Ski Touring in Kyrgyzstan: Suusamyr and the Tien Shan

KAGAN is a local tour operator in Kyrgyzstan that runs guided backcountry ski tours of 7 to 11 days in the Suusamyr valley and the Eastern Tien Shan, from €1,030 per person, with a professional ski touring guide included. Three of the tours stay at a winter yurt camp in Suusamyr. The tours are for intermediate to advanced skiers comfortable off-piste.

Our ski touring tours

Tour Duration Area Price per person Season
Backcountry Ski & Yurt Experience 7 days, 5 ski days Suusamyr from €1,030 January to mid-March
Suusamyr Backcountry Skiing 9 days, with 1 day on horseback Suusamyr, Toktogul from €1,230 January to mid-March
Backcountry Ski on the Kyrgyz Land 11 days, 7 ski days Suusamyr, Kochkor, Issyk-Kul from €1,310 February to mid-March
Ride the Eastern Tien Shan 10 days, 7 ski days with 1 day of catskiing Karakol, Boz-Uchuk, Jyrgalan from €1,100 February to mid-March

Prices are for a group of 9 and rise as the group gets smaller, down to a group of 4.

Ski touring in Kyrgyzstan: your questions

KAGAN runs tours in two areas. In Suusamyr you tour around Too-Ashuu, Kichi Suusamyr, Aramza-Suu, Otmok and Ala-Bel Pass. In the Eastern Tien Shan you tour around Boz-Uchuk and Jyrgalan.

Expect ascents of about 700 to 1,000 m, lunch in the mountains and a briefing with the guide in the evening. Around Ala-Bel Pass you start at 3,150 m and tour towards a peak at 3,800 m.

The KAGAN winter yurt camp sits at 2,800 m in the Otmok area of the Suusamyr range. It has heated sleeping yurts, a dining yurt and a heated shower hut. On the tours, the vehicle cannot reach the camp, so the final approach takes about 20 minutes on touring skis.

Yes. A professional ski touring guide is included on all four tours.

Skis, skins, a helmet, an avalanche transceiver and a shovel, suitable for altitudes of up to 4,000 m. Ski equipment rental is not included. No glacier climbing is planned.

Fly to Bishkek. KAGAN meets you at the airport, and airport transfers are included. The Suusamyr ski areas are about 130 to 200 km from Bishkek by road.

Citizens of the EU, Canada, Japan, Singapore and some other countries can enter Kyrgyzstan without a visa for up to 60 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your entry date.

Prices depend on the tour and the group size, from €1,030 to €1,930 per person for groups of 4 to 9. Flights, travel insurance and alcohol are not included.

Email KAGAN at [email protected]. A €300 deposit confirms your place.

See all our winter tours in Kyrgyzstan