Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bishkek, where popular routes from the
Ak-Say glacier require just a couple of
days. Mt Korona, Mt Uchityel and Mt
Free Korea are the most popular peaks
here. The website of the
Alpine Fund
(www.alpinefund.org)
in Bishkek is a good
resource for this region.
Other 4000m-plus peaks include Pik
Sayram in the Aksu-Zhabagyly Nature
Reserve and Mt Belukha in east Kaza-
khstan's northern Altay Mountains. Ex-
perienced climbers will find that plenty
of unclimbed summits await, especially
in the Kokshal-Tau range near the bor-
der with China.
Kyrgyzstan: A Climber's Map &
Guide,
by Garth Willis and Martin
Gamache, and published by the Ameri-
can Alpine Club, is a map and mini-
guide that covers Ala-Archa, the west-
ern Kokshal-Tau and Karavshin regions.
Two of the most exciting and least
known rock climbing destinations in
Asia are Ak-Suu peak in southwestern
Kyrgyzstan (known as 'Central Asia's
Patagonia') and the Zamin-Karkor tower
at Margeb in northern Tajikistan. For
something a lot less technical try the
four-day ascent of Babashata from Ars-
lanbob in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Mountaineering and climbing equip-
ment is hard to find in the region so you
should bring your own gear.
equipment between November and
March.
Nearly every sports-related agency in
Central Asia offers heli-skiing, in which
old Aeroflot MI-8 helicopters drop you
off on remote high peaks and you ski
down. Most guarantee from 3000 to
4000 vertical metres per day for de-
scents of up to 5km but require a group
of 12 to 15 people. The Kyrgyz Alatau
range behind Bishkek is one of the
cheapest places to try out heli-skiing,
or try the Chimgan and Chatkal ranges
behind Tashkent (book through Asia
Adventures, p155).
Kazakhstan's pristine Altay Moun-
tains are renowned for cross-country
skiing; the best place to do this is Ra-
khmanovskie Klyuchi. Arslanbob in
Kyrgyzstan is also surprisingly well set
up for cross-country skiing and you can
rent a limited number of skis and boots
here. A few travel firms in Kazakhstan
and Kyrgyzstan offer ski-mountaineer-
ing trips in the central Tian Shan in July
and August, and in the Zailiysky Alatau
and Küngey Alatau ranges from Febru-
ary to April.
The Medeu ice rink just outside Al-
maty is one of the largest speed-skating
rinks in the world (larger than a football
pitch). It's open to the public daily from
November to April.
Winter Sports
Central Asia's ski season is approxi-
mately November to April, with local
variations. The region's best-known and
best-equipped downhill area is
Chimbu-
lak
(Shymbulak; www.shimbulak.kz)
, a day-
trip from Almaty. The new Ak-Bulak and
Tabagan
(www.tabagan.kz)
resorts near
Talgar, 90 minutes from Almaty, both
have good facilities. Figure on about
US$60 per day for lift pass and equip-
ment hire.
Skiing is still in its infancy in Kyr-
gyzstan, but there are several options
in the Kyrgyz Alatau valleys (especially
Ala-Archa), south of Bishkek and at Kar-
akol. It's possible to rent skis and boards
in Bishkek through TUK (p245), as well
as in Karakol. The relatively modern
Karakol Ski Base (p267) in Karakol has
chair lifts, accommodation and rental
Four-Wheel Drive Trips
The back roads of Kyrgyzstan, and
particularly Tajikistan's Badakhshan
region, offer great scope for adventure
travel in an indestructible Russian UAZ
4WD. Four-wheel drives can be hired
from around US$0.50 per kilometre in
both countries.
In Kyrgyzstan one possible 4WD
itinerary leads from Talas over the
Kara Bura Pass into the Chatkal river
valley and then around to Lake Sary-
Chelek. Other tracks lead from Naryn
to Barskoön, and Barskoön to Inylchek,
through the high Tian Shan.
It's well worth hiring a 4WD from
Murgab in the eastern Pamirs for trips
out to such gorgeously remote places as
Shaimak, Jalang and Zor-Kul.
More 4WD fun, of a slightly sandier
nature, is possible in Turkmenistan.
