Tian Shan yurt-based powder touring
The world hasn’t woken up to Kyrgyzstan — a vast, free, and mountainous country of rugged beauty. 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.
From the trip description by Primalscapes
On-snow support
- Independent: Below this trip's level of support
Ski or ride independently, without trip staff accompanying you on the mountain.
- Hosted: With your guide
Trip hosts ski or ride with the group, help everyone get oriented, and share local knowledge.
- Guided: Included
Professional guides lead the group and select suitable terrain and routes based on conditions and ability. Instruction is not included.
- Coached: Not confirmed
Professional coaches lead the group, select suitable terrain, and provide instruction and personalized feedback to help you improve.
- 10 days on snow with staff
- Backcountry guidingAt least one IFMGA or IFMGA aspirant guide per 5-6 participants
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- Day tours, 900-1,200m vert.
- 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.
- Most ascents follow gentle ribs up to scenic ridges, while descents are usually on fun 20-30 degree slopes.
- By joining a ski trip, you confirm that you can safely and comfortably ski ‘black’ runs, have already participated in off-piste skiing trips and feel confident about the difficulty level stated in the itinerary description.
- Unless you are coming as a group of athletic friends, this ski touring trip in Kyrgyzstan has rather relaxed pace of about 250-300 vertical meters per hour and total gain of about 800-1,200 meters.
- Sport
- Ski
From the trip description by Primalscapes
What the price includes
Included
- Lodging
- Meals · partly
- Transfers
- 1 day of horseback-accessed skiing
- 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.
- 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.
Not included
- Catskiing in Jyrgalan · extra costPrice not stated
- Kayaking in Issyk-Kul lake · extra costPrice not stated
- 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.
Not confirmed by the operator: Lift pass, Lesson.
Day by day
- Day 1: Arrival in Bishkek. Guided sightseeing of the city.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.
- Day 2: Drive to Karakol via the South shore of Issyk-Kul lake, stopping by eagle hunters.Following breakfast, we embark on a scenic drive to Karakol along the picturesque shores of Issyk-Kul, the world’s second-largest alpine lake.
- Day 3: Ski-touring in the Tian-Shan mountains from Karakol.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.
- Day 4: Ski-touring near Karakol and transfer to Jyrgalan.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.
- Days 5–8: Ski-touring in Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan.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.
- Day 9: Horseback-accessed skiing in Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan.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. If you don’t like horses, a second guide can take you for a day of a conventional ski tour at a different spot.
- Day 10: Skidoo transfer to yurts, short ski tour.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.
- Day 11: Yurt-based skiing in Kyrgyzstan.Today we head for a longer run, potentially with views of 7,000m peaks on the skyline!
- Day 12: Ski-touring and transfer back to Jyrgalan.After a day of ski-touring we enjoy piping-hot meals in the yurts and head back to our lodge in Jyrgalan village.
- Day 13: Drive back to Bishkek via the North shore of Issyk-Kul lake.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.
- Day 14: Flight back home from Bishkek.
From the trip description by Primalscapes
Where you stay
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.
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.
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.
From the trip description by Primalscapes
Pins show the approximate main trip area—not a route, meeting point, or full itinerary. Confirm exact locations in the company's trip details.
Dates and prices
- Jan 4 – Jan 17, 20272026/27 · 14 days2,340 EUR€2,340 per person for 10 days skiing, exclusive of flights; minimum group of 4; a second-week-only option is offered at a slightly reduced price (not printed)AvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "Fixed dates: 4-17 & 18-31 Jan 2027".
- Jan 18 – Jan 31, 20272026/27 · 14 days2,340 EUR€2,340 per person for 10 days skiing, exclusive of flights; minimum group of 4; a second-week-only option is offered at a slightly reduced price (not printed)AvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Printed as "Fixed dates: 4-17 & 18-31 Jan 2027".
Prices, taxes and fees, required extras, inclusions, availability, and booking terms can change. Confirm the current price and trip details on the company website; source last reviewed September 24, 2026.
Good To Know
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.
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.
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.
From the trip description by Primalscapes
Reviews
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