- Overview
- Trip Outline
- Gallery
- Reviews
- Booking
- Video
- Route
Cat Ski Kyrgyzstan
An incredible powder paradise awaits you in the eastern Tian Shan Mountains. Experience cat skiing in Kyrgyzstan with one of our Pistenbullys, typically used for slope preparation but repurposed to transport you to the most thrilling off-piste terrain. Sit comfortably in our custom-built cabin as the driver takes you to the most stunning peaks. Once at the top, you'll carve fresh lines all day long, guided by a local expert who knows the best spots. Get ready for an exhilarating adventure in this untouched winter wonderland.
As always, we work predominantly with local partners and guides. As a non-profit tour agency, we support tourism in developing countries, providing you with an authentic local experience while ensuring that locals earn a decent income. Additionally, we help foster local initiatives to grow (winter) tourism.
Bishkek
Upon arriving at Bishkek airport, we'll journey along the northern coast of Lake Issyk Kul to our base in Karakol. This massive lake creates a unique micro-climate, resulting in significantly more snowfall than other regions. By early afternoon, we will arrive in Karakol, the fourth-largest city in Kyrgyzstan and the hub for adventure tourism in Central Asia.
In Karakol, we'll take some time to acclimate, explore the city, visit the bazaar, and do any last-minute shopping. Then, we'll travel the final 60 km stretch east to Jyrgalan. The further east we go, the more snow there is. Our cat skiing adventure takes place in Jyrgalan, the easternmost village and the powder paradise of Kyrgyzstan.
After checking into our local guesthouse, we'll prepare for the safety briefing. We'll review the safety procedures and check your equipment. Following a delicious meal, you'll likely head to bed early in anticipation of the next day's adventure. In the morning, the cat skiing begins in earnest. We've marked several routes for the snow cat (Pistenbully), which reaches a maximum altitude of 3400 meters. The descents lead down to the village of Jyrgalan at 2300 meters, providing a serious challenge for your legs.
Jyrgalan
The old mining village of Jyrgalan used to smell like coal. Jyrgalan used to be the site of extensive mining during the Soviet Union. Today the industry has disappeared and the huge snowfields are left behind. Together with Destination Jyrgalan, we are bringing new life into the region. The village has rapidly developed into a tourist center in eastern Kyrgyzstan. Local guesthouses and yurt camps have been built. Moreover, there is a real tourism office with an apres ski bar (called Buchenwagen). Our cats leave from the village. You drive between the cows and sheep to the first slopes. It will be a true adventure.
Terrain
Nearly 10,000 hectares of terrain is available. This varies from mellow tree runs to faces of 40+ degrees. In the morning we decide where to go. Assume that you can do at least 6-8 runs with 4000-6000 meters of verticla each day. We mainly focus on the northern slopes of the Gora Tavlytor. This peak of 3652 meters provides the necessary shelter. The cat reaches an altitude of 3300-3400 meters so snow is guaranteed.
At an altitude of 2500 meters we have built an ice bar where we usually have lunch. From here you have an amazing view over the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains. On a clear day you can even see Kazakhstan. The icebar is centrally located in the cat ski area, it is an ideal place to recharge.
On bad weather days, we usually stay below 2900 meters, which is the tree line in this region. We have marked several tree runs and can even descend all the way to the village of Jyrgalan. So far, there have been almost no down-days during cat skiing.
Snow Cat / Pistenbully
Currently, our fleet consists of two Pistenbullys, German powerhouses equipped with wide caterpillar (cat) tracks. Since 2018, we've been using a Pistenbully 300 Polar, and in 2022, we added a Pistenbully 600. Both vehicles feature cabins that can accommodate 12-16 people. You board through the back via a handmade staircase, with skis and snowboards stored in boxes on the sides. Sometimes, we need to cover more than 1000 vertical meters, so we ensure you sit as comfortably as possible.
For the Wizkids among us: the Pistenbully has 461 HP and a maximum speed of 25 km per hour. This is the best snow cat for the conditions in Kyrgyzstan.
Accommodation
We stay at the Baitor guesthouse in Jyrgalan. This cozy guesthouse is run by a local Kyrgyz family. They provide meals and entertainment. The twin/triple rooms have their own modern bathroom and are fully equipped.
We have built a yurt camp at our freeride base.These felt tents are the traditional homes of the Kyrgyz nomads. A yurt consists of a wooden frame with a round opening in the roof (the tunduk). You can even find this tunduk in the Kyrgyz flag. We have adapted the yurts to the winter temperatures. This means that there is a protective layer and that there is a heater inside. Next to the yurt camp is a Russian sauna tent for you to relax after an intensive day on the mountain. When available, you can spend a night in a yurt. There are usually 8 sleeping places per yurt.
Staff
We have a fantastic group of freeriders on site. Roman Nasyrov is the driver of the Pistenbully. Aleksey Balabyn is the lead guide during the descents. The tail guides are Maksat Aitkulov, Vasily Nemchenko and Vadim Karaulykh.
All guides know the mountains like no other. They all have their diplomas from the KMGA Guide School in Karakol. This means that they have the necessary certificates in avalanche science, mountaineering, first aid and knowledge of snow composition. Due to the current political and financial situation, they do not have IFMGA certified diplomas yet.
The après ski bar (Buchenwagen) is run by our friends Vasily Bazhinov and Kostich Kulakov. Here you are always welcome to enjoy a drink after a long day in the snow.
Electricity/Internet
Electricity is available everywhere. The plugs are the same as in Europe (220V and 50Hz). Wi-Fi is available in the guesthouse. You can also choose to purchase a local SIM card. The range even extends to the cat ski terrain.
Food
The Kyrgyz cuisine is a really tasty mix of Turkish, Chinese and Russian influences. Usually we will have bread, eggs and/or porridge for breakfast and a lunch on the mountains. After an intense day skiing we will prepare meals like Kurdak (beef and potatoes), Laghman (noodles and vegetables in spicy sauce), Plov (rice with meat and carrot), Borscht (beet soup), Ashlan Fu (rice and vegetables in spicy sauce), Beshbarmak, Mante (dumplings) and all kinds of salads
Bathroom
In the guesthouse you have access to modern bathroom and toilets. At the yurt camp we have long-drop toilets and on the mountain we have an improvised toilet. You can always find a wild tree for stone, of course.
Sauna
The biggest treat in our yurt camp in the Russian style banya. This very hot sauna tent is located next to the yurts. Temperatures can reach 90 degrees so it will be quite refreshing to have a dip in the snow afterwards. Traditionally the Russian sauna is a ritual of at least 5 sessions of 10-12 minutes and only after the 4th or 5th time you are ‘allowed’ to cool down in the snow.
Transportation
Private cat / individual reservations
We run several open group tours per season. But you can always contact us for customized cat skiing tours We apply a minimum of 3 cat skiing days and a minimum group size of 6.
Cat Ski Kyrgyzstan for you?
- Adventurers looking for something different than the Alps
- Experienced skiers/snowboarders with freeride equipment (ABS, beacon, probe, shovel)
- Powder and first tracks lovers
Including
- Transfer Bishkek – Karakol and vv
- 6 nights in Baitor guesthouse Jyrgalan
- 1 night in Olive Hotel Bishkek
- All meals and drinks during these meals (3x daily)
- City Tour Bishkek
- English speaking guide during the entire tour
- Local KMGA guides
- 5 days of cat skiing Jyrgalan
- Shovel, probe and beeper
- Visit to Fairy tale valley
- Farewell dinner in Bishkek
- Local taxes
Excluding
- Flights
- Meals and drinks not included in the 3 daily meals
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips and souvenirs
- Freeride ski/snowboard rent (€150 per week)
- Insurance
- Avalanche airbag
Cat ski Kyrgyzstan
- 8 days Cat Ski Kyrgyzstan
- Full board, excl. flights
- Hot Springs & Ice cold rivers
- 5 days cat skiing
- Bishkek and Jyrgalan
- Powder, powder, powder
START TOUR:
Sunday 09:30 am arrivals hall Bishkek International Airport.
Pick-Up in city center also possible.
END OF TOUR:
Sunday 09:00 am, departure hall Bishkek International Airport
Drop-Off in city center Bishkek possible too
Saturday | Departure - Bishkek | ACCOMODATION |
Sunday | Bishkek - Karakol - Jyrgalan | guesthouse Jyrgalan |
Monday | Cat ski day 1 | guesthouse Jyrgalan |
Tuesday | Cat ski day 2 | guesthouse Jyrgalan |
Wednesday | Cat ski day 3 | guesthouse Jyrgalan |
Thursday | Cat ski day 4 | guesthouse Jyrgalan |
Friday | Cat ski day 5 | guesthouse Jyrgalan |
Saturday | Karakol, Fairy Tale Canyon, Bishkek | hotel Bishkek |
Sunday | Bishkek - return flight |
* order of program can change
L. Nemeth– :
Unbelievable cat skiing trip to Kyrgzstan! I was a little nervous at first, but the team at Ryce took care of me every moment of my trip. When I arrived to Karakol, I was whisked off to a beautiful yurt camp in Jyrgalan, the freeride capital of the region. The guides were incredibly experienced, something you cannot overlook when skiing in the back country, and always put safety first. My second day of cat skiing we had over a foot of fresh powder which, on top of the powder already in the slopes, meant it was waste deep in some areas.
I would recommend this trip to anyone looking for some amazing skiing in central Asia. Though pack your sense of adventure, because Kyrgzstan is very different from the Swiss Alps! But if you are looking for a unique, once in a lifetime ski adventure, this is definitely for you.
Mikhael– :
Jyrgaland is my new hotspot for cat skiing
Jozua– :
The guides are professional and knowledgeable about the area, making you always feel safe while making the best descents. The snowcat ride itself is an adventure, with spectacular views and a feeling of absolute freedom.
Laura Meijer– :
Everything taken care of down to the last detail by the Ryce TRavel team. Drive from Bishkek to Jyrgalan was beautiful. We were lucky with lovely sunny days and a thick layer of fresh. Accommodation with a local family was a wonderful experience. Super friendly and the food was more than enough (and tasty)
Anouk Parzaan– :
Cat skiing in Jyrgalan is a must for any powder snow lover. It offers a unique mix of breathtaking nature and challenging descent. This in combination with the local culture. I can recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable ski holiday.
Katherine– :
Probably the most fun I’ve had on a snowboard. Remind me why we tour and walk uphill?? I don’t think I’ve smiled so much in a long time. You get the wilderness, lack of people and powder, with none of the hard work.
Efficient operation, we skied between 3500 and 4500 vert a day of untracked powder. The terrain is generally relatively mellow so nothing too gnarly so you get to have lots of fast and fun skiing.
We did 4 days and didn’t really repeat anything so the terrain is large enough to fill a week. After 4 days I was exhausted! and glad to go touring for a downhill rest.
There are generally low angle glades run outs at the end of the drainages to get back to the cat so I def recommend your fattest skis and biggest board.
Out between 5.5 and 7 hours out with a stop at the picnic bench for packed lunch with the cat ski providing hot tea.
The guides are very knowledgeable about their terrain and great fun, you can tell they are loving being out as well. Also enjoyed the competent tail guiding, appreciated being pulled out of a powder hole and pushed along! The guides really add to the experience. They have enough English for guiding.
I was quite nervous about traveling here and how it would work out before we traveled. Everything turned out very easy! We organised everything with Peter from Ryce travel. Response times varied but everything was exactly as he said it would be. Taxi pick up in Bishkek exactly on time.
Stayed at Baitor guesthouse which was lovely and warm, clean, plenty of hot water and excellent cooking (you eat in the hosts kitchen). The host made us a packed lunch every day. It’s literally 20 meters from the cat ski, perfect location.
Small apres bar at the cat ski base. This is the only ‘thing’ in Jyrgalan, there aren’t any restaurants or anything to really do after skiing.
I’m a total convert to Kyrgyzstan, and cat skiing with Ryce in Jyrgalan. See you next year! 10/10 experience.