Hiking adventure along the Kyrgyz range

A guided hiking tour to explore completely the northern Tien Shan mountains with amazing panoramic views. Do it in the company of Andrey, a local KMGA mountain guide.

Tian Shan

13 Days

May - Oct

Description

Come with me to discover the Kyrgyz range! Hiking here will be so amazing that you will never forget these beautiful mountain sceneries.

During our hiking adventure we will trek along the northern Tien-Shan, one of the major mountain ranges of the world.

Ala-Too Range is the beginning of them and its name means “Great Mountains” in Kyrgyz. It extends 454 km from east to west with tops altitude over 4700 m above the sea level. This is the typical Kyrgyz picture you may see when arrive to the airport.

Semenov Peak is the highest point, at 4875 m above the sea level. It locates inside the Ala-Archa National Park. This is the most popular place in the Kyrgyz range with more than 2,200 hectares and only 40 km away from the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek.

This fascinating place affords many sunny days and huge choice of paths with varying difficulty level from easy to extreme. An excellent sight to hiking.

Here the landscape offers numerous gorges with a virgin and particular beauty. A sight surrounded by rivers with clean ice water flowing in the gorge’s bottom, archa trees, huge alpine meadows and snow-covered scenery.

We will cross several passes and walk lengthwise fir trees and alpine meadows, as they are called here Jailoo. Likewise, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide view of awesome Chue valley. You may have the pleasure of hear noisy waterfalls, feel the clean and fresh air, see mountain lakes of different origin and get introduced into a life of modern nomads.

These are some reasons why every year more than a thousand climbers come from all over the world to conquer the heavenly Kyrgyz range. At the bottom of this description you can find a day-by-day itinerary of this program with more details.

Don´t hesitate to contact me and prove by yourself why these mountains mean “Celestial Mountains”!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Transportation start and back
Mountain guide expenses

Itinerary

Day 1: Arriving to Bishkek and City tour

Meeting at airport and transfer to hotel. You will have a rest time and then go on a city tour around the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. You will see the soviet architecture of this city, the Ala-Too square which offers amazing views of snow peaks, green parks, oriental bazaar and many other typical sights.

Day 2: Trekking along the beautiful Karagaibulak gorge

Our second day starts early in the morning going to Tuyuk Issykatinsky gorge. We will start trekking at 1650 m above the sea level. It will be an easy trekking along Karagaibulak gorge covered with fir trees. We will reach until 2530 m crossing Kyzylbeles pass and then descend to the Karaarcha gorge. We will have a camping night in a forest zone at 1800 m.

Day 3: Easy trekking to the Keltor gorge

Today we will trek to the Keltor gorge, where we´ll stay in a camping on the bank of the Keltor river. (8-9 km, 1800 m) (B,L,D)

Day 4: Walking to the Keltor Lake

We may walk all over the Kelton Lake, here there is an altitude of 2725 m above the sea level. At night we go back to camp. (12 km, 1800 m) (B,L,D)

Day 5 to 6: Two days, five gorges

In these two days we may go across five gorges. Beginning by the right side of the Keltor gorge, trekking along spurs of the Kyrgyz ridge until Taldybulak gorge. Then, we will go along upper part of the Burana gorge and after crossing a small pass of 2383 m we will descend to the Tuura-Kavin gorge. Tonight we will stay in tents. (2100 m) (B,L,D)

Day 7: Trekking to the Tuyuk Shamsynsky gorge

Today we will trek at the same time of enjoying the beauty of slopes covered with fir trees and snow-white peaks in the background. At night we will camp on the bank of the Shamsy river. (14 km, 2100 m) (B,L,D)

Day 8: Trekking to the At-Djailoo gorge

We may trek to the At-Djailoo gorge over the pass of 2820 m. The pass offers panoramic view of the Shamsy gorge. Tonight we will stay in tents. (2100 m) (B,L,D)

Day 9: Climbing to the Tuyuk-Keltor gorge

Today we will trek all day long, starting with a descent to the At-Djailoo gorge and then we will climb to the dividing ridge which borders the Shamsy gorge from its right component, the Kel-Tor gorge. After going down to the bottom of former small lake we will climb again a small ridge which leads to the Tuyuk-Keltor gorge – Tonight we will camp here, is a zone of spruce forest. (11 km, 2110 m) (B,L,D)

Day 10: Traversing boundless alpine meadows of the Kyzylsuu gorge

Today we will traverse boundless alpine meadows of the Kyzylsuu gorge. Tents camping (13 km, 2530 m) (B,L,D)

Day 11: Climbing of the Drujba peak

Today we will climb the Drujba peak (~ 4185 m) It is the longest and hardest day of our journey, but it is worth doing. This peak is the most western four thousands peak of the Kyrgyz ridge which affords fantastic wide view of surrounding tops. This day will be unforgettable. At night we will camp. (20 km, 2530 m) (B,L,D)

Day 12: Going back to Bishlek

Transfer to Bishkek, hotel accommodation and free time.

Day 13: Departure

End of the trip.

Details

More info

Other Quotations:

Group of 9 – 818 US dollars per person Group of 10 or more – 755 US dollars per person Additional payment for SGL supplement - 130 US dollars

The price does not include:

International flights
Equipment rental
Extra surcharge for a single room
Visa costs and other consulate service fees (for Russian citizens there is no need in international passport)
Personal expenditures
Insurance
Excess baggage charges
Changes in the program

Meeting point

Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

About the guide

-Andrey

5.0

(11)

Mountain Guide

I was born in what is now Bishkek, the Capital City of Kyrgyz Republic (used to be Frunze, the Capital of Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic) and live there ever since.

I started guiding professionally in 2004. I guide groups and individuals in technical and high altitude climbing, ski-tours, backcountry skiing, rock-climbing, ice climbing. I can also provide training facilities and organize trekking programs.

My main priorities in guiding are client safety and expedition success and therefore, my professional motto is “Never climb with strangers”.

In 2011, I finished my training with the Kyrgyz Mountain Guide School. The school is supported by Mammut and the Swiss and British Mountain Guide Associations and follows the IFMGA standards. Upon completion of the course and passing necessary tests I was qualified as a Mountain Guide. I am also qualified in mountain rescue and first aid by Mountaineering Instructor School in Kyrgyzstan (2012) and a member of the Kyrgyz Mountain Guide Association (KMGA) since the Autumn of 2009 where I serve as an instructor and examiner for the National Mountain Guide courses.

In my 13 years of guiding, I have worked all over Tien-Shan and Pamir in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China and East Sayan and Lake Baikal areas in Russia. I have arranged several ski tour and backcountry skiing programs in the Ala Archa national park, Suusamyr valley, Kyrghyz Ala Too, Chong Kemin gorge, Kumtor glacier, and Terskey Ala Too.

In 2009-2016 I worked as a high altitude guide at the Lenin Peak (7134 m), Khan Tengri Peak (7010 m), Pobeda Peak (7439 m), and Muztag Ata Peak (7546 m). As a mountaineering expert, I also have participated in 6 expeditions.

Presently I have over 100 ascents of different difficulty. The most significant of them are: Pobeda peak (7439 m) 1 ascent; Lenin peak (7134 m) 13 ascents; Muztag Ata (7546 m) 1 ascent; Khan Tengri (7010 m) 1 ascent; Korona peak 1st tower ED2 Smirnov route, winter conditions; Free Korea peak ED1 George Lowe route, winter conditions; Bachachekey peak 4 routes ED1 Kusmenko, Shwab, Polik, Ilyshenko; Ak-Too peak TD route, first ascent, winter conditions; Tarasova(Slovenia) TD route, winter conditions; Simagina peak TD+ route, winter conditions.

My sport climbing level: 7a-7b on sight, 7c-8a red point.

Please get in touch with me if you are interested to come and discover the mountains of my region.

Languages

Russian | English

Certificates

KMGA | IVBV | UIAGM | IFMGA

Request more information

What people are saying about -Andrey

magnus

Great experience in Jyrgalan Kyrgyzstan - Very competent end experienced guide. Very involved in making sure we got the best experience. A must do and highly recommend it!!

I had an awesome climb with Andrey to the summit of Peak Khan Tengri in August 2019. Andrey is a terrific guide and climbing companion. This climb was a huge challenge for me, both technically and physically. Andrey was outstanding in his focus on having a safe climb while at the same time doing everything possible to enable me to reach the summit. He showed excellent judgment and resourcefulness in planning our itinerary and making adjustments when needed. He was extraordinarily patient with my shortcomings. His friendly and engaging personality was a great benefit as well. I can honestly say, my positive experience on Khan Tengri was due in no small part to Andrey. I look forward to climbing with him again someday.

I climbed the Pobeda Peak with Andrey in 2011. It was something very difficult to achieve but we did it. The most difficult part of the trip was the section from the highest camp to the summit because of the altitude (more than 7000m). That was also the longest section of the climb. Andrey and I worked together up to the summit. I trusted 100% in Andrey during the climb because I knew him very well. He is a real professional climber!

Martina

For our rock climbing week Andrey had put together a programm which was ideally tailored to our skills. He handled everything in a very professional and trouble-free way. Under his guidance we learned a lot and gained confidence to undertake more challenging tours for ourselves in the future. At the same time, Andrey is also a really nice guy to hang out with. We had lots of fun during our tours and in the evenings. Thanks Andrey!