Cycling with children
15-day tour, active, sportive families, since 2018
This tour has been especially designed for active, sportive families
with children 8-14 years old
During your tour there will be plenty of time to meet the locals
and to experience life in a yurt
If you have children between 8 and 14 years old who are energetic, adventurous and love to cycle, enjoy a swim and would like to ride a horse, then this will be a holiday they will never forget
About tour
In 2 weeks you cycle through a fascinating part of the country, and stay in yurt camps in the mountains and on the shore of the lake. These locations vary in altitude from 1.600 to 2.450 m. For children there are all kind of activities – swimming, hiking, horse riding (or learning to ride on the small Kyrgyz horses), especially when you stay an extra night in a location and get the chance to discover the surrounded area. Daily cycling distances are between 25 and 50 km. On some days part of the itinerary will be done by minibus, to avoid cycling on busy highways.
In Bishkek you will stay in the Umai Hotel (or similar), located near the centre of the city. In the mountains you will stay in yurts, nomadic dwelling made of felt. In each yurt camp a local family will take care of your needs whilst you are there. Luggage will be by transported by minibus which will be with you during the whole tour. A guide/interpreter (English or German) will accompany you during the trip. If one of you needs a rest from cycling you can ride in the minibus.
For this tour a good trekking bike or mountain bike with wide tires, is necessary. Most roads are tarmac roads and rather stony. You can bring your own bike or rent a good mountain bike in Bishkek.
If you have an adventurous family, if you are interested in the way nomads live, can forget luxury for a short while and enjoy the natural life, then this will be a holiday you will remember forever. Don’t forget to bring your camera
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. After lunch preparation of bicycles followed by some sightseeing in Bishkek eith our guide/intepreter. Stay in hotel. |
| Day 3 | By minibus through the tunnel at the Tor Ashuu Pass, 125 km (the tunnel is at 2.564 m and is 2,5 km long), to the junction with the main road to Osh. Here we start cycling to the village of Kyzyl-Oi (1.800 m). 45 km of dirt road to the village. Stay in a B&B. |
| Day 4 | Day in Kyzyl-Oi. This village is located in a narrow gorge on the side of the powerful Kokomeren River, and is surrounded by the high red-colored mountains that gave the place its name (Kyzyl means red in Kyrgyz). Especially colourful is the red clay covering the mountains from bottom to top. This clay has been used as material for house building since the beginning of 20th century, and some of these houses may be seen in Kyzyl-Oi. Around Kyzyl-Oi village there are a lot of pristine places with unique flora and fauna. Stay in B&B. |
| Day 5 | We continue along the Kokomeren River to Chaek, a small town in an agricultural valley, where we can visit the bazaar. Stay in B&B. 46 km cycling (alt 1.677 m). |
| Day 6 | Today we cycle through the Jumgal Valley to the village of Kyzart. The small town is a few km off the main road. 46 km cycling (alt 2.229 m). Here we will stay with a local family in the village, in very simple accommodation. |
| Day 7 | We continue to the Kyzart Pass (2.664 m). It is not steep, but a long way up, and after 15 km we reach the highest point and then descend slowly. After 50 km and at an altitude of 1.920 m we reach the junction to the salt-mine in Tuz. It is possible to visit the salt-mine, and also to see the sanitarium for people with asthma and other medical problems. From here by minibus to Kochkor where we will stay in a B&B. Alt 1.845 m. |
| Day 8 | We leave Kochkor by minibus and after 20 km leave the main road and start cycling. For 46 km we cycle over a bad, flat asphalt road to the village Kara-Tala close to the south side of Lake Issyk Kul. Here we will stay with a local family. The shore of the lake is only a few km cycling from here. Total 46 km and alt 1.650 m. |
| Day 9 | Today we drive first to the village of Kyzyl-Tuu where we will visit family that makes yurt frames and yurt decorations. After lunch we cycle into the Kongur Olung Valley to the village of Toguz-Bulak where we will stay with a local family or in a B&B. (30 km). |
| Day 10 | Continue through the Kongur Olung Valley to the village of Temir-Kanat, and then up to the yurt camp at 2.450 m. The last 100 m up is too steep to cycle or to go by car, so we have to do this either by foot or on horseback. (25 km). Stay in yurt. |
| Day 11 | Day in the yurt camp Temir-Kanat. There are horse here so we can go for a ride, a hike in the mountains or visit local herdsmen living in yurts in the mountains. Stay in yurt. |
| Day 12 | A 22 km cycle down to the district town of Bokonbaevo (1.700 m). Here we will meet a man who hunts with golden eagles and other birds of prey. He will show his bird(s) and tell about his profession. Then another 15 km to the yurt camp Sonun on the edge of the lake. Stay in yurt. |
| Day 13 | Day in Sonun swimming or hiking in the badlands, a semi desert like area. Stay in yurt. |
| Day 14 | By minibus back to Bishkek. In the afternoon some time for shopping and/or visiting the Osh Bazaar. Stay in 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: two adults + child | |
| Price for Adult | € 1.590 p.p. |
| Price for Child | € 1.195 |
| Group: two adults + two children | |
| Price for Adult | € 1.440 p.p. |
| Price for Child | € 1.075 p.p. |
| Group: two adults + three children | |
| Price for Adult | € 1.350 p.p. |
| Price for Child | € 995 p.p. |
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…
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.