Around Issyk-Kul lake

Winter self-drive tour
(Around Issyk-Kul lake)

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 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!

Trip details

Level 2

Season Winter

Begins in Bishkek

Ends in Bishkek

Airport Airport Manas (FRU)

Airport out Airport Manas (FRU)

Price: $ 1,800 (≥ 6 people)

Great for

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.

Join us

What's Included:

Meeting and seeing off at the airport
Support car through the whole route
Cars for the group (3 people in one car)
Fuel for the cars
Guide
Accommodation: (Bishkek – “Asia Mountains” hotel or same standard, Cholpon-Ata –“Raduga” hotel or same standard, Karakol – “Karakol” ski base, Reina-Kench farm – guest house of Reina Kench)
Meals – full board
Excursions by the program
Water 1l per person per day

What's not included:

Any changes in the program
Alcohol beverages
Excursions not included in the program
Gratitudes for personnel
Any personal expenses in the hotels: international calls, bar, etc.
Single Supplement – 250 USD
International flights
Any type of insurance

Day

Bishkek, Ala-Archa park. Arrival to Bishkek, meeting at the “Manas” airport, Transfer to “Asia Mountains” hotel. After some rest in the hotel we will get acquainted with our cars. The driving distance today won’t be very big, we will drive about 80 km total to the national park Ala-Archa where we will spend our time enjoying a great Kyrgyz nature. The park is located in 40 km from Bishkek on the slopes of Kyrgyz Ala-Too. Ala-Archa is translated from Kyrgyz language as “motley juniper”. The gorge got its name due to a great amount of juniper covering its slopes. As different kinds of juniper have different colors the gorge seems to be very colorful. In the evening we will drive back to Bishkek (40 km). Dinner, overnight.

Day

Bishkek – Cholpon-Ata ( 250 km ). In the morning after breakfast we will drive to Cholpon-Ata – the town which is located on the shore of one of the most beautiful lakes in Kyrgyzstan – Issyk-Kul lake. On the way we will visit the historical-architectural complex of Burana Tower. After the excursion we will continue our tour. Going along the Chu valley we will get into mountains and drive through narrow Boom gorge. The road here is good paved so the driving will be nice and easy. Upon arrival our accommodation point is “Raduga” hotel. Free time for rest and enjoying yourself.

Day

Grigorievskoe gorge (120 km). Today we will get onto off road. The driving through both gorges is very picturesque but the road is close to being a small trail as it’s not cleaned during the whole winter period. Our aim today is to achieve the mountain lake. We will check the ability of our cars to go over the unpaved snowy distances. If it’s going to be possible we will enter Grigoriyevskoe gorge, get to the lake and come back to resort through the other gorge names Semyonovskoe. Upon arrival, free time. Overnight in the hotel.

Day

Reina-Kench farm (130 km). In the morning after breakfast we will drive towards Karakol town, but we will turn a little to the north and get to the Reina-Kench Farm. Here we will spend the night, but we will have plenty of time to ride the snow fields in cars, or rent snowmobiles and arrange a short excursion on snowmobiles. For those who love horse riding, you can ride a horse.

Day

Karakol (50 km). In the morning after having breakfast we will drive to Karakol town and up to the famous Karakol ski base. The road here is paved so after our previous day the drive won’t be very hard. We will have time to ski if you have a desire. Accommodation will be also on the ski base. In the town itself you may visit an ancient Dungan Mosque, and a Holy Trinity wooden Church which was built without a single nail. Free time, rest, dinner.

Day

Karakol - Bishkek (400 km). In the morning we will enjoy the view of the Terskei-Ala-Too range and continue our journey after breakfast. We will see an amazing variety of landscapes, as in a kaleidoscope. Today we will go back to Bishkek along the southern shore of the lake, which is very different from its northern brother. The road has bumps, and in some places there are holes, but in total it will be quite good. On the way, we will stop at the Fairy Tale gorge, where snow almost never happens. It is as if there is no winter, but there are sand castles. We will walk along the canyons for a bit and go further to Bishkek. The road is not difficult and after about 4 hours we will be in the city. Accommodation in the hotel of " Asia Mountains". Farewell dinner.

Day

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