KYRGYZSTAN / RECON TOUR
What is a Recon Tour? This is when we invite you intrepid adventurers to join us on our first ever journey on a new route. We will be fully supported by our local partner, who helps us design the route, and off we go! We’ll likely get lost a little here and there - which in our opinion only adds to the fun - but we’ll reach our destination in the end, safe, sound and happy! We run these recon tours at a significant discount, with limited numbers.
*Full cost in 2026 will be $4050.
‘Only a horse and an agreeable conversation can shorten a long journey.’
Kyrgyzstan Proverb
Swap bicycle for horse - and we agree…
This almost otherworldy place has been on our radar for some time and we are excited to finally be heading out to this mysterious, intriguing land. We will be in safe hands though, as our local partner, Dmitry, is a highly experienced guide, an avid cyclist and fluent in English.
Kyrgyzstan’s history spans a variety of empires and cultures, standing at the crossroads of great civilisations of the past, from the Turks, to the Mongols, to the Soviets.
On the 31st of August, 1991, the nation finally gained its independence. Kyrgyz is derived from the Turkic word, meaning "We are Forty", and refers to the legend of Manas, a warrior who united forty regional clans.
The 40-ray sun on the national flag is a reference to those same forty tribes and the element in the sun's centre depicts the wooden crown, or tunduk, of a yurt.
But enough of the history lesson, let’s get to the cycling…
We meet at the hotel in the capital, Bishkek, where we have our Welcome Dinner, then the next day we drive one hour south east to the start point for Stage 1, Kochkor Village. One of the highlights of this ride is Karakol Pass, a meandering gravel track up through a grassy valley.
Over the next six days we ourselves will meander on our knobbly tires all over the central region of the country, riding along the rims of ancient lakes, camping out under the stars, and dozing off with bellies full in warm, comforting traditional yurts.
This tour promises to be absolutely spectacular, with a variety of lodgings, hearty food, cobalt blue lakes and wild horses, all set amongst the incredibly beautiful landscape, captured in the images down below.
Come, join us, for what we feel is set to become one of our signature KOJO tours…
Note: For this tour an MTB or gravel bike is essential, with 40mm plus knobbly tires. Two spare tires and inner tubes are recommended also.
Please note that on all of our tours, we make sure that no one gets left behind, and always have one guide at the front and one at the back. We are all about inclusivity, not exclusivity - this is a Collective, after all!
Dates
August 12th - 22nd
Days
Recon Cost
Stages
7
Distance
660km
Daily Average
95km
Elevation
7,750m
11
US $2950
Group Leaders
2
Single Supplement
$150 (only applies to D1 D5 & D10)
Rating
Challenging
Surface
80% Gravel
Support
Fully Supported
THE LOWDOWN
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DAY 1
ARRIVAL / BISHEK
After arriving at Manas International Airport some 25km from the city, we check in to the 4 star hotel in the capital. After building up the bikes we will get out for a leg opener and a coffee and check out the city. In the evening we will have our Welcome Dinner at a traditional local restaurant.
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DAY 2 | STAGE 1
KARAKOL PASS - SUUSAMAYR 90km | 1100m
A short transfer whisks us through the city and out to the countryside and the gravel roads. After sorting the bottles and stuffing a gel or five in the pockets, off we go to start our Kyrgyzstan adventure. The Karakol Pass promises to wake the legs up and set the tone for the rest of the tour.
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DAY 3 | STAGE 2
SUUSAMAYR - KARAKECHE 116km | 1160m
Through the mountains we go on a route that is almost 100km of pure gravel, past tiny hamlets and several rivers. A campsite and a hearty meal cooked by our chef - over an open fire no less - await!
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DAY 4 | STAGE 3
KARAKECHE - SON KOL 80km | 1400m
We will ride from Karakeche with its fir trees and craggy peaks, to Son Kol Lake with its open grassy plains and herds of horses and goats. We head to the lake for a coffee and light lunch, then finish at a traditional yurt camp. Note: there is an option to add 30km by circling the lake.
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DAY 5 | Stage 4
SON KOL – NARYN 162km | 1900m
Those hardy enough can take a refreshing dip in Son Kol if they wish! Then we begin the Queen Stage, the longest on the tour. We are heading from our comfortable yurts to the provincial capital or Naryn, over the Moldo Ashuu Pass and its hairpins. It is indeed a lot of KMs but we should travel at a decent speed over the hard packed gravel that leads to tarmac for the final 30km run into town.
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DAY 6 | STAGE 5
NARYN- EKI NARYN 100km | 1500m
Leaving civilisation behind we head once again into the hills to be met by lush green valleys, wild, winding rivers and deep evergreen forests. Wild horses roam the peaks and eagle soars above. We will pace it a little easy to help recover from yesterday’s efforts.
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DAY 7 | STAGE 6
EKI-NARYN - BURKHAN 77km | 790m
Wide open plains, huge towering peaks in the distance, the possibility of a river crossing or three, free-roaming livestock, winding roads - this route looks incredible - and perfect for our penultimate day. We will camp out in the tents this night.
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DAY 8 | STAGE 7
BURKHAN - ISSYK KUL LAKE 83km | 740m
2380m of downhill await us, yeehha! It’s the final day folks, soak it all in for one last ride in Cycling Paradise as we roll on down over the Ala-Bel Pass to the impressive Issyk Kul Lake. A popular getaway for locals, it is the eighth-deepest lake in the world, with its deepest spot being 1km down. This eve we relax at a yurt camp.
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DAY 9 | VAN TO BESHIK
TRANSFER | FAREWELL DINNER
We load up the vans for the 2.5 hr drive back to the capital, leaving us with a day of exploring the city with its markets and bazaars, offering the opportunity to get some souvenirs for the loved ones. In the evening we have our final meal together.
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DAY 10
Transfer day to the airport for your flight back to reality!
