Moto Tour in Kyrgyzstan
Accommodation, guides, transport included.
Moto Tour in Kyrgyzstan Highlights
Explore the untouched beauty of Kyrgyzstan on this 7-day motorbike tour from Bishkek, with 5 riding days through wild mountains, vast open valleys and crystal-clear alpine lakes. Feel the freedom of the open road on remote trails, meet welcoming nomad families and experience a land where ancient nomadic traditions are still alive. An English-speaking moto guide, a support vehicle and a mechanic travel with the group of 4–10 riders.
From Bishkek you ride over the Too-Ashuu Pass (3,500 m) into the Suusamyr Valley, a summer paradise for nomads and their herds, then leave the highway for off-road tracks along the Kokemeren River to the red clay hills of Kyzyl-Oi. The next day the trail climbs past grazing yaks to Song-Kul Lake at 3,000 m, where you spend the night in a yurt camp and get to know the hospitality of the nomads.
You descend over the Moldo-Ashuu Pass (3,300 m) and through Baetovo to Naryn, then ride past Eki-Naryn through lunar landscapes, sand canyons, semi-deserts and shepherd camps to Kochkor. The last riding day is fully paved: through the Boom Gorge to the ancient Burana Tower and back to Bishkek for the colorful Osh Bazaar, one of the city’s famous bazaars.
Difficulty: Challenging 5 riding days on a rented motorbike, four of them 50–60% off-road and one fully paved; passes of 3,500 m (Too-Ashuu) and 3,300 m (Moldo-Ashuu), a night in a yurt camp at Song-Kul (3,000 m) and mountain temperatures from +30 °C down to 0 °C. Riders bring their own protective gear (enduro helmet, boots, protectors).
Tour Itinerary
Arrival at Manas Airport in Bishkek, where our team picks you up and drives you to the hotel in the capital (early check-in after 6:00 is included; breakfast at the hotel is served until 10:00). After a rest, a short city tour takes you to the heart of the city, Ala-Too Square, with its monuments, followed by a walk in Oak Park, one of the favorite places of the locals. Bishkek is known as the greenest city in Central Asia, thanks to its countless parks and alleys. In the evening, dinner at one of the best restaurants in Bishkek, where you can taste delicious Kyrgyz national dishes.
Manas International Airport, Ala Too Square, Bishkek Oak Park, Bishkek
- Manas International Airport → Bishkek (30 km)
Overnight: Bishkek (Hotel)
- Shower: Yes
- Toilet: Private (in the room)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meeting at the hotel: the motorbikes are handed over at 8:30 and engines start at 9:00. At the beginning of the journey you ride over the Too-Ashuu Pass (3,500 m) and then cross the wonderful Suusamyr Valley, a paradise for nomads and their cattle. Later you leave the highway for off-road tracks running along the Kokemeren River, known for some of the most challenging rafting in the country. Especially colorful is the red clay that covers the mountains from bottom to top. Since the beginning of the 20th century this clay has been used to build houses, and some of these houses can still be seen in Kyzyl-Oi, where you stay overnight in a guesthouse.
Suusamyr Valley, Kekemeren River Valley, Kyzyl-Oi
- Bishkek → Kyzyl-Oi
Overnight: Kyzyl-Oi (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The goal of the day is Song-Kul Lake at an altitude of 3,000 m. On the way you ride through beautiful high pastures where you can see yaks and other animals. From the pass the lake seems very small, but as you descend and approach it, it appears as a big and gorgeous lake. At the yurt camp you get to know the hospitality of the nomads, their lifestyle and their customs. Dinner and overnight in the yurts. A yurt sleeps 4–6 people; in the low season you may be accommodated 2 per yurt, depending on availability. Toilets and sauna are outside.
Song-Kul Lake
- Kyzyl-Oi → Song-Kul Lake
Overnight: Song-Kul Lake (Yurt camp)
- Toilet: Outdoor (pit / drop toilet)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You say goodbye to Song-Kul and ride towards Baetovo, descending from the lake over the Moldo-Ashuu Pass (3,300 m) and passing through the village of Baetovo. The ride continues to Naryn. On arrival in the town you can take a shower and rest in comfortable conditions. Dinner at a restaurant in town or at the hotel.
Song-Kul Lake, Naryn
- Song-Kul Lake → Naryn
Overnight: Naryn (Hotel)
- Shower: Yes
- Toilet: Private (in the room)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast at the hotel and departure. You pass by Eki-Naryn. The road is a real paradise for motorbikers: it runs through lunar landscapes, hills, pastures, sand canyons and semi-deserts, and on the way you can meet shepherd camps. In the evening you arrive in the village of Kochkor. Dinner and rest at the hotel.
Eki Naryn Valley, Kochkor
- Naryn → Kochkor
Overnight: Kochkor (Hotel)
- Shower: Yes
- Toilet: Private (in the room)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The road to Bishkek, fully paved today, runs through the Boom Gorge. On the way you visit the Burana Tower, an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the north of Kyrgyzstan. The tower, with funerary monuments, earthworks, the remains of a castle and three mausoleums, is all that is left of the ancient town of Balasagyn, founded by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. After lunch at a local restaurant you visit the famous Osh Bazaar. As soon as you step into the market, you plunge into a real oriental atmosphere: an endless stream of people and a huge variety of goods and colors. In the evening, dinner together.
Burana Tower, Osh Bazaar (Bishkek), Bishkek
- Kochkor → Bishkek
Overnight: Bishkek (Hotel)
- Shower: Yes
- Toilet: Private (in the room)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to Manas Airport (30 km, about 40 minutes) and departure.
Manas International Airport
- Bishkek → Manas International Airport (30 km)
Meals: Breakfast
Download the itinerary
Tour Price
Group Tour Price
Single room supplement: $235
What's included
Included
- Group airport transfer on day 1 and day 7 (from 3 people)
- Early check-in at the hotel in Bishkek on day 1
- Accommodation for 6 nights in double/twin rooms (3* hotels and guesthouse) and a shared yurt at Song-Kul Lake
- Motorbike rental for 5 riding days
- Fuel for the itinerary
- Support vehicle
- Mechanic and technical support
- English-speaking moto guide
- Full board (3 meals a day) as listed in the itinerary
- Visits mentioned in the program
- Mineral water
- Assistance 24/7
Not included
- International flights
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal riding equipment
- Single room supplement (235 USD)
- Safety deposit for the motorbike (600 USD)
- Tips for the guide, driver and mechanic
- Optional activities
- Porters for luggage in hotels and at the airport
- Alcoholic drinks
- Services not mentioned as included
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Good to know
- Group size: 4–10 riders.
- Motorbikes: The motorbikes are handed over at the hotel in Bishkek at 8:30 on day 2. A safety deposit of 600 USD per motorbike is required (not included in the tour price).
- Climate: The climate in Kyrgyzstan is sharply continental, and in the mountains the temperature can range from +30 °C down to 0 °C within one day – bring warm shoes, warm clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Yurt camp at Song-Kul: A yurt sleeps 4–6 people; in the low season you may be accommodated 2 per yurt, depending on availability. Toilets and sauna are outside.
- Arrival: Early check-in at the hotel in Bishkek (after 6:00) is included; breakfast at the hotel is served until 10:00. The group airport transfer on day 1 and day 7 is included from 3 people.
What to bring
- Warm waterproof jacket and pants or motorcycle overalls
- Enduro helmet or helmet with visor
- Thermal underwear
- Warm hat
- Enduro boots
- Gloves
- Knee guards, elbow protectors and chest protector
- Backpack and thermos
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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