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Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Your adventures around Kyrgyzstan are likely to start in Bishkek. It’s the
capital of the country, international flights there are relatively cheap and
it’s very easy to travel overland from neighboring countries like from Almaty (
Kazakhstan) to Bishkek or to get to Bishkek from Tashkent (Uzbekistan) by bus.
It’s a modern and cosmopolitan city but it still preserves the essence of the
Kyrgyz culture and Soviet architecture.
- Victory park (Парк Победы / Victory park)
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Chunkurchak, Kyrgyzstan
The mountains of Kyrgyzstan are covered in snow during winter and they’re
perfect for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Chunkurchak is the closest
ski base to Bishkek. It’s really convenient to drive there for a day of skiing
from the capital of the country. Some of the slopes are relatively big but
they’re all without curves or abrupt turns so it will be the perfect ski base if
you’re a beginner or if you’re traveling with children. I skied there with a
group of bloggers last winter and we loved it!
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Bokonbayevo, Kyrgyzstan
The easiest way to get from Bishkek to Bokonbayevo is to take a marshrutka (a
Kyrgyz minibus). Marshrutkas leave from the Western bus station in Bishkek. In
Bishkek, people call this bus terminal “Zapadnyi” or New “Novyj” Bus station
“Avtozakzal” or shortly “Vakzal”. Look in the bus station for the marshrutka
that goes to Bokonbayevo. This shared minibus doesn’t have a schedule and it
will only leave once it’s full. A marshrutka from Bishkek to Bokonbayevo will
cost around 250 som. The distance between the two cities is 400 Km and it should
take about 6 hours to reach Bokonbayevo.
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Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
The fourth and fifth day of the trip will be filled with adrenaline on the
slopes of my favorite ski base in Kyrgyzstan: Karakol ski resort. This resort is
located in the Issyk-Kul region 400 km away from Bishkek and very close to the
city of Karakol. It’s a fantastic place for skiing and snowboarding with 20 km
of slopes for people of all skill levels.
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Boz Uchuk, Kyrgyzstan
For the rest of this Kyrgyzstan Itinerary, you’ll be backcountry skiing in some
of the most beautiful mountain chains around Karakol. For more information on
what type of equipment you’ll need to do this, read Backcountry skiing in
Kyrgyzstan. On the sixth day of this itinerary, I would suggest some backcountry
skiing in Boz Uchuk not too far from Karakol.
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Jyrgalan, Kyrgyzstan
To drive from Boz Uchuk to Jyrgalan you’ll first have to reach the village of
Novovoznesenovka. Right after this village, the road splits. Turn to the right
and continue until Ak Bulung village, then turn left at the sign (it says: “To
the left – Jyrgalan, to the right – Enilchek”). After 2km, follow along the
asphalt road as it jogs right. The road will become a non-asphalt road that is
in good shape — continue on it until you reach Zyndan village. After the
village, the road jogs left and you will come to an intersection.
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Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
After nine days of skiing around the country, it will be time to head back
towards Bishkek to take your flight back home or to continue onwards to new
adventures. This last part of the itinerary will require that you have your own
car so you can stop at the different locations and sights on the southern shore
of Lake Issyk-Kul. If you don’t have your own car, stopping at the different
sights along the way will be a bit harder but not impossible. You will need to
hop from one minibus to another in between the different attractions until you
reach Bishkek.