Skiing in Karakol

DURATION OF THE TRIP: 7 days
DISTANCE: 1,000 km
ROUTE: Bishkek - Cholpon-Ata - Karakol - Issyk-Kul’s southern shore - Bishkek
SEASON: December - March

Karakol downhill ski training camp is located in a picturesque mountain valley called Kashka Suu, within a 30-minute drive of the city. The valley’s fir-wooded, north-facing slopes accumulate on average 2 meters (6.56 ft) of snow per winter. The main trail stretches 1,000 m (0.6 mi.). Elevation at the top of the pull-lift is ~ 3,000 m (1.86 mi.) above sea level. The spot offers a great view to the Issyk Kul lake with Kungei Alatou peaks in the background. Altitude drops some 400-450 m (1,312-1,476 ft) along the main ski trail. There are plenty of options for off-trail skiing and snowboarding in the Karakol backcountry - through the fir woods or on a 2,800 m (1.74 mi.) speed-run slope, that are currently not serviced by the lifts. The ski season starts here in November and boasts the best snow cover in the country, even in dry seasons.

A private guest house is offered for lodging in Karakol (please see price quote for a complete listing of options), with single, 2, or 3 person accommodations, hot shower and sauna facilities. For non-riders, we will provide a parallel program, including a hands-on training in national cuisine, baking tandyr nan, construction and decoration of a yurt and a trip to Altyn Arashan gorge. Please sign up for scheduled groups departing with this tour on: Dec 26, Feb 5 and March 6. All travel scheduled around the holidays will have some surprises, festivity spirits and characters added - Santa, the little green men or the turkey - depending on the celebration.

Suggested Travel Itinerary:(will be altered at your request)

Day 1: Getting to Karakol is easiest by car from Bishkek, where the closest international airport is located. Departure to Karakol should be scheduled for the day after arrival in Bishkek. A mountain lodge outside Bishkek will comfortably accommodate your layover and acclimatization before driving to Karakol. From here you could direct your energy to getting to know local cuisine and meeting your guides on this trip - an interpreter, a doctor, a driver, and a ski instructor. If time allows, you may try to warm up at the closest slope, equipped with a drag-lift or visit a shooting range to bring down a few flying saucers.

Day 2: A ride from Bishkek to Karakol might take 5-6 hours. It takes travelers along the Boum gorge and lake Issyk Kul’s northern shore. The group will stop for lunch and may dip in the swimming pool at one of the resorts by the lake shore. Travelers might choose to visit the petroglyph museum of Cholpon-Ata or a new ski slope at Semenovskoe gorge, along the way. Estimated time of arrival in Karakol is 5 pm. Base camp will be set up at one of the comfortable private guest houses, from where the crew may move on to taste the delicacies of the Uyghur cuisine.

Day 3: Breakfast buffet at the guest house is served around 9 am. The riders are off to get To know the slopes - shuttle to ski camp leaves after breakfast. It is common to see no more than 30 people at the ski camp. Apart from students of the Karakol ski school, one can spot wild deer right by the lift. Skiing and snowboarding will continue through today till the end. Lunch is served out of the boxes packed along at the guest house. As the ‘end’ comes, all go bathing and relaxing in the sauna of the guest house, where dinner is awaiting as well. The non-riding population of the group may choose to spend the day going through a hands-on training on local cuisine with chiefs of authentic Uyghur, Korean or Uzbek restaurants, participate in backing tandyr nan bread, or join in an excursion to an ice-cream factory operated by the Cuban diaspora of Karakol. Assesment of cooking combined with the award ceremony is planned for the group reunion at dinner. In the evening the group may choose to roll some billiards, knock at table tennis, or visit our local friends.

Day 4: All take to the slopes - departure after continental breakfast around 9 am. Today the riders’ energy could be funneled to laying tracks through the untouched powder fields or the fir woods. The non-riders will be invited to snowshoing in the woods. Lunch will be served as a picnic by the slope. Depending on the weather conditions and the riders’ ambition, the group may spend the afternoon shopping at the Bugu bazaar and visiting the wooded temples. In the evening, while the gear is drying and food is cooking, the group may tour the boiling and steaming Ak Suu gorge.

Day 5: Breakfast and departure to the slopes around 9 am. Skiing and boarding all day. For the most ambitious participants we have a training paraglide canopy reserved. Take-offs can be orchestrated by our ski/paragliding instructors. It will hardly be a full-fledged flight but may well be a smooth downhill glide for the first-time pilot skier. For those of you with professional canopies we will provide an individual program. The non-riders may spend the time practicing in yurt construction and decoration - the nomads’ felt mobile home - or making felt - the oldest man-made material. The group is scheduled to visit museums, antique and gemstone collections in the afternoon. Your evening is reserved for dining in a local Korean or Uzbek restaurants and spending time in the sauna afterwards.

Day 6: The slope is waiting for its riders - departure right after breakfast. Free riding all day. The non-riding public may head for a day trip to the sources of Altyn Arashan springs. A remote and isolated “Golden Springs” resort is hidden here. Here is a chance to combine a 50°С mineral water bath with dipping into a nearby flowing river - 4°С. The trip can be on horseback or by foot. It will take a full day and the non-riders should be prepared to leave earlier than the riding group. End of the day is reserved for a good-bye party at one of the group’s favorite Karakol restaurants.

Day 7: After breakfast the group heads back to Bishkek, visiting Jety Oguz gorge with its “broken heart” and “7 bulls” rocks along the way. Travelers can make a stop to picnic here, although the plan is weather pending. Further, the road takes the crew along Lake Issyk Kul’s wild southern shore. In winter this place is known to be a favorite layover site for white swans. In Bishkek, the group will again be hosted by the mountain lodge, prior to further departure.