Winter Jeep Tour

Description

Winter Jeep Tour in Kyrgyzstan 2021 – 2022.

Kyrgyzstan is an amazing and unique in its beauty country. This small oasis in the Heart of Central Asia impresses with its huge variety of landscapes and a considerable role in it is played by unique Issyk Kul Lake. Often Kyrgyzstan is named "Asian Switzerland", however virgin mountains and richest nature of Kyrgyzstan are far excel in the cleanness of the beaten European Alps. Culture and historical heritage of Kyrgyz people are also very interesting. The tour was designed as a standard Jeep Safari to see Central Tien Shan in winter and get closer to the nomadic culture of Kyrgyz people.

This is our brand new itinerary that has been created in term to develop winter tourism in Kyrgyzstan and offer unique service to experience new unforgettable emotions.

Paradise where Ak-Sai is!

Itinerary

Day 1. Bishkek city – National Park Ala Archa – Bishkek city. (40 km / 1 hour / Bus)

Arrival at the airport “Manas”. Meeting with a guide and driver.
Transfer to Bishkek city on a bus.
Accommodation in a hotel. Early check-in is included.
On this day we have a tour on a bus to Ala Archa Natural Park, which is located in a picturesque gorge of Ala-Archa 40 km from Bishkek. It is a popular place for hiking, skiing and mountaineering including trips to more than 20 glaciers.
Upon return to city, lunch in café and after that we have sightseeing tour in Bishkek:
Visit Ala Too Square, Kurmanzhan Datka Monument, main governmental buildings, Old Square with Parliament House and Lenin’s Monument. Finish at the Victory square dedicated to the WWII.
Dinner in cafe, overnight in hotel.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – cafe, Dinner – cafe)

Day 2. Bishkek city – Too Ashuu ski base. (120 km / 3 hours / 4×4)

In the morning we will go through the procedure of delivery-acceptance of the jeeps. It takes about 1 hour. PLEASE NOTE: 500 USD Deposit must be paid upon the transfer of the vehicle to the participants and examination of it by them. The deposit is paid back in full to the clients if no damage to the vehicle is done.
Today our way goes from Bishkek city over Too Ashuu pass (3586m) to Too Ashuu ski base located on the southern slope of the Too Ashuu pass, at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level, 120 km from Bishkek. The height of snow cover in the ski season reaches 1.5 – 2 m.
The average temperature of the ski season is -3.6 ° C.
Dinner and accommodation at ski base.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – en route / ski base, Dinner – ski base)

Day 3. Too Ashuu ski base – Kokomeren river – Kochkor village (250 km / 5-6 hours / 4×4)

Today we will go through Suusamyr Valley. On the way you admire beautifully frozen Kokomeren River and organize photo stops.
Upon arrival to Kochkor village, accommodation and dinner at a guest house. Here we watch felt produsing demonstration – “shyrdak show”. You will take part in Ala Kiyiz making. During the felt making you will learn types of traditional carpets. After show visit the handicraft museum and shop.
Dinner and overnight in local family.
(Breakfast – ski base, Lunch – en route, Dinner – local family)

Day 4. Kochkor – Barskaun Gorge – Karakol (370 km / 4-5 hours / 4×4)

Today we will drive along the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake (the second largest high mountainous lake in the world after Titicaca) to Karakol town. On the way visit Barskaun Gorge. This gorge is famous for its waterfalls and gold-bearing rivers. Gorge has a length of about 10 kilometers. There is also a route to the Kumtor pass, where gold is produced nowadays.
In Barskaun we meet a hunter and his bird. After the demonstration you will have a chance to ask the hunter about tradition of eagle hunting and his bird features. You can take a closer look at the Bird and hold it in your hands! 
Continue drive to Karakol town. Accommodation in hotel. When having a meal at dungan family in Karakol town, we can watch a housewife cooking traditional food. She teaches how to make noodles for lagman. At the end we try the lagman altogether.
Overnight in hotel.
(Breakfast – local family, Lunch – local family, Dinner – local family)

Day 5. Karakol town – Karkara valley. (120 km / 2.5 – 3 hours / 6×6)

After the breakfast we will go to Karkara valley. The road is covered with deep snow and needs a Special truck 6×6 (Vakhtovka) to drive up, so we will leave jeeps parked at the hotel. Karkara base is located in 120 kilometers from Karakol town.  There are warm cottages/yurts, bath, kitchen, dining yurt with a stove and a place for drying things.
Upon arrival, lunch in BC “Karkara”.
There are good areas for ski touring and/or snowmobiling (with driver).  You can go on snowmobiles through passes and along valleys. The level of snow cover is from 60 to 120 cm.
Upon return, dinner in BC “Karkara”.
You can enjoy sauna in the camp.
Overnight in cottages/yurts.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – BC Karkara, Dinner – BC Karkara)

Day 6. Karkara valley – Karakol town (120 km / 2.5 – 3 hours / 6×6)

After the breakfast we take some time for snowmobiling (with driver).
In the afternoon transfer back to Karakol with the special truck 6×6 (Vakhtovka). On the way we will visit the memorial Museum of N. M. Przhevalski, the outstanding Russian explorer of Asian continent.
Accommodation in the hotel. Dinner in café.
(Breakfast – BC Karkara, Lunch – BC Karkara, Dinner – cafe)

Day 7. Karakol town – Semenovskoe gorge – Grigorevskoe gorge – Cholpon Ata town (200 km / 3-4 hours / 4×4)

In the morning we leave Karakol town and drive along the Northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake.
Having 60 km along the good asphalt road and take a turn towards Kungei Ala Too (Sunny mountains). In 15 km we enter Semenovskoe gorge (called after a great Russian explorer of Tien Shan Mountains Semenov-Tienshanskii who was here in the 50-60s of the 19th century in expeditions). Once we reach the end of the gorge we go over a mountain pass and then end up in the next gorge Grigorievskoe. 60 more kilometers down to reach the asphalt main road again.
After lunch in café, we have an excursion to so called “Stone Garden” or Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs site. It is a large open-air collection of rock carvings, which covers about 42 hectares and contains a number of prehistoric monumental structures (stone circles, tombs, the remains of a boundary stone wall, Balbals) and Petroglyphs (dated back Sak-Usun period from 9-8 century up to 3-5 century AD).
Dinner and overnight in a hotel on the shore of Issyk Kul.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – cafe, Dinner – hotel)

Day 8. Cholpon Ata town – Bishkek city (260 km / 4-5 hours / 4×4, Bus)

After the breakfast we will take another beautiful drive on to Bishkek city. En route visit Architectural- Archeological Complex “Burana Tower” (UNESCO).
Burana Tower (ancient minaret) is located in 12 km far from Tokmok town. The territory where the tower is located was called Balasagyn town. This town had the strategic meaning for the Great Silk Road. Continue our drive to Bishkek.
Accommodation in the hotel. When we are coming back to Bishkek, we will make a stop for car washing. Upon return to Bishkek, cars are returned back to the company. The Lessee shall return the vehicle in full complete stated in the Delivery-Acceptance report.  The Lessee shall return the vehicle with the same quantity of fuel as at the moment of receipt. The deposit is paid back in full if no damage to the vehicle is done.
Dinner in cafe with folklore show. Specially for you musicians will play national melodies of Kyrgyz people and show their musical instruments. You will listen to a singing and enjoy the charming melodies of our ancestors.
Overnight at a hotel.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – cafe, Dinner – cafe)

Day 9. Bishkek city – airport. (35 km / 40-45 min / Bus)

Early breakfast.
Today in Bishkek your trip concludes.
(Breakfast – hotel)

Prices

Please fill the form to request details and actual information of the tour. Responsible manager will contact you as soon as possible.

Additional Info

Notes:

- 500 USD Deposit must be paid upon the transfer of the vehicle to the participants and examination of it by them.

- On the way back there will be a stop for car wash. The Lessee shall return the vehicle in full complete stated in the Delivery-Acceptance report.  The Lessee shall return the vehicle with the same quantity of fuel as at the moment of receipt. The deposit is paid back in full if no damage to the vehicle is done.

- There may be changes in the route due to weather, instructions of the local authorities, road conditions or the decision of the guide in the field for the benefit of the travelers and the conduct of the trip.

Clothes and equipment:

You can take all necessary things. Please take into consideration that in winter time the temperature in Bishkek city is about +5 oC and can go down to -5 oC and in the mountains the temperature decreases to -20 oC. Be prepared for unexpected changes of the weather.

Recommended:

• Winter-coat
• Sweater/fleece
• Wind-stopper
• Enough t-shirts and other underwear
• Hat
• Sun-screen cream (30 or higher)
• Good trekking boots for easy hikes in the mountains.
• Walking shoes (don’t need heavy ones) for the city walks
• Personal first aid kit (most likely problems: blisters, sunburns, allergy, diarrhoea, sore muscles after hikes. Take painkillers, anti-histaminic, antibiotics of general action, and anything you need for your usual medical conditions).
• Personal hygiene kit (disinfection gel is highly recommended) + some toilet paper.
• A small towel
• Sunglasses
• Photo camera
• Notepad and a pen to make notes as you travel
• A smaller backpack, except for your normal suitcase.
• Flash light (torch)
• Money exchange - if you plan to exchange USD / Euro to KGS , we recommend to take the notes of 50, 100 without stamps, inscriptions and any kind of damage, because damaged banknotes are not accepted by banks and exchange offices.

Photos

Map