Winter roads of Kyrgyzstan - Self-drive along the snow-covered Tien-Shan Mountains
Winter roads of Kyrgyzstan

Self-drive along the snow-covered Tien-Shan Mountains

Winter roads of Kyrgyzstan
(Self-drive along the snow-covered Tien-Shan Mountains)

This winter you will have an unforgettable journey. We organize a unique self-drive program in Kyrgyzstan, which will be not only extraordinary, but also extreme. You can show your driving level and try yourself off-road. Plus, you will have the chance to see our wonderful country and be in places where no one even dreams to be at this time of the year.

Winter Kyrgyzstan is a completely different world, this is a huge white expanse, this is snow-capped mountains, this is alpine skiing and fresh frosty air. You will not feel any of this coming to us in the summer. The dream of any extreme driver to drive through the winter off-road of our mountainous country, to go on routes where not many people dare to go and build their own route, is it not a miracle!

You thought about complete freedom, about snow-covered valleys, deserted space for many kilometers, you will find all this in our program, which will be amazing with a lot of interesting activities, such as skiing on mountain slopes, bathing in hot springs and visiting the houses of local residents, where you can breathe deeply and feel the life of real Kyrgyz.

Let’s drive with us!

Available Dates

  • January 2024 | 8 places Book
  • February 2024 | 10 places Book

Trip details

Intensity Level 2
Season Winter
Begins in Bishkek
Ends in Bishkek
Airport Airport Manas (FRU)
Airport out Airport Manas (FRU)

Price: (≥ 10 people)

Great for Individuals Couples Families

Are you a fan of extreme sports? Come for a winter self-drive tour in Kyrgyzstan. Amazing and breathtaking landscapes, mountain slopes, skis, hot springs, snowmobiles, horseback riding and much more is waiting for you on this tour. More than a thousand kilometers of snowy roads, the locals are ready to welcome you and give you fragrant tea with delicious flat bread. You will be able to feel the flavor of Kyrgyzstan, see the Kyrgyz way of life and traditions, try national cuisine and just have a great time.

What's Included:

  • Meeting and seeing off at the airport

  • Support car with a mechanic and all the gear needed through the whole route
  • One car for 3-4 people
  • Petrol for cars

  • English speaking guide
  • Accommodation by the program (5* hotels and the best on the way)

  • Meals – full board (B/L/D) by the program

  • Excursions according to the program

  • Shows by the program

What's not included:

  • Any changes in the program
  • Alcohol beverages
  • Excursions not included in the program
  • Tips for the team
  • Any personal expenses in hotels: international calls, bar, etc.

  • International flights
  • Single supplement – 340 USD per person
  • Car supplement – 1000 USD per additional car
Day
1

Bishkek, Ala-Archa park. Arrival to Bishkek, meeting at the Manas airport, Transfer to hotel. This day we will have a city tour with visiting philharmonic hall with the Manas complex, main Ala-Too square with historical museum and White House, old square with oak park, government building and Lenin statue. We will also visit the victory square and eat dinner in the city center. Or just have a rest in a hotel.

Day
2

Chunkurchak Gorge / ~ 100 km of the trip. After breakfast we will get acquainted with our cars. Today we will drive through the mountains to the Chunkurchak valley - it is one of the closest high-mountain gorges to Bishkek and at the same time, one of the most beautiful in the Chui region. Due to the gentle slopes in Chunkurchak there is a developed tourist infrastructure, as well as 4 ski bases.

After that we will go to the bath complex Karabulak, where you can have a delicious lunch and relax. You will have a black steam room, swimming pool filled with spring water, bonfire, potatoes by the fire, phytobath with mountain herbs and bathing procedure.

In the evening return to the hotel, rest.

Day
3

Bishkek – Cholpon-Ata / ~ 270 km of drive (4-5 hours of drive). In the morning after breakfast we will drive by the Mountainous road to Tokmok town. On the way we will visit the historical-architectural complex of Burana Tower. After that we will drive further to Cholpon-Ata – the town which is located on the shores of one of the most beautiful lakes in Kyrgyzstan – Issyk-Kul lake.

Issyk-Kul Lake is the second biggest mountain lake after Titicaca in South America; it is one of 25 biggest and 7 deepest lakes in the world. Local people call this lake the “Pearl of Kyrgyzstan”. As a small bead put on the chain of mountain ridges it definitely justifies this name. The “Pearl” is located on the height of 1609 m above the sea level and enclosed from two sides by the ranges with the poetic names Terskey-Ala-Too (turned from the sun) and Kungey-Ala-Too (turned to the sun).

Evening will be free. Overnight will be at the hotel on the shore of the lake.

Day
4

Cholpon-Ata. Today we have a day full of adventure. In the morning we will move to a horse farm for a 2-hour horse ride along the lake and to the ancient petroglyphs. Next, we will have lunch at a local national cafe, and in the afternoon we will watch Kyrgyz national horse games and archery show.

The demonstration of games includes: the famous game of Kok-boru (with the carcass of a goat), kyz-kumai (game of the wedding ceremony), as well as tyyin-enmei (raising a coin from the ground at a gallop) and Er-enish (rider wrestling).

After the performance, you will be able to mount a horse yourself, try your hand at the game of kok-boru, hold the carcass of a goat, and also shoot from a real nomad bow and take colorful photos. At sunset, you will have a boat trip with a buffet on the ship.

Dinner at the hotel. Rest.

Day
5

Cholpon-Ata – Karakol / ~ 180 km of drive. Today we will try our cars at off-road. Grigorievskoe gorge is very picturesque, but the road to it looks like a small path, as graders do not go here and do not break the road during the whole winter period. Our goal today is to drive to Mountain Lake.

We will test the ability of our cars to drive on the snow-covered trail. We will reach the lake and descend to the main road via the adjacent Semenovskoye Gorge. On the way back we will pass the Chon-Uryuktu gorge where we will have a delicious trout lunch. Eventually we will arrive at the city of Karakol

In the city you will be able to visit the Przhevalsky Museum, an ancient Dungan mosque, and the wooden church of the Holy Trinity, which was built without a single nail.

Free time, rest, dinner.

Day
6

Karakol – Kochkor / ~ 250 km (6-7 h) . On this day you will drive through the mountains and canyons. We will drive along the amazing rock sculptures "Seven Bulls" (Jeti-Oguz) and stop at the village of Bokonbaevo where a delicious lunch will be waiting for us.

After lunch we will continue our way which lies into the red clay canyons. Here you will be met by a berkutchi hunter. These are hunters with falcons and taigans (Kyrgyz greyhounds). He will not only tell you a lot of interesting things about this type of hunting, but also show you how these birds and dogs hunt in real life.

In the evening we will finally reach the village of Kochkor, check into a hotel and have dinner.

Day
7

Kochkor - Suusamyr valley - Bishkek/ ~ 350 km (6-7 hours of drive). We will leave Kochkor village and drive to Suusamyr valley. The first layover will take place at Djumgal valley. The valley is of the same size as Suusamyr valley, but it is drier. We will stay in Kyzyl-Oi village for lunch and will enjoy the folk show.

The view of one of the most beautiful rivers in Kyrgyzstan – Kekemeren River is fascinating.

We will continue driving to Suusamyr through the mountains and valleys. Later we will drive over Tua-Ashu pass (3200 m), through the mountain tunnel and finally and get to Bishkek.

Accommodation in the hotel and farewell dinner in one of the local restaurants.

Day
8

Departure. This morning the car will take you to the airport for your flight home.

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720021, Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, Lineinaya str. 1a