Mountain bike (long)
19 day tour, very experienced cyclists, since 2006
Explore the mountains of Kyrgyzstan by mountain bike
Tour through uncharted territory
From broad valleys to mountain tops, along flat plateaus and over high passes, by the beachside and in alpine meadows, large towns to small villages – this tour has them all, and wonderful cycling to complete the experience
About tour
Level of difficulty: This tour has been designed for very experienced riders in good physical condition. Mountain passes, bad tracks, off-road, and stiff climbs going over 3.000 m characterise 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.
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 transported by minibus.
Group: 4 to 8 participants. Distance – 45 to 115 km a day, depending on the level of difficulty of the stage. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide/interpreter. Your luggage will be transported in a vehicle.
Bicycle: Ideally you should bring your own bicycle and helmet . 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 of the 12, 15- and 19-days tour can also be done in opposite direction.
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 your hotel. Free until lunch then preparing the bicycles followed by a short cycling trip north of Bishkek. Stay in hotel. |
| Day 3 | By minibus through the tunnel at the Too-Ashuu Pass (2.564 m) to the Suusamyr Valley. After the tunnel we start cycling south alongside the Kokomeren River on a tarmac road to the small village of Kyzyl-Oi, descending down to 1.750 m. Total 60 km. Stay with a local family. |
| Day 4 | Pass through the village of Chaek (1.700 m) and then up into the mountains. 80 km. Accommodation in tents. |
| Day 5 | Over the Kara-Keche Pass (3.300 m). From here we get a good view of Lake Son-Kol. Down to the lake. Accommodation in yurts. Total distance 115 km. |
| Day 6 | Cycling from one side of the lake to the other. Cycling around 50 km depending on where the yurts are pitched. Stay in yurts. |
| Day 7 | Cycle up to the Kalmak-Ashuu Pass (3.317 m) and descend into the Tolok Valley (2.400 m). Stay with a local family in the nearby village, distance 50 km. |
| Day 8 | Rather short distance to cycle today into a beautiful valley – 44 km. Overnight in tents (2.900 m). |
| Day 9 | Leave the valley and climb to 3.400 m. Descend into the Kara-Kudjur Valley. Continue from Sary-Bulak to the village of Kochkor by minibus or continue cycling. 75 km or 110 km cycling. Stay in B&B. |
| Day 10 | From Kochkor to Kara-Tala, a village on the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. After 65 km you reach the village. Cycle to the lake. Here we will spend the night with a local family. |
| Day 11 | We cycle over a tarmac, sometimes sandy, rather difficult road through the Kongur-Olong Valley, first to Toguz-Bulak, where we will have lunch with a local family, and then to Temir-Kanat yurt camp. Total 60 km. Stay in yurt. |
| Day 12 | Day in the yurt camp at Temir-Kanat. This yurt camp (alt 2,450 m). is located on a plateau above the village, a nice place for a hike in the mountains. It is possible to rent horses here to go for a ride. Stay in yurt. |
| Day 13 | Descend from Temir-Kanat to Sonun, (1,600m.) a yurt camp by the lake located in a dry, semi-dessert area. Meet a man who hunts with golden eagles and other birds of prey. In Sonun we can swim in the lake. Stay in yurt. 45 km cycling. |
| Day 14 | Back to the main road and in Bokonbaevo (1.700 m) start climbing up to the Boz Salkin valley at 2,000m. We continue through the valley, altitude between 2.100 and 2.500 m. The road is deserted and not in a very good condition. After 24 km we reach the entrance to the Tosor Canyon (2.100 m). Another 20 km to the main road and after about 65 km in total, we reach Royal Gate yurt camp where we will spend the night. |
| Day 15 | An easy day today. Continue over a rather flat road along the shore of the lake to the village of Jenish , 40 km cycling. Here we will stay in Guesthouse Apricot, close to the lake. |
| Day 16 | Cycling 12 km over the main road and turn into the beautiful Juuku Valley, with red eroded rock formations, to a hot spa at 2.200 m. Back to the main road and by minibus to Karakol. Stay in hotel, total 80 km cycling. |
| Day 17 | Cycle to the north side of Lake Issyk-Kul. This side is busier and more touristic than the south side. After round 70 km we will stop in Oruktu to take a bath in an open-air hot spa, (80 km cycling) from here by car to Tamchy where we stay in a guesthouse. |
| Day 18 | By minibus from Tamchy to Bishkek, visiting the Burana Tower, a remnant of a town at the silk road on the way. Stay in the Umai Hotel (or equivalent). |
| Day 19 | 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 | |
| July 2 | July 20 |
| July 21 | August 8 |
| Group | |
| 4 and more persons | |
| For four and more persons | |
| Price with guide-interpreter | € 1.700 p.p. |
| Price without guide-interpreter | € 1.180 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
Your booking will be confirmed upon receipt of a deposit of euros 250 per person. The outstanding balance must be paid either 8 weeks before departure or in cash upon arrival. We do not accept debit or credit cards.
• Transportation by minibus
• Transfer from and to the airport
• All meals, breakfast, lunch and supper
• Stay in hotel, B&B, guesthouse, yurt and homestay
• Programme as described
• English/German (as required) speaking guide/interpreter
• Flight
• Insurances
• Personal expenses
• Entrance charges if applicable
• 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…
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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.