Powder Kingdom of Kyrgyzstan:

11-Day Ski Touring Expedition

Arrival at Manas Airport. Meeting with your mountain guide and driver and transfer to Bishkek. Accommodation in a hotel. Free time to rest or explore the city depending on arrival time. Equipment check and expedition briefing depending on arrival time. Early arrivals may have time to rent or adjust missing equipment.
Accommodation: 3–4★ hotel.
Food: not included.
Altitude: 800 m.
Distance: 30–35 km / Driving: 40–50 min.
Optional activity: Short city walk in central Bishkek, visit Ala-Too Square, Osh Bazaar, or rent and adjust ski equipment before the expedition.

After breakfast transfer to Suusamyr Valley through the spectacular Too-Ashuu mountain pass. Arrival at the base camp and start of the first ski-touring day. Exact routes are selected based on weather, avalanche conditions, and group ability. Open alpine bowls and ridge lines. First ski touring day focuses on acclimatization and terrain familiarization.
Ski touring: 3–5 hours
Accommodation: Mountain hut / base camp
Food: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Difficulty: Moderate
Altitude: 800 m → 3,200 m (Too-Ashuu Pass) → 2,200 m (Suusamyr)
Distance: 140 km / Driving: 3–4 hrs
Optional activity: Evening snowshoe walk around base camp, avalanche rescue practice session, or photography of sunset in Suusamyr Valley.

A full day dedicated entirely to exploring the Suusamyr ski-touring zone. This area has generally stable continental snowpack typical of the region, wide slopes, and excellent winter conditions. Avalanche safety briefing is conducted each morning.
Ski touring: 5–6 hours / Difficulty: Moderate–advanced
Accommodation: Mountain hut
Food: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Altitude: 2,200–3,200 m
Optional activity: Additional short ski run near base camp, avalanche beacon training, or landscape photography at sunset.

Ski touring in the Suusamyr area until early afternoon. Then leave Suusamyr and drive to the traditional village of Kochkor. Arrival and accommodation in a local guesthouse. Optional activities: visit a felt-carpet workshop or take a short village walk. This is a lighter ski day designed to allow recovery after two full ski days.
Accommodation: Local guesthouse
Food: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Difficulty: Easy / Travel day
Altitude: 1,800 m
Distance: 160–180 km / Driving: 3–4 hrs
Optional activity: Visit a felt-carpet workshop, short village walk, or tea with a local family to learn about rural life.

After breakfast continue to Karakol, driving along the south shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. Optional stops: Eagle hunter demonstration in Bokonbaevo. Optional visit to Kyzyl-Tuu village to observe the traditional yurt-making process. Also visit Skazka (Fairytale) Canyon on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. Stops are flexible depending on road and weather conditions. Arrival in Karakol in the late afternoon. Dinner and rest. This is a scenic but long transfer day along Issyk-Kul Lake.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Food: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Difficulty: Easy
Altitude: 1,800 m - 1,750 m
Distance: 270–300 km / Driving: 5–6 hrs
Optional activity: Eagle hunter demonstration, visit to Kyzyl-Tuu village to observe the yurt-making process, or short walk in Skazka Canyon.

Today we head to Karakol Ski Base. Lift-assisted ascent to Panorama point, followed by freeride and ski-touring options on eastern exposures with beautiful forested terrain. Lift tickets are optional and purchased locally. On the way back drive to Aksuu for an open-air hot spring mineral bath—excellent relaxation.
Skiing: 5–6 hours / Difficulty: Moderate–advanced
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Food: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Altitude: 2,300–3,040 m
Distance: approx. 15 km each way / Driving: 30–40 minutes each way
Optional activity: Visit to Ak-Suu hot springs, short evening walk in Karakol, or visit to a local café or market.

After breakfast, transfer from Karakol to the remote mountain village of Jyrgalang, one of Kyrgyzstan’s best powder-snow destinations.
Upon arrival, short rest and preparation followed by ski touring in Jyrgalang Valley, known for: open alpine bowls, tree skiing, long ascents with rewarding descents, dry continental snowpack and frequent fresh powder. Tree skiing options are preferred during poor visibility or snowfall. Your guide will select terrain depending on snowpack stability and group level. Afternoon return to the village. Dinner and overnight in a cozy guesthouse.
Accommodation: Local guesthouse
Food: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Altitude: 2,300–3,200 m
Distance: 60 km (Karakol → Jyrgalang) / Driving: 1–1.5 hrs
Ski touring: 4–5 hrs / (full ski touring day)
Optional activity: Evening village walk, sauna (banya) if available, or stretching and recovery session after skiing.

Early morning snowmobile transfer deep into the Tuip mountain valley. Arrival at a remote yurt camp located at the base of ski-touring routes. Snowmobile transport is weather- and snow-condition dependent. Take lunchboxes and begin ski touring from the camp. In the evening enjoy a delicious dinner in the warm yurt. Luggage is limited due to snowmobile transport.
Ski touring: 4–5 hours / Difficulty: Moderate–advanced
Accommodation: Heated yurt camp
Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Altitude: 2,400–3,200 m
Distance: 20–30 km by snowmobile / Driving: 1–1.5 hrs snowmobile
Optional activity: Short snowshoe walk near the yurt camp, night sky photography, or learning about winter yurt life with local hosts.

Full day of skiing in the Tuip backcountry zone. The terrain offers multiple valleys and ridgelines, and high-alpine bowls with powder snow conditions. Return to camp for dinner and overnight. This is the most remote and wild skiing day of the expedition. This day may involve the highest elevation gain of the expedition.
Ski touring: 5–7 hours / Difficulty: Moderate–advanced
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Altitude: 2,400–3,500 m
Driving: none
Optional activity: Short additional ski runs near camp, avalanche safety practice, or photography of sunset in the alpine valley.

After breakfast and packing, return to the village by snowmobile and continue by vehicle to Bishkek. Arrival in Bishkek in the evening and check-in at the hotel. Enjoy free time to relax after the expedition or spend your final evening exploring the capital.
Accommodation: Guesthouse or hotel in Bishkek
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Difficulty: Easy (transfer day)
Altitude: 800 m (Bishkek)
Distance: Snowmobile 20–30 km + Bishkek approximately 400 km
Driving: Snowmobile 1 hr / Vehicle 7 hrs
Optional activity: Souvenir shopping, short walk around Ala-Too Square, or farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Manas International Airport for your departure flight.
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast
Difficulty: Easy
Altitude: 800 m
Distance: 30–35 km
Driving: 40–50 min
End of Tour