Mountain biking through Kyrgyzstan

* B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1

♦ Hotel ♦ B
Arrive early in the morning and travel by shuttle to our hotel in the city. Now sleep until noon, enjoy a late breakfast, unpack and build the bikes. In the afternoon, we will explore Bishkek and its history on a small city tour, then finish the day with a dinner of good traditional cuisine.

Day 2

Stage 1: Orto Tokoy Reservoir (2160 m) – Kochkor (1,819 m)
♦ 200 km ♦ 30 km ♦ 150 meters ♦ private Guesthouse  ♦ B, L, D
After breakfast, we leave the city by shuttle for a 3 hour journey southeast. Shortly before the Orto Tokoy Reservoir, a lake at the altitude of 1700m, our bike adventure starts. After a few meters descent on the pass road, the newly formed lake comes insight. After only a few kilometres, we reach its shore and enjoy the peace! The path continues along the pristine Chui River. Immediately in front of us, the first snow-covered mountains emerge from the lush green vegetation. After about 30 kilometres, we reach our accommodation at 1850m with our Kyrgyz host family in Kochkor. We also have the opportunity to visit the traditional Kyrgyz Felt production in the village.

Day 3

Stage 2: Kochkor – Chaar Archa Valley (2300m)
♦ 75 km ♦ 1360 m ♦ tent ♦ B, L, D
After a good breakfast in the guesthouse, we start our long leg today. The very gentle slope helps us to acclimatize to the height of the coming days. The traditional agriculture and the surrounding mountains characterize the extensive Kochkor Valley with its sand and gravel roads. Only after more than 30 km, we turn onto the little busy main road into the Kyzart Valley until we finally master the steeper ascent to the ChaarArcha Pass with a fantastic view over both valleys. The crowning finale is the 8 km long meadow run followed by a flowing single track down to the valley to our first tent camp.

Day 4

Stage 3: Chaar Archa Tal – Son Kul (3,022 m)
♦ 32 km ♦ 1050 m ♦ Tent ♦ B, L, D
After our first night outdoors and a good breakfast, we start the climb to Son Kul. Over 12 kilometres, the path leads up to the pass at an altitude of 3220m. Here we can now enjoy the spectacular view of Son Kul Lake, the most beautiful place in the country! At an altitude of 3000m, the surrounding peaks are reflected in the crystal-clear water, a 20 km long natural jewel. A 4km long enjoyable meadow run brings us to the lake. On the shore, we make our lunch break, with swimming possibility for the courageous and hard-boiled. The onward journey to our yurt camp over which the plateau runs along the shore is like balm for our souls. The peace and beauty of the whole area will be remembered forever!

Day 5

Stage 4: Son Kul – Ters Key Pass (3133m) – Naryn (2.078m)
♦ 80 km ♦ 60 km ♦ 900 m ♦ Hotel ♦ B, L, D
Along the breath taking sea scenery, between grazing livestock and yurts, we ride towards Terskey Pass (“The pass of the 32 parrots”). We will also master this pass and on the saddle, we can enjoy the view of the first forests of the typical Kyrgyz Tian Shan Spruces. The descent brings us to the Son Kul Valley. After lunch, surrounded by mountains and forests, you will pass another pass in the direction to Naryn (3,013m), an old garrison town on the Silk Road. The last kilometers we will use our shuttle.

Day 6

Stage 5: Naryn – Kapchygay Gorge (2,340 m)
♦ 60 km ♦ 1000 m ♦ Tent ♦ B, L, D
From Naryn, we ride on up river along the turquoise colour Naryn River. Still completely original, the water of the Naryn seeks its way and creates thereby wonderful varied scenery. Here we pass several typical Kyrgyz villages and biking on great trails along steep banks of the river. After short sliding passages, we reach our camp at the entrance of the gorge.

Day 7

Stage 6: Kapchygay Gorge – Örük Tam (2,678 m)
♦ 44 km ♦ 830 m ♦ Tent ♦ B, L, D
For further acclimatisation, we spend a rather moderate day along the “Little Naryn”. In the morning, the path continues over an old wooden bridge, following a narrow road through a gorge until the end where the view opens again. We reach a remote mountain valley, which houses only a small village called Örük Tam. Approximately 20 kilometres behind the settlement, we set up our camp and marvel at the extensive mountain landscape with its summer pastures. The evening will end with a campfire.

Day 8

Stage 7: Örük Tam – Jyluu Suu (2,980 m)
♦ 39 km ♦ 500 m ♦ Tent ♦ B, L, D
This stage will take us through the unforgettable landscape of the Kyrgyz Mountain pastures along the Balgart. Right and left, the glacier-covered mountains and before us the endless expanse of the Kyrgyz plateau. Our destination is the hot springs of Jylyy Suu at about 3000m. There we set up our camp and prepare for the coming heavy day over the pass.

Day 9

Stage 8: Jyluu Suu – Tosor Pass (3,889 m) – Issyk Kul (1,620 m)
♦ 91km ♦ 1100m ♦ Hotel ♦ B, L, D
The queen stage of our tour brings us ever closer to the glaciers of the Tian Shan. Along the Yak pastures, through the Üche Emcheck summer pasture, we reach a steady climb with a final steep climb to the pass and are right in front of the glacier. We reached the highest point of our tour, the 3,893m Tosor Pass. After a short snack and change, the 37km long descent to Issyk Kul Lake awaits us. The initial technical scree trail over leads later as gravel and fantastic meadow trail down to the lake Issyk Kul. For lunch at about halfway down of the decent, we can enjoy the beautiful view of the lake. On the further slope and trail descent, the scenery changes constantly from wooded mountain slopes to rugged red-yellow sandstone canyons. The goal of our tour is reached, the Issyk Kul (warm lake) with its sandy beaches and crystal clear water. After a break, we ride on to the 20km away Kadji Say to our hotel. (about 500 meters from the lake).

Day 10

♦ Hotel Kadji Say ♦ B, L, D
Today we relax in our beautiful accommodation or on the shores of the second highest mountain lake in the world. Together we can take a trip to the “Fairy Tale Canyon” with its bizarre rock landscape. Wind and water have created mystical sculptures and formations there for many years.

Day 11

♦ 300 km ♦ Hotel Bishkek♦ B, L
Transfer to Bishkek taking about 5 hours. In the afternoon, we have the opportunity to visit the Osh Bazaar, with its countless traders and stalls, and to do the last souvenir shopping. Unfortunately, our journey is already ending. In a traditional restaurant, we enjoy the delicious local cuisine in the evening and toast together. With unforgettable impressions from Kyrgyzstan, we head home.

Day 12

In the morning, you will be transferred to Manas Airport for your outbound flight.