E-bike tour
15 day tour, in small groups, since 2021
Two weeks around Lake Issyk-Kul on a rental electric bike. This is a rather easy program, no steep hills and good roads. A program for a more strenuous itinerary we will send on request.
During your bike tour there will be plenty of time to enjoy the local nature
This is a programme especially designed for those of you who love to be outside and are adventurous by nature but need a little assistance to make a cycle tour through our still rather unknown country.
About tour
A trip with Ecotour means an unusual and unforgettable vacation. Our trips are suitable for those who do not insist on luxury, love the mountains, appreciate nature’s silence and do not wish to travel in large groups.
This cycle tour is around Lake Issyk-Kul, a mountain lake at 1600m. Daily distances are between 20 and 85km. The cycling is, almost always, over asphalt road, and at night there is the chance to charge the bike’s batteries. To avoid cycling over very stony or sandy roads, some parts of the itinerary will be done in the minibus.
Accommodation: the tour starts on the north shore. Accommodation will be in small hotels, guesthouses, a yurt camp and with local families. A minibus, in which all baggage will be transported, will accompany you during the whole tour. If necessary, it will be possible to ride along in the minibus. A guide/interpreter (English or German speaking) will also accompany the tour to assist in communication with the local people. She will provide information about the country, its customs and habits.
Bicycle: as it is not allowed to take batteries with you in the plane, you have to hire an electric bike in Bishkek. These are new, modern bikes of good quality (more details and price on request). You should bring a cycling helmet and orange or yellow safety jacket.
Day By Day Programme
Here you can find a detailed description of the tour with routes and locations
| Day 1 | Departure from your local airport. |
| Day 2 | Arrival at Manas Airport where you will be met and taken to the Umai Hotel (or similar). After lunch we collect our bikes and a have short cycle ride to get used to the bikes. If necessary small adaptations can be made in the afternoon. Accommodation in the Umai Hotel. |
| Day 3 | By minibus to the Burana Tower, a remnant of a town on the old Silk Road, located near Tokmok. From here we cycle over a good secondary asphalt road to Kemin Village (50km cycling), and then in the minibus to Tamchy, a nice village at the north side of lake Issyk-Kul. Stay in guesthouse. |
| Day 4 | From Tamchy over a new, but rather busy road to Cholpon Ata. In Sary Oi we will visit the Nomad Museum which gives a good impression of Nomadic life in the past and present. We continue along the shore to Cholpon Ata where we can see the petroglyphs, rock drawings from the Skythes. From here by car to Oruktu, a small village with an open-air hot spa. We can take a bath here and will stay in a guesthouse near the spa. (Total of 40 km cycling). |
| Day 5 | Start cycling in Oruktu. We continue to Karakol, a nice town at the east side of the lake. After Tup (50 km) there we will be the first short ascents and descents. If necessary, it is possible to ride in the minibus for part of the journey. Stay in guesthouse (50- 75 km).. |
| Day 6 | Day in Karakol, sightseeing in the town. We will visit the Dungan Mosque and the wooden Russian Orthodox cathedral, and in the afternoon visit Karakol National Park. Stay in hotel. |
| Day 7 | Day cycling to Jeti Ogus (35km one way), one of the most beautiful gorges in Kyrgyzstan and located at an altitude of 2200 meters. We will see the famous red rocks with names like the “Seven Bulls” and the “Broken Heart”. Many legends are told about those rock formations. In the small village there is an old Russian Spa, and if we want to take a bath or have a massage, this may possible to arrange. In the afternoon back to Karakol, stay in hotel. |
| Day 8 | We leave Karakol and cycle along the south shore to the village of Jenish. Stay in guesthouse a few hundred meters from a sandy beach (60km). |
| Day 9 | From Jenish to the yurt camp Sonun by the shore of the lake. The last 2km after leaving the main road we cycle over a paved path. Stay in a yurt. Total 65km. |
| Day 10 | Day in Sonun yurt camp. It is possible to go swimming, hike in the so called “badlands”. If interested, we can learn to cook a Kyrgyz meal. |
| Day 11 | From Sonun to the village of Bokonbaevo (15km), the district town of the Tong region. Here we will meet a man who hunts with golden eagles and other birds of prey. Next, to the village of Toguz-Bulak where we will stay with a local family (another 45km). |
| Day 12 | From Toguz-Bulak back to the main road and after a long slight sloop we will reach Kyzyl-Suu, a well-known village for making yurt frames and yurt decorations. Here we will visit a family that specializes in this art. In this part of the tour we will have to climb up slowly from 1700 to 2100m., the highest point of the tour. Descending to Kara-Tala (1700m), we will stay with a local family (49km). |
| Day 13 | From Kara-Tala to Kochkor, the centre of felt making. Women from the surrounding village have started a cooperative shop where they sell their products. It is interesting to visit this shop, named Altyn Kol (means golden hands) and we will have lunch here and visit the bazaar (total 65 km). Stay in B&B. |
| Day 14 | Cycling to the water reserve of Orto-Tokoy. From here we will go back by minibus to Bishkek. In the afternoon there will be some time for shopping. Stay in the Umai Hotel. |
| Day 15 | Transfer to Manas Airport and departure. |
Due to unforeseen circumstances, it might be necessary to make small changes in the program.
We ask for your understanding.
Tour specifics
Our tours can be organized for individual travelers or groups of up to 10 people (and sometimes more) and for families with (young) children. For the majority of our tours you can specify the start date and length of the tour.
| Date | |
| On request | On request |
| Group | |
| 4 and more persons | |
| For four and more persons. Bike rental not included. | |
| Price with guide-interpreter | € 1.390 p.p. |
| Price without guide-interpreter | € 1.030 p.p. |
For bookings of 6, or more, persons we offer a 5% discount. In case there are less participants than required, if you pay an additional fee, the trip will go on as planned.
Terms of payment
• Transportation by own minibus
• All meals
• Stay in hotel, guesthouse, yurt, tent
• Programme as described
• English speaking guide/ interpreter
• Camping equipment except sleeping bag and Iso-mattress
• Porters to carry luggage (max 12 kg pp.)
• Cook
• Trekking guide
• Road taxes
• Flight • Insurances • Personal expenses • Bike rental • Entrance fees • Tips • Alcoholic and other bottled beverages • Activities not mentioned in the programme
If you have to cancel a tour you already booked, we have to charge you cancellation fee.
If Ecotour cancels the tour, of course you will get back the full amount you paid.
If you cancel your trip, depending on the time your message reaches us, you owe Ecotour the following amount:
| till 42 days before departure | one pays the deposit |
| day 42- till day 28 | 35 % |
| day 28- till day 21 | 40 % |
| day 21- till day 14 | 50 % |
| day 14- till day 5 | 75 % |
| day 5 – till day 2 | 90 % |
| on the last day before and the day of departure | 100% |
A trip with Ecotour means an unusual and unforgettable vacation.
Our trips are suitable for those who do not insist on luxury, love the mountains,
appreciate the silence and do not want to travel in large groups.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
Kyrgyzstan is a land full of beautiful experiences and wonders unique…
click the link below
Mountain passes, bad tracks, off-road, and firm climbs over 3000 m characterize this route.
Not all slopes are steep, but some are very long and on dirt roads.
But it is worth the effort.