Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
easier. The Kegeti Canyon and pass in
northern Kyrgyzstan is another biking
location favoured by adventure-travel
companies.
In Kyrgyzstan the Karkara Valley
offers quiet country back roads. From
here you can cycle around the southern
shore of Lake Issyk-Köl and then up
into central Kyrgyzstan. Karakol's IGPA
(p263) is a cooperative of guides that
can take you on five-day mountain bike
trips from Karakol if you bring your
own bike. Mountain bikes can be rented
in Karakol and Arslanbob for local
rides, though most travellers on multi-
day trips bring their own bikes.
A growing number of die-hards
organise their own long-distance
mountain-bike trips across Central Asia.
The most popular route is probably the
Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, which is a
spectacular but hard trip. Cyclists who
have done the route recommend trans-
porting your bike to Khorog and start-
ing from there. The highway is paved
but winds can make pedalling hard
work. Several cyclists have reported
being harassed and extorted in border
areas, including by border guards. Still,
it's one of the world's great bike trips.
For tips and bike travelogues around
Central Asia see the following websites:
¨
www.carryoncycling.com
¨
www.trans-tadji.info
¨
www.cyclingabout.com
¨
www.timbarnes.ndo.co.uk
¨
www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/standiet
You can rent mountain bikes for local
trips in Karakol, Arslanbob and Mur-
gab. You can get repairs and some bike
parts in Bishkek.
Muztoo
(
%
055-582 4435, 245 503;
http://muztoo.ch)
in Osh, Kyrgyzstan,
arranges motorbike tours of Central
Asia and rents trial bikes.
Hamsafar Travel in Tajikistan can
help with information on kayaking and
rafting in Tajikistan.
Tashkent operators run fairly tame
rafting trips in September and October
on the Syr-Darya river. There's plenty
of exciting white water nearby on the
Ugam, Chatkal and Pskem Rivers:
talk to
Asia Raft
(www.asiaraft.uz)
in
Tashkent.
Mountaineering &
Rock Climbing
Central Asian 'alpinism' was very popu-
lar during the Soviet era, when climb-
ers dragged their crampons from all
over the communist bloc to tackle the
region's five impressive 'Snow Leopards'
(peaks over 7000m).
Top of the line for altitude junk-
ies are Khan Tengri, Pik Pobedy and
other peaks of the central Tian Shan
in eastern Kyrgyzstan and southeast
Kazakhstan. Khan Tengri is a stun-
ningly beautiful peak. Massive Pobedy
is the world's most northern 7000m-plus
peak and the hardest of Central Asia's
7000m-plus summits.
Several Almaty and Bishkek tour
agents can arrange trips to this region,
including helicopter flights to the base
camps during the climbing season from
the end of July to early September.
Even if you aren't a climber, these are
fine treks that lead into a breathtaking
mountain amphitheatre. You will need a
border zone permit for either side and a
mountaineering permit (US$105) on the
Kyrgyz side to climb here.
The other prime high-altitude
playground is the Pamir in southern
Kyrgyzstan and eastern Tajikistan, es-
pecially Peak Lenin (Ibn Sina), accessed
from the north side at Achik Tash base
camp. Lenin is a non-technical climb and
is considered one of the easiest 7000m
summits, yet it has claimed the most
lives. The season is July and August.
Bishkek-based companies like Ak-Sai,
Tien Shan Travel and Asia Mountains
operate commercial expeditions from
base camps at Achik Tash.
The most accessible climbing is in
Ala-Archa National Park, just outside
Rafting
Intrepid rafters and kayakers have
started to explore Central Asia's remote
white water but commercial operations
are still limited.
