Winter

Explore Kyrgyzstan On Skis

Ski touring almost virgin mountains...

Duration: 12 days
Travel window: Start day
10

Start month
March

End day
20

End month
May
Countries: Kyrgyzstan
Activities: Backcountry Skiing , Horse Riding , Ski Touring , Ski/Snowboarding

Discover the journey

Private field journal 12 chapters

The story

The journey

This trip will lead you through the Tien-Shan 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.

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.

Route map

The route

Day by day

The journey, day by day

12 chapters

Day 01 Enjoy a full day's tour of the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic

Day 01

Enjoy a full day's tour of the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic

Bishkek 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.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 02 Traveling from Bishkek to Jyrgalan

Day 02

Traveling from Bishkek to Jyrgalan

Bishkek 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.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 03 Day of ski touring in the picturesque mountains of Jergalan

Day 03

Day of ski touring in the picturesque mountains of Jergalan

Jyrgalan Jyrgalan

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.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04 2nd day skiing in Jergalan Sleeping in Karakol

Day 04

2nd day skiing in Jergalan Sleeping in Karakol

Jyrgalan 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.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 05 Traveling from Karakol to Ara-Bel

Day 05

Traveling from Karakol to Ara-Bel

Karakol Arabel Suu syrt

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 ~3800m.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 06 Ski touring to the peaks of the Ara-Bel Valley

Day 06

Ski touring to the peaks of the Ara-Bel Valley

Arabel Suu syrt Arabel Suu syrt

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.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 07 Ski Touring in Ara-Bel Valley

Day 07

Ski Touring in Ara-Bel Valley

Arabel Suu syrt Arabel Suu syrt

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 08 Half Day Ski Touring in Ara Bel, then road to Karakol

Day 08

Half Day Ski Touring in Ara Bel, then road to Karakol

Arabel Suu syrt 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.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 09 Horseback Riding to Higher Grounds in the Karakol Gorge

Day 09

Horseback Riding to Higher Grounds in the Karakol Gorge

Karakol 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.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Exploring the Karakol Gorge

Day 10

Exploring the Karakol Gorge

Karakol gorge 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

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Horseback Riding from Karakol Gorge Back to Karakol

Day 11

Horseback Riding from Karakol Gorge Back to Karakol

Karakol gorge 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

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Destination Karakol building. DMO Karalol

Day 12 Morning transfer to Bishkek, visit of Eagle hunter and visit of the capital

Day 12

Morning transfer to Bishkek, visit of Eagle hunter and visit of the capital

Karakol 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.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Photography

Along the way

Ski Touring in the Karakol Gorge, Kyrgyzstan

More from this journey

Practical information

Prepare for the journey

Included 12

All transportation in a private vehicle
All airport transfers
Accommodation as described in the program
Meals (3 per day)
Bottled water & tea
English-speaking IFMGA ski touring tour leader
All the activities listed in the program
Entry fees at national parks and/or border zones listed in the program
Entry fees at museums and historical sites listed in the program
Domestic flights mentioned in the program
A contribution to our sustainable development projects
Organisation of the trip & local taxes

Not included 9

Reviews of Nomad's Land

Travelers, in their own words

Published reviews of our team and service.

Nous tenions à vous remercier pour l’organisation de notre voyage au Kirghizistan. Ce pays est magnifique avec des personnes très accueillantes. Grâce à l’énergie positive de notre guide Baktygul, nous avons pu entrer en contact avec la population locale, aidée par quelques vodka bien sûr.

Hélène and Stan B.

Nomad's Land

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