Guided Ski & Splitboard Tours
There are undoubtedly adventures you think you will never have. Skiing big mountain lines by day and huddling around a wood-burning stove in a cozy Kyrgyz yurt by night is probably one of them. Offering the only program of its kind in Asia, 40 Tribes invites adventurous, experienced skiers and riders to explore Kyrgyzstan’s remote Tien Shan Mountains while staying in a winter-ready yurt at 2,650m in one of the most beautiful locations in the country. Our yurt is run in collaboration with local partners, contributing an irreplaceable intercultural element to the skiing experience.
Dates
For the 2013-14 season we are offering 4 to 7-day guided tours from February 8-March 8, the primest time of year in our zone.
Check current availability via our Bookings Calendar.
Requirements
Group Size: 5 min-6 max
Experience: Participants must be confident skiers or riders (high-intermediate to advanced level), but do not need to have extensive off-piste/touring experience. Participation does not require any formal avalanche safety certification or previous glacier travel or ski mountaineering experience.
Gear: We strongly recommend fat powder skis (minimum 100mm underfoot – the fatter the better!), and splitboards are required for snowboarders. Participants must be prepared with essential touring and avalanche safety gear.
Physical Requirements: Participants must be in good physical condition, and comfortable touring for long distances and carrying their own backcountry packs. Ascents from the yurt range from 400-1000m in vertical gain, to maximum elevations of around 3,650m.
Don’t have the #s to meet our minimum requirement? Check out our Small Groups/Solo Travelers Bulletin.
Terrain
Get acquainted with the amazing terrain accessible from the Jalpak Tash Yurt:
EMAIL US to get your hands on hi-res digital copies of aerial and topo maps. Also be sure to check out our Terrain Gallery.
What Else
Village Stay: All of our guided tours begin with an overnight in a village home. The homestay experience includes an amazing traditional dinner, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and breakfast before we begin our tour to the yurt the next morning.
Good Food…And Lots Of It: That’s right, guided stays are fully catered. Our local partners will accompany the group at the yurt to host, cook, clean, and manage yurt chores.
Bookings
Independent Travelers
You coordinate your in-country transport independently. Grab a taxi to Karakol from the airport or Bishkek bus station and our guides will greet you there. Karakol is approx. 6 hours by road from Bishkek, and a popular tourist destination.
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides; Round trip transfers between Karakol and Ichke-Jergez village (approx. 30km/30 min); Lodging in the village (group homestay, one night); Dinner and breakfast in the village; Horse transport for group gear; Yurt lodging; All food/drinks at the yurt; 4 days of epic guided skiing!
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare and baggage fees; Visa fees, if applicable; Transport between Bishkek-Karakol; Lodging and meals in Bishkek/Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks (beer, cognac, and vodka offered at an extra charge from the yurt “bar”), snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides and local partners; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
*Itinerary begins a day ahead of the yurt reservation date!
Day 1 – Arrive Karakol and meet with 40 Tribes guides; depart for Ichke-Jergez no later than 5pm (30km, 30 min from Karakol); explore the village; dinner and homestay with village host family
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast with host family; skin up in front of the house and tour 6km to the yurt; afternoon touring and skiing
Days 3-5 – 3 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out at the end of the day on the 4th day; tea with host family before heading back to Karakol
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides; Round trip transfers between Karakol and Ichke-Jergez village (approx. 30km/30 min); Lodging in the village (group homestay, one night); Dinner and breakfast in the village; Horse transport for group gear; Yurt lodging; All food/drinks at the yurt; 5 days of epic guided skiing!
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare and baggage fees; Visa fees, if applicable; Transport between Bishkek-Karakol; Lodging and meals in Bishkek/Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks (beer, cognac, and vodka offered at an extra charge from the yurt “bar”), snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides and local partners; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
*Itinerary begins a day ahead of the yurt reservation date!
Day 1 – Arrive Karakol and meet with 40 Tribes guides; depart for Ichke-Jergez no later than 5pm (30km, 30 min from Karakol); explore the village; dinner and homestay with village host family
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast with host family; skin up in front of the house and tour 6km to the yurt; afternoon touring and skiing
Days 3-6 – 4 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out at the end of the day on the 5th day; tea with host family before heading back to Karakol
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides; Round trip transfers between Karakol and Ichke-Jergez village (approx. 30km/30 min); Lodging in the village (group homestay, one night); Dinner and breakfast in the village; Horse transport for group gear; Yurt lodging; All food/drinks at the yurt; 6 days of epic guided skiing!
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare and baggage fees; Visa fees, if applicable; Transport between Bishkek-Karakol; Lodging and meals in Bishkek/Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks (beer, cognac, and vodka offered at an extra charge from the yurt “bar”), snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides and local partners; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
*Itinerary begins a day ahead of the yurt reservation date!
Day 1 – Arrive Karakol and meet with 40 Tribes guides; depart for Ichke-Jergez no later than 5pm (30km, 30 min from Karakol); explore the village; dinner and homestay with village host family
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast with host family; skin up in front of the house and tour 6km to the yurt; afternoon touring and skiing
Days 3-7 – 5 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out at the end of the day on the 6th day; tea with host family before heading back to Karakol
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides; Round trip transfers between Karakol and Ichke-Jergez village (approx. 30km/30 min); Lodging in the village (group homestay, one night); Dinner and breakfast in the village; Horse transport for group gear; Yurt lodging; All food/drinks at the yurt; 7 days of epic guided skiing!
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare and baggage fees; Visa fees, if applicable; Transport between Bishkek-Karakol; Lodging and meals in Bishkek/Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks (beer, cognac, and vodka offered at an extra charge from the yurt “bar”), snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides and local partners; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
*Itinerary begins a day ahead of the yurt reservation date!
Day 1 – Arrive Karakol and meet with 40 Tribes guides; depart for Ichke-Jergez no later than 5pm (30km, 30 min from Karakol); explore the village; dinner and homestay with village host family
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast with host family; skin up in front of the house and tour 6km to the yurt; afternoon touring and skiing
Days 3-8 – 6 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out at the end of the day on the 7th day; tea with host family before heading back to Karakol
40 Tribes Travelers
Make it easier! Let us arrange comfortable, private, direct transfers for your group between Bishkek and Karakol, where you’ll meet our guides.
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides; Private round trip transfers between Bishkek and Karakol (approx. 400km/6 hrs); Round trip transfers between Karakol and Ichke-Jergez village (approx. 30km/30 min); Lodging in the village (group homestay, one night); Dinner and breakfast in the village; Horse transport for group gear; Yurt lodging; All food/drinks at the yurt; 4 days of epic guided skiing!
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare and baggage fees; Visa fees, if applicable; Lodging and meals in Bishkek/Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks (beer, cognac, and vodka offered at an extra charge from the yurt “bar”), snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides and local partners; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
*Itinerary begins a day ahead of the yurt reservation date and includes an extra day for return travel to Bishkek!
Day 1 – Early morning arrival in Bishkek; private transport to Karakol – road follows the north shore of the 2nd largest alpine lake in the world, Lake Issyk-Kul (400km, ~6 hrs); Meet 40 Tribes guides in Karakol; depart for Ichke-Jergez no later than 5pm (30km, 30 min); explore the village; dinner and homestay with village host family
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast with host family; skin up in front of the house and tour 6km to the yurt; afternoon touring and skiing
Days 3-5 – 3 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out at the end of the day on the 4th day; tea with host family before heading back to Karakol; optional direct return to Bishkek the same night, or…
Day 6 – If you can arrange your dates so your final day is a Sunday, the Karakol animal and used goods markets are not-to-miss!; late morning/afternoon departure for Bishkek
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides; Private round trip transfers between Bishkek and Karakol (approx. 400km/6 hrs); Round trip transfers between Karakol and Ichke-Jergez village (approx. 30km/30 min); Lodging in the village (group homestay, one night); Dinner and breakfast in the village; Horse transport for group gear; Yurt lodging; All food/drinks at the yurt; 5 days of epic guided skiing!
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare and baggage fees; Visa fees, if applicable; Lodging and meals in Bishkek/Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks (beer, cognac, and vodka offered at an extra charge from the yurt “bar”), snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides and local partners; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
*Itinerary begins a day ahead of the yurt reservation date and includes an extra day for return travel to Bishkek!
Day 1 – Early morning arrival in Bishkek; private transport to Karakol – road follows the north shore of the 2nd largest alpine lake in the world, Lake Issyk-Kul (400km, ~6 hrs); Meet 40 Tribes guides in Karakol; depart for Ichke-Jergez no later than 5pm (30km, 30 min); explore the village; dinner and homestay with village host family
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast with host family; skin up in front of the house and tour 6km to the yurt; afternoon touring and skiing
Days 3-6 – 4 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out at the end of the day on the 5th day; tea with host family before heading back to Karakol; optional direct return to Bishkek the same night, or…
Day 7 – If you can arrange your dates so your final day is a Sunday, the Karakol animal and used goods markets are not-to-miss!; late morning/afternoon departure for Bishkek
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides; Private round trip transfers between Bishkek and Karakol (approx. 400km/6 hrs); Round trip transfers between Karakol and Ichke-Jergez village (approx. 30km/30 min); Lodging in the village (group homestay, one night); Dinner and breakfast in the village; Horse transport for group gear; Yurt lodging; All food/drinks at the yurt; 6 days of epic guided skiing!
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare and baggage fees; Visa fees, if applicable; Lodging and meals in Bishkek/Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks (beer, cognac, and vodka offered at an extra charge from the yurt “bar”), snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides and local partners; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
*Itinerary begins a day ahead of the yurt reservation date and includes an extra day for return travel to Bishkek!
Day 1 – Early morning arrival in Bishkek; private transport to Karakol – road follows the north shore of the 2nd largest alpine lake in the world, Lake Issyk-Kul (400km, ~6 hrs); Meet 40 Tribes guides in Karakol; depart for Ichke-Jergez no later than 5pm (30km, 30 min); explore the village; dinner and homestay with village host family
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast with host family; skin up in front of the house and tour 6km to the yurt; afternoon touring and skiing
Days 3-7 – 5 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out at the end of the day on the 6th day; tea with host family before heading back to Karakol; optional direct return to Bishkek the same night, or…
Day 8 – If you can arrange your dates so your final day is a Sunday, the Karakol animal and used goods markets are not-to-miss!; late morning/afternoon departure for Bishkek
View Itinerary
Price Includes
Price Includes:
40 Tribes guides; Private round trip transfers between Bishkek and Karakol (approx. 400km/6 hrs); Round trip transfers between Karakol and Ichke-Jergez village (approx. 30km/30 min); Lodging in the village (group homestay, one night); Dinner and breakfast in the village; Horse transport for group gear; Yurt lodging; All food/drinks at the yurt; 7 days of epic guided skiing!
Price Does Not Include:
International airfare and baggage fees; Visa fees, if applicable; Lodging and meals in Bishkek/Karakol; Items of personal nature, such as alcoholic drinks (beer, cognac, and vodka offered at an extra charge from the yurt “bar”), snacks/supplements, souvenirs, etc; Tips for guides and local partners; Medical/evacuation insurance
Begins and ends in: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
*Itinerary begins a day ahead of the yurt reservation date and includes an extra day for return travel to Bishkek!
Day 1 – Early morning arrival in Bishkek; private transport to Karakol – road follows the north shore of the 2nd largest alpine lake in the world, Lake Issyk-Kul (400km, ~6 hrs); Meet 40 Tribes guides in Karakol; depart for Ichke-Jergez no later than 5pm (30km, 30 min); explore the village; dinner and homestay with village host family
Day 2 – Early morning breakfast with host family; skin up in front of the house and tour 6km to the yurt; afternoon touring and skiing
Days 3-8 – 6 full days of touring and skiing from the yurt; ski out at the end of the day on the 7th day; tea with host family before heading back to Karakol; optional direct return to Bishkek the same night, or…
Day 9 – If you can arrange your dates so your final day is a Sunday, the Karakol animal and used goods markets are not-to-miss!; late morning/afternoon departure for Bishkek
Discounts
Early Bird
Book before August 1 and receive 5% off
5+
Groups of more than 5 always receive 5% off
*Only one discount may be applied per reservation
