Jyrgalan Freeride Week — Ski Touring in Kyrgyzstan

Why this trip

Jyrgalan is a village, not a resort. It was founded in 1964 around a coal mine, and over the last decade several of its houses have become guesthouses for backcountry skiers and summer hikers. Touring starts from the village itself: peaks around the valley reach roughly 3,500 m, single descents of 800–1,250 m are possible, and the terrain runs from open north-facing bowls down to spruce forest.

The snowpack is the catch. It is typically cold and continental: light, dry snow, but also persistent weak layers, which raise the avalanche risk. An avalanche bulletin for the Jyrgalan backcountry is published on snowreport.kg. Reading it is where every day starts.

Who it is for. Strong skiers or splitboarders who are comfortable off-piste in variable snow, fit enough to climb around 1,000 m a day on skins, and who have formal avalanche training plus their own beacon, shovel and probe.

What we confirm with the quote. Guiding and equipment. When you enquire, we tell you who would guide your week, their training and experience in this terrain, and exactly what equipment is provided — in writing, before anything is charged.

A large lift-served resort, Ala-Too, is being developed in the area. This week does not include riding there.

Transparent pricing

Per person, in USD. What is included is listed below and confirmed in writing with your quote, together with guiding and equipment.

Solo, pair and larger groups: exact price in our reply within 24 hours.

Day by day

Sample itinerary — Ilgiz confirms the exact plan for your dates. In the backcountry, conditions decide each day.

1. Day 1

   Bishkek → Jyrgalan

   Pickup in Bishkek and the long drive east: about 400 km along Issyk-Kul to Karakol, then about 60 km more to Jyrgalan. Winter roads can be slow, so most of the day is on the road. Evening kit check at the guesthouse.

   ≈ 460 km transferNight in Jyrgalan
2. Day 2

   Warm-up tour and rescue practice

   A short tour close to the village. Beacon searches as a group, a look at the snowpack together, and a chance to see how everyone moves on skins and on the way down before bigger terrain.

   Short dayRescue practice
3. Days 3–6

   Touring days, chosen by conditions

   Four days in the valleys around Jyrgalan, planned each evening from the bulletin, the weather and the group's pace: open bowls when the snowpack allows, lower-angle and forest terrain when it does not. A rest day fits in if the group wants one.

   ≈ 1,000 m up per dayNights in Jyrgalan
4. Day 7

   Jyrgalan → Bishkek

   Early start for the drive back to Bishkek. Drop-off at your hotel or the airport in the evening.

   ≈ 460 km transferHotel/airport drop-off

What's included

Our standard plan for this week. Your written quote confirms every line, including guiding and equipment, before anything is charged.

Meet your guide

Ilgiz — founder & lead guide

Ilgiz is from Kochkor and has guided travellers across Kyrgyzstan for more than 15 years. He plans this week, the transfers and the guesthouse. The guide on the snow for your dates, and their qualifications, are confirmed in writing with your quote before you commit to anything. More about Ilgiz

Questions about this tour

Summer in the same corner of Kyrgyzstan: Ala-Kul trek guide · Best time to visit Kyrgyzstan · All travel guides