# Winter Issyk-Kul & Karakol Skiing - 4 Days A winter loop around Issyk-Kul from Bishkek. We walk snowy red canyons, meet an eagle hunter in Bokonbayevo, see the frozen falls of Barskoon and the Seven Bulls at Jeti-Oguz, then give you a full day on the slopes at Karakol. It suits skiers and first-timers alike, plus anyone who wants the lake without summer crowds. - Duration: 4 days - Type: Winter tours - Best season: December to March - Starts and ends in: Bishkek - Pace: Moderately paced - Activities: hiking - 2 days, skiing - 1 day, sightseeing - 1 day - Accommodation: 1 night at yurt, 2 nights at hotel - Price: from $1400 per person (the exact price depends on group size and season). No prepayment to enquire. - Group: small group or fully private, with a local English-speaking guide - Page: https://azattours.com/tours/winter-issyk-kul-karakol-skiing-4-days/ ## Highlights - A full ski day at Karakol, with lessons for beginners - Frozen waterfalls in Barskoon Gorge - Eagle hunter demo and archery in Bokonbayevo - Snow on the red rocks of Skazka and Jeti-Oguz ## Itinerary ### Day 1: Bishkek to Bokonbayevo via Burana Tower and Boom Gorge We collect you from your Bishkek hotel and head east as the snowy ridges come into view. First stop is Burana Tower, an 11th-century Silk Road minaret. You see the stone balbals and the small museum, then climb up for a winter view over the Chui Valley. In Boom Gorge we pull in at a roadside tea house. Hot tea from a samovar and fresh katama bread warm you up before the walk. Then you pick your canyon with your guide. Konorchek Canyon is a moderate hike of about 3 hours between red sandstone walls. Kok-Moinok is an easy walk of about an hour. We decide together on the day, based on the snow and how you feel. By afternoon we reach Bokonbayevo. A local berkutchi shows how he works with his golden eagle in winter. You can try archery and take photos with the bird. The night is spent in a yurt. - Transfer: Bishkek to Bokonbayevo - Activity: Canyon hike · 1-3 h · Eagle show - Meals: Lunch, dinner - Overnight: Yurt in Bokonbayevo ### Day 2: Bokonbayevo to Karakol via Skazka, Barskoon and Jeti-Oguz Breakfast is served in the yurt, with Issyk-Kul quiet under winter light. Our first stop is Skazka Canyon. Snow makes its red and orange rock shapes stand out even more. Your guide walks you to the best viewpoints and tells the old stories behind them. Next comes Barskoon Gorge. A short hike through spruce trees and snow leads to waterfalls frozen into ice. It is one of the best photo stops of the trip. At Jeti-Oguz you see the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart rock, red cliffs dusted with white. There is time to walk further into the gorge. A horse ride on the snowy trails is possible here as an extra, and it suits beginners. In the evening we reach Karakol. You check into a warm hotel and have dinner before tomorrow's ski day. - Transfer: Bokonbayevo to Karakol - Activity: Walks and short hike - Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner - Overnight: Hotel in Karakol ### Day 3: Ski day at Karakol and hot springs After breakfast we drive up to Karakol Ski Resort, set among pine forest and high Tien Shan peaks. The whole day is yours on the mountain. New to skiing? Rent gear on site and book a lesson with an instructor if you like. Confident skiers get longer runs and higher viewpoints. Kids have tubing, sledding and gentle slopes, and a panoramic cable car climbs above 3,000 meters for anyone who prefers to just look. When the lifts close, we take you to a natural hot spring in Karakol. Warm mineral water after a cold day on the snow is the best way to rest your legs. Then back to the hotel for the night. - Activity: Skiing · full day - Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner - Overnight: Hotel in Karakol ### Day 4: Karakol to Bishkek via Grigoriev and Semyonov Gorges We start with Karakol itself. The Dungan Mosque was built without a single nail and has a bright Chinese-style look. The wooden Russian Orthodox Church, with its green roofs and fine carving, is the town's other landmark. Then we drive to the north shore of Issyk-Kul and turn into Grigoriev and Semyonov Gorges. In winter you find snowy meadows, tall spruce and frozen rivers under white peaks. The walk here is easy, with plenty of time for photos. From there we follow the quiet north shore road back to Bishkek, stopping for photos whenever you ask. We drop you at your hotel in the evening. - Transfer: Karakol to Bishkek via Cholpon-Ata - Activity: City tour · Easy winter walk - Meals: Breakfast, lunch ## Common questions **How long is this tour?** It runs 4 days, starting and ending in Bishkek. **When is the best time to go?** The season runs December to March. June to September brings the warmest days, and the high-pasture yurt camps are open. **How fit do I need to be?** It's moderately paced, with 2 days hiking and 1 days skiing and 1 days sightseeing. Good general fitness is enough, and there is no technical climbing. **Where will I stay?** A mix over the trip: 1 night at yurt, 2 nights at hotel. **How much does it cost?** From $1400 per person. The exact price depends on group size and season, and we confirm it for your group within 24 hours. ## How to book Send your dates and group size and we confirm availability and a tailored price within 24 hours: https://azattours.com/tours/winter-issyk-kul-karakol-skiing-4-days/#book - WhatsApp and phone: +996 502 888 001 (https://wa.me/996502888001) - Email: azatbeyshenaliev1@gmail.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azattourskg/ - Enquiry form: https://azattours.com/#plan - Based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan