Kyrgyzstan Bikepacking
Kyrgyzstan Bikepacking: High Alpine Gravel Adventure in Central Asia
This is our wildest gravel adventure yet. We journey through glacial valleys, over high mountain passes, and around the incredible alpine lake of Song-Köl, sitting above 3,000 meters. Nights bring wild camping under vast starry skies, stays in traditional yurt camps, and village homestays hosted by welcoming locals.
This Kyrgyzstan expedition is part of our WILDER series—designed for experienced off-road riders who relish long days in the saddle and thrive in remote wilderness. Expect daily distances averaging 70km+, significant elevation gain, and technical trails with challenging descents through some of Central Asia's most dramatic mountain landscapes. With luggage transported in the support truck, riders can focus entirely on the incredible riding ahead.
Highlights
✔ Endless gravel roads and trails on a true bikepacking adventure
✔ Swim in Son Kul lake
✔ Wild camp in mind-blowing locations
✔ Sleep in yurt camps and homestays
✔ Big mountain scenery all around
✔ Trip created with and supported by a local team
View Dates & Book
| Date | Days | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 July to 22 July '26 Guaranteed | 10 | £1995 | Contact To Book |
| 23 July to 1 Aug '26 Guaranteed | 10 | £1995 | Contact to Book |
| 17 August to 26 Aug '27 | 10 | £2095 | Book Now |
| 27 August to 5 Sept '27 | 10 | £2095 | Book Now |
| Start Date | End Date | Days | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 July 2026 Guaranteed | 22 July 2026 | 10 | £1995 | Contact Us For Availability |
| 23 July 2026 Guaranteed | 1 August 2026 | 10 | £1995 | Contact Us For Availability |
| 17 August 2027 | 26 August 2027 | 10 | £2095 | Book Now |
| 27 August 2027 | 5 September 2027 | 10 | £2095 | Book Now |
How Booking Works
£600 Deposit
Secures your spot at booking
We Confirm
We let you know when the trip is guaranteed/has met minimum numbers
Balance Due
90 days before the trip start
Tip: pay with bank details to avoid card processing fees.
Optional Add-Ons
Bike Hire
£200
Karoo Nav Device
£10
Camping Gear
£60
All add-ons can be selected at booking or added later.
Please note: this trip requires a minimum number of 8 riders to run. We recommend not booking flights until we've confirmed — your deposit is fully refundable until then. You'll see a Guaranteed badge next to any dates we've already confirmed to run.
Still Have Questions?
Ask us anything about the trip, or register your interest for future dates.
Reviews
Itinerary
Meeting Point: Bishkek
End Point: Bishkek
An incredible adventure awaits, beginning in Kyrgyzstan's vibrant capital Bishkek. After a rider briefing on the evening of Day 1 and a good night's sleep, Day 2 brings a 3-hour transfer to the proper starting point in Kochkor with built bikes loaded in the van. There's time for a shakedown ride and gentle altitude acclimatization before the adventure begins in earnest on the morning of Day 3.
Ahead lie seven big days of riding (with an option for a gentler Day 6) moving through the lush Karakol Valley, the "red bowl" village of Kyzyl-Oi, down the narrow gorge of the Kokomeren River, and finally up to the iconic Song-Köl Lake above 3,000 meters. The trip finishes with a thrilling descent to the endpoint, followed by a transfer back to Bishkek for a final farewell dinner together.
Accommodations along the way include wild camping, traditional yurt camps, and local homestays, with nights in Bishkek and Kochkor offering more modern comfort. Thanks to the support van, there's no need to carry camping gear—just essentials for each day's ride. Meals are simple, filling affairs cooked by the support crew over campfires or prepared by welcoming local hosts. This trip offers a unique opportunity to embrace the simplicity of camp life and genuine disconnection from the everyday world.
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Sleep - 3* hotel Bishkek
Breakfast/Dinner - Not included/Not Included
Today we’ll arrive at our hotel in Bishkek for the start of our trip. You’ll have time and space to assemble your bikes, and aim for a rider briefing around 6pm.
The WhatsApp group is a great place to chat with your fellow riders about meeting up for dinner in Bishkek!
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Sleep: 2* hotel/guesthouse
Breakfast/Dinner: Included/Included
We’ll have time for final bike checks and to store any luggage we don’t need for the week. We’ll then load our bikes up on to our support van racks, and transfer 3.5 hours to the village of Kochkor, situated at 1800m. We’ll make time on the drive, or in Kockhor for a shakedown ride to make sure our bikes are all set, and have time for some gentle altitude acclimatisation before dinner together and a good night sleep before our ride begins tomorrow!
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Sleep: Wild camp
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: All included
Today we begin our bike adventure! We’ll roll out from Kockhor, soon picking up a dirt road that marks the start of the Karakol valley, our home for much of the next 3 days. We’ll ride through a couple of small villages, getting our first glimpse of truly rural Kyrgyzsatn, before leaving settlements behind as the valley gets wilder and more stunning. We’ll be gradually climbing all day, but with a friendly gradient. We’ll aim for the bottom of Kegeti pass for our wild camp for the evening, surrounded by high peaks, and share dinner at camp. Tomorrow, we head over the pass!
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Sleep: Wild camp
Breakfast/lunch/dinner: All included, camp style.
After packing up our tents and breakfast at camp, we continue our ride through the valley. The gradient kicks in for the last 400m of the climb, and no doubt some of us will be walking the last part! But eventually, we will make the ascent over Karakol pass at almost 3400m - our high point of the week. It’s a beautiful descent into a valley that feels completely different. We’ll wild camp again around 30km after the pass, enjoying another night of disconnection with the mountains for company.
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Sleep - Guesthouse, Kyzol Oy
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: Camp breakfast/trailside lunch/dinner at guesthouse
We continue riding through the valley, on a very gently descending track (but don’t be fooled by the elevation profile like we were - there’ll be plenty of pedalling involved!). We’ll start to see more signs of civilisation, and eventually we join the gravel road hat take us to the village of Kojomkul and on to Kyzyl Oi. We’ll be cursing the washboard for a while, but soon the scenery distracts us as the downhill gradient increases and we ride through a beautiful narrow gorge alongside the raging Susamyr river and towards our home for the night in Kyzol Oi. Tonight we’ll be staying with locals in homestays, and will eat with the families. Our group will likely be spread out amongst a few of the villages. Tonight we sleep in beds and have our first shower since Kochkor!
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Sleep: Wild Camp
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: Guesthouse breakfast, trailside lunch, camp dinner.
We’ll savour waking up in a bed and enjoy breakfast at our guesthouses, before finishing our descent through the red rock valley. We’ll hit smooth tarmac for a while, aand savour some rare smooth and speedy miles! Today we begin our climb up to Son Kul lake, and we’ll soon be back on the dirt, riding up through the Karakeche valley, aiming for a wild camp on a quiet side valley.
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Sleeping - Yurt Camp
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner - Camp breakfast, trailside lunch, dinner at Yurt Camp.
We’ll aim to roll out early to beat the heat and complete our climb up to Son Kul. Joining the main climb, we’ll ride pass Karakeche mine after 10km or so, from where the trail will quietens and becomes more beautiful as we continue towards the pass. We stay high for the rest of the days riding, encountering families with their herds of horses and cows that graze on the high plateau around Son Kul lake. It’s fun riding, and eventually we get a glimpse of the highlight of the week - Son Kul lake, and our home at a Yurt Camp on its shore. We’ll have dinner at camp, and a chance to watch sunset in this special place. Our big climbs are done for the week - hurrah!
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Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: All included. Breakfast at yurt camp, trail lunch, dinner at yurt camp.
Today we’ll make our way around the wild western shore of Son Kul, with a much more relaxed day in store, and even a chance for a swim!
It’s a beautiful ride, and we’ll encounter the different faces of the lake today - an emerging tourist infrastructure in some pockets, traditional farming and grazing, families living in yurts for the summer.
Dinner will be at our yurt camp again tonight.
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Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: All included. Breakfast at yurt camp, trail lunch, dinner in Bishkek.
Our last day of riding, and it’s a special one! We’ll aim for an early start, and say farewell to Son Kul as we begin our final little climb of the week up to our pass at 3200m. This last stretch of riding is one of our highlights of the week, with big mountain views and endless switchbacks down into the long valley that will take us to our end point. Here we’ll end our ride, and load our bikes back on to the vans for a transfer back to Bihkek ( 4 hours). We’ll stop for lunch on the way, and arrive back to the big city in time for a final dinner together, and a night in a comfortable hotel (with hot showers and wifi!).
Depending on your flight time tomorrow, you may want to pack your bike up this evening (time before dinner will be limited), or wait until tomorrow.
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Breakfast: included at hotel.
Today our trip ends, and you can travel home. Taxis are easy to arrange for transport to the airport at any time.
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Our trip will be hosted and guided by a British Cycling and First Aid qualified Sisters in the Wild cycling guide, alongside a local Kyrgz cycling guide and support vehicle.
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Our trip will be supported by a Kyrgyz driver in a support vehicle, who will be our trip hero! They will drive a 4×4 vehicle that can access our hole route, and will be transferring our camping gear, cooking our camp meals, and on hand to support riders in case of mechanics, illness, or to give boosts for tired legs.
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Accommodation includes a mix of hotels, wild camping, homestays, and yurt camps.
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Camping gear, bikepacking bags and navigation devices can be added to your booking, and we’ll have them ready for you on day one.
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Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, and a free map bundle to access/navigate them.
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We list which meals are included in the itinerary. For those not included, we will give you recommendations on where to eat!
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Transfer from Bishkek to Kochkor, and from the end of our ride in Jangay Talap back to Bishkek are included
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We will arrange storage of additional luggage whilst we are riding, and meet it again at the end.
What’s Included?
Included ✓
Not Included ✗
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We’ll make sure you know where you can pick up snacks on the ride, and provide suggestions for lunch/dinner for days that are not included in the itinerary.
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Our meals will come with water and often tea, any additional drinks are not included.
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Riders must bring their own bikes as there are no reliable bike hires locally.
(If access to the right bike is holding you back, we now have a potential local MTB bike hire contact available - message us for info!)
We will not pass any bike shops on the ride, and riders should be equipped with basic spares and tools specific for their bike, to increase the chance that we can fix stuff on the trail. They should also carry basics like puncture repair stuff and multitools on their bikes. See packing list for info.
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Flight and transfers to our meeting point hotel in Bishkek are not included. It is easy to book taxis using a local app like Uber (Yandex). We’ll share details in the Joining Info.
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Travel Insurance that allows multi day cycling as an activity, and covers medical emergency, repatriation, cancellation and public liability is mandatory for all SITW trips and is not included.
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Most travellers are allowed to travel to Kyrgyzstan for up to 60 days without a visa.
Check info for your country before booking travel.
About The Riding
Challenge Level
We’ve rated this trip as a 4/5 on challenge level. This trip is apart of our WILDER series - bikepacking trips in wild landscapes that go that little bit further. Longer days, bigger climbs, more thrilling descents, wilder terrain, more solitude, and even more memories to be made. With multiple days of 70+km, 70+% off-road terrain, big off-road climbs and descents, this a trip well suited to experienced gravel riders who love long days in the saddle and some embrace some chunkier gravel terrain.
Terrain
The riding on this trip is around 75% off-road, predominantly on double track trails, of mixed quality. We’ll have stretches of well maintained gravel roads, but also some trails that can be rockier and looser/rougher in places. There are some long and occasionally steep downhill rides, that may vary in quality in places (e.g. washed out, rockier) and require confidence in descending on off-road terrain. There will be some sections of washboard (corrugated) gravel roads.
On some days, the tracks will be more technical, with features such as washed out channels, larger rubble and rocks, or clay. The route is entirely rideable by confident off-road riders, though altitude can make some of the steeper sections towards the end of passes feel much harder than they would normally, and likely we’ll all be walking at some point!
Amongst the off-road sections, we’ll also have some smooth tarmac riding, where we’ll enjoy a chance to make some quick miles or elevation!
Climbing
Climbing is a significant contributor to this trip’s challenge level, with multiple days featuring an elevation gain of around 1000 - 1500m . Our days of significant climbing tend to be one big climbs, with some undulating around it. Most of our climbing is on off-road terrain, and they tend to have decent gradients, though there are often some steeper sections towards the top.
Most of our big descents are off-road, and require confidence and skill in off-road descending.
Daily Distances
Our average riding day is around 70km, with a couple of shorter days (that pack in more climbing!) and one bigger (optional) day of 90km that is relatively flat. These will be mostly off-road miles. Komoot suggests an average moving time per day of around 7 hours in the saddle.
Remoteness, Altitude & Weather
This is one of our more remote and wild trips, with lots of riding in areas that do not have many shelter options. Most days have at least one place to stop for a simple local shop or yurt camp (except day 2 and day 5), but shelter outside of these regroup stops is very limited.
Much of the riding is at higher elevations, with multiple passes over 3000m. Altitude can make riding, particularly climbing, feel much harder than it would at low level, and altitude sickness needs to be taken seriously. We have built in acclimatisation in to our first few days, and we’ll be gradually increasing elevation over the first 3 days.
Riders should be comfortable with long days outside, whatever the weather! We are riding in high mountain terrain, and whilst this is the best time of year for clear days, afternoon rain and thunderstorms can be a feature. Conversely, it can be very hot at lower elevations and on climbs. Our guide team will monitor the weather and make route adjustments as needed.
Our whole route is accessible by our support vehicle, which will be our main point of help in case of an incident. There is no Mountain rescue in Kyrgyzstan, and access to emergency medical care will take much longer here than we would be used to in Europe.
Accomodation & Food
Accommodation
This trip is all about embracing the wild wild landscapes, simple living, sharing local interactions and experiencing Kyrgyz hospitality. Our trip will be bookended by nights in modern, comfortable hotels, and in between we’ll alternate between wild camping, local homestays, and yurt camps. They’re magical ways to experience real Kyrgyzstan life.
For our wild camping nights, riders should bring their own camping gear (or hire from us), and will be responsible for pitching and taking down their own tent. Camping gear will be transported in our support vehicle. We won’t have access to showers or toilets on our wild camping nights, but we’ll educate you on tips for wild loo-ing, and bring a shovel! We’ll have a natural water source such as a river available for washing and drinking water. Riders should be aware that we will be camping in wild mountain landscapes, often with no shelter apart from our tents!
Yurt camps and home stays will feature beds, and have plumbed toilets, showers, and potentially even wifi, but these can be unreliable. It’s best to prepare for traditional long drop toilets, cold showers, and off-grid living, and be pleasantly surprised if you have the luxuries!
Food
Breakfast is a mixture of simple camp breakfasts, breakfasts at our hotels, or prepared by our Yurt camp and homestay hosts. Breakfasts tend to feature eggs or local porridge, and bread with locally produced jams, with tea.
Dinner is included every. night. In Bishkek, we will have a chance to sample Kyrgyz food in a modern restaurant, and in Kochkor we’ll eat at a simple local restaurant. On our wild camp nights, our support crew may prepare a simple but filling camp meal such as Plof, or we’ll enjoy filling and tasty expedition meals. At our homestay night, we’ll eat dinner prepared by the family, and at our yurt camp at Son Kul, we’ll eat dinner prepared by our hosts in their dining yurt.
Lunches are included on our seven riding days, will be simple trail side picnics, with bread, cheese and jams, with occasional lunches at local yurt camps or simple roadside eateries.
We will pass on dietary requirements given at booking, but due to the very limited cooking spaces of local families, it may not be possible to accommodate serious allergies on this trip. Bread, cheese and eggs play a heavy part in Kyrgyz food, and as such gluten free and vegan riders may find choices very limited. We may recommend bringing some supplements (such as GF bread) with you from home - we’ll share requirements with our local support team closer to the time and advise participants where this is the case.
Support Style
Our SITW Bikepacking trips aim to strike the perfect balance of freedom and support. Riders are free to ride the routes at their own pace or with the guide and group, and we will set regroup points along the route.
Guiding
There will be two bike based guides out on the bike, moving back and forth amongst the group, generally with one towards the front and one towards the back of the group. Our guides are qualified first aiders and experienced mechanics and can help troubleshoot issues on the trail. Riders should equipped with their own navigation and not rely on following a guide for directions. Each participant will be provided with a specially curated collection of routes and route briefings via Komoot, to enable self supported navigation, and we will set regroup points along the route. In case of poorer weather, or in wilder route sections without clear regroup points, we may adapt our riding style and ask riders to stay behind the lead bike guide for some sections.
Support
In addition to the bike based guides, this trip has a local driver (male) in a 4 x 4 support vehicle to assist the group in case of issues (mechanicals, injury etc). This should not not be viewed as a daily shuttle option, but will meet us at key points along the route to check in and make sure we have what we need, and provide assistance and rider shuttles where needed.
Bikes & Bike Hire
Riders should plan to bring their own bike as reliable bike hire is not available locally. There'll be space to rebuild the bikes at our starting hotel, and we arrange storage of bike boxes whilst on the trip to meet us at the end of our trip. If access to the right bike/traveling with your bike is holding you back, we now have local MTB bike hire available - at it as an add-on in your WeTravel booking!
Recommended Bike
We would recommend a hardtail MTB as the ideal bike for this trip, or a thick tyre gravel bike/rigid mountain ONLY if you are very experienced riding chunkier off-road terrain with it, including steep and loose descents. This should have a good gearing range, and minimum of 50mm tyres. Remember you will be cycling at altitude so hills will feel harder than they do at home!
Read our Complete Guide To Bikes On Sisters in the Wild Adventures for tips on travelling with your bike, recommended spares, and more.
FAQs
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Please do not book your travel until we have confirmed the minimum trip number has been met.
Our cycling trip starts and ends in Bishkek, which has the country’s main airport. Most flights from Europe and the US transfer in Istanbul, with Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines being the main airlines from the UK. It’s worth factoring in that Turkish Airlines charge a bike fee per leg
Outward flight
You can arrive anytime on Day 1 - ideally in time to join the rider briefing, though as long as you are able to be ready to build your bike on the early morning of Day 2, that’s fine.
We’d recommend building in a good transfer time to reduce the likelihood of luggage transfer issues.
Return Flight
You can fly anytime on or after our last day (D10), though be aware there will be very limited time on D9 to pack bikes unless you skip dinner in Bishkek or stay up late!
Airport Transfer
It’s easy to get a taxi to/from the airport. You can pre-arrange a transfer through our start hotel, or download the app YANDEX which is like a local Uber. Cost is around $20.
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We’ll have a max group size of 16, minimum group size of 8 to run.
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We will help to pass any dietary requirements to places that we eat. Unfortunately, it may not always be possible for them to accommodate serious allergies due to their limited kitchen space. We’ll try to work with you to find solutions. You can let us know any dietary requirements at time of booking. If you have serious allergies, please email us before booking on hello@sistersinthewild.com.
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In order to make the most of the riding on offer, we’d suggest that you are comfortable riding 45+ miles in a day in hilly off-road terrain, for a few days on the run. Riding a loaded bike takes a little more effort, so we’d recommend trying some practice rides of 50 miles + with some weight/luggage on your bike. You should be comfortable with off-road climbing and descending.
Feel free to drop us an email hello@sistersinthewild.com if you have any questions on this.
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Yes, you can book directly with our starting/ending hotel if you wish to stay earlier/late. We’ll share our hotel info once the trip is confirmed. We’d highly recommend staying an extra day in Bishkek to make your packing up more relaxing.
If you arrive earlier than the hotel’s check in time, you may wish to book an early check in or an additional night before. Contact the hotel directly to see if this is possible.
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We’’ll share a detailed packing list as part of the Trip Joining Info. Packing is a balance of keeping it light, but making sure you're equipped for changeable weather and supporting yourself out on the rides.
Bike Stuff
The basics
Off-road bike and Helmet
Navigation device (available to loan from us)
Bike lights (just in case!)
A secure bike lock for overnight (can be stored in support van)
Lightweight lock for the rides
Capacity to carry at least 1.5 litres of water.
Bikepacking bags or rucksack to carry what you need in the day
Basic first aid kit for your rides
Camping stuff
Tent
Sleeping mat
Sleeping bag
Headtorch
Cup/spork/bowl
Bike tools/spares to carry
Spare tube and patches
Small pump
Tubeless plugs/spare sealant if running tubeless tyres
Multitool with what you need for your bike e.g. allen keys, chain breaker
Chain quick link (these are specific for your bike)
Spare derailleur hanger (specific to your bike.) This website can help you
find the one you need for your bike
Brake pads (specific for your bike)
Small amount of chain oil
A few zip ties/bits of duct tape & electrical tape wrapped around your pump are always useful!
Personal Stuff
Travel insurance that covers off-road cycle touring/theft
Passport
Any personal medication needed
Mini toiletries (travel toothpaste, toothbrush etc)
Battery pack/cables to keep phone and nav device charged
Cash/card
Earplugs....just in case!
Lightweight towel for swims
Sun cream/SPF lipbalm
Electrolytes (optional but recommended)
Clothing
Clothing is a great place to slim down your packing list and get ruthless! However, this should be balanced with keeping safe and warm and dry if we have poor weather. Generally we could expect some very hot and sunny days, with the possibility of rain/thunderstorms and cooler temperatures at elevation and passes.
Consider how you can double up uses of clothes for day/evening/sleeping, and embrace a bit of dirtbag spirit!
Cycling clothes
We recommend 2 sets that you can wash/swap through the week, plus a warm layer set.
Comfy shorts and quick dry t-shirts or cycling top
Shoes. We recommend only using clip in shoes/pedals if you’re already confident in off-road riding.
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
Extra layers in case of poor weather, especially o downhills e.g. leggings, long gloves, mid layer,
windbreaker
Gloves - 1 warm and 1 waterproof
Glasses (optional but recommended - downhill bugs agravel dust)
Socks
Cycling cap/hat to keep the sun off your face
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Don’t worry! You can hire bikepacking bags, navigation devices, and camping gear from us for a nominal fee.
Read more about our add-ons here. -
We recommend checking out the country-specific information.
Dogs can be encountered in some parts of the routes, protecting houses or with farmers and herds.
Whilst we’ve only ever had barking, as per the advice on the above page, riders may wish to consider a rabies vaccination.
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Most travellers do not require a visa for travel to Kyrgyzstan for stays of up to 60 days.
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Bike boxes/bags can be left at the start of the trip, and we will meet them again at the end.