Asian Patagonia Trekking Tour
Accommodation, guides, transport, 2 flights included. 10% deposit, balance 30 days before tour starting date.
Asian Patagonia Trekking Tour Highlights
Join an unforgettable 14-day trekking adventure through Kyrgyzstan’s wild landscapes, famously known as “Asian Patagonia.” This challenging journey takes you across high-altitude trails, through dramatic valleys, and up to some of the region’s most stunning peaks. Designed for avid trekkers, the route includes the exhilarating ascent of Ak-Tubek Pass (4,390 m) and the towering, rugged face of Ak-Suu Peak.
This tour is a good choice for trekkers with high hiking experience at altitudes above 3,000 m, and with advanced physical condition and health.
Difficulty: Moderate Ten trekking days of 3–8 hours (7–16 km) with up to +1,450 m ascent a day, over passes up to 4,390 m and with several river crossings; nights in tents up to 3,600 m. For trekkers with high hiking experience above 3,000 m and good physical condition.
Guaranteed departures
Every date runs as scheduled. Same price on all departures.
Guaranteed tour dates 2027
| Dates | Days | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| – Available | Sat – Fri | $2,450 |
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| – Available | Sat – Fri | $2,450 |
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| – Available | Sat – Fri | $2,450 |
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| – Available | Sat – Fri | $2,450 |
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Tour Itinerary
On arrival at Manas International Airport, your guide and driver meet you and transfer you to Bishkek (about 30 km, 45 minutes). Check in at the hotel (early check-in is included) and rest. Afterwards, visit the famous Osh Bazaar, the liveliest market in the city and a good place to buy handmade souvenirs and dried fruits. Then a walking tour of the city center around Ala-Too Square and its Soviet legacy: the Manas Monument, the State Flag with the changing of the guard of honor, the monument to the 2010 revolution and the White House, the Lenin statue and the old Ala-Too Square, Oak Park with its open-air sculpture gallery and the Kurmanjan Datka monument. The tour ends at Victory Square, dedicated to the Second World War. Lunch and dinner at a local café. Overnight at a hotel in Bishkek (800 m).
Bishkek, Osh Bazaar (Bishkek), Ala Too Square, Bishkek Oak Park, Bishkek Victory Square
Overnight: Bishkek (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, transfer to Manas International Airport for the domestic flight to Osh. In the southern capital, meet your trekking guide and drive to the village of Uzgurush in Batken, the youngest region of Kyrgyzstan, with small villages and orchards of peaches, apricots, apples and cherries. Lunch at a local teahouse in Batken; on the way you also pass the Tortkul Reservoir, built in 1971. In Uzgurush you stay with a local Kyrgyz family and prepare for the trek. Dinner and overnight. Please note: pack your belongings (up to 12 kg per person; extra weight is charged) into the special trek bag provided by us and hand it to the horseman in the morning. The horses carry the luggage from camp to camp, and you collect it at the end of each trekking day. Homestay altitude 1,450 m. Drive about 340 km, 7–8 hours.
Osh, Batken, Uzgurush
- Bishkek → Osh
- Osh → Uzgurush (340 km)
Overnight: Uzgurush (Homestay)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, hand your luggage to the horseman and start the trekking day with a walk south through the village. Beyond the village the trail leads through wild pistachio trees and walnut orchards along the Buldzhuma River and climbs to the Buldzhuma Pass (2,900 m), with a wonderful view of the nearby gorges and the Uponym Pass to the west. Descend into the valley for a lunch break by the Ak-Tash River, then continue along the river, crossing it in several places (sandals recommended), to the tent camp hidden among bushes on a green meadow. Dinner and overnight. Tent camp altitude 2,700 m. Ascent +1,450 m, descent -200 m; 15 km, 6–7 hours.
Uzgurush
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, cross the Ak-Tash River near the camp and walk along it to the foot of the Dzhalgychy Pass (3,780 m); on the way there is often a chance to meet nomad families. After a traverse of several hundred meters, a zigzag trail leads to the top, with a panoramic view of the Turkestan Range, the western face of Piramidalnyi Peak (5,509 m) and the Turo Pass (4,525 m). Descend along the Dzhalgychy gorge to its confluence with a nameless gorge to the southwest, turn left and cross the nameless river (sandals recommended), then climb a small hill to the tent camp. Dinner and overnight. Tent camp altitude 3,100 m. Ascent +1,100 m, descent -700 m; 11 km, 4–6 hours.
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, trek up the grassy slope between the Dzhalgychy and Kashka-Suu gorges, along the river and across it at one point (sandals recommended). The trail then winds through juniper bushes up to the pass; from the top you walk along the ridge to the other side, with a panoramic view of the Orto-Chashma gorge – a perfect spot for lunch. Descend on a narrow trail into the Kashka-Suu gorge, cross the small river and walk to the confluence with the Orto-Chashma gorge. Dinner and overnight at the tent camp, where a sauna helps to relax the muscles after the day. Tent camp altitude 2,800 m. Ascent +500 m, descent -800 m; 7 km, 3–4 hours.
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, trek along the Orto-Chashma River to the foot of the pass, passing stone houses of shepherds. A good trail through the forest climbs to the Kosh-Moinok Pass (3,260 m); after an easy descent you cross a small river (sandals recommended) and climb the second pass of the day, Kara-Suu (3,760 m). From the top there is a wonderful view of an "ocean" of pointed, snow-capped peaks of the Turkestan Range, with the fortress-like northwestern faces of Kotin Peak (4,521 m) and the 1000th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus Peak (4,507 m) in front of you. Descend to the Kara-Suu River, cross it on a bridge and walk a few hundred meters along the river to the tent camp. Dinner and overnight. Tent camp altitude 2,800 m. Ascent +960 m, descent -960 m; 16 km, 6–8 hours.
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today's radial hike follows the Kara-Suu gorge to the foot of Piramidalnyi Peak (5,509 m), the 1000th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus Peak (Kyrkchylta, 4,507 m) and the twin peaks of Asan-Usen (4,378 m) – the stone walls of "Asian Patagonia". You may also see the legendary "Yellow Wall", famous for some of the most difficult climbing routes. The morning starts with an easy walk along the Kara-Suu River; the trail then climbs onto the moraine and follows it to the foot of the peaks. Climbers from all over the world regard any ascent in this gorge as a great achievement. Return to the camp the same way. Dinner and overnight. Tent camp altitude 2,800 m. Ascent +350 m, descent -350 m; 10 km, about 6 hours.
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, walk back to the Orto-Chashma gorge the same way. From the Kosh-Moinok Pass you can see the highest pass of the trek, Ak-Tubek. About one kilometer before the camp, a small stream flows into the Orto-Chashma River; a little downstream lies an old broken military helicopter, a reminder of events in the region more than 20 years ago. Dinner and overnight at the tent camp. Tent camp altitude 2,800 m. Ascent +960 m, descent -960 m; 16 km, 6–8 hours.
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, trek up along the Orto-Chashma River for several kilometers to a wooden bridge, cross the river and then another stream (sandals recommended). A moderate ascent follows the Ak-Tubek River towards the pass of the same name. The trail passes the stone house of a nomad family, where you can stop to taste Kyrgyz kurut (small salty cheese balls) and airan (yogurt). A few hundred meters further, after one more stream crossing, you reach the highest camp of the trek. Dinner and overnight. Tent camp altitude 3,600 m. Ascent +800 m; 7 km, 3–4 hours.
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, climb to the Ak-Tubek Pass (4,390 m), the highest point of the trek, on a clear trail. From the top there is a majestic panorama of the Iskander Peak region: Iskander (5,120 m), Petrogradets (5,165 m), Admiralteets (5,090 m), Ak-Suu (5,355 m), Alexander Blok (5,229 m) and Ak-Tubek (5,125 m). A zigzag trail descends to the moraine of the Ak-Tubek glacier; cross the moraine to the other side of the gorge and follow the stream to its confluence with the Ak-Suu River. Turn right and walk along the Ak-Suu River to the tent camp. Dinner and overnight. Tent camp altitude 2,800 m. Ascent +800 m, descent -1,600 m; 11 km, 5–6 hours.
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, trek towards Ak-Suu Peak (5,355 m), whose summit is clearly visible from the camp. The trail leads through juniper forest and up a steep glacier moraine into the heart of the Pamir-Alai. This pyramid-shaped peak has a snow cap and an almost two-kilometer vertical wall on its northern side, and peaks such as the two-headed Iskander, Admiralteets, Petrogradets and Alexander Blok surround the grand cirque. Return to the camp the same way. Dinner and overnight. Tent camp altitude 2,800 m. Ascent +600 m, descent -600 m; 14 km, 6–7 hours.
Overnight: Tent camping
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is the longest descent of the trek. After breakfast, walk down through juniper forest along the Ak-Mechet River, with close views of Iskander Peak, and continue through a picturesque gorge to Uzgurush village. Dinner and overnight with a local Kyrgyz family. Homestay altitude 1,450 m. Descent -1,350 m; 16 km, 6–7 hours.
Uzgurush
Overnight: Uzgurush (Homestay)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, drive via Batken to Osh, with lunch on the way. In Osh there is time for a short sightseeing tour of the sacred Sulaiman-Too Mountain: the historical museum built into its biggest cave, then the pilgrims' path to the top and the small mosque of Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty, with a bird's-eye view of the city. Transfer to the airport and fly to Bishkek. Dinner at a local café and overnight at a hotel in Bishkek. Drive about 340 km, 7–8 hours.
Batken, Osh, Sulaiman Too
- Uzgurush → Osh (340 km)
- Osh → Bishkek
Overnight: Bishkek (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early in the morning, transfer to Manas International Airport (about 30 km, 45 minutes) for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Download the itinerary
Tour Price
Group Tour Price
Single room supplement: $110
Optional extras
Single tent in the trekking camps: $180 per person
What's included
Included
- Accommodation on a twin/double basis in hotels, a homestay and tents – 13 nights
- Full board (14 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 13 dinners), with cook services on the trekking days
- All transport from arrival to departure
- Domestic flights Bishkek – Osh – Bishkek
- Horses for your luggage on the trek (up to 12 kg of personal belongings per person; 20 USD per extra kg for the whole tour)
- Drinking water on the trekking days (1 liter per person per day, boiled water – please bring your own bottles)
- Entrance and environmental fees during the entire tour
- Border pass for the protected and border areas
- Escorting English-speaking guide
Not included
- Single supplement: 110 USD in hotels, 180 USD in tents
- Meals not included in the program; alcoholic drinks
- Insurance
- Sleeping bags
- International flights
- Photo and video fees in museums
- Personal expenses, tips and porterage at hotels
- Visa fee and visa support fee, if applicable
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Important to know
- Fitness: The tour suits trekkers with high hiking experience at altitudes above 3,000 m and with advanced physical condition and health. Trekking time is about 6–8 hours (10–16 km) a day, depending on the weather and each participant’s condition; the maximum altitude is about 4,400 m.
- Group: The price applies to groups of at least 4 participants.
- Guide: An English-speaking guide escorts the group throughout the tour.
- Luggage: Horses carry your luggage from camp to camp – up to 12 kg per person in a special rucksack provided by us; each extra kilogram costs 20 USD for the whole tour.
- Lunch on the trek: After every breakfast during the trek, each participant packs a lunch box from a variety of ingredients provided by the camp staff.
- Water: A personal flask is highly recommended, as we provide boiled water during the trek to reduce plastic waste.
- Comfort: On the trek, nights are spent in tents; comfort is basic (no internet access, no air conditioning) and you share a tent with another participant.
- Changes: Hotels may change depending on availability; the category stays the same. Some trekking days may change for safety or weather reasons, and transfer times depend on road and weather conditions.
- Tipping: Tips are not obligatory in Kyrgyzstan but are welcomed, and they are usually not included in prices. A 10–15% service charge on café bills is the staff’s pay, not a tip. As a guideline, about 7–10 USD per person per day for all staff (drivers, guides, horsemen); the amount is always up to you.
Each fixed tent camp provides
- Red Fox Family tents (four-person tents, used by two people)
- A Team Fox dining tent for 10–20 people
- 5 cm mattresses and sleeping pads in each tent
- Electricity from a generator from 19:00 to 22:00 to charge phones, tablets and other batteries
- A toilet tent
- Tea, coffee, sweets and biscuits
- Kitchenware, tables and chairs
- A sauna at the Orto-Chashma camp
What to bring
Obligatory to have during the trek
- Waterproof trekking boots with ankle support
- Waterproof jacket or rain cape
- Sunhat or Cap with Ear and Neck Flap Cover
- Daypack 30 to 40 liters with rain cover
- Warm hat
- Sleeping bag (comfort rated -5°C, please ask about temperature)
- Trekking poles (highly recommended during stream crossings, steep incline or decline)
- Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic and antihistamine cream, throat lozenges, diarrhea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts
- Sun protection (including total sunblock for ears, nose etc.)
- Fleece jacket or warm jumper
- Good quality sunglasses
- Warm gloves
- Trekking trousers
- Water bottles 1 litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
- Water purification tablets
- Selection of dry bags (to keep trek bag contents, laptops, phones dry during trek)
- Lip balm
- Headtorch and spare batteries
- Thermal underwear
Optional to have during the trek
- 1 pair of tennis shoes or shoes for city walking
- Trainers / sandals for river crossings
- Socks (1 pair for 2–3 days of trekking)
- 1 pair of waterproof overtrousers
- 1 scarf to cover your hair (during the visits of mosques and churches)
- Shorts and/or swimwear (camps near lakes, hot springs or rivers)
- Buff/scarf (to protect against dust and cold)
- Washbag and toiletries
- Antibacterial handwash
- Small towel (fast dry material)
- Thermarest or similar sleeping mat (please note that sleeping mats 5 cm with thin sleeping pad are provided in the tent camps)
- Pen-knife (remember to pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
- Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
- Ear plugs against river noises, neighbor snoring
Frequently asked questions
Where does this trek take place?
The trek runs through the Turkestan Range in the Pamir-Alai mountain system of southern Kyrgyzstan, in Batken Province near the Tajik border, through the Ak-Tash, Dzhalgychy, Orto-Chashma, Kara-Suu and Ak-Suu gorges around the Karavshin valley – an area nicknamed “Asian Patagonia” for its granite walls. The tour starts and ends in Bishkek: you fly to Osh and drive via Batken to Uzgurush village, where the trek starts and ends.
When are the departures?
Fixed departures in July and August, when the high passes are clear of snow. The 2027 dates are 3–16 July, 17–30 July, 31 July–13 August and 14–27 August.
How difficult is this trek?
The trip is graded moderate, but it is meant for trekkers with high hiking experience above 3,000 m and good physical condition. Trekking days take 3–8 hours (7–16 km), with the highest point at Ak-Tubek Pass (4,390 m) and the highest camp at 3,600 m. Two days are radial hikes from camp.
Do I need mountaineering or climbing experience?
No. This is a non-technical trek – no ropes, crampons or climbing skills required. You walk to the foot of serious alpine objectives such as Ak-Suu Peak (5,355 m) and Piramidalnyi (5,509 m), and see the Yellow Wall that draws big-wall climbers, but the route stays on trails, moraine and passes. Trekking poles are strongly recommended for river crossings and steep descents.
How is my luggage carried?
Horses carry your main luggage between camps. You pack up to 12 kg into a special rucksack we provide and hand it to the horseman each morning, collecting it at the next camp. Extra weight is charged at 20 USD per kilogram for the whole tour. You carry only a 30–40 liter daypack.
What kind of accommodation is there?
Thirteen nights on a twin or double basis: hotels in Bishkek, a homestay with a Kyrgyz family in Uzgurush village, and tent camps on the trekking days. Comfort in the mountains is basic, with no internet and no air conditioning, and you share a tent with another participant. Single supplements are 110 USD (hotels) and 180 USD (tents).
Is camping equipment provided?
Yes, apart from your sleeping bag. Each fixed camp has two-person tents with 5 cm mattresses and sleeping pads, a dining tent, a toilet tent, kitchenware, tables and chairs, and a generator from 19:00 to 22:00. Bring your own sleeping bag rated to about −5 °C comfort. The camp in the Orto-Chashma gorge has a sauna.
What meals are included?
Full board throughout – 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 13 dinners – with a cook on the trekking days. Each morning after breakfast you pack your own lunch box from ingredients the camp staff provide. Alcoholic drinks are not included.
Are the flights included?
The domestic flights Bishkek – Osh – Bishkek are included; international flights are not.
Is drinking water available?
Yes. On the trekking days we provide one liter of water per person per day, and the camp team boils water so you can refill. Please bring two one-liter bottles or flasks rather than relying on single-use plastic.
Which language does the guide speak?
An English-speaking guide escorts the group throughout the tour.
Kyrgyzstan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Kyrgyzstan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan before booking.
The official currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek has plenty of ATMs, but outside the larger towns and the northern shore of Issyk-Kul cash is how almost everything is paid.
ATMs and cards
Some ATMs in Bishkek dispense US dollars as well as som. Beyond the capital, ATMs are found in the few largest towns but mostly not in smaller ones, except on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul. Mastercard works in all ATMs, but Visa is still the more widely accepted card. Demirbank's red ATMs have lately been the best option for foreign cards, with moderate fees.
Exchanging money
Exchange offices in the major cities change US dollars, euros and roubles into som. Notes must be clean, fresh and without any signs of wear. Exchange offices prefer larger notes from 50 USD and 50 EUR, and sometimes give a better rate for them.
Paying by card
Cards are accepted in major hotels, restaurants, large supermarkets and some museums in Bishkek and Osh, and occasionally even in taxis. Elsewhere, apart from the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, paying by card is not practical.
Kyrgyzstan is generally safe for travellers and tourism is growing fast, but the usual precautions matter.
Documents
Always carry your passport or a notarised copy. Without proper identification you can be detained by the police.
In towns
- Robberies, some of them violent, and thefts happen especially in crowded places such as the bazaars. Take care after dark.
- Sexual harassment has been reported on public transport. Avoid walking or travelling alone, especially at night.
- Book taxis in advance from established services.
- Stay away from crowds and demonstrations.
- Watch where you step: some streets have large holes and pavements are often uneven.
Laws and customs
- Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religious practices.
- Possessing or using narcotics is strictly prohibited.
- Do not photograph anything related to the armed forces or security services.
- Same-sex relationships are legal but not widely discussed or publicly recognised.
Border areas
Smuggling makes the southern border zones with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan unstable and best avoided.
Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for travellers from many countries. Others can apply for an electronic visa or through an embassy.
Visas
For a tourist visa, most passport holders need an invitation letter from a tourism company. Kyrgyzstan has had an electronic visa system since 1 September 2017.
Border regions
Visiting border regions requires a special permit.
The best times to visit Kyrgyzstan's lower areas are May–June and September. In the high mountains, July and August are best.
Lower areas: May–June and September
In late spring and early autumn the valleys, Issyk-Kul's shores and the towns are green or golden, days are pleasant rather than hot and there are fewer visitors.
High mountains: July and August
This is when the high pastures, yurt camps and mountain passes are open, and trekking and horse-riding routes that are under snow the rest of the year can be reached. Days in the valleys can reach about 30°C, and nights at altitude can still be close to freezing. Summer is also the time of festivals celebrating Kyrgyz traditions.
Winter
Winters in the highlands are long and close the high passes, but it is still a captivating season. Hiking, horse riding and skiing are all possible, and yurt stays are available too.
Healthcare in Kyrgyzstan is basic and medical facilities are scarce, so comprehensive medical and travel insurance is essential.
Medicines
If you rely on regular medication, bring enough for the whole trip: it can be hard or expensive to find locally.
Insurance
Arrange comprehensive medical and travel insurance before you arrive. A serious accident or illness may mean emergency air evacuation to a neighbouring country.
Food and water
Treat tap water and other local water as contaminated and boil it before drinking; bottled water is the safest choice throughout your stay. Be careful with unpasteurised dairy and other animal products.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations against polio and tuberculosis are recommended before entering the country, and others may also be advisable. Ask your doctor or travel clinic.
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