 |  |  | |  |  |  |
|---|
Freeride tour. 8 days
Overview
Highlights
The Kyrgyzstan Ski Adventure is our most famous ski tour. In 8 days we will explore the remarkable highlights of skiing in Kyrgyzstan. Don’t expect any comfortable chairlifts, groovy after ski pubs or ceasar salads. Get yourself ready for adventure, yurts and barbecue.
Almost 90% of Kyrgyzstan lies above 3000 meters.
On Sunday the Kyrgyzstan Ski Adventure will start in the capital Bishkek.
In the morning we’ll have a quick city-tour and head to the winter sports capital of Karakol. It’s a stunning road trip along the northern shore of Lake Issyk Kul. We will cross the Shamsy mountain range and make a lunch stop at Cholpon Ata. Lake Issyk Kul doesn’t freeze in winter because of underwater hot springs. It even causes a considerable increase of snowfall along the east coast. Exactly, that’s where we are heading.
In Karakol, we are staying 5 nights in a local guesthouse. The local family will take care of the majority of the meals. It’s quite modern with double rooms and shared (luxury bathrooms). They even have a (slow) wifi connection. 1 night will be spent in a shared yurt in our yurt camp.
Itinerary
Today you are going to do transfer to Karakol that takes an almost the whole day. Transfer to Hotel.
We will spend the first two days in the ski resort of Karakol. It’s just 15 km outside of the city. The highest point is at 3100 meters and the resort’s bottom is at 2200 meters. The slopes are surprisingly well-groomed and serviced by some snow canons too. The area is quite challenging and very well suited for freeriding and three runs. The evening activities entail an après ski night (with Karaoke) and a pool night in a natural hot spring along Lake Issyk Kul.
Snowmobile/Skidoo droppings
For an entire day, we will have access to several snowmobiles. The drivers of these snowmobiles will bring us to different peaks in the Jyrgalan Valley. This is one of the most unspoiled areas of Kyrgyzstan with demanding terrain and views to Kazakhstan. You can use the rope behind the Skidoo as a draglift or sit on the back of the snowmobile, depending on your skills. Usually, it’s easier for skiers to get yourself dragged up by rope. The valley on the eastern flanks is perfectly suited for experienced skiers/snowboarders whilst the beginners can use the snowmobile tracks as a slope.
Spending the night in our yurt camp
One of the highlights of the tour is spending the night in our yurt camp. At an altitude of 2200 meters, we have realized a yurt camp together with a local guide. The yurt is the traditional home for the Kyrgyz people. We have adjusted the yurts to the cold circumstances. There is a heater in all yurts, there’s a Russian banya (sauna) next to an ice-cold stream. The sky will be full of bright stars and you will sleep in a big shared sleeping yurt.
Horse riding with a downhill run
After a short walk in the Jeti Oguz valley, we will have lunch in the local village of Kyzyl Suu. It’s a traditional meal and we have to sit on the floor at a local family’s house. After lunch, we get ourselves ready for a magnificent tour along red mountains and deep snow. The horse will walk to an altitude of 2500 meters and we will see different landscapes. Then we’ll take our equipment from the horses and make a freeride run back to Kyzyl Suu. It’s an easy run and not too challenging. It’s more about the way up than the way down. But the scenery is absolutely stunning.
We organize a city tour in Karakol with a visit to the Russian Orthodox Church, the local bazaar and some souvenir shops. After lunch, we slowly drive back to the capital Bishkek. This time we take the southern road with an amazing stop at the Fairy Tale Valley. In Bishkek, we have a final meal in one of the best local restaurants. Everything that you have appreciated this week, in terms of food, will be served again. And then… we prepare ourselves for the unrivaled pajama party.
Pajama party
The pajama party is our famous last night in Kyrgyzstan. We will go to the Besh Spa Complex, not far from the airport. Here we’ll go the Russian banya again and relax in the Turkish hammam (men/women separated). After a shower, you will receive a pajama from the Spa Complex and you can take the lift to the 5th floor. Here you’ll find a restaurant, bar, pool table and of course a Karaoke stage. When you’re tired of all this you can have a massage on the 6th floor or take a nap on the 4th. They have put business class chairs on the fourth floor if you want to have a little sleep. In the middle of the night, we have to go back to the airport for your flight back to Europe (flights usually depart around 05.00 am).
Above all, it’s gonna be a memorable experience: Skiing in the most hospitable part of the Himalayas.
Pick-up details/transfers
This tour will start after going out of Hotel
This tour will finish in Bishkek.
Transfers from Airport can be provided for an extra charge.
What's included
Transfer Bishkek – Karakol
5 nights in a local guesthouse
1 night in a traditional yurt
All meals and drinks during these meals (3x daily)
City Tour
English speaking guide
Local guides
Snow mobile/skidoo droppings
Entrance to natural hot spring
Visit to Fairy tale valley
Horse rent with guides
Russian banyas
Pajama party
Ski passes
Local taxes
EXCLUDING
Flights
Meals and drinks not included in the 3 daily meals
Tips and souvenirs
Ski/Snowboard rent (€75 per week)