Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Skiing, Open Spaces
Destinations
Kyrgyzstan

Strap on your powder skis or splitboard and get ready to experience backcountry skiing or snowboarding in remote and scenic Karakol, in the mountains of northeastern Kyrgyzstan. Journey to the pretty town and get acclimatized to the area before heading up to where the slopes range from 7500 to 12,000 feet above the sea. From December to March, experienced skiers come for the wide range of snow-covered routes, and you will enjoy four of your eight days exploring the pistes that await. Spend your nights beneath the stars in the comfort of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt and, upon your return to Karakol, indulge in a Russian sauna. Enjoy the chance to marvel at Lake Issyk-Kul en route back to Bishkek, where you can discover the delights of the capital.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

• Snow Sports: Karakol’s gorgeous backcountry slopes offer perfect powder snow, as well as opportunities for off-piste skiing.

• Yurt Accommodation: Make like the locals do and camp in a traditional Kyrgyz yurt, which makes for an authentic and cozy shelter from chilly winter winds.

• Lake Issyk-Kul: One of the largest, deepest and oldest lakes in the world, jewel-toned Issyk-Kul never freezes, making it a picture-perfect subject for keen photographers.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Karakol

Touch down in Bishkek and meet your guide who has arranged your comfortable six-hour transfer to Karakol by car, taking time to stop off for beautiful photo opportunities. Check in at the comfortable Green Yard Hotel and get acclimatized with a traditional Kyrgyz dinner.

Hotel Options
About

In the northern Kyrgyzstan town of Karakol, it’s hard to find any better place to stay than the award-winning, family-run Green Yard Guest House. Take its location for starters.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 2

Karakol

This morning, continue your familiarization with a tour of the town. Enjoy the traditional architecture and soak up the local culture with visits to the history museum, Russian Orthodox Church and Dungan Mosque. This afternoon, embark on your adventure into the mountains, ready for some downhill action.

Karakol
Karakol

Day 3

Karakol

Get your bearings and allow your guide to recommend some slopes in the surrounding area. After a day spent getting your ski legs, relax in a traditional Kyrgyz yurt camp for a taste of the nomadic lifestyle indigenous to these mountains.

Day 4

Karakol

Continue your backcountry adventure, enjoying the slopes and pistes of your mountain destination and challenging yourself with some of the trickier routes. Relax at night with the winter stars overhead, immersed in beautiful countryside.

Karakol
Karakol

Day 5

Karakol

Spend the day perfecting your turns as you carve your way down your new favorite routes and enjoy your last night in paradise with classic Kyrgyz cuisine and a final comfortable sleep in your cozy yurt.

Day 6

Karakol

Spend the day making your final runs and say your goodbyes to the slopes; later today you will head back to Karakol town. In the evening, relax at your hotel and ease any aches and pains with an indulgent Russian sauna.

Karakol
Karakol

Day 7

Bishkek

After breakfast, set off on a leisurely scenic journey bound for Bishkek, making a stop at Przhevalsky Museum, dedicated to the famous Russian explorer. The route takes you alongside the banks of the world’s second largest alpine lake, Issyk-Kul, and you will have the chance to explore and take photos of the stunning scenery. Check in at your luxurious city hotel and relax for the evening.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: This hotel is ideally situated in the center of Bishkek yet within a short driving distance from the international airport.

Services: The only five-star hotel in the country, the Hyatt Regency prides itself on world-class service, catering to guests’ every need, around the clock.

History: Since its opening, the Hyatt Regency has enjoyed a history of acclaim for its excellent quality including being twice named Kyrgyzstan's Best Hotel in the World Travel Awards.

See Hotel
Hyatt Regency Bishkek Preferred Hotel
About

With excellent views of the capital and the Tien Shan mountains, the Sheraton Bishkek is comprised of deluxe rooms, plus junior, king and executive suites, some of which include club access. Rooms are furnished in a warm and homely classic style, with air-conditioning, writing desks, WiFi and terraces.

If our Preferred Hotel is unavailable, this accommodation is a reliable alternative and has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 8

Departure

Spend your remaining hours in Kyrgyzstan exploring the delights of its capital. Take in Bishkek’s State Circus, Opera House, National History Museum, Philharmonic House, City Hall and Osh Bazaar. Sample a little more local food and make your way to the airport for your onward flight.

Suggested Hotel For Days 1–6

Green Yard

Green Yard

In the northern Kyrgyzstan town of Karakol, it’s hard to find any better place to stay than the award-winning, family-run Green Yard Guest House. Take its location for starters. Set in the foothills of the majestic Tien-Shan mountains, the area offers spectacular views and trips to the nearby ski resorts or majestic gorges are only minutes away. The rooms too, are bright, warm and comfortable, with a choice of ‘luxury’ or ‘standard’ to cater for different tastes and budgets. All rooms come with satellite TV, refrigerators, Wi-Fi and a private bathroom with bathtub - perfect for a long hot soak after a day of enjoying the slopes or mountain adventure. The hotel’s restaurant downstairs cooks up both national and European dishes whilst also providing a cozy and family-friendly atmosphere. 

Suggested Hotels For Day 7

Hyatt Regency Bishkek
Preferred Hotel

Hyatt Regency Bishkek

This stunning, modern destination in the center of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek proudly holds the title of the only five-star hotel in the country. Within 35 minutes’ drive from the airport, this luxury hotel is surrounded by all of Bishkek’s sights of interest and history including The Museum of Fine Arts, Dubovy Park and the State Opera. What’s more, within the hotel, the facilities are first class. A range of 178 stylish rooms and suites are fitted with the latest amenities and guests can enjoy 24-hour concierge service for any and all their needs. Food lovers will be delighted by the range of cuisines, from authentic Mediterranean meals to laid-back barbecues by the pool. Meanwhile, the chic lobby bar and Opera Lounge are perfect spots for pre-dinner drinks or a romantic night cap. The comprehensive range of facilities on offer in the health club includes an outdoor pool, a spa with treatment rooms and a well-equipped gym so that guests can enjoy relaxation and reinvigoration during their stay.

Sheraton Bishkek

Sheraton Bishkek

With excellent views of the capital and the Tien Shan mountains, the Sheraton Bishkek is comprised of deluxe rooms, plus junior, king and executive suites, some of which include club access. Rooms are furnished in a warm and homely classic style, with air-conditioning, writing desks, WiFi and terraces. Facilities include a health club and fitness center with a sauna, steam bath, spa and outdoor swimming pool. Guests can dine on international dishes at Feast, Indian cuisine at Iwa Roof Bar-Restaurant and grilled meats at Legend Steak Restaurant.

Similar Itineraries

Classic Kyrgyzstan

Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
From $10,500
See Itinerary

A Skier's Delight: Exploring the Magnificent Mountains of Chon-Kemin

Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Price Per Person
From $5,400
See Itinerary

An Olympian's Adventure: Exploring the Snowcapped Serenity of Karakol

Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Price Per Person
From $5,900
See Itinerary

Chon Kemin to Karakol: The Best of Northern Kyrgyzstan

Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
From $5,300
See Itinerary

Exploring the Jewel of Central Asia: The Natural Charms of Kyrgyzstan

Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Price Per Person
From $5,900
See Itinerary

Galloping through Kyrgyzstan, from Arslanbob to Fergana Valley

Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Price Per Person
From $5,500
See Itinerary

Landscapes and Cityscapes of Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan

Duration
14 days / 13 nights
Price Per Person
From $8,600
See Itinerary

Pan-Stans: Country Collecting in Central Asia

Duration
14 days / 13 nights
Price Per Person
From $10,600
See Itinerary

Skiing in At-Bashy Valley

Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
From $6,500
See Itinerary

Sweeping Through Scenic Kyrgyzstan: The Naryn River to Osh

Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Price Per Person
From $5,500
See Itinerary
Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

Travelogues

An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

What Others Say

Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said about us recently.