KYRGYZSTAN

SELF-GUIDED SKI & SPLITBOARD TOURS

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For the most diehard ski bums, we offer self-guided yurt reservations. All self-guided stays are fully catered, so you and your crew can spend long days getting after it, enjoy the luxury of returning to warm yurts and a mighty meal, and not worry about whose turn it is to get the morning coffee fired up!

REQUIREMENTS

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GROUP SIZE

Min 4-Max 6 (please contact us to discuss groups larger than 6)

MINIMUM STAY

3 nights/4 days

EXPERIENCE

Participants must be advanced to expert level skiers or snowboarders, with at least 3 years off-piste/backcountry experience. All group members must have completed a level 1 (or equivalent) avalanche safety course and wilderness medical training is additionally recommended. Glacier travel/ski mountaineering experience is not required.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Participants must be in excellent physical condition and comfortable touring for long distances carrying their own backcountry packs. Single tours from the yurts typically range from 400-1000m in vertical gain, to maximum elevations of around 3,600m.

GEAR

We require fat powder skis (minimum 115mm underfoot…the fatter the better!) and splitboards for snowboarders. Trust us on this one. Kyrgyzstan’s "bottomless" continental snowpack is one of the most unique in the world. You must be able to float big freeride-style turns, at speed. All group members must additionally be prepared with essential touring, avalanche safety, and emergency response gear. Group medical kit and satellite phone or emergency beacon also recommended.

DATES & AVAILABILITY

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The Jalpak Tash Yurts are open to self-guided reservations for a select number of weeks each season. For 2024 we are offering only 2 weeks, immediately before and after our guided season. These are timed for ideal “early” and “late season” conditions and should be just as prime as our guided weeks.

WINTER 2024

WK1: January 21-27 (AVAILABLE)

WK2: March 10-16 (AVAILABLE)

Please inquire about custom dates.

WINTER 2025

WK1: January 19-25 (AVAILABLE)

WK2: March 9-15 (AVAILABLE)

Please inquire about custom dates.

Dates marked “available” are yours with a 20% deposit. Dates marked "requested" will become available again if the requesting group is unable to confirm their reservation within 3 weeks. If your preferred week is either requested or booked, you are welcome to submit a waitlist inquiry.

EXPERIENCE & PHOTO GALLERY

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We have dedicated an entire page to describing the experience of a week spent at our yurts. For an even deeper look, be sure to scope these photo galleries from guided weeks past.

HIRE A LOCAL GUIDE

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The Kyrgyzstan Mountain Guides Association (KMGA) was established with help from Mammut and the IFMGA, who initiated a training program for local guides in 2008. Today the KMGA is a resource for groups looking to hire a local ski/mountain guide. We are happy to offer self-guided pricing to all groups who hire a KMGA certified guide, however the requirements we have set forth for all group members will still apply. Check out the “Find a guide” tool on the KMGA website, or contact us if you would like us to connect you with KMGA guides who have been to and guided from the 40 Tribes yurts.

WHAT ELSE

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THE YURTS ARE ALL YOURS!

Our private yurt camp—the most epic basecamp setup in all of Central Asia—is all yours when you book a self-guided stay. The camp features 3 yurts: one kitchen/dining yurt and separate sleeping yurts, all heated by wood burning stoves and cared for by our local partners. The location of our camp provides immediate access to the surrounding terrain from a starting elevation of 2,550m.

VILLAGE STAY

Our self-guided packages include an overnight stay with our partner family on night number one. The homestay experience includes an amazing traditional dinner, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and breakfast before you begin your tour up to the yurts the next morning.

GUIDED ACCESS/HORSE SUPPORT

No need to worry about route finding or shouldering all of your gear on your way up to the yurts. One of our local yurt hosts will meet you in the village, accompany your group for the homestay night, prep horses to porter your gear, and guide you on the 6km tour up to the yurts. Your bags (and a hot lunch) will be waiting for you on your arrival.

GOOD FOOD...AND LOTS OF IT

That’s right, self-guided stays are fully catered. Our local partners will accompany your group to host, cook, clean, and manage yurt chores. They absolutely kill it in the kitchen yurt, fixing up Western-inspired breakfasts complete with french press coffee and traditional Kyrgyz dinners, cooked over the wood burning stove. Portions are large, and there is always a variety of snacks and hot tea available.

APRÈS SKI

Who doesn’t love a little après ski session? Our yurt bar features tallboy beers and bottles of local vodka and cognac.

FRONTCOUNTRY TRANSPORT & LODGING

We are happy to make your trip even more seamless by arranging all transport and lodging for your group. This includes airport pick up, private round trip transfers to/from our partner village by way of Karakol (approx 440km/6.5 hrs each way), as well as guesthouse lodging for one night in Karakol and hotel lodging for one night in Bishkek, which we recommend after you ride out from the yurts. This will require that you arrive in Bishkek early morning the day before your reservation start date and then depart two days after your reservation end date.

Or, if you're up for the adventure of arranging transport and lodging on your own, have at it! We simply require that your group arrives in Karakol the day before your reservation start date, and we will then drop you off wherever you have arranged your lodging in Karakol by nightfall on your reservation end date.

BOOKING POLICY

A 20% deposit is required to secure your spot, with the remainder due 4 months prior to the tour start date. Our cancellation/refund policies can be found here.