Kyrgystan, a region along the ancient Silk Route that connected China to the West, is a wild, hidden gem and a treasure trove for bikers. The mountainous ranges of the country, adorned with canyons, winding passes, alpine meadows, waterfalls, gorges and lakes are the perfect route for your wheels. Here, untouched nature and warm hospitable locals make for one unforgettable Kyrgyzstan road trip.
We have read in our history books about Indians of 19th and 20th centuries taking ships to London and then affluent Indians post Independence boarding a flight to London.
All that is now passe - in the connected world of today, you can actually start a bike or SUV in India and ride all the way to London. Enter Kyrgystan motorcycle tours.
This has only become possible recently - after the borders in many parts of uncharted Asia and former USSR dominated Central Asia and Eastern Europe have opened to tourism, Kyrgystan tours have really taken off.
The first day of your motorcycle tour of Kyrgyzstan begins in Bishkek, the country's capital, which lies at an elevation of 2500-3000 feet. You will be met at the airport on your arrival. All tour members will be briefed about the week ahead; the routes, visits and stays. This will be followed by a welcome dinner where you can mingle with the other tour members and the lead rider who will guide your trip. We will also receive our bikes today. There are usually older vintage bikes available - they are well-maintained and well-equipped to handle the terrain ahead.
We commence an easy ride covering around 320kms, leaving Bishkek behind and heading in the direction of Naryn. The meandering route through the Boom gorge up to Issyk Kul Lake is the only corridor between Issyk Kul and Bishkek. The Boom gorge, pronounced “Bom” (which means “evil spirit”) earned its name due to the difficulties faced by early travellers trying to pass through it. Today it is a wonderfully built route and the gorge offers many opportunities for trekking, camping and white water rafting as well.
On the southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul is located the Barskoon Gorge. This gorge is well-known for its cascading waterfalls, with very interesting names such as Tears of the Leopard (based on a local legend). En route, two other attractions will catch your eye - a Soviet lorry mounted on a plinth and the bust of the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, vacationing there after his flight into space.
The route becomes harder as we continue towards Naryn. This important trade center was once just a small fortification on one of the trade routes running from Kashgar to Central Asia. We will be travelling around 400 kms today and almost 90% of the ride will be off-road, with rocks and water-crossings coming our way.
If the Torugart Pass is closed due to bad weather or other unavoidable reasons, we will backtrack along the southern shore of Issyk Kul and take the route towards Kochkor- a village in the northern region of Naryn. The people here are welcoming and are always up for a chat, which is ideal you would like to learn more about the local stories.
On Day 4, we will make our way towards Song Kul- an alpine lake in the northern Naryn province. It is the largest freshwater lake of Kyrgyzstan and the second largest in size after the Issyk Kul. The road from Sary Bulak with 32 switchbacks is the only route to access this beautiful yet difficult to reach lake.
Song Kul is great for camping, hiking and biking, and is a much-loved destination, especially in the summers. Camping in yurts (round tents covered with felt, traditionally used by nomadic groups of Central Asia) is a popular activity here and that is just what we will be experiencing tonight! They will offer a relaxing evening after having covered a distance of about 150 kms during the day.
Located near a gold mine, the town of Kazarman is situated right in the middle of Kyrgyzstan. Owing to extreme weather conditions in winter, and fewer tourists overall, this is not a bustling town - but the ride to and from the village through the dangerously enchanting Moldu Ashu pass (elevation 10,977 ft), with its serpentine slopes and panoramic views, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After another day of travelling on your Kyrgyzstan motorcycle tour, covering about 150 kms up and down narrow paths and rocky ridges, you will spend the night in a comfortable guest house. If we are lucky, we may be the only tourists in the vicinity!
The trip from Kazarman to Arslanbob features on many avid traveller’s lists. Apart from being a beautiful valley dotted with white and green, Arslanbob is also a large wild walnut forest. It is said that Kyrgyzstan’s first export to Europe was the Arslanbob walnut. Today, we will descend to Ferghana Valley - what was once the main Silk Road route between Kashgar and Samarkand - and make our way to Arslanbob via Jalal Abad, the country’s third largest city, which is popular for its mineral water springs that were once rumoured to be able to cure leprosy.
Begin your day with a leisurely morning walk or a horse trek through the beautiful, lush walnut forests of Arslanbob and then, our motorcucle tour in Kyrgyzstan continues. This time, we ride in the direction of Toktogul - a city located on the northern shore of the Toktogul reservoir. Although relatively remote, Toktogul is indeed a hidden gem that must not be missed.
The last day of our Kyrgyzstan tour has to be unforgettable, so we will be heading back towards Bishkek through a stunning highway that passes through amazing high mountain passes and descends on to flat terrain of Bishkek. This is the ideal end to complement the awe inspiring terrain from the past few days. You have had quite a few hard riding days - a therapeutic massage would be a welcome activity this evening. Enjoy a farewell dinner on this last night of this ride, before retiring to your hotel in Bishkek.
We arrange your drop off to the airport. You can then fly back home with a little part of amazing and remote Kyrgyzstan in your heart. If you wish to stay on longer at Bishkek, to explore more, please let us know and we would be happy to make those arrangements for you.
Cost
Rider ( 700 GS or 800 GS) - Rs 1.6 Lacs + GST
Person on self drive Duster - Rs 1.25 L + GST
- Accommodation for 9 days / 8 nights with breakfasts, lunches & dinners
- 8 day motorbike hire for the scheduled itinerary ( older vintage bikes are available)
- Fuel for planned route
- All tourist place tickets
- Qualified local English speaking lead rider & guide?
- Local sim card?
- Airport transfers
- Air travel, visa fees, insurance
- Drinks, tips, souvenirs, laundry
- 5% Govt. Service Tax
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations are valid only when communicated in writing. Any changes due to inevitable weather or flight delays, etc., will be charged additionally, as those prices are not included in the current quote. Since these bookings are done in advance, the providers lose potential business with cancellations. The cancellation charges are as follows:
- More than 30 days prior to departure: 25% of the total tour cost.
- 15-29 days prior to departure: 50% of the total tour cost.
- 7-14 days prior to departure: 70% of the total tour cost.
- 0-6 days prior to departure: 100% of the total tour cost.
