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You'll fly off out of London Heathrow with a transit in Moscow arriving in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan the following day, where your adventure begins.
Arriving at the airport to be greeted by the local team. Breakfast and then a transfer to Karakol. Driving the 400km from Bishkek to Karakol, time will pass quickly, take in the sweeping vistas of deep cutting valleys and a backdrop of snow capped mountains. Break up the journey with will visit Burana Tower which is all that remains of an ancient city established in the 9th Century. Lunch en-route in a cafe in Boom Gorge, and a chance to visit the Petroglyphs (rock carvings) Museum, some of which date back to 1500BC. The evening will be spent in Karakol, gateway to the Tien Shan also known as “celestial” mountain range at a local hotel.
Start with breakfast at the hotel followed by a transfer to Jety-Oguz Gorge from where the trek starts. Enter the gorge to be surrounded by incredible rock formations which seem to guard the entrance to the Valley of Flowers. Snow capped mountains feed the raging rivers flowing through the valley. On reaching the Teleti Pass, spend your first night in a camp (3050m) under the clear cool starry skies.
Wake up to the smell of coffee and have a hearty breakfast before you tackle today’s 7hr trek. You’ll be heading up the Teleti Gorge and over the Teleti Pass (3759m) before descending back down into the Karakol Valley. Thick pine forests cover the steep mountain sides and as you look down the valleys, horses graze on the green pastures of the Kyrgyzstan plains, speckled with the white nomadic yurt camps. You’ll be pleased to get into camp (2500m) this evening for another open air meal prepared by our local team.
Another fantastic day of trekking down the lush Karakol Gorge to the shelter at Sirota meaning “orphan” in Russian (2800m) before branching off east and a steep climb up to Kurgak-Ter Gorge towards Ala-Kol Lake. Camp (3000m) will be situated near to a small lake and alpine shelter but by now in the camping comfort zone. After dinner settle down for another night under the canvas; close your eyes to the sound of silence broken only by the natural ebb and flow of nature all around.
An exciting 8hr trek ahead will see you reach the highest point of this trek on the Ala Kol Pass at (3860m). The views from here are unbeatable and you’ll be able to pick out some of the mountain range’s highest peaks with Karakol Peak standing a grand height of 5273m. On the descent back down off the pass you’ll tackle a steep yet short descent before it eases off into the Keldike Gorge. Tonight will be your last night of camping (3600m) so take stock of your achievements and the challenges you have overcome to get this far whilst carrying your own kit.
Today will be a relatively relaxed day with a 3hr trek to Altyn Arashan Gorge and a visit to the 45˚C sulphuric hot springs to soak your trek weary limbs. After lunch you’ll be transferring back to Karakol town to spend the night in the comfort of a local hotel.
After a breakfast you’ll be leaving Karakol and transferring back to Bishkek. Take some time to explore Kyrgyzstan’s capital city with a short sightseeing tour taking in the Philharmonic Society; Ala-Too Square; Victory Square and some local craft shops. The last night in Bishkek will be spent in a hotel, giving you chance repack kit before an early start the following morning.
A very early start to catch the flight back home. The challenge will seem to have ended all too quickly but know that you will have achieved a great deal and undoubtedly formed some new and lasting friendships.
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE
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