Explore Kyrgyzstan On Skis

12 Days

Winter Sports

Kyrgyzstan

Ski touring almost virgin mountains, the view of the Issyk Kul lake, sleeping in yurts deep in the back country, horseback riding the Kyrgyz way, and catching some amazing turns in the high mountains.

This trip will lead you through the Tien-Shan mountains and you will be able to ski in three different locations. You will be able to stay in warm and cozy guesthouses and warm Yurts in the backcountry. Don’t forget all the small cultural things that will happen on the way, horseback riding, meeting locals in the villages, and getting to know an unknown country like Kyrgyzstan.

Program

D 1 / Visit of Bishkek

We will meet at 8 am at your guesthouse. We will start our walking tour of Bishkek at the Frunze museum, which we will head thought he Panfilov Park, to Ala Too Square, Frunze museum in Oak Park, with a stop at the Museum of Fine Arts, then we will head to Victory square where we will have a traditional lunch. In the afternoon we will visit Osh bazar where you will be able to get close to local people and buy some souvenirs. We will be able to enjoy dinner at a traditional restaurant where we will be able to sample many dishes. After dinner, we will be transferred back to the guesthouse.

D 2 / Traveling from Bishkek to Jyrgalan

After breakfast, you will be on the road to find higher grounds.
The first stop is the Burana tower, it’s site of an ancient runes of the Balasagun empire from the 15th century.
You will have lunch along the way in a small cafe and the last stop will be Jyrgalan.
After the long drive to Jyrgalan you will be greeted by your hosts in a typical village in Kyrgyzstan.
Jyrgalan’s main economy is coal mining and they have the best cole in Kyrgyzstan.

D 3 / Ski touring in Jergalan

After an early breakfast, you will gear up and head into the mountains.
First check to make sure everyone has all of their safety equipment and check the condition of the snow and then make a plan for the day.
The rest of the day will be spent in the mountains.
Lunch in the mountains.
At the end of the day head back to the base camp where dinner will be ready.

D 4 / 2nd day skiing in Jergalan Sleeping in Karakol

After an early breakfast, you will gear up and head into the mountains.
First check to make sure everyone has all of their safety equipment and check the condition of the snow and then make a plan for the day.
The rest of the day will be spent in the mountains.
Lunch in the mountains.
At the end of the day, we will drive to Karakol to have a dinner in a cafe.

D 5 / Traveling from Karakol to Ara-Bel

After breakfast, you will head into the deep mountains near Barskoon valley.

You will make a short stop at the Barskoon waterfall to stretch your legs and enjoy the view of the frozen waterfall.

Once you arrive in Arabel Suu then you will be able to put your boots and skins on and start skiing to the camp. It's ~1.5 km to the camp.

Once you arrive, at the camp then it's up to you if you wish to do a quick short run near the camp or have a tea
next to the fire.

Tonight you will be accommodated in tents at ~3500m.

D 6 / Ski Touring in Ara Bel

After an early breakfast, you will gear up and head into the mountains.
First, check to make sure everyone has all of their safety equipment and check the condition of the snow and then make a plan for the day.
The rest of the day will be spent in the mountains.
Lunch in the mountains.
At the end of the day, we will be able to enjoy a nice warm dinner and bottomless cups of tea.

D 7 / Ski Touring in Ara Bel

D 8 / Half Day Ski Touring in Ara Bel Night in Karakol

After an early breakfast, you will gear up and head into the mountains.
First, check to make sure everyone has all of their safety equipment and check the condition of the snow and then make a plan for the day.
The rest of the day will be spent in the mountains.
Lunch in the mountains.
After lunch you will head back to Karakol to get ready for the next part of you're adventure.
Accommodation in a guesthouse in Karakol.

D 9 / Horseback Riding to Higher Grounds in the Karakol Gorge

After breakfast, you will gear up and head into the mountains near Karakol.
Today we will go by horseback all the way up the Karakol gorge.
If it's your first time on horseback no need to worry because the horses are well trained and you will be instructed how to ride a Kyrgyz horse.
It will be a challenge for the horses to bring all the equipment up the mountains.
Half way up the gorge you will have lunch and be able to enjoy the amazing alpine views.
Once everyone reaches the base camp we will unpack our horses and build our base camp.
Accommodation in tents in the Karakol Gorge.

D 10 / Ski Touring in the Karakol Gorge

After an early breakfast, you will gear up and head into the mountains.
First, check to make sure everyone has all of their safety equipment and check the condition of the snow and then make a plan for the day.
The first place to ski could be near the Djigit Peak ~5000m.
Another option would be touring from the Ontor pass ~3900m.
Another option would be touring nearby the Telety pass (3800m).
The rest of the day will be spent in the mountains.
Lunch in the mountains.
Accommodation in tents in the Karakol Gorge 2500m

Ski Touring in the Karakol Gorge, Kyrgyzstan

D 11 / Horseback Riding from Karakol Gorge Back to Karakol

Today it’s important that you are able to take the horses back to Karakol early because of the avalanche risk of riding horses in the afternoon when the sun is shining the strongest.
We will be able to have a late lunch in Karakol.
Enjoy a short walk through the town and get a feeling for the place.
Accommodation in a guesthouse in Karakol 1700m

D 12 / Karakol to Bishkek

After breakfast you will hit the road again. On the way, a stop will be at the house of an Eagle hunter. You wil be able to get to know him and his long traditions of hunting with eagles. You will have lunch on the way. Arrival in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. From 1926 to 1991 the city was known as Frunze named after the Bolshevik military leader Mihail Frunze. After the independence it was renamed Bishkek. City tour. Walk around the city. Visiting Ala-Too Square, the main square of Kyrgyzstan. Overnight in our guesthouse.

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Photos

Map

Info

Include:

Organization of the stay
All transfers in vehicle incl. A / R airport
French speaking tour guide
Full board incl. drinking water
Accommodation described in the program
Carrying luggage during trekking and horse riding
Rent camping equipment (tents, mats, kitchen utensils)
All the visits indicated in the program
Entry fees at national parks or nature reserves
Entry fees at museums mentioned in the program
National or regional flights specified in the program

Non Include:

Insurance repatriation and CR insurance
International airfare and taxes
Alcohol or sweetened mineral water
Additional services not mentioned in the program
Staff costs and rental of personal equipment (ATV, sleeping bag, water bottle, flashlight, etc.)
Tips
Additional costs due to personal problems (health, loss of luggage, etc.)

Remarks:

Since July 27, 2012, the visa is not any more required for the persons of Swiss, EU, US, Canadian and Japanese nationalities (in total 44 new countries, for more information visit www.nomadsland.kg); passport should be with minimum of 6 months validity for period of 60 days maximum. Vaccination is not mandatory.

This is a draft program. It can be changed due to changes of flight schedules, safetely reasons, weather conditions and others imponderable or unforeseen conditions. Only our tour guide is authorized to take the necessary decisions. Prices are calculated daily and are subject to change in case of wide fluctuations in prices or exchange rates.

Though Kyrgyzstan evidenced caravans over 3000 years it is still a young developing country and infrastructure of villages is not at a very high level. Refusing hospitality might be offensive and in order to avoid misunderstanding one had better to read some guidebooks and other books about Kyrgyzstan before getting prepared to visit.

Hope to see you soon.

Nomad’s Land Team

Tired of skiing the same resorts and cutting the same lines?

Are you looking for a backcountry adventure where you're able to ski from the doors of your camp?

Here at Nomad's Land, we have the local knowledge of the best places to ski tour and which aspects are the safest to ski.

On our tours, we love to have a mix of skinning, skiing, horseback riding, snowshoeing and cat skiing in one tour.

In addition, we have some really amazing base camps, ski in ski out Yurts near Karakol, guesthouses at the foot of the mountains in Chong Kemin and Arslanbob, amazing alpine huts in Altyn-Arashan and Chong Kyzyl Suu and even in Suusamyr.

Depending on the wishes of our guests we are able to provide them Kyrgyz, Russian and Swiss Guides or you can bring your own guide with you.

No matter what type of adventure you're looking for, we have the experience and local knowledge to make your trip to Kyrgyzstan unforgettable.

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