Join IFMGA-certified mountain guide Yaroslav on a unique glacier ski tour in Arabel Valley, Kyrgyzstan to enjoy an extraordinary 7-day adventure!
7 Days
Feb - May
High
Intermediate
The Arabel Valley is a remote snow covered region in Kyrgyzstan. Located to the south of Issyk-Kul lake, between Terskey Ala-Too and Jetimbel’ ridges, it also has stunning glaciers and year round ski weather. This is why it is the perfect spot for hardcore ski enthusiasts. On this 7-day glacier ski tour in Arabel Valley we take you up and down its mountains to discover the best slopes and snow of the region!
First, after transferring you from Manas International airport to Tamga, we will have a short trip briefing. We will be staying in Tamga throughout the whole trip in a cozy guesthouse with a sauna. Then, every morning, we will drive approximately 1.5 hours to the Arabel Plateau and from there we will choose our route. The choice of the ski route will depend on weather and snow conditions, as well as on how we are feeling that day.
The Arabel plateau is 3800 meters high and has glaciers and ridges that surround it with slopes of different steepness. This means that if you don’t have a lot of experience, we can still find a slope for you. On the other hand, if you do want a challenge, there are also more demanding options. Also, for every 4 people we will have a guide, so the attention will always be very personalised. Of course, you will need a relatively good fitness level.
If ski touring glaciers in the Spring sounds like a blast to you (and it is!), then you must join us on this unique experience to the Arabel Plateau! Book your place now and we will be happy to guide you through the amazing landscapes of Kyrgyzstan’s snow-capped mountains and glaciers.
Looking to explore Kyrgyzstan’s slopes in winter? Then join our unique 8-day Catskiing and ski tour in Suusamyr.
Meeting point
In the morning, we will meet you in the airport or directly at the guesthouse in Bishek. From there, you will be transferred to Tamga village. (5-6 hours, 350km). We will stop for lunch en-route in a café. Later, in the evening, we will have a snow situation briefing and equipment check.
Meal: Lunch, Dinner. Accommodation: Guesthouse.
After early breakfast, we will drive up to Arabel plateau to the starting point of our ski-tour. Normally we will do one or two ascents and descents every day. The route will be chosen by the guide according to current weather, the snow and your conditions. We will have lunch on the slopes.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch (lunchbox), Dinner. Accommodation: Guesthouse.
After breakfast, we will drive back to Bishkek. On the way, we’ll visit Fairytale canyon for a short walk and to take photos. We also have the option of doing a half day ski-tour and then driving back to Bishkek late in the evening.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch box, Dinner. Accommodation: Hotel.
After breakfast, we will transfer you back to the airport.
Meal: Breakfast.
More info
Conditions and notes: The guide reserves the right to make the slope selection in the area for the ski tour, depending on snow conditions and avalanche danger level. For this program, maximum group size is 4 persons per guide. If you are larger group, the second guide will come with us.
List of necessary equipment: Skis with ski-tour bindings and skins or splitboard or snowshoes; Ski-poles; Helmet; Transceiver, probe, shovel; Backpack 20-35 liters with holdings for skis/snowboard; Warm skiing jacket and trousers; Warm gloves and a hat; Sunglasses; Ski goggles; Sunscreen SPF 25-50; 1 liter water bottle.
Mountain Guide
I’m an IFMGA-certified mountain guide and I'm part of the Kyrgyzstan Mountain Guide Association (KMGA). I organize for my friends and clients trekking, mountaineering, climbing and ski touring trips and expeditions in Kyrgyzstan. Come and enjoy great climbing in the Ala-Archa Valley or sign for the challenging adventure of ascending Peak Lenin. I’ll be glad to organize for you the trip you are looking for and spend a good time with you in my mountains while sharing my experience as a mountain guide and my knowledge about my country.
Languages
Russian | Kyrgyz | English
Certificates
KMGA
Man
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
Read all our verified reviews
Stay up-to-date on the best adventures.