From Women for Women, a bad-ass backcountry winter adventure.
AT A GLANCE
jan - february 2025
CHF 2'200.-
3-6
14 days
Bishkek
TRIP PROFILE
We’re outdoors everyday, and our accommodation in yurts separates us by just a little felt and wood from surrounding nature. Sleeping bag & mattress needed; nights can be cold, but during awake-time yurts are warm. The rest of the nights we sleep in warm guesthouses.
Medium comfort with spacious yurts, heated by wood stove, and with Siberian style banja tent (sauna) close by. Toilet facilities are simple (outhouse) and there is no running water expect from the river. We spend 4 nights in total in the yurts. The rest of the nights we have normal basic comfort.
The intensity of touring days can be adapted to desires of the group. Normal days include 800 to 1200 vertical meters, but those who wish can often do an extra lap.
Technical levels of tours are moderate. You should still manage to do safe switchbacks in uphill though. Snow conditions for riding can be more difficult than in the Alps, sound riding skills are beneficial.
Interested or Questions ?
WHAT IT IS ABOUT
Kyrgyz hospitality is overwhelming. And the crew of our yurt base camp ensures that even our stay in a remote valley becomes an unforgettable experience. Up there, life is simple yet comfortable and cozy.
Each day we choose a tour among plenty of options around the plateau a bit higher up the valley. And for those inclined to scout uncovered terrain, there are also still many opportunities.
Besides dedicating our time to enjoying the snow in the mountains, we get to experience the mix of Central Asian nomadic traditions and Sowjet culture: browsing the bazar, tasting local food, sleeping in yurts, and enjoying banja (Russian style sauna) and not to forget, riding horses.
An evening/night in the capital Bishkek ensures a conclusion of the trip that could not be richer in contrast to the remaining time.
This special edition is created by women for women. Our tunduk guide Anne will take you together with our Kazach mountain guide Darya into this adventure. They both love snow, nature, horses and can’t wait to take you on this adventure.
To all men who are interested in the program described below: contact us! We are more then happy to have you on board on another trip.
HIGHLIGHTS
Basecamp in Kyrgyz Yurts
Experiencing Kyrgyz nomadic traditions in this simple yet comfortable accommodation that borrows a lot of coziness.
Alone at home in a location surrounded by mountains and slopes
A high plateau provides access to a variety rideable mountain slopes, side valleys, and their hidden backsides… still plenty to be discovered!
One-of-a-kind travel experience
Travelling in Kyrgyzstan creates special vibes. The country is full of contrasts, known for amazing hospitality, and extremely diverse in traditions. And in winter, everything feels even more intense.
SERVICES
- Trip organization and guiding
- Female Kazach mountain guide Darya.
- All Transportation (private or public)
- Overnight stays in the yurt w/ full board (cold lunch)
- Snacks, sweets, and drinks
- Horses transporting baggage to the yurts
- The service of our yurt crew (cooking, heating, preparing banja)
- Side activities (horseriding / eagle hunting show/...)
- Flights from your origin
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Extra (alcoholic) drinks.
SLEEPING AND EATING
We sleep mostly in simple guesthouses. 4 nights we will spend in our Yurt camp. One yurt in our camp is the kitchen/living room for the whole group, while sleep in another yurt with wooden podiums above ground for sleeping. A well insulating mattress and a sleeping bag rated down to -10°C is still recommended to keep it cozy and warm in your bag even on the colder days (for cold sleepers -15°C or an additional liner etc.). But don't worry, it will only get cold inside during the night. The remaining time a wood stove provides plenty of heat for us but also for our equipment to properly dry before the next day starts.
The guesthouses we use are more homestay than hostel in many cases, intentionally. It allows us to be close to people's life and support them directly. With many of them we already maintain friendship over many years.
Food in Kyrgyzstan is very diverse, and once again rich in contrast. On one hand there are dairy products like salty cheese creations and the world famous Kymyz (fermented horse milk), or also the traditional round breads, all originating from the nomadic culture of the Kyrgyz. On the other hand there is a blend of food choices that developed at the interface of food cuisine from the Turkish, Usbek, Uigur, and of course the Russians. There is literally something for everyone. In case of allergies or food preferences we appreciate early communication so that we can advise and find solutions.
PROGRAM
UPDATED PROGRAM FOLLOWS SOON!! 2025 EDITION INCLUDES 3DAY JEEP/HORSERIDING TOUR
Day 0: Travelling day (depending on the origin of your journey).
Day 1: Meeting in Bishkek, if we did not already meet earlier. We continue to Karakol in our private transport, a cozy Mercedes Sprinter with enough space for the crew with bags. It’s approx. a six hours journey. Stay in guesthouse and dinner in the town.
Day 2: Preparing our gear for a week of touring. Transport to Jergelan village, where we get an introduction in horseback riding and check out the area on horseback (no horseriding experience is needed), afterwards we make our way to where we will be sleeping.
Day 3-5: 3 x skitour in the area of Jergelan. In case of bad conditions we might change the plan to ski in other valleys.
Day 6: Transport to nearby Boz Uchuk valley. We help packing the horses with our extra baggage (sleeping bags, food). Afterwards we will climb up to the yurt camp (approx 600 m vertical and 5 km).
Day 7-10: Touring from the yurt camp (5 overnight stays). After a smaller tour in the morning of the last day we will descend to the valley and return to Karakol to our guesthouse.
Day 11: Horse-powered skitour near to Karakol. We go up by horse and ski or snowboard down the valley just behind Karakol. Unique experience.
Day 12: Returning to Bishkek ( 6 hr drive), we will visit the big market in the afternoon. In the evening we celebrate a hopefully successful trip, afterwards our driver gets us to the airport.
Day 13: Flights back home.
