Ski Safari Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan, the place where it all started for us. In addition to our celebrated Ski Adventure trip, we will also be offering a Ski Safari. As always, a combination of winter sports and culture, for the adventurous, autonomous and curious winter sports enthusiast.
Ski Adventure Kyrgyzstan
The Kyrgyzstan Ski Adventure is our most famous ski tour. In 8 days we will explore the remarkable highlights of skiing in Kyrgyzstan. Don’t expect any comfortable chairlifts, groovy after ski pubs or ceasar salads. Get yourself ready for adventure, yurts and shashliks.
Cat Ski Kyrgyzstan
Cat ski Kyrgyzstan? An abnormal amount of dry Central Asian snow is falling in Kyrgalan valley of Kyrgyzstan. The giant Issyk Kul Lake provides a micro-climate with significantly more snowfall than elsewhere in Central Asia. That’s why we offer organized cat ski trips to Jyrgalan. Complete with overnight stay in traditional yurt and Russian sauna.
Issyk Kul, the“Côte d’Azur” of Kyrgyzstan
Lake Issyk Kul is a good place to be. Young and old, Kyrgyz and tourists, pawpaws and party animals, adventurers in search of the wild solitude of mountain peaks and plateaus, a solid chunk of couleur local, colorful cocktails in swanky resorts or deserted beaches. An area as large as Denmark has something for everyone.
Facts about Lake Issyk Kul to unpack with
- Issyk Kul is the second largest mountain lake in the world. Only Lake Titicaca is larger.
- The lake is 60 km at its widest, 182 km at its longest and 668 m at its deepest.
- Ranks seventh among the world’s deepest lakes.
- The lake is slightly salinated.
- At the bottom of the lake are remains of a 2,500-year-old sunken city. Historians and archaeologists of all countries: over there!
- Even more fascinating: on the east side of the lake is a Russian test site for torpedo and submarine technology.
In Kyrgyz, Issyk Kul means warm lake because it never freezes, even during the harshest winters. And in Kyrgyzstan, it can get damn cold. Also remarkable when you consider that the lake is some 1,600m above sea level and surrounded by mountains covered with eternal snow.
Throughout its history, the Issyk Kul region has always been a place of tranquility. An oasis on the Silk Road and popular vacation destination during the Soviet period. Even now, the rest of the country is looking at those laid-back Issyk Kulians with a bit of disdain.
Tourism
Today, many tourists find their way to the lake . In general, mass tourism (as far as we can talk about mass tourism in Kyrgyzstan – but think resorts, clubs and cocktails) in the north, and mainly agriculture and deserted beaches in the south. The main cities on the lake are Cholpon Ata in the north and Karakol in the east. Cholpon Ata is somewhat the Lloret of Kyrgyzstan.
Points Of Interest along Lake Issyk Kul:
- Barskoon Waterfall: a beautiful waterfall in the Barskoon Valley. A fun fact is that this is where Yuri Gagarin trained to become an astronaut.
- Fairy Tale Canyon: also called the fairy tale valley in Dutch.
- Bokonbayevo: Traditional eagle shows can be seen in Bokonbayevo.
- Solenoye Ozero: This is a salt lake in which you literally float due to the high salt content. A special experience it certainly is!
