts, and you will enjoy the Kyrgyz hospitality. After an short hike south of Bishkek, we reach Chong Kemin National Park, before going up to frozen Song Kul lake and enjoy a night in the unique winter yurt camp of the lake.
This tour will be adapted depending on your preferred activity and snow conditions. This program has been designed for lovers of snowshoeing or ski touring accompanied by horses.
A real winter adventure in Kyrgyzstan
An active experience on skis, on snowshoes or on horses for those who want to discover the winter Kyrgyz nomadic life
7 Days • Winter tours • Kyrgyzstan
-
1 people: $2,085
-
2 people: $1,235
-
3 people: $950
-
4 people: $807
-
5 people: $722
-
6 people: $665
-
7 people: $624
-
8 people: $594
-
9 people: $554
-
10 people: $504
Program
Skitouring or snowshoeing in Chunkurchak, and overnight in Chong Kemin
Today you will enjoy the pittoresque road linking the high plateau of Chunkurchak where you can enjoy an half-day hiking with snowshoes or ski-touring. In the end of the afternoon, you will drive to the National Parc of Chong Kemin. Overnight and dinner in a local family house.
Backcountry skiing or snowshoeing in the Chong Kemin National Park
Today you will be able to feel like a Kyrgyz Nomad because you will have a horse that you can ride to higher grounds. You will be able to ski different slopes and get many runs in today. But you can also choose to snowshoe on forest road. Lunch will be had in the mountains with the horseman and your guide. After a full day of horseback riding and touring you will head back to your guesthouse and share dinner with the shepherds family that you are being hosted by.
Road from Chong Kemin to Kilemche
This morning, you leave the National Parc of Chong Kemin, and you take the road by the Boom canyon, a dry and cold place in winter, but colorful. After a low pass, the road goes down to the Orto Tokoy reservoir and the small city of Kochkor. Then the road leave the civilisation and accross the Kyzart pass, and you will have lunch in a shepherd's house in the village of Kyzart. In the afternoon, you will snowshoeing or skiing or horsebackriding into the gorge of Kilemche, a short walk of 6-7 km. Arriving in the high part of the gorge, installation in a shepherd's house.
Heading to Song Kul lake
This morning, we take the path to reach the shores of Lake Song Kul. On skis, snowshoes or on horseback, and depending on the snow conditions, you will choose your favorite activity to reach the immense plateau of Lake Song Kul. All morning, we climb to the Tuz Ashuu pass by road, then from the pass, we descend to the shores of the lake, which we follow to reach our winter camp in yurts.
A winter day on the frozen Song Kul's lake
Depending on your wishes, you can enjoy snowshoeing, ski-touring, hiking, horseback riding, snowtubbing or just enjoying this losted yurt camp surrounding by snow.
Skiing in the morning, then drive to Bishkek
In the morning, you horseride till the pass of Tuz Ashuu, then you will enjoy 6 km downhill skiing till the Kilemche river where your driver will be waiting for you. Drive to Bishkek. Dinner in the town. Installation in our guesthouse.
Transfer from Bishkek to Manas International Airport.
Depending on your flight time, your guide will join you to the airport and help you check in for your flight. If your flight is later in the day your guide will show you more places in Bishkek before your flight.We hope you enjoyed your trip to Kyrgyzstan and we hope you come back again to explore other counties in Central Asia with us.
We booked a 8 day tour with Nomad's Land, with the main part of the trip a six-day trek in the mountains near Issyk-Kul lake. From the first contact with Nomad's Land they were really responsive, taking time to understand our needs and suggesting a trip that would work for us. As we were travelling quite early in the trekking season (mid-late May), the team made sure that our itinerary would be possible, making adjustments as required. Bakyt organised our trip and was really helpful all the way through the process. On arrival at the airport in Bishkek we were met by our guide Mikel and assistant guide Ivan, and were driven down to the lake by our excellent driver Shakir. The whole team were really welcoming. We spent the first night at Bel Tam Yurt camp which was lovely. Really relaxing and the food was amazing. The next day we started our trek which was incredible! We met our horseman, Ermek, and the two horses that carried all our equipment. This was really helpful so we didn't have too much to carry each day! On the first day the weather was lovely but the next morning we were greeted by a lot of snow! Because of this Mikel took the decision to change our route, which was definitely the right decision as going high in the snow might have been dangerous (and certainly very cold). The whole of the rest of the trip Mikel, Ivan and Ermek took the time to make sure what we were doing was the right thing for the weather conditions, and when we had to change plans they made sure we were consulted and agreed. The food Mikel prepared was really good, and the tents were comfortable, warm and waterproof. We had a great time in the mountains. After our trek ended we spent a day exploring the lake region, including visiting an eagle hunter and a yurt-making business, and on the final day we got to see a little of Bishkek. It was the perfect end to a great trip. Overall I would highly recommend Nomad's Land and the great service from all the team. Thank you!
It is more than a typical trip, it is an unforgettable life experience: the kindness and hospitality of the Kyrgyz people, the spectacular scenery, their peace ... and not least the company of our guide Mikel, a man of character excellence, kind, with experience in the field, able to solve any setback, with him I and my group of friends felt cared for and calm, we knew that everything would turn out well or better, and so it was.Thank you Mikel for everything and that Life takes care of you I hope that many travelers enjoy your company and your knowledge.
On your way
Chong Kemin National Park KG
This park encompasses the entire Chong Kemin Valley. There are many trails still virgin or almost. Several passes between Issyk Kul Lake or Kitchi Kemin Valley.
The total area is 126,514 hectares. Here in the park the river Chon Kemin flows. More than 780 species of plants grow and rare mammals such as snow leopard, brown bear, maral, Eurasian lynx, golden eagle, himalayan griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis), bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), saker falcon and sablefly are found.
CBT Chong Kemin KG
Nomad's Land with CBT Chong Kemin offer an amazing trek routes to the Issyk Kul lake. Janybek is the coordinator of the association based in the village of Karol Doeboe
Orto-Tokoy water reservoir KG
The Orto-Tokoy reservoir is the first reservoir built in Kyrgyzstan. Construction began in 1941 and ended in 1960. It is located on the Chu River, behind the village of Kochkor. Its length is about 18 km, its volume is over 470 million cubic meters, and its maximum depth is 47 meters.
The main purpose of the reservoir is to regulate the water level of the Chuy River in order to irrigate for agricultural land in Chui Oblast and southern Kazakhstan.
Kochkor KG
Kochkor is a town of shepherds located in Naryn oblast 200 km from Bishkek. It is located at 1800m. alt. The city has 17,000 residents. Most of them are shepherds or farmers. With the Kyrgyz hospitality, tourism is an increasingly important for economy. It is a starting point to reach the sights as Lake Song Kul, Sarala-Saz pastures, Lake Koelykoek, the salt mine Chong Tuz, and also the crossroads between Issyk Kul lake and City Naryn. Places for visiting: the women cooperative "Kochkor Kutu" which develops Kyrgyz crafts. Opportunity to see a demonstration of the production of livestock market mouton. The cattle market held each Saturday is always a colorful and lively event,don't miss it.
Kilemche Jailoo KG
Kilemche valley is situated in Jumgal region, at an altitude up to 3240 m., where some nomads families stay even in farms during the winter. It does not have steeps rapids, so it is more like a mountain valley and river flowing quietly and steadily. Kilemche jailoo has amazing beauty of meadows, where it grows a lot of herbs and flowers to delight the eye, like arnica, edelweiss and gentian. Mostly shepherds of the Kyzart village, are covering the Kilemche valley by their yurts and cattle. For some nomads is a 2 steps transhumance before to pass the summer at the Song Kul lake.
In winter, to get there is an epic adventure, with Nomad's Land you can enjoy horseback riding, shnow-shoeing, ski-touring or just hiking. The snow makes an beautiful contrast with red south side mountain of Kyzart Toer. The life there is hard, and mostly yaks will pass the winter there. To make your trip more adventurous, you can enjoy a night under yurt at the Song Kul's lake.
Song Kul lake KG
The scenary Song Kul (or Song Kul) lake is the main pasture of nomads. Hundreds yurts are built during summer. The beautiful lake large of about 25-35 km is a natural reserve. Many species of birds are stopping during their long migration. Some tombs from Sakh times and petroglyphs are most ancient traces of live. Different trekking or horseback riding roads are joining the place.
