Kyrgyzstan in winter: seven days of snow, horses and nomadic culture. Ride through the Chon-Kemin valley, ski in Karakol, cross a 3,850 m pass, soak in hot springs and spend nights with local families and in a yurt camp.
Over 90% of Kyrgyzstan is mountains. In winter the Tian Shan is covered in snow, the fir forests and valleys fall quiet, and Lake Issyk-Kul — which never freezes — shines between white peaks.
Seven days from Bishkek and back — tap each day to expand it.
Arrive at Manas airport and have breakfast in Bishkek. We head to the Chon-Kemin valley, with a nature reserve on one side and small villages on the other. We walk up to a viewpoint, visit a monument to local farming culture and, after lunch, go horse riding (2–3 h). Traditional Kyrgyz dinner. Night: guesthouse. Meals: lunch & dinner.
A scenic drive with walks in the Kok-Moinok canyon and the Grigoriev gorge. Lunch at a fish farm, then on to Karakol for a short city visit and dinner at a restaurant. Night: hotel in Karakol. Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner.
A day at the ski resort: warm-up and beginner lesson, then the guide shows you the slopes. Lifts and snowmobile included. Lunch at the resort café, some rest and a soak in the hot springs before dinner. Night: hotel in Karakol. Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner.
We drive up to the Chon-Ashuu pass at 3,850 m through snowy landscapes, then down to the village of Ichke-Jergez to experience rural life with a local family, cooking dinner together in a cooking workshop. Night: family home. Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner.
The red “Seven Bulls” rocks of Jeti-Oguz and the Broken Heart formation. We follow the south shore of Issyk-Kul to the Skazka (“fairy tale”) canyon and its sandstone formations, and reach Bokonbaevo for a yurt-building workshop. Night: yurt camp or guesthouse. Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Eagle-hunting demonstration in Bokonbaevo and transfer to Bishkek. City tour, shopping at the Osh bazaar and farewell dinner. Night: hotel in Bishkek. Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Transfer to Manas airport and flight home.
An outstanding experience with Thin Air Trips! Isa and the team brought so much care, enthusiasm and professionalism to the whole adventure. Their thoughtful planning, clear communication and attention to detail made everything feel smooth and well organised, allowing me to relax and enjoy the experience.
What stood out most was the personal approach. Isa was approachable, helpful and always happy to answer questions. You could really feel her passion for the mountains and her commitment to making the trip special.
A fantastic team that I would happily recommend to anyone looking for a memorable trekking or mountain adventure. Thank you, Isa and Thin Air Trips—I would love to join you again!
I’ve now travelled with Thin Air Trips twice — to Torres del Paine and Kyrgyzstan — and both trips were absolutely incredible. Two very different destinations, but equally unforgettable adventures!
One of the best things about travelling with them is that they take care of everything. From planning the itinerary to organising accommodation, transport and all the logistics along the way, they make the whole experience feel easy. There’s so much that goes into organising trips like these, and having it all managed means you can relax, enjoy the adventure and focus on the places you’ve come to explore.
Torres del Paine was spectacular, and Kyrgyzstan was another amazing experience, with breathtaking mountains and landscapes that will stay with me for a long time. Both trips gave me so many special moments and memories that I’ll always treasure.
For me, the real value of Thin Air Trips is being able to experience these extraordinary destinations without the stress of coordinating everything myself. You get all the excitement of an adventure, with the reassurance that the details are taken care of.
The fact that I booked a second trip after my first probably says it all! I would happily travel with them again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a well-organised, memorable adventure. An easy five stars!
Fuimos con ellos al Ararat y todo perfecto, organización de 10, muy buena comunicación antes y durante el viaje, y muy buenos guías. Repetiremos!
I had a fantastic experience travelling to Russia to summit Mt Elbrus. Isa has been really communicative and helpful. I had a lot of hestitations about travelling to the region, but all went smooth and the entire trip was amazing. The team on ground were also just as professional and helpful, really helping to take off the logitical pressure and allowing me to focus on the summit.
Espectacular!!la ruta , la organización , la gente…repetiré sin duda!
Viaje top y equipo mejor aún!
Seven days from Bishkek and back, with a private 4×4, guide and almost all meals included. Prefer other dates? The trip runs from November to March — ask Isa about a private departure.
Leave your details and we’ll follow up to confirm dates, availability and next steps.
No. The walks are short and the horse ride is gentle (2–3 hours). Average fitness and a taste for a few winter days in the mountains are all you need.
No. Ski day starts with a warm-up and a beginner lesson, and lifts and snowmobile are included. Ski or snowboard equipment is not included and can be rented at the resort.
Private 4×4 transport, accommodation, guide, meals from lunch on day 1 to dinner on day 6, horses, lifts and snowmobile, hot springs, excursions and entrance fees, the eagle demonstration and the yurt and cooking workshops. Flights, insurance, drinks, ski equipment and tips are not included.
Hotels in Karakol and Bishkek, a guesthouse in Chon-Kemin, a family home in Ichke-Jergez and a yurt camp (or guesthouse) near Issyk-Kul.
Yes. The trip runs from November to March, so we can organise a private departure on dates that suit you — just ask Isa.
Warm layers, a good winter jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof boots. Once you book, we send you the full gear list.