BEL 06-42547010
In Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia’s ‘Switzerland’, this mountain bike adventure starts in Bishkek, the green capital where time seems to have stopped.
Next, several days of mountain biking will take you over high mountain ridges and through elongated valleys, so characteristic for Kyrgyzstan. There is hardly any tourism, but its people are very friendly, accessible and interested to meet foreigners. The original population of the country are nomads, but in these days most people spend their winters in warm houses. During the summer season they take their herds of yurts (a national species of deer) to the highland valleys. Here they lead again their nomadic exsistence in tents, that are only felt sheet covered wooden skeletons.
The downfall of the former Sovjet Union has certainly left its effects on Kyrgyzstan, a former member state of the Russian republic. There is hardly any industry left and the lack of natural resources doesn’t provide any alternative sources of state income. In the last twenty years the mining industry has been neglected and the small mining villages high up in the mountain have become abandoned.
The mountain bike takes us to one of the largest attraction of Kyrgyzstan: the natural reserve surrounding the Issy-Köl Lake at an altitude of 1600 m. It is situated between de mountain ridges Küngey Alatau and Terskey Alatau. The lake used to be a testing site for Russion submarines firing their torpedos. Of course the area then was strictly forbidden for foreigners, who didn’t catch any glimpse of the thousands acres of poppy plants yielding to a big harvest of opium.
Mountainbike Challenge Kyrgizstan
Dates:
Departure on June 14 and August 2, 2020!
Duration: 16 days, including 10 days mountain biking.
Prices:
€ 1.895,= per person ** (depending on the actual inflation rate)
Group size:
The event will be organised with a minimum number of 6 participants. In case the event has to be cancelled, you will be informed not later than 4 weeks before the scheduled departure dates. When the minimum number of participants is registered, you will be informed directly on the exact dates the event will take place, including details regarding the travels involved.
You can register for this trip as a group as well as individually.
** Also see Travel en Price Info
Contact
Stefan Rasing
(Managing Director FIT Adventure Sports Travels)
T: 00 31 6 42547010
M: info@fitavontuurlijkesportreizen.nl
Making a reservation is no booking (yet)!
DAY TO DAY PROGRAM
DAY 1
International flight to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan
DAY 2 (L-D)
A 150 km bus transfer will take you from the airport to the Chon Kemin Gorge, a wonderful location to get used to condition at an altitude of 1600 m. We have a spectacular view on a valley filled with impressive trees and snow covered mountain tops, showing glaciers. A guesthouse provides dinner and lodgings fort he night.
DAY 3 (B-L-D)
After breakfast we mountain bike over a20 km gravel road to the Kalmak Pass, followed by an additonal 30 km to Balykchi City. We pass by the Tokoi Reservoir at an altitude of 1700 m, where lunch will be served. With renewed energy we continue by bus to Kochkor, some 60 km further ahead, where we have a look at its craftsworks. In addition we visit a local family well known for its manufactures felt products. Dinner is served by local people, who also offer us lodgings for the night.
DAY 4 (B-L-D)
Today’s mountain bike tour leads us almost only over gravel roads en brings us from Kochkor on to the Chaar Archa Pass. After having enjoyed lunch and an additional mountain bike trip we will great pleasure in camping in comfortable tents at an altitude of 2700 m.
DAY 5 (B-L-D)
After breakfast we start our stage today along a relatively flat mountain bike track to the Kara Keche Gorge. Today we will cover a distance of about 80 km before we enjoy dinner and our lodgings in camping site tents at an altitude of 2648 m.
DAY 6 (B-L-D)
The first 20 km mountain bike trip today brings us to the Kara Kech Pass, where we will enjoy an immense spectrum of colours radiated by the magnificent landscape that surrounds us. Following this passage we stop for lunch at an altitude of 3384 m, after which an additional 30 km of mountain biking takes us to the area around the southern part of Lake Son Kul. We enjoy our today’s lodging in traditional yurts at an altitude of 3016 m.
DAY 7 (B-L-D)
Today’s 60 km mountain bike tour takes us tot he northern shores of Lake Son Kul. More than 18 smaller rivers flow into the lake with just one rising from there: the Son Kul River. At its shores we enjoy lunch today, followed by views on the natural beauty of this vast landscape, containing extensive green pastures where nomads herd their cattle. Although the winters can be very harsh here, the present season offers nice juicy grasses for the many horses, sheep, goats, cows, yaks and even cemels. Sunsets are undescribably beautiful here, more than worthwhile to ejoy! We stay over in traditional yurts at an altitude of 3034 m.
DAY 8 (B-L-D)
Over mostly gravel roads we mountain bike today to the Kalmak Ashuu Pass surrounded by a suprisingly beautiful landscape containing dry and stony desert-like sites as well as endless lush alpine meadows covered with gorgeous flowers like edelweiss. At the finish of today ‘s 70 km mountain bike trip we enjoy our lodgings close to the Kara Kudjur River in a camp of tents at an altitude of 2700 m.
DAY 9 (B-L-D)
Today’s 70 km mountain bike tour bridges a 2845 m difference in height, thus requires quite a bit of climbing and going down. At an altitude of 2985 m we reach a campsite where we will stay overnight in comfortable tents.
DAY 10 (B-L-D)
Following breakfast a 45 km mountain bike tour over bridle paths takes us through the splendid mountainous area to the Jalpak Bel Pass. You will not only enjoy the scenery but also imagine yourselves being alone on the earth’s surface; that’s how gorgeously the natural surroundings here engulf you, so to speak. We stay overnight in camping tents at an altitude of 3200 m.
DAY 11 (B-L-D)
After having enjoyed breakfast a 70 km off-road mountain bike tour along the shores of the Balgart River will take us to Jiluu Suu Hot Springs. Along the way we will have lunch, followed by ample opportunity to relax in some natural hot springs around. We enjoy dinner and will stay overnight in tents at a campsite 3300 m high up in the mountains.
DAY 12 (B-L-D)
Today’s 80 km mountain bike tour takes us through Tosor Pass, where we start a bus transfer to Kaji Sai, some 25 km further down the road. This village is situated at the shores of Ish Kul Lake, inviting us to take a refreshing dive into its clear water. We enjoy our today’s lodgings in a guesthouse at an altitude of 1750 m.
DAY 13 (B-L-D)
The last mountain bike tour today! After 25 km we reach Skaza (Fairy Tale) Canyon, owing its name to the typically wind shaped rock formations showing silhouettes of the Great Chinese Wall, dinosaurs, castles, snakes and dragons in the most impressive spectrum of colours. When time allows a swim in beautiful and clear natural lakes nearby is an option. Again we stay overnight in a guesthouse, some 1750 m high up in the mountains.
DAY 14 (B-L-D)
Following breakfast a 360 km bus transfer will take us back to the capital of Bishkek. In the evening we enjoy dinner there and stay in a guesthoude to spend the night.
DAY 15 (B-L-D)
Today’s program includes a city tour through Bishkek, followed by a bus tour to Ala Archa National Park. Like yesterday dinner will be served in the guesthouse in Bishkek, where we will stay overnight for a last time.
DAY 16 (B)
After having enjoyed breakfast a bus transfer will take us to Bishkek Airport for our international flight back to The Netherlands.
Prices:
€ 1.895,= per person (depending on actual inflation rates)
Prices include:
Lodgings in guesthouses, tents and yurts
All local transfers, including luggage transfers between various lodgings locations
All meals mentioned in the DAY TO DAY program
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner
English speeking supportive staff
Technical assistance regarding possible mountain bike repairs
Two liters (2 l) of mineral water each day
Medical kit
Satellite telephone
Not included are:
International flight (starting at € 525,=)
International transfer of mountain bike (± € 200,=)
All meals that are not mentioned in the DAY TO DAY program
Travel and Health insurance
Cancellation insurance
Optional costs for visa
Optional excursions (e.g. rafting, felt tapestry sh ow)
Visa
Either you arrange your own visa or ask FIT Sports Adventure Travels to do this for you, by indicating so in your final reservation.
To apply for a visa you need a passport, valid for at least 6 months following departure to Kyrgyzstan.
Pre-travel participants meeting
Following reservation or booking for the trip FIT Sports Adventure Travels invites you to attend a pre-travel participants meeting. Here you will receive detailed information on background, program and various apects about this trip. Also you will have ample opportunity to ask questions and gather additional documentation.
Target group:
Recreative and well trained sports minded people
Our vision and mission
FIT Adventure Sports Travels offers you the opportunity to turn your endurance sport into an adventure. We organise sports travels in areas of natural beauty, almost untouched by (mass) tourism and in doing so, offer you the unknown and unexpected. You will experience basic outdoor living in foreign countries, combined with local standards of modern life circumstances. We closely work together with local people and create employment. Thus avoiding, that people leave the country side for a life in the city and doing so, preventing that old traditions and cultures get lost.
Reviews and evaluations of former participants in our sports travels include reactions such as:
‘Sheer amazement because of the natural surroundings and the constant variety in traveling experience, from traditional to modern’
‘Wonderful surprises regarding the acquaintance with the every day authentic life of the local people’
‘You start out as an indivual, but you will finally end up as a group’
‘I enjoyed very much the constant focus on individual performance levels’
‘No extreme sports is forced upon you, but you gradually learn to reach your own maximum level of performance’