Biking in the Tien Shan Mountains
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Back to route Biking in the Tien Shan Mountains
Days 1-2
Day travel distance:
20 km 
Arrival in Almaty and transfer to the hotel.
These first two days you'll explore Almaty and make a test ride with the group into the mountains south of Almaty.
Day 3
The 'real' tour starts from Almaty, today, at an altitude of some 850 meters. First we bike in eastern direction, to the village of Batan and the Turgen gorge at the foot of the Zailyisky Alatau mountains. In these mountains the rivers Turgen, Shen-Turgen and Kishi-Turgen. We establish our camp nearby the intersection of these three rivers into the Turgen gorge.
We spend the night in tents.
Altitudes: Almaty 850 m - Batan 1,800 m
Day 4
We start the day with a steep climb. After some 2 kms it turns into a gradual climb, along the Kishi-Turgen river. Th gorge opens up where the Oyzhakau river pours into the Kisi-Turgen river.
On we go, over an ancient road until the top of the Assy Pass at 2,650 m, followed by a 30 km descend to the village of Assy. That's where we'll pitch our tents.
Altitudes: Batan 1,800 m - Assy Pass 2,650 m - Assy - 2,220 m
Days 5-7
We bike across a plateau and through a gorge. Here, on the Assy Plateau, in summer live semi-nomads with their families in their traditional yurts, herding their cattle. In the villages people make a living by growing potatoes and keeping cows and sheep.
Over two passes we reach the Kolsai Lakes, three wonderful mountain lakes in the border area with Kyrgystan. We spend the night in a tent nearby the village of Kensu.
Altitude: Assy 2,220 m
Days 8-9
Through the narrow valley we bike on, until the Karkara Valley. On this route there are few villages but many herdsmen on horses with their herds and dogs.
We spend the night in the Karkara basecamp.
The next day we continue through the beautiful and wide Karakara Valley, biking until the mouth of the Kokshar river. To start ascending to the Mingtur Pass we just have to cross a few small rivers. First we encounter a short and steep climb, then we can enjoy a magnificent panorama over the Central Tien Shan Mountains.
We continue with a long descend through a wild and original mountain landscape, to the river Saz in Kyrgystan. The night we spend in tents.
Altitiude: Karkara Valley, 2,300 m , Mingtur Pass 3,300 m
Day 10
We bike along the Saz river. The valley narrows until it becomes a gorge. After some 20 kms we start climbing the over 3,800 m high Chon-Ashy Pass.
The descend takes us through wonderful a mountain landscape.
Altitudes: Chon-Ashy Pass, 3,820 m
Dag 11
After a tough descend we reach the enormous and green valley of lake Issyk Kul. Passing the town of Karakol we bike along the northern shore of the lake, on to the village of Ak Bulak, where we pitch our tents.
Altitude: Kokiya, 2.850 meter
Day 12
We return by bus to Almaty, where we'll stay in a hotel. In Almaty we have leisure time.
Day 13
The program has come to an end. You will be transfered to the airport in the morning (when most international flights leave Almaty), or continue in another way.