Itinerary: Bishkek - Chon Kemin - Cholpon Ata - Karakol - Djety Oguz - Tossor - Bokonbaevo - Kochkor - Kara Kujur river - Jalpak Bel pass - Kichi Naryn - Naryn - Tash Rabat - Son Kul lake - Kara Kichi - Susamyr - Bishkek  Best time: June - September Distance: by bicycle 750 km; total 1700km

Tian-Shan mountains are of great interest for touring by bicycle It's possible see a great variety of territory in a short period of time. Roads that have been constructed for geologists and shepherds are conducive to touring. As a rule there's very little traffic on these roads yet they take you into the heart of the mountains.

Program:

Day 1. Arrival to Bishkek. Excursion around the city. Hotel accommodation

Day 2. Transfer to the Chon-Kemin Valley by car (distance 190 km), then start cycling along the Chon-Kemin Riverbank (distance around 15 km) and camp overnight in tents (1905 m above sea level).

Day 3. Cycle along the Chon Kemin Riverbank to the foot of Kok-Airyk Pass, a trip of about 35 km that has no steep climbs. It is an unmade road in good condition. Camp overnight in tents (2800 m above sea level).

Day 4. Cycle over the Kok-Airyk Pass (3869 m), negotiating about 15 snaking sections of uncovered road with some stony places. At the top of the Kok-Airyk Pass you will probably cross some small snowfields in an area of small glaciers on a road in generally good condition. From here, weather permitting you will get a nice view of Issyk-Kul Lake. After descending you will cycle along a main road (7 km) to Cholpon-Ata. The day's travel is around 55 km. Accommodation is in a hotel or private guesthouse.

Day 5. After lunch transfer to Karakol (140 km). Excursion around the city. Accommodation in hotel or guest house.

Day 6. Transfer till the turn of the road towards Djety Oguz Valley (30 km) and then cycling to Tosor yurt camp. Over night in the yurt camp. 

Day 7. Cycle to the confluence of Tosor and Sari Ter rivers. 20 km along the hard mountain road. Camping 

Day 8. Cycle over the Ak Terek pass (2540 m). We will cycle 40 km along the mountain road to Bokonbaeva village. Transfer to Kochkor village by car (95 km). Overnight in a private family guest house.

Day 9. Cycle from Kochkor village to Sary-Bulak village on a main road (around 35 km), then on an unmade road along the Kara-Kujur Riverbank (20 km). Camp overnight in tents near a bridge (2600 m).

Day 10. Cycle up Jalpak-Bel Pass (3300 m), then descend to the confluence of the Kara-Saz and Kichi-Naryn Rivers, a total distance of around 65 km on a good unmade road. Camp vernight in tents (2700 m).

Day 11. On this day, the road goes along the Kichi-Naryn Valley a tributary of one of the biggest river in Central Asia the Naryn. You will follow the old road that was used to construct the power transmission line and descend to the main road, where you will stay overnight in tents in the beautiful Sary-Kungei Gorge (2500 m).

Day 12. At first the route goes along a main road but later you are invited to taste some adventure we leave the main road and take a trail. You will climb around 400 m and then descend towards the Naryn River (2100 m). On the main road, a car will pick you up and drive you to Naryn where you will stay in a guest house.

Day 13. Go by car to the top of Kyzyl-Bel Pass (2600 m), or, if you prefer, descend about 15km from the pass and meet up with the car, to continue by car to Tash Rabat (90 km), where you will visit the ancient Caravanserai Tash-Rabat (XI century), where you will stay overnight in the yurta of a local family (2800 m).

Day 14. Cycle over 2 passes: Kulak-Ashuu (3400 m) and Beurailu (3300 m). The lowest point between passes is 2,800 m above sea level. From the top of Beurailu Pass there is a good view of the Naryn River Valley. After descending from the Beurailu Pass, you will be taken in a truck to the confluence of the Kurtka and Kol-Kaiyng Rivers (80 km).
The total cycling distance is about 60 km in the day. Camp overnight in tents (2100 m).

Day 15. Half-day cycle ride to Son-Kul Lake (distance around 35 km), crossing the Moldo- Ashuu Pas (3200 m) and camp on the shore of Son-Kul Lake, the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan (3013 m). Surrounded by dramatic snow-covered mountain peaks, it is hidden in a flat, plate-like valley. It appears to lay under the very sky itself and it feels as if you can touch the stars themselves. At night, gaze the like an astronomer - the nearness of the stars will take your breath away. This lake is the summer pasture for local shepherds and livestock breeders. Camp overnight in tents (3020 m).

Day 16. In the morning cycle across the Kara-Keche Pass (3384m) and after winding your way down from the pass, you will be able to see the open cast coalmines of Kara-Keche, then cycle through fields to Chaek. This last descent on a small, but good, earth road is a breathtaking experience as the road drops about 600m along its 15km length. Stay in family run accommodation in Chaek.

Day 17. Transfer by car to Bishkek (around 250 km) through the tunnel on the Too-Ashuu Pass (3586 m) and stay overnight in a hotel.

Day 18. Departure.

Issyk-Kul lake	Song-Kul lake