12-day mountain bike trip through Kyrgyzstan

Arrival in the early morning and shuttle ride to the tour hotel in the city. Now, first, we will 'sleep in' until noon, enjoy a late breakfast, and set up the bikes. In the afternoon, we will explore the bazaar and the center of Bishkek during a city tour. We will end the day with a joint dinner featuring good traditional cuisine.

After breakfast, we drive for about three hours with the shuttle to the starting point at Orto Tokoy Reservoir (1,700 m). There, our bike adventure begins along the Chui River with views of green valleys and snow-capped peaks over 4,000 meters. After 30 km, we reach the small town of Kochkor (1,850 m) and our host family. In Kochkor, we visit a workshop for traditional felt-making.

Today we start on sandy and gravel paths with a gentle incline, ideal for acclimatization. After about 50 kilometers, we finally reach the steep ascent to the Chaar-Archa Pass at the end of the Kyzart Valley, offering a breathtaking view. The grand finale is the 8 km long descent through meadows, followed by a flowing ride down into the valley to our first campsite.

Note: After lunch, we will cover about 15 kilometers by vehicle. Depending on the weather, the route can also be taken by bicycle.

After a night in the open air and breakfast, we start the 12 km ascent to the second three-thousand-meter pass on our journey (Tuz Ashu Pass, 3,220 m). At the top, we are greeted by a breathtaking view of the crystal-clear Son Kul Lake. A 4 km descent through meadows leads us to the shore, where we take a break. The continuation to our yurt camp along the shore feels like balm for our souls. The tranquility and beauty of the entire area will remain in our memories forever!

Along the breathtaking sea skyline, between grazing cattle and yurts, we drive towards Terskey Pass (“The Pass of the 33 Parrots”). At the top, we are greeted by the view of the first forests of the typical Kyrgyz Tian Shan firs. After descending into the Son Kul Valley and our lunch break, we continue over another three-thousand-meter pass towards Naryn, an old garrison town on the Silk Road. The last kilometers will be covered by shuttle.

From Naryn, we travel upstream along the turquoise Naryn River. Still completely untouched, the water carves its way, creating a wonderfully varied scenery. The route passes through numerous villages, a great opportunity to observe everyday life in rural Kyrgyzstan. At the entrance of the Kapchygay Gorge, we reach our beautifully located campsite.

As the highlights are closely packed today, the rather short distance suits us for further acclimatization. We are looking forward to the spectacular confluence of the small and large Naryn, the Kapchygay Gorge, and the Örök Tam Gorge, the last village on the next three stages. 15 kilometers behind the settlement, we set up our camp and admire the vast mountain landscape with its summer pastures. We end the evening by the campfire.

This stage will take us through the unforgettable landscape of the Kyrgyz high pastures along the Balgart. On the right and left, the glacier-covered mountains and in front of us the endless expanse of the Kyrgyz high plateau. Our goal is the hot springs of Jylyy Suu at about 3,000m. There we will set up our camp and prepare for the upcoming difficult day over the pass.

The king stage of our tour takes us closer to the glaciers of the Tian Shan. Along the yak pastures, we reach the pass after a steady ascent and stand directly at the glacier. We have reached the highest point of our tour, the Tosor Pass at 3,893 m. Now the 37 km descent to Issy Kul Lake awaits us. The initially challenging path later leads down as a gravel and dreamy meadow path. The goal of our tour is reached, the Issyk Kul (warm lake) with its sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. After a break for swimming, we continue by vehicle to Yeti Oguz, 80 km away, to the lodge of our guide Tilek.

Today we relax in our beautiful accommodation and take a trip to the nearby rock formation 'Yeti Oguz', which translates to seven bulls. We will also visit Karakol with its bazaar, a wooden Dungan mosque, and the Orthodox church today. Those who wish can then visit the hot springs in the mountains near Aksu.

On the way back to Bishkek, we pass numerous villages where locals introduce us to their crafts and traditions. In a traditional restaurant, we conclude the journey with delicious cuisine before heading home with unforgettable impressions.

Return flight home in the early morning hours.