Lake Song-Kul is the largest natural fresh water reservoir of Kyrgyzstan. There are no permanent inhabitants. The area is used for summer pastures by contemporary nomads.

ALTITUDE: 3013 m
CIRCUMFERENS: 96 km
Max DEPTH: 13,5 m
VOLUME OF WATER: 264 km3
SURFACE AREA: 270 km2
SOURCE: ATLAS OF KYRGYZ REPUBLIC, MOSCOW, 1985

TRAIL: [Бишкек-Балыкчи-Орто-токой-Кочкор
-Сары-Булак-пер.Калмак-Ашуу-побережье
Оз.Сон-Куль-пер. Дон-Гуз-с.Кызыл-Ой-Суу-
самырская долина-пер.Тёо-Ашуу-с.Сосновка-
Бишкек.]

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

DAY 1: BISHKEK - BALYKCHY - ORTO TOKOI reservoir
Бишкек-Балыкчи.(180 км. 3 ч пути). Из-за перегруженности трассы, эту часть маршрута предпочтительно проехать на авто. В г.Балыкчи, оседлав велосипеды продвигаемся по трассе А-365. к в.д.хр Орто-токой. ( 40 км. 3-4 ч в пути). Палаточный лагерь разбиваем на берегу водохранилища. Обед и ночёвка.

Stock up provisions; Gear up for the trip; Head east on support vehicle to Balykchy. Bike to Orto-Tokoi reservoir. Visit recreational salt wells. Camp, eat, sleep.

DAY 2: ORTO-TOKOI - KOCHKOR - SARY BULAK
Протяжённость пути: 159 км.
Время пути: ≈ 11ч.
Средняя скорость: 15км\ч
Перепад высоты: 500-1000м.
Грунтовая дорога: 30км

Скорость и время пути могут изменяться в зависимости от предпочтения транспорта (авто или вело.) Ланч выбирается произвольно. Ночёвка у реки на 159-м километре.

DURATION: 1-2 days
TOTAL DISTANCE: 250-300 km
BIKING ROUTE: 50 km
AVE ALTITUDE: 2500 m
AVE SPEED: 6 km/h, downhill - 40-50 km/h.
SEASON: summertime
The tour group will be transported to the start of the biking trail by bus.

This trip takes bikers up and down the Kegety mountain valley 100 km away from Bishkek. The slopes of picturesque Kegety are covered with Tien-Shan pine woods. This is a challenging expedition with a long and tedious upward movement for 2/3 of the time. The reward is a pleasant breeze in the bikers' face on the return way. Among attractions along the way are Kegety waterfalls, the Kara Unkur Caves, and moraine lakes in the side valleys.

Bishkek-Osh highway
DURATION: 1 day
TOTAL DISTANCE: 260 km
BIKING ROUTE: 60 km
SEASON: summertime
The tour group will be transported to the start of the biking trail by bus.

The group will be biking down the Tiu Ashuu pass (3,586 m). The gorge slopes drop nearly 1,000 m from the top of the pass to the buttom of the valley. The pass is located 130 km to the west of Kyrgyz capital - Bishkek. The country’s major motorway runs thru this pass. This thread of road asphalt connects the south and the north of Kyrgyzstan - the settled cultures of the Ferghana valley and the nomads of Northern Tien-Shan, following the medieval trails of the Great Silk Road. The highway went thru a capital rehabilitation project and is now maintained in an excellent condition.

Bishkek Skyline Tour
DURATION: 1 day
TOTAL DISTANCE: 45 km
BIKING ROUTE: 30 km
ELEVATION ABOVE CITY: 300 m
AVE SPEED: 6 km/h, downhill - 40-50 km/h.
SEASON: decent weather
The tour group will be transported to the start of the biking trail by bus.

This route takes bikers on a tour of Bishkek skyline. Immediately south of Bishkek, the Orto Sai hills present a variety of loop trails along the crop fields and pistatio plantations. It takes a half hour to get there by car and only a little longer by bike. Orto Sai hills have hosted the first Bishkek Mountain Bike Cup last year.

Ridge crossing tour from the Alamedin to Ala Archa river valleys
DURATION: 1 day
TOTAL DISTANCE: up to 95 km
BIKING ROUTE: 45 km
AVE ALTITUDE: 2600 m above sea level.
AVE SPEED : uphill 6 km/h, downhill - 40-50 km/h.
SEASON: in good weather
The tour group will be transported to the start of the biking trail by bus.

This expedition follows the dirt road, crossing the hills between the Alamedin and Ala Archa gorges. The trip begins by venturing into the Tatyr canyon and visiting Doves' falls near a village of Tatyr. The rocks in the vicinity of the falls may expose travelers to the rock climbing practices of the Bishkek rock climbing school known to exercise there often. We will then get to sniff the flowers of Chunkurchak (Bowl Valley) and ascent to the water division ridge. The pass on top is the most elevated point of our trip. The next stretch of the route is an enjoyable downhill ride towards Ala Archa river valley. Bikers will be bypassing Bishkek winter resorts of Kyzyl Beles, Oruu Sai and Kashka Suu. Among the attractions on the way are views of the most elevated peaks of the Kyrgyz Range. This is a long trail. For inexperienced travelers, support vehicle is advisable for the whole route.

Tentative itinerary:
8.00 - gear up and depart Bishkek
9.00-11.30 - drive to start of the biking trail
12.00-17.00 - biking along the gorge.
17.00-18.30 - back to bus, share excitement, rest.
19.30 - arrive in Bishkek.

Trail: [Bishkek - Teo Ashu pass - Susamyr valley Chaek - Sary Bulak - around lake Song Kul Naryn - Kichi Naryn glacial swamps Tosor/Kum Ter pass - lake Kara Kul Balykchy - Den Alysh - Kegety/Shamsi valley - Bishkek]

This route takes bikers on a challenging trail of ups and downs around lake Song Kul and by Issyk Kul's southern shore. The glacial swamps known as SYRT are over 3000m of altitude and are accessible only to the wildest creatures of the TIEN-SHAN. We may have to share the trail only with yaks and wild gees.

Trail: [Bishkek - Teo Ashu pass - Susamyr valley - Talas valley- Talas -Kara Bura valley -Chatkal valley - lake Sary Chelek - Arslanbob -Tash Kumyr - Jalal Abad- Kek Art pass - Saimaly Tash moraines - Kazarman - lake Song Kul - Sary Bulak - Den Alysh - Kegety/Shamsi - Bishkek]

This route takes bikers on a crosscultural expedition across ridges from the nomadic North to the settled South of Kyrgyzstan. The trail begins by venturing into Talas valley supposedly an epic Manas' homeland and major supplier of archeological findings for Bishkek's antique shops.

The Kara-Bura river valley may expose travelers to the ancient gold miners' techniques. We will get to pass thru unique nature reserves of Sary-Chelek and Arslanbob. The stretch between Tash-Kumyr and Jalal Abad adds a flavor of the Ferghana valley.

A big attraction on the way is the Saimaly Tash moraine - UNESCO acknowledged largest collection of petroglyphs in Central Asia. This portion of the way has not been ridden on by our bicycle guides and promises to be a first-hand pioneer experience, not only 'off the beaten path' but completely off any trail at times. Traveling back by lake Song Kul at altitude of 3000 m is supposed to cool off bikers and brakes.This is a long trail. To save time, travelers might consider taking 4 wheel transport on asphalt roads where possible.

Trail: [Bishkek - Balykchy - Cholpon Ata - Karakol - Altyn Arashan valley - Ak Suu valley - Lake Kara Kul - Balykchy - Bishkek]

DURATION OF THE TRIP: 10 days with beach layovers
TOTAL DISTANCE: ~ 440 km
RECOMMENDED SPEED: 20-25 km/h
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN: ~ 1 000 m
SEASON: Year around

Biking gear and camping equipment is supplied for the travelers: bikes, helmets, racks, repair kits, emergency kit are provided for the trip. Travel/biking guides and vehicle support may be available upon request. During the summer month, it is recommended that the Bishkek-Balykchy strip be traveled by train. Trains depart daily at around 6:40 from Bishkek and return from Balykchy towards the evening.

“Normal heroes always go the round about way.” -Barmalei, Aibolit 66 movie directed by R. Bykov
This expedition combines easy rides along the beaches of lake Issyk Kul with tedious but short ways through the uninhabited terrain of the true Tien-Shan outback that tests for durability humans and equipment alike. This drastic change provides travelers with a unique perspective to nomadic life and rewards them with abundant emotions. The trail goes by lake Issyk-Kul's northern shore, glittering with resorts and entertainment; by Karakol -an old frontier town of the Tsarist Russian Empire. This town has become a base camp for mountaineering expeditions heading for ascents in the eastern Tien-Shan. Karakol’s surroundings boast picturesque mountain valleys that are worth visiting. These will reward bikers for pedaling uphill with thermal Altyn Arashan and Ak Suu mineral springs. Further, the trail goes along lake Issyk Kul’s southern shore. This area has only slightly been touched by human civilization. In winter it turns into a habitat of swans.

Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Touch and go thru Balykchy (town of winds and dried fish) by noon. The northern shore promises glittering resort life while the south represents the back-country of Issyk Kul. Recommended overnight camp: 68 km off Balykchy by highway sign (Kurskoe/Sary Oi village) to the right of the road by an old resort facility.