Jyrgalan Ski Touring Week in Kyrgyzstan

Discover the best ski touring spots in Jyrgalan valley, in east Kyrgyzstan, together with Evgeniy, a local certified KMGA guide from Karakol.

Private

Tian Shan

6 Days

Jul - Oct

Intermediate

Highlights

Enjoy the best ski touring spots in Jyrgalan valley
Discover a beautiful destination in the heart of the Tian Shan mountain range
Get away from the crowds, and get to know the local culture in east Kyrgyzstan

Description

Jyrgalan is an idyllic valley in eastern Kyrgyzstan, and a true paradise for ski touring!

On this 6-day ski touring trip, we will discover some magical and wild corners in the Central Tian Shan mountain range. Only 60 km east of Karakol, Jyrgalan valley offers endless slopes, with options suitable for all levels.

The trip will start in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city, where we will pick you up and drive east to Karakol, one of the country’s major tourist destinations. We’ll then spend the next days skiing around the Turgen-Aksuu gorge, Jyrgalan valley, and the Arabel Plateau.

We will spend the nights in local guest houses, which will allow you to discover and enjoy the local culture.

You won’t find a better setting for adventure than the Jyrgalan valley, a pristine and unspoiled location at the heart of the Tian Shan mountains. It is the new jewel of the Issyk-Kul region, run by a very welcoming local community.

Contact me if you are interested in this unique ski touring trip in Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan. I can assure you that it’s an adventure you’ll never forget!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Transport during the trip

Price details

Inluded:
Guiding fee
Transfer for the whole program
Accommodation for the whole program, except for "Day 6"
Meals, as described on the itinerary
Taxes and entrance fees
Not Included:
Ski equipment
Avalanche equipment (beeper (transceiver), probe, shovel)
Purchases
Snowcat and snowmobile (80 USD per person)

Itinerary

Day 1: Bishkek - Karakol

You’ll be picked up in Bishkek, at Manas airport. We’ll then drive by car to Karakol city (450 km). Accommodation in a guest house (1 700 m.), where we’ll have dinner and meet the guide.

Meals included: -/-/D

Day 2: Turgen-Aksuu gorge

After Breakfast we will drive to Turgen-Aksuu gorge. There we will skin up to the «Austrian Kiss» mountain and enjoy an amazing ski descent. We’ll then drive to Jyrgalan valley, where we will have dinner and stay in a guest house (2250 m.).

Meals: B/-/D

Detailed information:

Start altitude: 2060 meters

Average altitude: 2500 meters

Highest altitude: 3120 meters

Height difference: 1060 meters

Distance uphill: 6 kilometers

Maximum gradient: 45°

Average gradient: 25°

Day 3 to 4: Jyrgalan Valley

We will spend 2 days in Jyrgalan Valley, one of the best places in the country for ski touring. We have many options here, and every day we will conquer new mountains and enjoy fabulous skiing. Upon request, you can book a snowcat and snowmobile (not included, to be paid on site).

By the end of day 4 we will transfer to Kyzyl-Suu village, and spend the night at a guest house.

Meals: B/-/D

Detailed information:

Start altitude: 2250 meters

Average altitude: 2630 meters

Highest altitude: 3150 meters

Height difference: 900 meters

Distance uphill: 7 kilometers

Maximum gradient: 45°

Average gradient: 30°

Day 5: Arabel Plateau

At 3800m above sea level, the Arabel Plateau is a high-altitude valley where we always have plenty of snow (even in June). It’s an alpine tundra ecosystem.

Meals: B/-/D

Detailed information:

Start altitude: 3800 meters

Average altitude: 3940 meters

Highest altitude: 4100 – 4300 meters

Height difference: 300-500 meters

Distance uphill: 4 kilometers

Maximum gradient: 45°

Average gradient: 30°

Day 6: Bishkek

After Breakfast we will drive back to Bishkek, or directly to Manas airport (depending on your flights). End of the program.

Meals: B/-/-

Details

More info

Please Note: It is necessary to have warm clothes, spare clothes, spare shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, ski crampons, avalanche equipment (transiver (beeper), probe, shovel), a ski with ski bindings, ski skins. If you have a specific disease, you should have your own first-aid kit with the necessary medications. It is recommended to use skis with a waist of at least 100 mm.

Meeting point

Manas airport, Bishkek

Equipment you will need to bring

Ski equipment

Avalanche eqmnt

Climbing skins

About the guide

Evgeniy

Ski Guide

In love with the mountains and nature of Kyrgyzstan. I live in the city of Karakol, the most touristic place in the country.

Organizer of tours in Kyrgyzstan, of any complexity and duration. Work experience since 2010. Certified mountain guide of the Association of Mountain Guides of Kyrgyzstan (KMGA). I love and know my country well and will gladly show it to you! The main activities are ski touring and trekking.

I am waiting for you to visit to go on an unforgettable journey through the land of heavenly mountains and the spirit of nomads!

Languages

Russian | English

Certificates

KMGA

Request more information

What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

Valeriya

You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.

Joshua

We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.

Cami

Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.

4.8