Cat skiing adventure deep in Kyrgyzstan’s untouched powder paradise.

Cat skiing in Kyrgyzstan delivers a raw, high-altitude powder adventure deep in the Tian Shan Mountains. Based in the remote village of Jyrgalan, you’ll explore vast untouched terrain by Snow Cat, riding dry Central Asian snow under endless skies. Expect deep lines, wild culture, and a true off-grid experience – with traditional yurt stays, Russian saunas, and hearty local food. This is not the Alps. This is pure adventure.

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Vast, wild, and far from the crowds — Kyrgyzstan offers a raw powder adventure deep in the Tian Shan Mountains. Ride untouched terrain by Snow Cat, then unwind in yurts and saunas under starlit skies.

This is cat skiing as you’ve never experienced it before. Based in the remote village of Jyrgalan, nestled in the eastern edge of Kyrgyzstan, you'll access nearly 10,000 hectares of terrain blanketed in cold, dry Central Asian snow. The nearby Issyk Kul Lake creates a unique micro-climate, ensuring some of the region’s deepest and most reliable snowfall. With a fleet of custom-outfitted Snow Cats and highly trained local guides, you’ll carve fresh lines every day on wide-open bowls, tree runs, and steep faces. Off the mountain, expect steaming Russian saunas, traditional Kyrgyz food, and authentic local hospitality in guesthouses and yurts. This is a full-sensory, off-the-grid powder experience — built for adventurous skiers and riders who want more than just lift-accessed terrain.

It’s not just the snow — it’s the silence, the scale, the sense that you’ve truly left the world behind. Kyrgyzstan delivers adventure in its purest form

Warwick Pickering

Powder Mad Host

Ski ability and safety

This trip is for advanced skiers and snowboarders with off-piste experience. You’ll need to be confident riding deep powder and variable terrain, including tree runs, open bowls, and steeper descents of up to 40+ degrees. While the Snow Cat gives us access to incredible terrain, you must be physically prepared for multiple long runs each day with sustained vertical.

Your safety is our priority. Our local KMGA-certified guides are highly experienced and know the terrain intimately. Before skiing, we’ll run a full safety briefing and daily conditions check. Avalanche equipment (beacon, shovel, probe) is included, and all routes are selected based on current snow stability and weather conditions. Helmets are strongly recommended, and an avalanche airbag is encouraged but not included.

Learn more about ski ability

Terrain and Location

Welcome to Jyrgalan, a remote mountain village on the eastern edge of Kyrgyzstan, tucked deep into the wild and snow-heavy Tian Shan Mountains. The surrounding terrain is vast and unspoiled, with nearly 10,000 hectares of skiable area shaped by ancient valleys, alpine bowls, and forested ridgelines.

Our snow cats climb to altitudes of up to 3400 metres, where you’ll drop into long, flowing descents that end in the village at 2300 metres. Expect everything from mellow tree lines to high alpine faces with 40+ degree pitches. We mainly focus on the north-facing slopes of Gora Tavlytor — a 3652m peak that shelters dry, cold snow all season. Whether it's open powder fields or tight glades on storm days, this terrain delivers variety, volume, and serious vertical.

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Weather and Snow conditions

The snow in Jyrgalan is some of the driest and deepest in Central Asia, thanks to a unique mix of geography and microclimate. Storm systems roll in from Siberia and the northwest, picking up moisture as they pass over the expansive steppe. When these systems collide with the towering Tian Shan Mountains, they unload consistent snowfall across the region.

A key factor is nearby Lake Issyk Kul, one of the largest alpine lakes in the world. This massive body of water doesn’t freeze in winter, creating a stable thermal effect that enhances local snowfall. As cold air masses pass over the lake, they pick up additional moisture and drop it as snow in the Jyrgalan Valley — often in significantly higher quantities than surrounding areas.

The elevation of the terrain, combined with consistently cold mid-winter temperatures, preserves light, dry powder throughout January and early February. North-facing aspects help shield the snow from sun exposure, and our cat routes are carefully selected to maximise quality and safety, even in variable conditions.

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Your Itinerary

Saturday – Depart Europe and fly to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

‍Sunday – Arrival at Manas Airport (FRU). Scenic transfer with a stop at Cholpon Ata and Karakol before arriving in Jyrgalan. Check-in at Baitor Guesthouse.

‍Monday – Cat Skiing Day 1 – Full day skiing in the powder-rich terrain of Jyrgalan. Overnight at Baitor Guesthouse.

‍Tuesday – Cat Skiing Day 2 – Fresh tracks and epic descents. Overnight at Baitor Guesthouse.

‍Wednesday – Cat Skiing Day 3 – Another full day of backcountry lines. Overnight at Baitor Guesthouse.

‍Thursday – Cat Skiing Day 4 – Explore new zones and bowls. Overnight at Baitor Guesthouse.

‍Friday – Cat Skiing Day 5. After skiing, transfer to Karakol and overnight at Hotel 78.

‍Saturday – Visit Fairy Tale Canyon, witness traditional eagle hunting, and enjoy a final dinner in Bishkek. Overnight at Art Hotel Bishkek.

‍Sunday – Transfer to Manas Airport for return flight home

Lodgings

Accommodation
Your base for the week is the cosy Baitor Guesthouse in the village of Jyrgalan, run by a welcoming local Kyrgyz family. Twin and triple rooms are simple, clean, and warm — each with modern en-suite bathrooms. The guesthouse also serves as our social hub, with home-cooked meals, a lounge area, and easy access to the cat ski terrain just outside the door.

For a true taste of mountain life, we’ve also built a traditional yurt camp at our freeride base. Heated and winterised for comfort, these round felt tents sleep up to 8 people and offer a unique overnight experience. Right next door is a Russian banya (sauna) — perfect for warming up and unwinding after a big day on the mountain.

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Food

Expect hearty, flavourful meals with a local twist. Kyrgyz cuisine blends Central Asian, Turkish, Russian, and Chinese influences — warming and ideal after skiing. Breakfast includes porridge, eggs, bread, and local jams. Lunch is served mid-mountain at our scenic Ice Bar, often with soups, stews, or grilled meats.

Dinner is a highlight, with dishes like laghman (hand-pulled noodles with meat and veg), plov (rice with lamb and carrots), borscht, mante (steamed dumplings), and kurdak (fried meat and potatoes). All meals are freshly prepared, and dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

This is simple, nourishing food served with care — a true taste of Kyrgyz hospitality.

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Your guides and hosts

Britt Quinn

For 15 years, Britt crisscrossed the globe, carving out a life filled with hiking, sailing, teaching yoga, snowboarding, surfing, and chasing adventure.

Jem Rose

Jem is the original founding member of Powder Mad, a skier whose passion for the sport and love of globe trotting adventures has shaped an incredible journey.

TRIP SUMMARY

level

High intermediate plus

Group Size

12 people max per group

Dates

1-8 February
8-15 February

Price

TBA

What's included

Cat Skiing

5 guided cat-ski days (guaranteed minimum of 18,000m of vertical

Accommodation

Baitor Guesthouse / Jyrgalan - 5 nights
Hotel 78 /Karakol - 1 night
Art Hotel /Bishkek - 1 night

Meals

All meals included

Transport

All transfers included

Guides and Hosts

Ride with expert KMGA-certified local guides who know the terrain inside out. A Powder Mad host is with you throughout, keeping things running smoothly and the stoke high.