“Tien Shan Trail Race” tour ‹ Ak-Sai Travel – Silk Road tours, Mountaineering: Lenin peak, Khan Tengri peak, Pobeda peak, trekking, fixed depature dates

Description

"TIEN-SHAN TRAIL RACE" tour in 2022.

Kyrgyzstan is a country of variety of highlights. Tons of contrasts impresses to the deepest corners of your soul and leave unforgettable experience for a long time.

"Tien-Shan Trail Race" is a fascinating mountain marathon for professionals as well as for amateur runners. The race will take place in the Base Camp “Karkyra”, the picturesque natural boundary of the Issyk-Kul region Char Kuduk. The runners can test their forces in 3 km or 10 km race, as well as in half-marathon (21 km) and marathon (42 km) distances. Let's escape from the city, get unforgettable impressions of the mountain scenery and enjoy the atmosphere of the sports festival together!

Ak-Sai Travel Company has prepared the unique tour dedicated to the "Tien Shan Trail Race" marathon with guaranteed departure date. During this tour you will be able to get acquainted with the culture of Kyrgyzstan and take part in one of the most grandiose sports festivals.

Our main goals are:

•    Promotion of resort tourism and healthy life-style; motivation of the people for physical exercises and activities.
•    Develop of international contact in tourism and sport; acquaintances with the best marathoners of Kyrgyzstan.
•    Attraction of sportsmen and tourists of neighborhoods and other countries.

For the detailed information please follow the link to Tien Shan Trail Race.

This sport event isn’t just the part of tour program, it’s also the great opportunity to be introduced to the culture and beauty of Kyrgyzstan nature. Don't miss your chance!

Itinerary

Day 1. Airport – Bishkek city. (30 km / 40 mins)

Early morning arrival to Bishkek city. Meeting with the guide and driver. Transfer to the hotel and rest. Early check-in is included.
Today you step into the city life. The walkable city is quite lovely thanks to its wide tree-lined boulevards, marble-faced buildings and seemingly countless open green spaces. The upstart capital is still growing and evolving, but there is already much for visitors to explore and enjoy in Bishkek.
Visit the State Historical Museum (reopened after reconstruction since 2016), walking tour around main Ala Too Square with monument of the Great Manas, Kurmanzhan Datka and Lenin Monuments, main governmental buildings, Oak Park, Opera and Ballet theatre and finish the tour at the Victory Square dedicated to the Great Patriotic War (WWII)
Overnight in a hotel.
(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – no, dinner – no).

Day 2. Excursion to Ala Archa Natural Park. (90 km / 1,5 hours)

In the morning we leave Bishkek city for the hiking at the closest National Park – Ala Archa. Short drive takes us to the mountains and the altitude 2200 m asl. It covers the area of 200 km² – mostly forested valleys, waterfalls and rivers rich in trout. The altitude of ranges varies from 1500m to the highest point 4895m (Peak Semenov Tien Shanskii).
Hike possibilities at the Natural park:
1) up along the river (the easiest route 20-30 min one way)
2) Go up to the Ak-Sai waterfall (difficult route 2-3 hours up, 50 mins down)
Lunch boxes will be provided.
In the afternoon drive back to Bishkek. Overnight in a hotel.
(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – lunch box, dinner – no)

Day 3. Bishkek city – Son Kul lake. (380 km / 6-7 hours)

In the morning we start our journey and head to Son Kul lake.
The way goes via Boom canyon, Kuvaky pass and around Orto Tokoi reservoir to Kochkor village.
Upon arrival to Kochkor, visit local women cooperation, to learn more about old tradition of producing felt from wool of sheep and then carpets-shyrdaks. Visit the handicraft museum-shop.
Optionally: Demonstration of felt producing and taking part in Ala Kiyiz making / Shyrdak (carpet type).
Leave the village after all activities and head to Son Kul via Kilemchi valley and Kalmak Ashuu pass.
Son Kul is an alpine Lake located in the Tien Shan range. The territory around Son Kul is considered the best pasture in Kyrgyzstan. The area preserves all the attributes of nomadic life and it’s an ideal place to meet nomadic families in their yurts**! They might offer you a tea or traditional dairy products like our national drink Kymyz (fermented mare’s milk). Get ready to step into nomadic life!
Upon arrival to Son Kul lake dinner and overnight in a yurt camp.
** A yurt is a circular dwelling made of lattice of flexible poles and covered in felt or other fabric. Being easily portable, it is used by Kyrgyz nomads.
(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – no, dinner – yurt camp)

Day 4. Son Kul lake – Bokonbaev village (270 km / 5 hours)

After breakfast free time around the camp. There is a chance to explore the area, seek for edelweiss flowers, take pictures, walk along the lake or hike to the nearest Petroglyphs site, and taste national dishes and drinks.
Optionally: Together with local people set up a yurt – traditional dwelling of the nomadic culture. Interesting and very informative activity.
After lunch in the camp we leave Son Kul Lake and head to another alpine Lake – Issyk Kul. Issyk Kul Lake is the second largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America. Measuring 182 km long by 58 km wide, the lake appeared as a result of volcanic activity. In the summer the water temperature reaches 22-23 degrees centigrade and you can swim in the lake enclosed on all sides by the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains.
Drive along the south shore of the Lake and reach Bokonbaev village. Accommodation at the local family guest house. Dinner and overnight.(Breakfast – yurt camp, lunch – yurt camp, dinner – family guest house)

Day 5. Bokonbaev village – Karkara valley via Djety Oguz gorge. (300 km, 6 hours)

Continue our way along the south shore of Issyk Kul lake.
Optionally: Close to the village Bokonbaevo meet an eagle hunter and his birds of prey. Eagle hunting demonstration.
Drive to Karakol town first that is located in the east of Issyk Kul. On the way visit Djety Oguz. At the beginning of the gorge you face the famous “Broken Heart” rock, and walking up further you get to see an awesome view of those famous Seven Bulls
On this day you get acquainted with Kyrgyz nomadic way of life of the and enjoy beautiful views of the gorge. There are great hiking opportunities both at the beginning of the canyon and deep inside.
Noon time reach Karakol, a small, charming town with traditional Russian architecture.
Short city tour to visit the Dungan Mosque – a unique construction built in the style of a Chinese Pagoda but serving as a Mosque, and the Holy Trinity Cathedral, an old Russian orthodox church made of wood.
Continue drive after excursion to get to Karkara valley. Evening arrival to the camp and get accommodated.
Preparations for the Marathon that will take place tomorrow. Routes for marathon are made for participants with different physical agilities. Athletes can run a marathon and a half marathon (42 and 21 km) to compete with the strongest marathon runners. Those, who like a healthy life style, can overcome 3 and 10 km distances and enjoy unique landscapes. Trail running is a run on natural terrain. For some participants, it is a strength test, and for others, it is a unity with nature and the opportunity to enjoy the mountain scenery. Here everyone will find something that one likes.
Briefing regarding Marathon at campfire. Interactive games to get to know other participants.
Dinner in BC Karkara. Overnight in tents.
(Breakfast – guest house, lunch – no, dinner – BC Karkara)

Day 6. Karkara valley.

Tien-Shan Trail Race day, 3 km, 10 km, 21 km, 42 km
6:00 – 8:00 – Breakfast
8:00 – 8:30 – Delivery of packages to the participants of the Marathon
8:30 – 9:00 – Opening Ceremony
9:00 – 9:45 – Warming up
9:45 – 10:00 – Preparation for the start
10:00 – Mass start at the Distance 21km, 42 km.
* Maximum time – no more than 6 hours and 8 hours.

10:30 – Mass start 3km, 10km
* Maximum time: 1 hour and 4 hours
13:00 – 15:00 – Lunch (Buffet)
15:00 – 18:00 – Interactive games / sports entertainment / rest
18:00 – 19:00 – Awarding. Closing ceremony.
19:00 – 21:00 – Dinner at campfire and music

Overnight in tents.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner – BC Karkara)

Day 7. Karkara valley – Semenovskoe gorge – Grigorjevskoe gorge – Cholpon Ata town (260 km / 4 hours)

In the morning leave Karkara and drive along the northern shore of Issyk Kul lake.
Our way lays through the two picturesque gorges: Semenovskoe and Grigorevskoe, where you can enjoy nature and visit the place called Kyrchyn where World Nomad Games took place in 2016 and 2018. Grigorievskoe gorge (Kyrgyz name Chon AK-Suu) is located on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul lake, 30 kilometres from Cholpon Ata near the village Grigorevka. 20 km to the West of the Grigorievsky gorge there is no less popular Semenovskoe gorge, named after one of the first researchers of these places – the famous Russian scientist – geographer P. Semenov-Tien-Shansky, who studied Tien Shan in the 50s-60s of the XIX century.
Lunch boxes to heave some power during hiking at the nature.
Accommodation in a resort with private beach on the shore of Issyk Kul.
(Breakfast – tent camp, lunch – lunch box, dinner – no)

Day 8. Cholpon Ata – Bishkek (290 km / 4-5 hours)

After breakfast we take the road to the city of Bishkek.
Before we leave visit Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs site. It is a large open-air collection of rock carvings sometimes referred to as a Stone Garden, which covers some 42 hectares and contains a number of prehistoric monumental structures (stone circles, tombs, the remains of a boundary stone wall) and Petroglyphs dated back Sak-Usun period from 9-8 century BC up to 3-5 century AD.
Drive along the north shore of Issyk Kul lake, to Boom gorge, back to Chui valley and further to Bishkek city.

En route stop near Tokmok town to visit Burana Tower historical complex (UNESCO site). Walk around, learn more about the legacy of the Great Silk Road and early Medieval civilizations on the territory of Chui valley.
Late in the afternoon arrival to Bishkek and get accommodated at the hotel. Overnight.
(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – no, dinner – no)

Day 9. Bishkek city – Airport “Manas”. (35 km, 40 min)

Morning transfer to airport to catch your flight back home.
(Breakfast – hotel)

Map

Additional Info

Level of difficulty:

There are some difficulties on the route, tourists should have an average level of fitness for hiking and horse riding, and take into account that sometimes they have long transfers up to 5 hours by mountain roads.

Clothes and equipment:

You can take all necessary things. Please take into consideration that in summer time the temperature in Bishkek city reaches up to 30 C and in the mountains the temperature decreases to 10 C. Be prepared for unexpected changes of the weather.

Conditions of accommodation:

Hotels in Bishkek, Cholpon Ata – private shower and toilet

Son Kul Lake, Bokonbaevo and Karkara camp – shared shower and toilet

Responsibilities of clients:

Clients should recognize and accept the risk that circumstances may arise which would cause some activities to be shortened or eliminated altogether without reimbursement or refund. Such circumstance includes weather conditions, earthquakes and other acts of nature, injuries or other medical problems, which they may experience. Each tourist should have medical insurance that should be organized him/herself in home country.

Recommended to have:

Rain-coat
Sweater/fleece
Wind-stopper
Enough t-shirts and other underwear (think of taking smth with long sleeves to avoid sunburns)
Hat (remember – the sun can be violent)
Sun-screen cream (30 or higher)
Insect repellent (skin + clothes)
Good trekking boots for easy hikes in the mountains
Walking shoes for the city walks
Proper shoes for the run on the unpaved road
Personal first aid kit (most likely problems: blisters, sunburns, allergy, diarrhea, 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
Swimming suit (for Issyk-Kul)
Sunglasses
Photo camera
Notepad and a pen to make notes as you travel
A smaller backpack, except for your normal suitcase.
Flash light (torch)
Walking poles if needed

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.