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Chong Kyzyl-Suu Mountain Refuge

Rivers of Tien Shan

Uncover the hidden gems of Kyrgyzstan's Tien Shan range with our exclusive winter tour

This global program allows you to visit Kyrgyzstan at any season of the year and has been adapted specifically for the winter time.

Discover Lake Issyk Kul in winter on skis or snowshoes

Ski, hike and snowshoe through untouched landscapes, soak in natural hot springs and immerse in the traditional culture of winter yak farmers, all while enjoying comfortable accommodations and authentic local cuisine around beautiful Lake Issyk Kul

11 DaysWinter toursKyrgyzstan

  • 1 people: $4,020

  • 2 people: $2,360

  • 3 people: $1,820

  • 4 people: $1,530

  • 5 people: $1,360

  • 6 people: $1,250

  • Starting from

    USD

    Download the program PDF

    Program

    
            Manas International Airport - Chong Kemin
    Meeting at Bishkek's airport, visit of the capital and Burana tower, then drive to Chong Kemin National park
    Manas International Airport - Chong Kemin

    Arrival by air in Bishkek. Meeting with your guide at Manas airport. Transfer to Bishkek. City tour in Bishkek, then transfer to Chong Kemin valley through the Burana tower. Night in homestay.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    150 km
    02:00
    1000 m
    
            Chong Kemin - Karakol
    Skiing or snowshoeing in Chong Kemin before heading to Karakol
    Chong Kemin - Karakol

    Short ski radial exit output in the morning on Kungey Ala Too, lunch at Chong Kemin, then transfer to Karakol by the North shore of the Issyk Kul lake.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    306 km
    04:00
    03:00
    03:00
    800 m
    800 m
    
            Karakol - Altyn Arashan hot water springs
    Drive and walk to Altyn Arashan valley
    Karakol - Altyn Arashan hot water springs

    Half an hour transfer by vehicle to the alpine valley of Altyn Arashan. Then walk up to the hot springs where we will spend the night (4-5 hours walking, free time, swimming in the radon source) at 2600 m altitude. Overnight and meals in a shelter's home.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    19 km
    00:30
    04:30
    600 m
    0 m
    
            Altyn Arashan hot water springs - Karakol
    Hiking down to Ak-Suu, then drive to Karakol
    Altyn Arashan hot water springs - Karakol

    Hiking down to Ak-Suu village, 4 hours, then transfer to Karakol. Night in guesthouse or hotel.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    19 km
    00:20
    04:00
    0 m
    600 m
    
            Karakol - Chong Kyzyl Suu meteo station
    Drive to Chong Kyzyl-Suu valley including visit of Jeti Oguz rocks
    Karakol - Chong Kyzyl Suu meteo station

    In the morning we take the road along the southern shore of Issyk Kul lake, then we assemble the Jeti Oguz valley, topped by the huge massif Oguz Bashi, which rises to over 5000 meters. Walk through the sanatorium park and around the red ocher cliffs. At noon we stop at the village of Kyzyl Suu to have our meals in a Kyrgyz family, who works at the geo-physical station of Chong Kyzyl Suu. The village of Kyzyl Suu was one of the last supply sites before attacking the long way through the Tien Shan to reach China. In the afternoon, we take the mountain road and we drive into the gorge of Chong Kyzyl Suu. As you wish, we spend free time swimming in the warm waters of Jeli Suu, or for walking at the foot of majestic mountains. Installation at the shelter, part of the geo-physical station of Chong Kyzyl Suu located at 2550 m. altitude. Meals and overnight at the shelter.

    Options: visit the Ethnographic Museum of Orgochor; visit the village of Pakrovka (bazaar, church, beaches); visits to archaeological sites dating from the 8th century BC; Horse ride.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    58 km
    04:00
    02:00
    700 m
    0 m
    
            Chong Kyzyl Suu meteo station - Chong Kyzyl Suu meteo station
    Exploring the Kashkator canyon
    Chong Kyzyl Suu meteo station - Chong Kyzyl Suu meteo station
    After breakfast, hiking into the direction of the Archa Toer pass. 3860 m. alt. The track is easy on an ancient dirty road made by geologist. One the West side, many cliffs of the Shakiratma mount, on the East side, the relief is less rugged with high pastures. Night and dinner in the same place. (2500 m). During the summer, we can hike till the glacier's lake or into the Aïlama (Aylama, Ailama) gorge, on the foot of 4900 meters alt. peaks.
    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    10 km
    05:00
    800 m
    800 m
    
            Chong Kyzyl Suu meteo station - Kochkor
    Visit of a falconer and transfer to Kochkor village
    Chong Kyzyl Suu meteo station - Kochkor

    Today we drive by the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kul (warm lake). On the way, visit a fantastic place calling "Skazka". Picnic by the lake then we visit at Bokonbaeva village with a famous hunter eagle. He tells us about his interesting life. In the afternoon arrival in Kochkor. Dinner at homestay in Kochkor.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    265 km
    05:00
    950 m
    
            Kochkor - Kilemche Jailoo
    From Kochkor, transfer to Kilemche valley, and hiking to upper winter farms
    Kochkor - Kilemche Jailoo

    This morning, you leave the Kochkor village to the Kilemche gorge. The road goes through the Kyzart pass 2665 meters altitude, then till the village of Kyzart and the entrance of the Kilemche gorge. You will hike now till the high pastures of the valley, and till winter farms. Dinner and overnight in shepherd's house.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    103 km
    03:00
    06:00
    400 m
    50 m
    
            Kilemche Jailoo - Kilemche Jailoo
    Day hiking in the Kilemche valley
    Kilemche Jailoo - Kilemche Jailoo

    Today, we enjoy visiting this beautiful valley, walk back and forth towards Tolok pass which marks the summit of the valley. The walk is pleasant all year round, and the contrast is even more surprising in winter. Evening meal and night at the shepherd.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    18 km
    06:00
    300 m
    300 m
    
            Kilemche Jailoo - Bishkek
    Hiking down till the village of Kyzart, then drive to Bishkek
    Kilemche Jailoo - Bishkek

    In the morning, we take the road to the valley of Jumgal that we go down to the small village of Aral, from there the road goes up the canyon of Kekemeren, very colorful. Lunch with a Kyrgyz family in the village of Kyzyl Oï. In the afternoon, the road goes up to the Toe Ashuu Tunnel that connects the Suusamyr Valley to the Chuy Valley. Arrival in Bishkek, installation in hotel.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    303 km
    05:00
    05:00
    210 m
    710 m
    
            Bishkek - Manas International Airport
    Transfer from Bishkek to Manas International Airport.
    Bishkek - Manas International Airport

    Depending on your flight time, your guide will join you to the airport and help you check in for your flight.  If your flight is later in the day your guide will show you more places in Bishkek before your flight. We hope you enjoyed your trip to Kyrgyzstan and we hope you come back again to explore other counties in Central Asia with us. 

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    40 km
    00:40
    0 m
    100 m

    Nomad's Land were brilliant organising a week tour for 4 friends and myself. Fabien really listened to what we wanted. No cities, beautiful nature, some hikes and seeing the people.The tour he designed couldn't have been better. Our guide Alex was incredibly knowledgeable about Krygyzstan, he was relaxed and nothing was ever a problem. We loved our holiday, learned a lot and can't recommend this company enough.

    Lynsay F

    their flexibility, adaptability and speed ...... and that's already so good

    Jean Claude

    On your way

    Chong Kemin National Park KG

    This park encompasses the entire Chong Kemin Valley. There are many trails still virgin or almost. Several passes between Issyk Kul Lake or Kitchi Kemin Valley.

    The total area is 126,514 hectares. Here in the park the river Chon Kemin flows. More than 780 species of plants grow and rare mammals such as snow leopard, brown bear, maral, Eurasian lynx, golden eagle, himalayan griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis),  bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), saker falcon and sablefly are found.

    Issyk Kul lake KG

    The Issyk-Kul lake has a length of 182 km, a maximum width of 60 km and covers an area of ​​6,236 km². This makes it the second largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca. Located at an altitude of 1,606 m, it reaches 668 m deep. 

    About 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake. The largest are the Djyrgalan (Jergalan) and Tyup. It is fed by springs, including many hot springs and snowmelt, and it has no outlet. Its south side is dominated by the Tian Shan mountain range of wild beauty. The lake water is slightly saline and level down about 5 cm per year.

    The Issyk-Kul lake is an important step on the Silk Road, a dirt road for travelers from the Far East to Europe. Many historians believe that the lake was the point of origin of the plague that hit Europe and Asia in the early and mid 14th. The status of the lake as a place of passage for travelers allowed the plague spread across the continents through the medieval merchants who unknowingly took away the vermin infested with them. Armenian monastery from the 14th century was found on the northeast coast of Lake retracing the steps of a medieval map used by Venetian merchants on the Silk Road.

    Karakol dungan mosque KG

    Issyk-Kul Central Mosque of Karakol city named after Ibrahim Aji was built by initiative of Ibrahim Aji. He invited the famous Beijing architect Chou Seu and 20 carvers with the skills of traditional Chinese architecture and composition techniques for building the mosque. Construction of the mosque began in 1904 and completed in 1907.

    An ingenious system allowed builders to build the mosque with no metal reinforcement tools. The mosque holds 42 based pillars. Encircling of the building is multi-tiered wooden cornice, decorated with images of plants like grapes, pomegranates, pears and peaches. Besides it the mosque is registered as a historical monument and protected by the law. Today mosque operates successfully and opens for everyone who visits our city.

    Why Should You Go There?

    The Mosque is very beautiful and interesting because it’s the only Chinese architecture in Kyrgyzstan.

    Address: Abdrakhmanova/Bektenova
    Working Hours: 6am-9pm
    Cost: 20 SOM
    Time Spent: 30 to 40 min.

    National park Karakol KG

    National Park Karakol is created 15th April at 1997 in Yssyk Kul region , district Ak-Suu as a reserve. It occupies 38256 h, and unique natural complexes of the gorge Karakol are stored in him.

    The fauna is represented by a roe, a capricorn, a wolf, a fox, a marten, an ermine, from birds - an ular, a stone partridge. From the Red List: a leopard, a golden eagle,a kumai,a saker, a lamb live here.

    The main forest forming breeds are coniferous: pine, fir-tree of Tien Shan, larch. There are no hard-wooded broadleaved breeds. Flora is presented by more than 700 species of plants, from them 80 types - wood and shrubby breeds.

    Kochkor KG

    Kochkor is a town of shepherds located in Naryn oblast 200 km from Bishkek. It is located at 1800m. alt. The city has 17,000 residents. Most of them are shepherds or farmers. With the Kyrgyz hospitality, tourism is an increasingly important for economy. It is a starting point to reach the sights as Lake Song Kul, Sarala-Saz pastures, Lake Koelykoek, the salt mine Chong Tuz, and also the crossroads between Issyk Kul lake and City Naryn. Places for visiting: the women cooperative "Kochkor Kutu" which develops Kyrgyz crafts. Opportunity to see a demonstration of the production of livestock market mouton. The cattle market held each Saturday is always a colorful and lively event,don't miss it.

    Kekemeren river KG

    The Kekemeren is the biggest river tributary of the Naryn River. The Suusamyr and the West Karakol River flow into the Kekemeren at an altitude of 2030 meters, near the village of Kojomkul and 3 kilomètres before the Kekemeren's canyon. The river is situated between the Suusamyr and the Djumgal ranges and is about 130 km long till the Naryn confluence. 

    The whole river is passing through a colorful canyon with interesting whitewater for good rafter, class I to V. Our rafting programs purpose two sections, the first of 45 km from Kojomkul village to Aral village (1 to 3 days), the second of 90 km from Aral to the Naryn confluence (2-5 days). Of course, the during time depend on the level of participants, but well-experienced rafters.

    The Amudarya trout (Salmo trutta oxidants Kessler), the Schizothorax intermedius McLelland, locally known as "Marinka" lives in the upstream waters of Kekemeren River. Diptychus maculates Berg (Osman) can be encountered only in the upper part of the river in the Suusamyr bassin.

    Kojomkul museum KG

    Museum and village in the name of a local hero named Kojomkul. In a small museum you can see photographs, clothes of strongman . Three people can easily fit in the Kojomkul's robe. Huge boulders that the strongman lifted are also stored here. The weight of the smallest of them is 620 kilograms.Not far from his native village, named after him, journalists saw a huge stone weighing more than 600 kilograms, which Kojomkul in 1924 lifted and placed on the grave of one of the local leaders named Tyyta uulu Chargynbek. Next to the stone is the mausoleum of this official. It resembles a yurt and is built of wood and clay.

    Info

    What is included

    • All transportation in a private vehicle

    • All airport transfers

    • Accommodation as described in the program

    • Meals (3 per day)

    • Bottled water (when possible) & tea

    • English-speaking trekking guide

    • Pack horses with saddle bags & horsemen

    • Camping & cooking equipment (tents, mats, gas, stove, etc)

    • All the activities listed in the program

    • Entry fees at national parks and/or border zones listed in the program

    • Entry fees at museums and historical sites listed in the program

    • Domestic flights mentioned in the program

    • A contribution to our sustainable development projects

    • Organisation of the trip & local taxes

    What is not included

    • International flights

    • International banking fees (PayPal, ...)

    • Travel & repatriation insurance

    • Visas / LOI (if applicable)

    • Alcoholic and soft drinks

    • Personal expenses

    • Personal equipment (sleeping bag, headlight, personal medication, etc)

    • Additional costs due to unexpected personal events (health, loss of luggage, ...)

    • Tips for guide & driver (always optional, always appreciated)

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    Postal address

    Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

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