Explore the mountains of Kyrgyzstan by mountain bike
19 days through uncharted territory (for experienced cyclists)
Date 02/07 – 20/07 2018
Level of difficulty: This tour of almost 850 km is meant for very experienced riders in good physical condition. Mountain passes, bad tracks, off-road, and stiff climbs going over 3,000m characterize this route. Not all slopes are steep but some are very long and on dirt roads. However, it is worth the effort. On your journey you will enjoy remarkable scenery and have the chance to visit the nomads who live in the mountains during summer. The hospitality of the nomads is simply legendary. On rest days you can relax in our yurt camps where you will have the opportunity to hike, take a swim or ride a horse.
Accommodation: In Bishkek you will spend the night in the Umai Hotel (or similar) close to the centre of town. En route you will stay with families in villages or in yurts with the herdsmen. Sometimes you will sleep in tents that will be carried in the minibus.
Group: 4 to 8 participants. Distance - 45 to 115km a day, depending on the level of difficulty of the stage. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking interpreter. Your luggage will be transported in the minibus.
Bicycle: Ideally you should bring your own bicycle. However bicycle rental is available. Because of the bad condition of the tracks it has to be a solid mountain bike. No other bikes are suitable.
The itinerary can be done also in opposite direction.
A detailed description will be send to you on request
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Programme
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| Day 1 |
Departure from your local airport. |
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| Day 2 |
Arrival at Manas Airport, where you will be met, and transfer to your hotel. After a short rest and light lunch,preparation of the bicycles followed by some sightseeing in Bishkek. Stay in hotel. |
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| Day 3 |
By car through the tunnel on the Too-Ashuu pass to the Suusamyr valley. From Suusamyr start cycling south along the Kokomeren river on a tarmac road to the small village of Kyzyl-Oi descending down to 1,750m. Total 38km. Stay with a local family. |
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| Day 4 |
Pass through the village of Chaek (1,700m) and then up into mountains. 80km. Stay in tents. |
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| Day 5 |
Over the Kara-Keche pass (3,300m). From here there is good view of Lake Song-Kol. Down to the lake. Stay in yurts. |
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| Day 6 |
Cycling from one side of the lake to the other. Cycling 28-45km depending on where the yurts are pitched. Stay in yurts. |
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| Day 7 |
Cycle up to the Kalmak-Ashuu pass (3,317m) and then descend into the Tolok valley (2,500 m). Stay in tents. Total 64km. |
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| Day 8 |
Rather short distance to cycle today into the beautiful valley of Solton-Sary, passing by green meadows and shepherds’ yurts. 44km. Stay in tents (2,900m). |
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| Day 9 |
Leave the valley and climb to 3,400m. Descend into the Kara-Kudjur valley. Continue from Sary-Bulak to the village of Kochkor by minibus. 75km of cycling. Stay in B&B. |
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| Day 10 |
From Kochkor to a village on the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. After 65km of rather flat road, you turn into the mountains and along a small river to a yurt camp (2,200 m) using a beautiful, but rather difficult, tarmac road. Total 98km. Stay in yurts. |
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| Day 11 |
Along a tarmac, sometimes sandy, rather difficult road through the Kongur-Ölöng valley over a pass of 2,365m to Temir-Kanat yurt camp at 2,450m. Total 60km. Stay in yurts. |
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| Day 12 |
Rest/leisure day in yurt camp. Possible to hike or cycle into the mountains or go horse riding. Stay in yurts. |
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| Day 13 |
Descend 20km down to Bokonbaevo at 1,700m and from there climb up to a yurt camp at 2,500m. Total 32km. Stay in yurts. |
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| Day 14 |
Continue through the valley, altitude between 2,100 and 2,500m over a deserted, very bad road before reaching the main road after 42 km. Here you turn north to the village Jenish where you stay in a guesthouse. Total 76km. |
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| Day 15 |
Cycling into a beautiful gorge with red rock formations to a hot spa where you can take a bath if wanted (cost not included), and cycle back to the main road (70km total), then by car to Karakol. Stay in hotel. |
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| Day 16 |
Today a rather short itinerary, cycling to the yurt camp Kara Kyz (2,000m)south east of Karakol. Partly asphalt, partly very difficult stony path. Stay in yurt. |
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| Day 17 |
Descend to the main road and continue until the turn off to the San-Tash pass. Cross the pass and plateau (2,200m) and descend into the next valley. Here turn to the west and after a total of 90km continue by car to Cholpon-Ata by Lake Issyk -Kul. Stay in hotel. |
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| Day 18 |
By car from Cholpon-Ata to Bishkek, visiting the Nomad Museum and Burana Tower on the way. Stay in hotel. |
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| Day 19 |
Transfer to Manas Airport and departure |
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Due to unforeseen circumstances, it might be necessary to make small changes in the program. We ask for your understanding.
The price includes, from arrival at until departure from Manas Airport, everything except flight, visa (if required), insurance, alcoholic and bottled beverages.
For bookings of 4, or more, persons we offer a 5% discount.
Kyrgyzstan is a land full of beautiful experiences and wonders unique...
click the link below
If you ride your bike frequently, have a good physical condition
and are not scared of a short climb,
then this trip suits you perfectly.
