Freeride Kyrgyzstan? We offer the best ‘Backcountry Kyrgyzstan’ experience. It’s gonna be a remarkable trip to the Tien Shan mountains in Eastern Kyrgyzstan. We exclusively work with local guides and employees. This means you will meet overly hospitable Kyrgyz people and taste all what Kyrgyz culture has to offer.

The program starts in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. We’ll make a quick city tour and head to the ski capital Karakol. It’s a magnificent drive across the Shamsy mountains and along beautiful lake Issyk Kul. The lake doesn’t freeze in winter because of the underwater hot springs. This phenomenon even causes an considerable increase of snow fall in Eastern Kyrgyzstan. Exactly, that’s where we are heading.

From our experience we can tell that most tour skiers and (split)boarders want to have a say in their program. We can offer a 5-7 day ski touring / splitboarding program from our yurt camp but we can also offer a combination of other activities like ski resort based skiing, snow mobile droppings and/or horse riding tours. Below, you’ll find an overview of the activities.

Tour skiing/Splitboarding

There are several options for tour skiing around Karakol. The best place is the Ak Suu valley, just east of Karakol. We have supported a yurt camp in this spectacular valley. From this yurt camp (at 2600 meters) there are plenty of couloirs and amazing runs. Last year we have mapped (and named) many runs on the west-faced slopes. A local guide can help you organizing the trips in this valley.

The second option is the Jyrgalan valley, this yurt camp is a bit more accesible and usually receives more snow fall during the winter. There are unlimited options in the Jyrgalan valley with north faced couloirs but also with gentle tree runs down to the village of Jyrgalan. We will sit down with the local guide and decide the daily program on spot. The yurt is the traditional home for 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.

Ski resort Karakol

You can spend one or more 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.Challenging slopes are surprisingly well groomed and serviced by some snow canons too. Karakol’s area is quite challenging and very well suited for freeriding and treeruns. You can also do tour skiing or splitboarding in the ski resort. From the highest point at the Panorama lift (3100 meters) you can hike further up to 3450 meter. The views are stunning and the powder runs spectacular. The evening activities entail an après ski night (with Karaoke) or a pool night in a natural hot spring in the village of Ak Suu.

Snow mobile droppings / Cat skiing

For several days we will have access to our private Pistenbully. The driver of this snow groomer will bring us to different peaks in the Jyrgalan valley. This is one of the most unspoilt areas in freeride Kyrgyzstan with demanding terrain and views to Kazakhstan. You can ascend comfortably in our covered cabin. The runs are suited for everyone because intermediate skiers/boaders can stay on the gentle slopes and experienced freeriders can try their skills on higher/steeper terrain. We can have around 8-12 runs a day and lunch will be provided on the mountain. We even have our self created ice-bar. If the group is smaller we can use snow mobiles for drops in Jyrgalan.

Horse back riding with freeride 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 very challenging. It’s more about the way up than the way down. But the scenery is absolutely stunning.

The last morning is optional. We organize a city tour in Karakol with a visit to the Russian Orthodox Church, the local bazar 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 will 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 to 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)

Freeride Kyrgyzstan for you?

• Adventurers looking for something different than the Alps
• Experienced skiers/snowboarders with freeride equipment (ABS, beacon, probe, shovel)
• Powder and first tracks lovers

Included

• A lot of fun
• The best local knowledge
• All transfers
• Accommodation
• All meals (+ non alcoholic drinks)
• Tour Bishkek city center
• English speaking guide
• Local guides
• Cat skiing / Snowmobile
• Entrance fee hot springs
• Visit to Fairy tale valley
• Russian banya
• Ski passes

Not included

• Additional food & drinks (apart from the 3 included meals)
• Alcoholic drinks
• Tips & souvenirs
• Ski or snowboard rental (€ 75 per week)
• We do have a few tour skis/splitboards for rent
• Travel insurance