€1920
Day tours, 900-1,200m vertical, 10 days.
Crowd-free, first tracks powder skiing.
Sleep in heated nomad yurts!
Home-cooked full board meals.
Optional horseback-accessed skiing!
-5 to -10 °C, lots of clear days!
Kyrgyzstan: safe, welcoming, visa-free.
Affordable flights via Istanbul.
The world hasn’t woken up to Kyrgyzstan — a vast, free, and mountainous country of rugged beauty.
This land of nomads offers the raddest ski experience: limitless ski terrain in vast mountains famed for their deep, dry snow, with unique overnights in yurts and mining villages, and some spectacular transportation, from skidoo to horseback — this is the ski adventure you’ve been looking for!
Over two weeks we will explore three different areas of the Tian Shan mountains covered with untracked powder waiting to be skied — owing to the proximity to Issyk-Kul, the second largest alpine lake on the planet.
While based in heated nomad yurts and conventional guesthouses, we will get to ski Kyrgyzstan’s classic terrain, with spectacular ridge walks, sunny weather, short approaches, great choice of skiing lines, 7,000m peaks on the horizon — yet next to zero competition for snow!
Why come to Kyrgyzstan for skiing?
Kyrgyzstan is a land-locked country slightly larger than Austria tucked between China and Kazakhstan in the middle of the Eurasian continent. Once part of the Soviet Union, today it is an independent country relying on tourism, perhaps the most liberal in Central Asia.
With the ‘celestial mountains’ of Tian Shan and Pamirs taking up to 65% of its territory, Kyrgyzstan is a perfect playground for outdoor enthusiasts, well away from the crowds.
Photos by Penny Kendall.
The country boasts an inland ‘sea’ of serene beauty — Issyk-Kul, the world’s second-largest mountain lake which never freezes due to its high salinity and underwater hot springs. This huge expanse of open water creates abundant snowfalls in the mountains around the lake’s southeast shore.
That is where the tiny mining town of Jyrgalan is located — 2,300m above sea level, some 60km away from Karakol ski resort and roughly 6 hrs drive from the capital’s international airport. With a population of just over 600, Jyrgalan exudes a charmingly rustic vibe — with cows, sheep, and horseback locals wandering around the main street.
Jyrgalan receives more precipitation than any other mountain valley around Issyk-Kul Lake. At the same time, cold dry conditions mean the Kyrgyz ‘bottomless sugar’ snow is a delight to ski for many days after the last snowfall!
The area’s textbook ski-touring terrain consists of countless gentle buttresses for safe uphill travel and downhill slopes for any weather, avalanche conditions, and ability of a group, including steeper wind-sheltered couloirs, shallow and fun fields, wide ribs, and forest runs.
Yurt-based skiing in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is the land of nomads, and for 3 days we will be skiing while based in a traditional yurt, purpose-erected for skiers and heated overnight with a coal-burning stove. You can bring your sleeping bag or one can be provided.
Located at 2,900m, 600m higher than the village and 11km away from it, the yurt camp enables access to untracked slopes as private as it gets. Getting there is a fun yet gentle 40-minute ride behind a skidoo holding onto a rope while our backpacks and other gear travel in sleds. There are a few passenger seats for anyone concerned about riding in tow.
The camp boasts a steam sauna, a power generator (located well away to keep things quiet!), a dedicated kitchen yurt also used as a common dining space, and a talented cook who never stops surprising! The absence of 4G signal contributes to the unique experience of sleeping in the heart of the mountains.
1 day of horseback-accessed skiing. No kick-turns.
During our ski trip in Kyrgyzstan, you will have a unique opportunity to experience skiing in Kyrgyz nomad style — horseback-accessed! There are slopes in Jyrgalan that are not normally used for ski touring yet can be easily accessed by well-treated local horses over gentle south-facing ridges with shallow snowpack, followed by ski descent in a shaded couloir with good snow. A peaceful and scenic ride will take us about 700 meters above the village in about 3 hours without breaking a sweat, offering a refreshing break from the previous 5 days of human-powered ski touring — all while minimizing your eco-footprint!
Rest assured, your skis will be securely carried by a dedicated pack horse, leaving you to enjoy the ride with just your backpack. No prior riding experience? No worries! Our experienced local horsemen will provide all the necessary guidance, and they’ll handle the horses’ return journey.
In case you have an allergy or just don’t tolerate horseback riding for whatever reason, a second ski guide is normally available to take you on a ski tour elsewhere.
10 days of guided ski touring, including 1 day of horseback-accessed skiing. At least one IFMGA or IFMGA aspirant guide per 5-6 participants.
All accommodation:
2 nights/3 days in a traditional heated nomad yurt in the heart of Tian Shan mountains, privately rented for our group. Full board meals.
4 nights in Jyrgalan in a classy hostel, 4/8 bed dorms. Ski in&out on most days. Full board meals.
3 nights in Karakol in a guesthouse, twin/double rooms with breakfast.
2 nights in Bishkek capital, 3* hotel, twin/double rooms with breakfast.
All transfers from arrival to departure.
International flights to Bishkek (FRU) via Istanbul. Pegasus airlines is usually the cheapest option at about $400-600 return from Europe with a ski bag.
Dining out a la carte in Bishkek and Karakol cities (cards accepted).
Personal insurance.
Optional catskiing in Jyrgalan.
Optional kayaking in Issyk-Kul lake.
Single accommodation.
Gear rental, if necessary.
Discretional gratuities.
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We ski toured in Siberia with Andrey in December 2018. Was a fantastic trip; perfectly organised. Great food and great fun.
Jamie Brown
November 3, 2020Our ski tour in Siberia was superbly organised. Your information before the trip was very clear and comprehensive. We knew exactly what to expect – and got it
David McClelland
November 27, 2020 -
I joined Andrey now twice, once in Kamchatka and once in the Fann mountains. Each time everything worked out well. Andrey has done some excellent organizing and catering. We had... read more
Ulrike Kiefer
November 4, 2020I went with Andrey to Kamchatka back on 2013. At that time PrimalScapes didn't even exist. He invited me to join his expedition with his fellow Russian friends (We had... read more
Xavi Tarafa Mercader
December 5, 2020 -
We joined Andrey on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous... read more
Monika Steinlechner
November 11, 2020They definitely succeeded in making the trip enjoyable and in breaking any negative stereotypes – we loved Russia and have come away with a very good impression and a wish... read more
Julie Pritchard
November 3, 2020 -
Superb unique experience to Siberia in 2019. We were well looked after and adapted to our needs and fitness levels. I look forward to going again, perhaps Kamchatka next year ?
Adrian Parsons
November 3, 2020In 2018 I had the privilege of doing volcano trekking in Kamchatka with a group of experienced South Africans and Andrey, with the grand prize in mind of summiting Klyuchevskaya... read more
Anton Durrant
November 27, 2020 -
I was impressed with your organization of the trip. The upfront information was accurate and relevant. More importantly everything ran smoothly. I was particularly impressed with your organization of the... read more
Robert Cromarty
November 3, 2020In 2018 I had the privilege of doing volcano trekking in Kamchatka with a group of experienced South Africans and Andrey, with the grand prize in mind of summiting Klyuchevskaya... read more
Anton Durrant
November 27, 2020
Jessika Ziegler2024-08-20It was a great trip. In German we would say: "It was a well-rounded affair". Thanks Andrew
Luna Ziegler2024-08-12We went with Andrew on a hikking trip in the Fan mountains in Tadschikistan. The scenery and the whole trip was amazing. Andrew was such a perfect guide, he spoiled us every day with amazing food, wonderful camping spots and it was so amazing that you can feel that not only the people who booked the trip were enjoying it also himself. he is living this adventure live at its fullest. we can only recommend you to go on an adventure with him!! thanks a lot for that time we will never forget
Alex Antsiferov2024-05-21Andrey is a fantastic guide! He has a knack for discovering real, authentic places. Some of the coolest adventures in my life have been in his company. He himself is tough as nails and never seems to get tired, but he always plans trips within others' abilities and never takes unnecessary risks. Also, Andrey takes great photos — I totally depend on him for my supply of desktop wallpapers!
Alexey Gaponov2024-03-22I've joined Andrey on skiing trips to Mamay valley (Lake Baikal), Ridder (Kazachstan) and Svaneti (Georgia), and would love to do so again! His trips are always thoroughly thought through, well organized and include many interesting ideas beyond skiing. For skiing/skitouring itself: Andrey is a great back-country guide, paying extreme attention to mountain safety, group's mood and abilities, and manages to find areas of untouched snow even in spaghetti-ridden spots (this might involve some uphill walking at times). Add to this his desire to interconnect people from different cultures (even in the current deglobalized times) and a skill to solve clients' problems quickly (like organizing a replacement skitouring set of the right size in the middle of the woods), and you get a reliably great ski trip as a result.
Paul Kutarski2024-02-25Excellent and truly memorable trip to Kyrgyzstan. Well organised and interesting itinerary both on and off the snow. Lots of great powder descents. The standard of accommodation and food significantly exceeded my expectations. I would not hesitate to go with Andrey again and, indeed, hope to do so next season.
Linda Chew2024-02-24Kyrgyzstan January 2024 The trip was incredibly well organised by Andrey with pleasant surprises which made it very memorable. The accommodation was excellent, warm and comfortable with great food. The ski guiding suited the abilities of the group and the snow was enjoyable. I would certainly recommend this trip with Andrey.
Eric Kendall2024-02-16Skied in Kyrgyzstan with Andrey. He is excellent - found great lines, and organised brilliantly. Also a great drone pilot! Can't wait for our next trip with him - see you in March, Andrey!
Steve Kentish2024-01-22Andre is excellent, as an organiser of the trip and as a guide. The skiing and weather was excellent in Kyrgyzstan. Safety was a key component, which he was well on top of. He used his local knowledge to find the best angle and orientation of descents. Had a great trip. Hope to return with Primalscrapes again. Note: the skiing is a fair distance from Bishkek, so long bus transfers are required, Andre organised a few excursions to break these up.
Carolyn Brown2023-12-26Andrey is an excellent off-piste guide. He has a reliable team around him and his attention to detail ensures everything runs smoothly on his trips. His help with choosing our holiday outline, booking flights and organising kit hire was first class at every stage.
Francisco Garcia2023-12-21Great experience with Primalscapes in Ridder!
If you find 8 days of human-powered ski touring a bit too demanding, why not opt for a day of catskiing in Jyrgalan? The snowcat slopes are well away from the regular ski touring routes, ensuring no competition for powder (and no diesel fumes to disrupt our touring days!) The Pistenbully snowcats seat up to 12-14 passengers (though it is usually less), offering an affordable all-weather ride up. Expect around 5-7 runs with a 3,500-4,000m vertical drop total.
SHORT OF VACATION DAYS? Consider joining us for the second week of the itinerary only, at a slightly reduced price. Flying out from Europe on Friday gets you in Kyrgyzstan on Saturday morning, immediately followed by a private transfer to Jyrgalan to join the team. You then start skiing from Day 7 of the itinerary.
Upon arrival in Bishkek, typically around 5AM, you’ll be greeted by a driver holding a name board at the airport. A short transfer brings you to a centrally located upscale hotel, where a hearty breakfast awaits. After a few hours of rest, in the afternoon, an English-speaking guide takes you on a tour through the city, unveiling its Soviet-era brutalist architecture and sharing insights into its rich history.
Following breakfast, we embark on a scenic drive to Karakol along the picturesque shores of Issyk-Kul, the world’s second-largest alpine lake. En route, we stop to witness the ancient Kyrgyz tradition of eagle hunting, where the acclaimed master and his apprentices demonstrate feats of archery and falconry. The spectacular show lasts about 1.5-2hrs after which we are treated to a home-cooked lunch before continuing on to Karakol.
The town was founded as an outpost of the Russian empire in late 19th century and today is known for its ski resort. Upon arrival in Karakol, we check into our hotel, check our ski gear, run a safety briefing and enjoy dinner.
Weather permitting, we venture into the Tian-Shan Mountains, exploring routes in Boz-Uchuk, Aksu, or Turgen valley. A minivan takes us to the start of the route in 30-45 minutes. The roundtrip ski tour distance is about 10km with a total vertical of 1,000-1,200m and skiing with great views of Issyk-Kul lake and the surrounding mountains.
In the afternoon we visit 19th century Orthodox wooden cathedral and Dungan mosque styled as a wooden Chinese pagoda. In the evening, we unwind with a refreshing round of drinks at a foreigners-friendly bar in Karakol.
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Karakol and embark on our journey to the charming village of Jyrgalan. Along the way, we pause for a roadside ski tour, skiing the untracked powder of Kyrgyzstan mountains.
Jyrgalan is a cosy mining village with a population of just about 600 residents, with endless possibilities of ski touring right from the village.
We pick out spots depending on the current weather and snowpack conditions. Some routes start right from our lodge while other require 10-15 minutes drive to another end of the village. Most ascents follow gentle ribs up to scenic ridges, while descents are usually on fun 20-30 degree slopes. There are some tree runs as well. Usually we’ll have 2-3 runs per day with total elevation drop of about 1000-1200m.
As a rest day, we enjoy some laidback skiing accessed with about 3hrs of horseback riding — a unique experience that is only possible in Kyrgyzstan. One thing we can promise — no kick turns today! 🙂
If you don’t like horses, a second guide can take you for a day of a conventional ski tour at a different spot.
The yurt camp is located on a snow plateau at 2,900m a.s.l., some 600m above the village and 14km away from it into the mountains enabling exclusive access to high mountain terrain from warm and comfortable accommodation. It takes about 40 minutes of gentle ride behind a skidoo on a rope while our bags travel in sleds. There are a few passenger seats on skidoos for those who absolutely do not tolerate being towed by a skidoo.
The yurts are heated with coal-burning stoves and come with delicious and filling full-board cooked meals and invigorating steam sauna. Thanks to the absence of 4G signal, internet detox comes as a pleasant bonus.
Today we head for a longer run, potentially with views of 7,000m peaks on the skyline!
After a day of ski-touring we enjoy piping-hot meals in the yurts and head back to our lodge in Jyrgalan village.
A private minivan takes us back to Bishkek around the North shore of Issyk-Kul thus concluding the circumnavigation of the lake. On the way we stop for a quick excursion at Nomad Civilization Center near Cholpon Ata. We may also have time to soak at Keremet-Suu/Oruktu thermal pools.
Your guides
Andrew Golovachev, an IFMGA aspirant ski guide within the guides’ association of Kyrgyzstan, an avid alpine climber, and devoted adventure photographer.
Ran treks, climbs, ski tours and expeditions to Tajikistan Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Siberia, Caucasus and Kamchatka. A full member of the British Alpine Club. Professional avalanche education: equivalent of Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 certificate.
Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.
Kayaking on the tranquil waters of Issyk-Kul lake on the last day of the trip:
Accommodation and food
Based on our experience, the accommodation standards we offer on this Kyrgyzstan ski trip tend to exceed everyone’s expectations!
In Jyrgalan we will be staying at a classy hostel, offering full board delicious home-cooked meals, rejuvenating hot showers, and reasonably fast Wi-Fi. Subject to availability and our group size, we may have the entire hostel to ourselves, featuring cosy 4-bed dorm rooms and ski in & out access to the slopes on most days.
Food is hearty and keeps surprising us every day thanks to our skilled cook. While Kyrgyzstan’s national cuisine predominantly features free-range meat dishes, we’re happy to accommodate your preferences and intolerances. Just let us know in advance, and we’ll work with the guesthouses to provide a selection of delicious vegetarian dishes for you! Refreshing bottled beer is available both in the hostel and higher up in the yurt.
While based in Karakol, we will be staying in a small family-run hotel in European style with ensuite twin or double rooms and daily breakfasts included. We will dine out in the nearest restaurant that offers a fantastic selection of both European and Kyrgyzstan national dishes. Also, there’s a foreigner-focused apres-ski bar nearby! In Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek we will be staying at a centrally-located 3-star hotel with ensuite twin or double rooms and breakfasts provided.
Booking terms
Sounds exciting? It truly is! We love the place and would be happy to share it with you. Should you have any questions, please check out our FAQ section below. Alternatively, don’t hesitate to send us your inquiry using the contact form or WhatsApp.
We require financial commitment from the participants in a form of 20% deposit paid via a SEPA bank transfer or Paypal. The remaining amount is paid in cash or wire transfer upon arrival.
Cancellation policy
We promise a 14-day risk-free booking window: you can cancel at any point within two weeks after you put down the first deposit. This buys you time to sort out vacation and flights, to bring in your friends, etc. and not have to worry about someone else taking your spot on the trip.
In case of cancellation of the trip by the participant due to any other personal circumstances any deposits made are NOT refunded. At our sole discretion we may put them towards your future trips with us.
The minimum group size for this trip is 4 participants plus the guide. Should there be less, the trip will be cancelled and all deposits made will be returned in full.
Enquire & book
Let us know any questions or concerns via the form below and we’ll get back to you within 24hrs!
Alternatively, you can just email us at hello@primalscapes.com
We will never email you any marketing materials without your further consent. Your info will only be used to respond to your question and will never be shared with third parties.
