Kyrgyzstan ski tour
December — March
Jyrgalan, Arabel - Kyrgyzstan
Our intensive 6-day ski touring trip offers the chance to explore the Ala-Too Terskey mountain range in Kyrgyzstan.
Ski touring is an amazing way to discover a new country and a region, and also the local people. This tour can be combined with a ski trip to Kazakhstan to make your Central Asian skiing experience as complete and fulfilling as possible.
This is an overview tour with visits to three locations, including well-known among freeriders Jyrgalan. According to locals, Jyrgalan Valley is a region blessed by God. And they're right. Seven nearby peaks surround the valley, offering magnificent views and weather that is perfect for year-round adventure activities. A cool wind blows down from the glaciers in the warm summer months, allowing for world-class trekking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. And during the winter, the mountain ridges protect freeride skiers from harsh winter winds, leaving kilometers of fresh snow for the taking. Located in the Issyk-Kul province just 60 kilometers from Karakol, Jyrgalan offers travelers from all over the world the opportunity to venture into pristine beauty. The valley is characterised by a unique microclimate thanks to the altitude coupled with the surrounding Ala-Too Terskey mountain range.
Best timing: January-March
Duration: 6 days
Cost: from €750 per person
Cost includes: The services of an English-speaking guide, transfer for the whole trip, accommodation for the whole trip (except for Day 6), meals during the accommodation (full board), taxes and entrance fees.
Not Included: Ski equipment, avalanche safety equipment (available on request), meals during transfer (road cafes on day 1 and Day 6), snowcat and snowmobile, accommodation in Bishkek (We will gladly assist you with accommodation booking and suggest the best hotels in Bishkek)
Customization: We are happy to give you a personalized tour according to your wishes and needs (any number of participants, dates, amount of days etc).
Programme:
Day 1. Meeting at the airport Manas or at any point of Bishkek (if you come from Almaty). Transfer to Karakol city. On the way stop at the road cafe. Accommodation in a guest house (1 700 m.). Dinner. Meeting with the guide.
Day 2. Breakfast. Transfer to Turgen-Aksuu gorge to the «Austrian Kiss» mountain. Skitour to the top and descent. Transfer to Jyrgalan valley. Accommodation in a guest house (2250 m.). Dinner.
Day 3-4. Jyrgalan Valley, one of the best places in Kyrgyzstan for ski touring. Here we will spend 2 days, every day conquering new mountains and making good skiing. An additional option could be snowcat skiing and snowmobiles.
Breakfast. Skitour. Lunch on the way (lunch box). Dinner. Accommodation in a guest house (2250 m.). Transfer to Kyzyl-Suu village. Overnight at the guest house.
Day 5. The Arabel Plateau is a high-altitude valley, located at an altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level. Peculiar alpine tundra.
Breakfast. Skitour. Lunch on the way (lunch box). Dinner. Accommodation in a guest house (1800 m.).
Day 6. Breakfast. Transfer to the Bishkek city, or airport «Manas». On the way stop at the road cafe.
Additional Information
This tour is designed for skiers / snowboarders who are confident on the piste, ideally have some previous experience of riding off piste, and are in good physical shape.
You will need a travel insurance covering backcountry skiing in the remote mountain area.
What to bring:
Safety:
1. Beeper
2. Avalanche probe
3. Avalanche shovel
4. Ski crampons
5. Helmet
Equipment:
1. Skis / snowboard / snowshoes
2. Ski boots / snowboard boots
3. Ski / splitboard poles
4. Goggles
5. Climbing skins
Clothing and accessories:
1. Backpack
2. Sunglasses
3. Sunscreen
4. Medical kit
5. Down jacket / vest
6. Waterproof shell (jacket and trousers)
7. Ski gloves
8. Thermal underwear
9. Fleece / midlayer
10.Torch (with spare batteries)
11. Balaclava
12. Hat
13. Skiing / trekking socks
14. Regular socks
