day: Bishkek    

Arrive Bishkek. Transfer to guest house. Rest, explore or simply have a swim in the pool.

day 2: Bishkek to Kadji Say     

Transfer to Orto Tokoy Reservoir, then cycle to Kadji Say, the route is quiet and its views outstanding, a bit hilly at first but after reaching the lake its a mostly flat ride with minimal traffic on rough asphalt.

day 3: Kadji Say to Karakol   

Ride around the mostly flat, paved road along the south shore of lake to Karakol   

day 4: Karakol    

Karakol is the most inviting town on the whole lake and there are many places to see or ride to.  Today provides two guided options. Firstly a 50 km round trip mountain bike ride into the jewel of the region, the Karakol Valley.  On show will be Horse herds, turquoise rivers and a gorgeous valley.

OR a 50 km town and country tour through the seaside town of Pristan, past the summer dachas of the locals, looping back to Karakol town.  Both options can include a trip to the very interesting museum of early overland journeys of Prezhyvalsk throughout Central Asia.     

day 5: Karakol to Kok Kiya     

We ride along a scenic river to Kok Kiya, where a broad valley intersects our valley . We then continue 9 increasingly difficult kms to the base of tomorrow’s climb.  

day 6: Kok Kiya to Inylchek

We start with a 9km climb to the pass. The last few kms to the top of the 3822m pass are hard with steep switchbacks with extremely rough surfaces.    After lunch, the road crosses rock fall from landslides in some places as strong winds blow through the canyon along the Sary Jaz river.

39 km later brings us to where we cross the bridge over the large river at the near-ghost town of Inylchek, where we turn east on a gravel road for 44km to our camp. 

day 7: Inylchek

Layover day.  Options for horse riding up the valley to an alpine lake for lunch;  hiking along the moraine towards the Inylchek glacier,  helicopter flight seeing;  relaxing in the sauna, strolling around the area.    

day 8: Inylchek to Shashlik Camp

A full day today.  Leave camp early and ride 51km to a remote and wild hot spring. The last 11 km include new territory and some challenging terrain.  We’ll spend 1-2 hours enjoying the hot riverside waters. The views are completely different as we retrace the next 44km uphill for our evening “shashlik camp.”

Note: this hotsprings is located about 40 km downstream on a glacial river that is dammed by icebergs each year.  This dam breaks in the summer, sending a flood surge of water down river, and covering the springs with 10 feet of water!  Depending on the timing of this natural event, the hotsprings may not be available or advisable.  The itinerary will be adjusted accordingly.  At Camp tonight you can experience local custom of slaughtering and butchering a sheep, and the preparation of traditional dishes: shashlik (shish-kebab) and shorpo (thick lamb soup).  If you prefer not to watch you may try your nerve crossing a nearby suspension bridge.

day 9: Shaslik Camp to Rural Camp

After just 1km, we turn east on an impossibly small looking track which is the “main road” through this region.  We are now on the north side of the Sary Jaz Range, and see the snowy and icy faces of the same mountains which entertained us for the previous three days in the Inylchek valley. 60kms  of cycling with a chance of a lunch hike, and cave exploration.  There is a passport control station to pass today.  Also, quite a bit of up and down. Turn the corner, go over the small pass, camp before the forest.

day 10: Rural Camp to Rural Camp

Ride through this remote area along the Kazakh border.  Meet shepherds with their herds along the way.  Pass through the heavily forested area with the bounding river our constant companion.  Come out of the mountains in the summer pasture lands of the region’s nomads.   

day 11: Rural Camp to Tyup

A rural ride on unpaved roads through the small villages to Tyup, where we stop for a the night, guest house.

day 12: Tyup to Bishkek

The golden morning sun on this peaceful ride along the north shore to the south, we look across the glittering lake to the high peaks of the Issyk-Alatoo Range. At midday you can visit to rock paintings in Cholpon Ata town.  After lunch we transfer to Bishkek.

day 13: Bishkek

Bishkek city day.  The greenest city in Asia.  Enjoy strolling along the boulevards, people watching by the fountains, the engaging traditional textiles, relic Soviet exhibits in the State museum, getting lost in the Osh Bazaar,  souvenir shopping and more.  

day 14: Home    

Transfer to the airport for our flight home.