Ski touring in Suusamyr, Arslanbob, Alai valley - Ski adventures in Kyrgyzstan
Ski touring in Suusamyr, Arslanbob, Alai valley

Ski adventures in Kyrgyzstan

Ski touring in Suusamyr, Arslanbob, Alai valley
(Ski adventures in Kyrgyzstan )

Skiing in Kyrgyzstan is a fascinating adventure in the world of untouched snow and rarely visited areas. Ski-touring is ascent and descent on mountain slopes with special skis and equipment.

The Suusamyr Valley is one of the best areas for off-piste skiing. The valley extends for 90 km from east to west, forming the southern (Kyrgyz Ridge) and northern (Suusamyr Too Ridge) expositions. You will find wide slopes and steep couloirs. At first glance, this region looks harsh and lifeless, as there are no forests. However, you’ll be enchanted by the panorama from the top of these mountains. The gain is up to 1000 meters, often 30 degrees or more. Nice dry, powdery snow creates from half to two meters of coverage.

Accommodation in warm and comfortable cottages. Cottages provide storage space for ski equipment and clothes drying. The cafe offers a delicious variety of dishes of European and national cuisine.

Arslanbob (Arslanbap) is a unique destination. It is an oasis at the altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level. Arslanbob area lies on the southwestern slope of the Fergana Range. Arslanbob is famous for spectacular relic walnut forests. The vast area of fruit and nut forests in the Arslanbob Valley is the largest one in the world. Walnut forests are not the only attraction of the place, but also here you can observe the wonderful waterfalls and grandeurs mountains with rocky Boobash-Ata Summit (4,430 m) rising above the valley. The local people are very welcoming and friendly. Arslanbob village is a place with narrow streets and national style houses.

Specific climatic conditions create a microclimate on the southern slopes of the mountains. Here is the maximum precipitation in Kyrgyzstan. In the winter there is magnificent snow, even at high temperatures above zero on Celsius. Slopes for skiing are accessible right from the village. They have gain of almost one kilometer, as well as an unforgettable skiing on slopes up to 40 through the relic walnut forests.

The Alai Valley. Highland Alai Valley is located in the south of Kyrgyzstan, between the Alai and Chon-Alai Range belonging to the Pamirs. Chon-Alai Range, enveloping the Alai Valley to the south, rises above the valley on 3000 m and draws to the traveler grandiose scenery of majestic mountains and eternal ice.

Its length is 150 km, the width of 2-25 km, average height - 3000 m. The average heights are between 2,240 m in the west and 3,536 in the east. From the valley you can observe one of the highest peaks of the former USSR, Lenin Peak (7, 134 m). You can do skiing on the northwestern slopes near Sary-Tash settlement, located on the road leading to the Kyrgyz-Chinese border. The average steepness of slopes is 20-30 degrees.

Available dates:

  • Feb 03 - Feb 16, 2024 | 10 places Book
  • Feb 17 - March 02, 2024 | 10 places Book
  • Individual dates are also available. Contact the program manager.

Trip details

Intensity Level 4
Season Winter
Begins in Bishkek
Ends in Bishkek
Airport Airport Manas (FRU)
Airport out Airport Manas (FRU)

Price: $ 2,400 (≥ 10 people)

Great for Individuals Couples

Ski-touring in Kyrgyzstan in 3 different areas: Suusamyr valley, Arslanbob, Alai valley. This combined tour will let you see different destinations and test different slopes. Also, if some destination will not provide enough snow, we can have it in other places. You will enjoy the natural beauty, see local people’s life and taste traditional food. But moreover you will get a lot of impressions from various landscapes and skiing.

What's Included:

  • Meeting/seeing-off in the airports
  • Guide for the whole program (2 guides if 5 and more in the group)
  • Guide in Osh for city tour
  • All transfers according to the program (minivans 4x4)
  • Accommodations in Bishkek (early check-in, hotel), Suusamyr (ski-resort), Arslanbob and Sary-Tash (guest houses), Osh (hotel)
  • Meals according to the program
  • Flight ticket from Osh to Bishkek

What's not included:

  • International flight to and from Kyrgyzstan
  • Ski touring gear
  • Ski lift
  • Snowcat
  • Luggage costs in the airport
  • Single accommodation
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Tips for guides/ drivers
  • Emergency evacuation charges
  • Alcohol drinks
  • Visa
  • Any changes to the program
  • Night in Bishkek in the end of program
  • Personal expenses
Day
1

Arrival in Bishkek. Meeting at Manas International airport. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation, breakfast. After that we drive to the Ala-Archa Gorge (40 km) for an acclimatization. It is a nature park located at 2,100 meters a.s.l. The total length of the gorge is 35 kilometers. There you can hike to the waterfall located at 2,700 meters in the side Ak-Sai Gorge. It will take you about 2 hours to get there. In winter it is frozen. The landscape of the gorge is amazing and you can take wonderful pictures. Then we return to Bishkek. Lunch. Free time. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Day
2

Suusamyr Valley. After breakfast you will be picked up and transferred to the Suusamyr Valley through the winding mountain road on comfortable minivans (160 km, 3-4 h, 700-3,000 m). Accommodation at the Too-Ashu ski-base. Dinner in the cafe. A preliminary observation of the snow conditions and a short lecture on avalanche safety. Acclimatization at the ski resort. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Day
3

Day 3-4. Skiing. Skiing for 2 more days in the surroundings. Overnight at the base. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day
5

Arslanbob. Transfer to Arslanbob village (461 km, 8-9 h). Accommodation in guest house (houses). Rest and getting ready for the next couple of ski touring days. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day
6

Day 6-7. Full day of skiing. Ski-touring in the surroundings. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day
8

Transfer from Arslanbob to Osh (175 km, about 4 h). . Accommodation in the hotel. Guided city tour. Recreation and free time. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Day
9

Day 9-12. Transfer from Osh to Sary Tash (185 km, 3 h). . Accommodation in the guest house. Lunch and ski touring in this area for the next 3 days. Skiing on the northwestern slopes, the steepness of the slopes is 20-30 degrees. Temperature at night is about -15-25 C, in the day -10-15 C. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Day
13

Sary Tash – Osh. (185 km, 3 h). Flight to Bishkek. Accommodation in the hotel. Free time and getting ready for the trip back. Farewell dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Day
14

Transfer to the airport. Departure by flight from Bishkek. (Breakfast)

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720021, Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, Lineinaya str. 1a