Kyrgyzstan Ski Safari – Touring, Cat Skiing & Yurt Life in the Tien Shan Mountains

Ride deep into Central Asia’s forgotten mountains, where wild terrain meets nomadic culture and the powder falls light and dry. From cat skiing in remote valleys to ski touring between yurt camps, this is backcountry skiing in its purest form. Chase fresh lines across alpine bowls, relax in a steaming Russian banya, and sleep under the stars at 2900 metres. It’s not just a trip – it’s an adventure that cuts right to the heart of freeride skiing.

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Hidden deep in the eastern edge of Kyrgyzstan lies a winter playground few have heard of but many return to. This is raw, remote, and totally Powder Mad. From high alpine ski touring and deep freeride descents to yurt camping at 2900m and even horseback runs, the Kyrgyzstan Ski Safari is a true expedition through the rugged Tien Shan. Over eight days, you’ll explore untouched terrain around Jyrgalan and Karakol with a mix of cat skiing, splitboarding, yurt adventures and cultural immersion – all hosted by Powder Mad and local mountain guides.This journey is for riders seeking new lines, less-tracked snow, and the kind of wild landscape that feels like skiing off the edge of the map. Each trip includes your own dedicated snowcat for two days, touring days from village to mountain yurt camp, and ends with a traditional Kyrgyz feast and horse-assisted freeride in the Karakol valley. It's a mix of serious snow time and once-in-a-lifetime moments – the kind of trip you’ll talk about for years.

Kyrgyzstan is calling — deep snow, wild peaks, fire-warmed yurts and lines that stretch into the unknown. This isn’t just a ski trip. It’s a full-blown winter adventure.."

Jem Rose

Powder Mad Founder

Ski ability and safety

This trip is designed for confident off-piste skiers and snowboarders with a good level of fitness and a hunger for adventure. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should be comfortable riding variable terrain in untracked snow, navigating trees, and making steady ascents while touring. Some experience with ski touring or splitboarding is essential — especially for the yurt camp and touring sections — as we’ll be earning our turns in remote alpine terrain.

Our groups are kept small to ensure safety and flow in the backcountry. You’ll be guided by fully certified local KMGA guides who know the terrain inside out, backed by an English-speaking Powder Mad host throughout the trip. Every rider will be issued avalanche safety gear (transceiver, shovel, probe), and a full avalanche safety briefing and beacon check will be carried out before heading into the mountains.

If you’re unsure about your level, just get in touch — we’ll help you decide if this trip is the right fit.

Learn more about ski ability

Terrain and Location

Kyrgyzstan delivers the kind of terrain that gets freeriders fired up: long powder descents, alpine bowls, tight tree runs, and wild high-altitude touring lines. Most of our riding is based around the remote village of Jyrgalan in the eastern Tien Shan mountains — a former mining settlement turned backcountry mecca. From here, we explore everything from playful sidecountry to serious alpine touring up to 3600m.

You’ll ski legendary zones like Gora Tavlytor, descend into the Jyrgalan River valley, and access untouched terrain by snowcat, splitboard, or touring skis. One night is spent deep in the mountains at a yurt camp, surrounded by towering peaks and silence, offering direct access to high alpine terrain.

We also spend time in Karakol, the cultural and adventure capital of the region, skiing its lift-served resort and venturing into the surrounding sidecountry and hot springs. For those chasing something different, we’ve even included a horse-assisted freeride descent in the Karakol valley — because why not ride powder the Kyrgyz way?

This is not a single-location trip — it's a journey across valleys, peaks, and cultural moments in one of the last true frontiers of skiing.

Weather and Snow conditions

Kyrgyzstan is cold, dry, and snow-rich — perfect conditions for deep, stable powder. The mountains surrounding Jyrgalan and Karakol sit in the eastern Tien Shan range, where cold air from Siberia collides with moist systems from the west and southwest, producing consistent snowfall and bone-dry conditions. Thanks to the proximity of Lake Issyk-Kul, a massive alpine lake, the region also benefits from its own microclimate that delivers more snow than anywhere else in Central Asia.

January and early February offer the best combination of fresh snow and low temperatures, keeping the powder light and cold for days. Snowpacks build quickly and settle well, creating ideal conditions for both freeride and touring. Expect a mix of tree-lined descents, open bowls, and high alpine terrain — often with untracked snow days after a storm.

That said, this is real backcountry. Conditions can change quickly, and tree cover is limited in the higher zones. When the weather closes in, we adapt — using snowcat access or targeting sheltered descents in lower terrain. Our guides make daily safety assessments and will choose the best locations based on snow stability, weather, and group ability.

If you’re looking for reliable snow, big vertical, and deep, dry turns — Kyrgyzstan delivers.

Food and Lodgings

This trip blends local charm with warmth and comfort — from cosy guesthouses to high mountain yurts. In Karakol, you'll stay at Hotel 78, a comfortable base with hot showers, hearty breakfasts, and a short drive to the ski resort. In Jyrgalan, we switch gears and stay at the Baitor Guesthouse, a friendly, family-run spot where the fire’s always lit and the food keeps coming — think steaming soups, fresh salads, dumplings, and homemade bread.

The real highlight, though, is our night at the Jyrgalan Heights yurt camp, perched at 2900m. Here you’ll sleep in traditional Kyrgyz yurts (heated, of course), with meals served in a central dining yurt and a Russian banya (sauna) to relax in after touring. It's wild, remote, and unforgettable.

In Bishkek, we wrap up the journey with a night at the Art Hotel, a well-located spot to rest, recharge and reflect before your flight home. Throughout the trip, meals are fresh, locally cooked, and designed to fuel full days in the mountains — from mountain lunches to family-style dinners.

You’ll leave well-fed, well-rested, and maybe with a new addiction to Kyrgyz dumplings.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1 – Arrival
Pick-up from Bishkek Airport. Scenic transfer to Karakol via Lake Issyk-Kul. Settle in.
Stay: Hotel 78, Karakol

Day 2 – Resort Warm-Up
Ride Karakol’s sidecountry terrain and soak in natural hot springs.
Stay: Hotel 78, Karakol

Day 3 – Cat Skiing Begins
Transfer to Jyrgalan for deep powder and untouched lines.
Stay: Baitor Guesthouse, Jyrgalan

Day 4 – Cat Skiing Continues
Full day chasing fresh descents in the remote Jyrgalan Valley.
Stay: Baitor Guesthouse, Jyrgalan

Day 5 – Ski Tour to Yurt Camp
Tour into the alpine. Sleep in heated yurts at 2900m.
Stay: Jyrgalan Heights Yurt Camp

Day 6 – Touring & Return
Morning tour, then descend to the valley and return to Karakol.
Stay: Hotel 78, Karakol

Day 7 – Horseback Freeride
Ride through the Karakol Valley by horse, ski back down. Transfer to Bishkek.
Stay: Art Hotel, Bishkek

Day 8 – Departure
Morning transfer to the airport and flight home.

Guides and Hosts

You’ll be in safe hands every step of the way. Our trips are led by KMGA-certified local ski guides who know these mountains better than anyone — from hidden powder stashes to safe touring routes in changeable conditions. Their deep knowledge of the terrain and weather is essential to unlocking the best snow, safely.

Alongside them, a dedicated Powder Mad host will be with you throughout the trip. From airport pick-up to yurt camp tea breaks, they keep the vibe high and logistics running smooth. Whether it's helping you get your gear sorted, lining up the day’s plan, or just handing you a cold drink after a long descent — they’re there to make it all easy.

Our hosts are seasoned freeriders and backcountry skiers themselves. Expect stories, laughs, and a shared love of the mountains — because for us, it’s not just guiding, it’s riding with the crew.