Freeride skiing in Kyrgyzstan, 8 days in the Tian Shan Mountains
Join the certified guides at Azimut on an unforgettable 8-day program of freeride skiing in Kyrgyzstan and discover the wild slopes of the Tian Shan range on an exclusive adventure where you will ski to your heart's content and enjoy the local hospitality, cuisine, and culture too.
Tian Shan
8 Days
Jan - Mar, Dec
High
Advanced
Highlights
- Snowmobile transfers to the best snow spots in Kyrgyzstan.
- All logistics covered, including a comfortable yurt in the mountains.
- Replenishing Russian sauna and delicious meals by our very own cook included.
Description
Would you like to enjoy a full week in the wild snow-kissed mountains of the Tian Shan range? Then come freeride skiing in Kyrgyzstan with us and we will show you the best places for the sport in this unique location!
On this 8-day adventure, we will enjoy exploring the most stunning mountains in Kyrgyzstan and finding the best runs. We will start out from Bishkek and set off to Karakol and get our first taste of Kyrgyz snow. We will stay in the Karakol area for a few days and then, we will head to the breathtaking Karkara valley where we will stay in a comfortable yurt for a couple of days and explore on a snowmobile to find the best virgin snow of the region, which we will of course then enjoy skiing in. Our evenings will be all about relaxing, laughing, eating delicious cuisine and capping off some great ski days with more fun. You can find a detailed itinerary below.
Please keep in mind that this program is intended for good skiers in all snow conditions, however, specific ski touring skills are not required. We will probably spend around an hour or less skinning every day, so a good fitness level is also necessary. Of course, we will be there to make sure you enjoy skiing in Kyrgyzstan to the max!
So, are you ready for an out of the ordinary week in the pristine snow of the Tian Shan range? Then contact us now and letâs go freeride skiing in Kyrgyzstan together!
Or, if you prefer, you can join us on this ski touring adventure from Babash Ata to Arslanbob!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Permit and entrance fees
- Luggage transfer
- Snacks
- Clean drinkable water
Price details
- The price includes:
- The organization,
- Internal transfers,
- Luggage transport (minibus, 4x4, snowmobile),
- Supervision by a French-speaking guide throughout the stay,
- Supervision by a local English-speaking guide,
- Full board accommodation (D8 including breakfast) except drinks,
- The ski lifts,
- Permits and entry fees to "ecological zones",
- 1L bottled water per person / day,
- the AZIMUT welcome pack.
- The price does not include:
- International air transport and the cost of transporting your luggage to Bishkek,
- The airport-hotel shuttle to Bishkek if you arrive at a different time,
- The insurance,
- Visits not included in the program,
- All drinks including meals, extras in accommodation, personal expenses,
- Freeride ski equipment,
- Costs caused by an early return,
- Tips,
- Airport taxes from Bishkek (around 20 dollars),
- And all that is not provided under the heading "the price includes".
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bishkek - Hot springs and transfer to Karakol station
First, we will transfer to Bishkek, to the hotel to rest until noon. We will check the equipment and go over a short trip briefing. After lunch, we will depart for the famous resort of Karakol in the east of the country on a very beautiful road on the banks of Lake Isik Kul. Nothing like a stop en route to the natural hot springs of Korumdu ⊠before a good nightâs sleep in Karakol.
Transfer: minibus (400km / 6h)
Meals included this day: Breakfast â lunch â dinner
Accommodation included today: 3-star hotel
Day 2: Good warm-up and discovery of Karakol!
Karakol is the highest station in Central Asia, at 3040m. We will carry out safety checks, warm-up, test everyoneâs levels and of course the Kyrgyz snow!
Meals included: Breakfast â lunch â dinner
Accommodation included today: 3-star hotel
Day 3: From Karakol to Karkara
We will enjoy freeriding around the station. will probably put the skins on to get some runs from behind too.
In the afternoon, we will head to the unique Karkara valley (2200m above sea level)  to reach our yurt camp which will be our comfortable base camp for the next few days. Transfer by 4Ă4, then our local team awaits us with snowmobiles and sleds to link the last 15 km that separates us from the base. Installation and meal in the common room. The place is very warm, and relaxation is conducive between the âleisureâ yurt and the Russian sauna, which you will be able to access every evening.
Transfer: 4Ă4 and snowmobile (120km â approx. 3h)
Meals included this day: Breakfast â lunch â dinner
Accommodation included today: Comfort yurt
Day 4: Karkara: day 1
Departure towed by snowmobile for the many neighboring passes. From there, we will put on skins to reach beautiful virgin routes. We will have the snowmobile to take us to different spots. Return to our yurt camp and relax before dinner.
Meals included this day: Breakfast â lunch â dinner
Accommodation included today: Comfort yurt
Day 5: Karkara: day 2
Another day to feast on wild landscapes and quality freeride, the possibilities are endless!
Meals included this day: Breakfast â picnic â dinner
Accommodation included today: Comfort yurt
Day 6: More Karkara
Following the exploration of the first 2 days, you will choose together the terrain to explore to make the most of another day in paradise!
Meals included this day: Breakfast â picnic â dinner
Accommodation included today: Comfort yurt
Day 7: Bishkek and visit of Osh market
After breakfast, transfer by snowmobile to our 4Ă4, then en route to Bishkek, with nice coffee and tea breaks in the local roadhouses. Lunch on the way. We will take advantage of the afternoon to visit the huge market of Osh in Bishkek. It is the ideal place and time to find some souvenirs, bring a chapka, immerse yourself in the life of the locals âin the cityâ. Night at the hotel.
Transfer: snowmobile, 4Ă4, minibus (440 km / 7-8h)
Meals included this day: Breakfast â lunch â dinner
Accommodation included today: 3-star hotel
Day 8: Bishkek - Airport transfer
Itâs time to say goodbye after a good breakfast! Transfer to the airport. Return flight.
Transfer: minibus, about 45 min
Meals included this day: Breakfast
Equipment you will need to bring
Helmet
Poles
Ski equipment
Avalanche eqmnt
Climbing skins
Technical material - Freeride skis (or freeride rando) fitted with touring bindings, sealskins, sticks, ski boots. All in excellent condition. We recommend freeride skis to make the most of descents in all snow and in powder snow. do not hesitate to take your pair of fats at 110, 120 mm on the skate. - Ski bag - Backpack: capacity 30L. Security advice: Airbag bag highly recommended. Airbag backpacks are a plus in security. In the event of an avalanche, the airbag allows you to stay on the surface of the avalanche and thus reduces the risk of being buried. Azimut Guides use this bag a lot. Encouraging the use of safety equipment, we can rent this type of bag for you at a very favorable rate. We ask you to be equipped for this trip. - DVA (avalanche victim detector), shovel, probe: If you have a DVA, a shovel and a probe, please notify us when you register. If you don't have one, we will lend you one for free. - Highly recommended ski helmet. Please contact us for rental prices.
About the guide
Azimut
4.2
(15)
Mountain Guide
We enjoy very much discovering and rediscovering the most beautiful spots in the world, in the Ecrins mountain range but also all around the planet.
Together with the guides in the team, we will share with you unique moments and an amazing journey. From les Ecrins to Chile, from Morocco to Greenland, from Les Gorges du Verdon to Japan, from Italy to Norway⊠tons of destinations offering all types of mountain activities, different every season. It makes us so happy when I can share them with my friends and clients.
Languages
French | English
What people are saying about Azimut
Thierry
Awesome experience, knocked another item from my bucket list.
Yogesh
Well organised trip with excellent guides and admin support Highly recommend đ
jozsef
The Guide did not even know I'am on splitboard. Everyone else was on skis, I was the only one on board. Guide has no experience on board, so the daily trips was designed for skiers, not borders. I would like to know which company is responsible putting me in a ski group, Azimut or Explore-Share? If you don't know the difference between what is doable with skis and splitboards, you would not sell trips for splitboarders! In the only day I could enjoy somehow, I did very hard time to stay on my feet on icy steeps, because I should have had a crampon, but I did not have it, because the list of necessary equipment does not mention it. All the skiers had one. The guide anyway did what he could to help me, all the respect for Rafael. But the whole trip was a fuckup for me that way. I really want to know who is responsible!?
Yelena
the trip did not correspond program description which forced me to leave on the second day, with huge financial losses. the guide checked and confirmed ny capabilities to ski - indeed after it was failed off road asked me to make a decission to give up. When I asked the agency to organize a transfer at least back to the meeting point (from the middle of nowhere) they pretended they can't do it (indeed, it was included to the program...) the worst every trip in my life. And explore and share instead of any invistigation simply did not care.
Raphael
Had a great trip. Unfortunately the guide was not fluent in English as written in the description. That is something that could lead to a very tricky situation if there wouldâve been a dangerous situation. The selection of the group by azimut was not the best as at least one person was physically not capable of doing this trip. However, the service by explore-share was great!
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