Included in the price: Guides, 1-night hotel accommodation, meals during the route, and transfers.
Overnights in a tent: 8. Overnights in a hotel: 1.
By bike: 500 km. Transfers: 720 km.
Europeans first arrived in the mountainous land of nomads in the 4th century BC, when Alexander the Great’s army marched towards India. Two centuries later, the Chinese traveler Xuan Jiang came here to explore the future routes of the Great Silk Road. In the 13th century, the famous Venetian traveler Marco Polo sought a passage to China through these lands. In the 19th century, P.P. Semenov-Tian-Shansky conducted several expeditions to study the region. This cycling tour route is a chance to connect with the legacy of these great explorers. The first half of the tour crosses mountain passes (ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 meters) and valleys between the Western mountain ranges and ridges. The second half leads into the heart of Central Tian Shan.
Transfer: From Bishkek to Arashan village in the mountains – 22 km. Cycling section: In Arashan, we will get on our bikes and ride 37 kilometers to the confluence of the Alamedin and Ala-Archa rivers. The route begins with ascents through the Tatyr ski resort towards Chong-Kurchak, one of the smallest but most beautiful gorges of the Tian Shan Mountains. We will then ride through the National Biosphere Reserve, home to rare tulip species. After crossing the pass, we descend into Oruu-Sai Gorge (2,100 m, ski resort). The ride ends in Kashka-Suu village (a nature park). The terrain consists of gravel roads, ascents, and descents. Total: 37 km. Transfer: From Kashka-Suu village to Bishkek – 26 km.
Transfer: From Bishkek, we head west to Kara-Balta, then south towards the Too-Ashuu Pass (3,586 m – "Camel Pass"). At times, the vehicle dives into galleries and tunnels, designed to protect the road from avalanches and rockfalls. This is one of the most treacherous and dangerous passes in all of Central Asia. Total distance: 144 km. Cycling section: At the pass, we get on our bikes and descend into the Suusamyr Valley, passing through the picturesque villages of Kozhomkul and Kyzyl-Suu. Overnight stay in the Kokomeren River Valley. The route consists mostly of flat sections and slopes on gravel roads. Total distance: 72 km.
Transfer: From our overnight stay, we drive 75 km to Jang-Aryk (Jangi-Arik). Cycling section: From Jang-Aryk, we ascend to the Tuz-Ashuu Pass (in Kyrgyz: "Straight Pass"). The harsh beauty of the inner Tian Shan valleys and the stunning snowy mountain views are truly mesmerizing. We then descend to the high-altitude lake Son-Kul (Song-Kol, 3,016 m), the second-largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. Son-Kul remains covered in snow for 200 days a year, making it almost inaccessible during winter. Overnight stay near the yurt camp of Batay-Aral on the shore of Son-Kul (yurt accommodation possible). The route consists of ascents and descents on gravel roads. Total distance: 38 km.
Cycling section: From Batay-Aral, we ride around Son-Kul Lake from north to south, ascending to the Moldo-Ashuu Pass (3,346 m). From the pass, breathtaking views open up to deep gorges, towering mountains with ice-capped peaks, and slopes covered in massive fir trees. This area is often shrouded in thick fog, as dense as milk, making visibility almost nonexistent. We descend southward, following the Kurtkos River down to the village of Ak-Tal. Leaving the alpine meadows, we enter the forest zone. Overnight stay on the banks of the Naryn River. The route includes numerous ascents and descents on gravel roads. Total distance: 95 km.
Transfer: From the Naryn River to the Mels Pass (3,420 m), passing through the village of Baetov. Total distance: 55 km. Cycling section: We continue riding southward. A technical and adrenaline-filled descent from the pass brings us closer to the mysterious Tash Rabat Fortress (3,600 m). Tash Rabat was a key point on the Great Silk Road crossing the Tian Shan Mountains. Hidden in untouched nature, far from inhabited areas and near the Chinese border, Tash Rabat appears austere, monumental, and impenetrable from the outside. Overnight stay near Tash Rabat Fortress (yurt accommodation possible). The terrain is varied, with gravel roads. Total distance: 71 km.
Transfer: From Tash Rabat, passing through At-Bashi – Naryn (2,500 m) to the village of Tash-Bashat. Total distance: 146 km. Cycling section: We ride through the Eki-Naryn Gorge, following the course of two rivers. Both rivers flow through deep canyons, cutting across a wide, flat valley, with snow-capped ridges towering above—a truly breathtaking view. The route takes us through a National Wildlife Park, home to mountain goats and deer. Overnight stay on the banks of the Maly Naryn River, in the Eki-Naryn Gorge. The scenic gravel road winds through the gorge, with gentle ascents and descents. Total distance: 32 km.
Cycling section: We ride along the Maly Naryn and Bolgart Rivers, passing through a vast valley with snow-capped 5,000-meter peaks visible in the distance. Occasionally, we come across Kyrgyz nomadic yurt camps. The perfectly round hills standing in the middle of the flat valley suspiciously resemble volcanoes. Majestic gorges and stunning valleys are framed by snowy peaks, creating an unforgettable landscape. The road follows the rivers throughout the day, leading us to our overnight stay near the Jilu-Suu thermal mineral springs (2,390 m). Terrain: Mostly flat sections, with a few short ascents. Gravel roads. Total distance: 70 km.
Cycling section: We ascend along the Jilu-Suu River toward Tosor Pass (3,893 m), which translates from Turkic as "front post" or "before the post." From the pass, we begin our descent toward the blue pearl of Tian Shan – Issyk-Kul Lake (1,609 m), the second-largest high-altitude mountain lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America. Terrain: After a long ascent, a several-kilometer descent follows. Gravel roads. Total distance: 68 km. Overnight stay on the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.
Cycling section: We ride along the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake to the Salt Lake. The route consists mostly of flat terrain on gravel roads. Total distance: 15 km. Rest and relaxation by the lake. Transfer to Bishkek (245 km). Estimated arrival in Bishkek around 17:00. Note: Depending on weather conditions and group pace, the organizers reserve the right to modify the program.
The price includes.Trip organization:
The price does not include.Not included in the price: Flight tickets, travel sports insurance, additional hotel nights in Bishkek if needed, meals in Bishkek, airport transfers, mountain bike and helmet rental if not bringing your own, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat rental if not bringing your own (approximately 20-30 EUR), optional accommodation in yurts or other locations, souvenirs, sauna rental, and other personal expenses.
Required Gear and Clothing:
On-site, you can rent a two-person tent, a sleeping bag, and a mat for an additional fee.
Now, a few words about this wonderful place you are about to visit. Issyk-Kul, the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, is one of the world's largest mountain lakes. It is rightfully called the pearl of Central Asia. Issyk-Kul is the second clearest lake in the world after Lake Baikal. Due to mild winters, retained heat in the water, and its salinity, the lake does not freeze even in winter.
Issyk-Kul is located between two mountain ranges of the Northern Tien Shan. Its northern shore lies at the foot of the Kungey-Alatau ridge, while the southern shore is at the foot of the Terskey-Alatau ridge, with its highest point reaching 5,200 meters. The northern mountain slopes are covered with spruce forests, while the southern ones are dominated by steppe vegetation.
Now, let's go over the details of participating in the cycling tour in the Tien Shan Mountains. We recommend arriving in Bishkek a day earlier to rest after a long flight. The group gathers at a guesthouse. If needed, we can arrange a pickup and transfer, or you can easily get there on your own. A bicycle rental shop is located near the guesthouse.
Participants arriving on the day the tour starts must reach the guesthouse no later than 8 AM.
After a brief instruction session, we will receive the rented tourist equipment. Then, we will move by support vehicle to the bike rental location. A cash deposit may be required for renting a bike (€100-200) or a partial cash deposit (€50-100) along with an identification document.
After selecting the bikes and signing the necessary documents, we will drive to the starting point of the cycling tour.
To join the tour, you should have experience riding a mountain bike and be familiar with gear shifting. Part of the route consists of dirt roads, while some sections are paved. In certain areas, there are steep inclines where you may have to push your bike. Support vehicles carry food, personal belongings, and equipment for tourists. In some parts of the route, they also transport participants and their bikes.
Flat / Hills / Mountains / Rocky / Asphalt / Dirt / Village roads…
Most of the journey will be on dirt roads, with some sections on asphalt.
Typically, one instructor leads a small group. The instructor determines the pace, aiming to accommodate all participants.
Participants will cover 30-100 km per day through mountainous and forested terrain. The tour is designed for individuals with moderate to high physical fitness—not for professional athletes, but also not for someone out of shape. Based on years of experience with cycling tours, most participants meet the fitness requirements, though with varying levels of comfort.
We recommend doing endurance training at least one or two months before the trip. If you are well-prepared, you will be able to fully enjoy the surrounding landscapes.
Dalyvavau dviračių žygyje 5 žmonių grupėje. Džiaugiuosi, kad įgijau nepamirštamos patirties. Didelio susidomėjimo sulaukė vietos tradicijos ir supažindinimas su klajoklišku kirgizų gyvenimo būdu. Neįtikėtini kraštovaizdžiai, atviri ir profesionalūs gidai, nuolatiniai kultūriniai atradimai ir aktyvus, nuotykių kupinas kelionės formatas įtikino, kad tai ne paskutinis mano apsilankymas šioje nuostabioje šalyje. Gal net žiemą. Jei ieškai tikro nuotykio, linkiu tau leistis į šią kelionę!
Jei norite leistis į nuotykius, bet nežinote, nuo ko pradėti, Kirgizija yra kaip tik ta vieta. Andriaus ir Marato organizuojamas žygis apima sunkiai pasiekiamas, bet kartu ir labai ryškias vietas. Pastaraisiais metais Kirgizija tapo labai populiari tarp turistų. Ir todėl vietomis keliautojų daug. Bet ko mums reikia? Kalnai, gamta ir mažiau šurmulio. Mūsų maršrutas atitolino mus nuo minios. Man tai buvo vienas svarbiausių kelionės momentų. Labai patiko pats kelionės organizavimas. Mąstantys, logiški, parengti vadovai. Jie žino maršrutą ne iš popieriaus))
Nemaniau, kad Biškekas taip sustingęs Sovietų Sąjungoje. Čia laikas tarsi sustoja. Tačiau tai galioja ir visai Kirgizijai. Nors tai ir nesugadina. Tuo pat metu matėme daug europiečių ir vienų keliautojų, o tai rodo, kad šalis atvira, patogi ir saugi. Kalnai be galo gražūs. Sovietų Sąjunga buvo palikta už praeityje, o mus pasitiko nuostabi gamta, nuostabi vietinė virtuvė ir klajokliai piemenys, kurie net nemokėjo rusiškai. Tuo labiau angliškai :)
Dar vaikystėje girdėjau apie Issyk-Kul ežerą. Ir niekada nemaniau, kad nuvyksiu į šį nuostabų kraštą. Ežeras didžiulis. Ir jūs galite jį apeiti tik per kelias dienas. Tiesą sakant, iš įpročio mes jį pavadinome jūra)) Tai tikrai atrodo kaip jūra, nes kai kuriose jos vietose ji yra beribė. Tačiau kitoje vietoje, štai, matosi priešingas krantas su masyviais snieguotais kalnais. Vienu žodžiu puiku ! Pats žygis buvo puikus, labai padėjo tai, kad buvo palydos automobiliai, ne karta man teko ten ir su diračiu ant stogo važiuoti, tai nereikėjo kitiems manęs laukti :)
Experience in tourism 22 years
