Day 1. Arrival to Almaty.
Evening arrival to Almaty. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2. Almaty – Turgen Valley – Assy plateau.
AM Preparation of bikes. Drive to the Turgen River Gorge. Crossing the National Park border and change bus to 6WD truck equipped with seats after Batan village (1800 m). Start riding gently down from the top of Assy Pass (2590 m). The sky is big, the grass is a vibrant green, and the panorama is endless. We also have views here of snow-capped peaks in the distance. There are many local Kazakh yurtas and people on horseback on the Assy plateau, which is rare to see now in modern Kazakhstan. Cycling for 42 km following the Assy River down to the campsite nestled in amongst pine trees (1970m). All the riding is off road. Tented camp.
Ride 42 km. B L D.
Day 3. Assy – Batyrma Pass – Zhenishke River.
Long day ahead of us as we have to follow Assy river canyon 14 km. down to 1400 m. and then turn to 4 km. climb Batyrma Pass (1980 m) today. Once we've reached the top the riding is undulating 15 km. descent as we cross the green Ashyk Dala Plateau where we'll visit Sary Tau village. Then we’ll ride on the hills and descent to Zhenishke River valley some times by the small rocky shelves. All the riding is off road.Tented camp.
Ride 59 km. B L D
Day 4. Zhenishke - Algabas village – Kensu River
Today starts descent 17 km. to Algabas village where we’ll meet our bus again and we follow the off road 18 km. to Zhalanash village (1700 m). We'll ride through the big villages with their white and blue picket fences and have time to pop into a local store where abacuses are still used. The riding will be mostly flat today with a few undulations and though we are on roads, they are in a good condition, and we will see very little traffic. We camp near Kensu river (1580m). Tented camp.
Ride 60 km. B L D
Day 5. Kensu River – Kegen Village – Karkara BC (2200 m)
We start to ride along Kegen River and cross it by big bridge and ascent 6 km. up to Kegen Plateau. There are many agriculture fields there and we’ll ride after 19 km. by the asphalted route through regional town Kegen. Then we ride 12 km. to Karkara village where we’ll cross river by a bridge and 10 km. more on off road to the frontier check point to Kyrgyzstan. Here we’ll spend an hour for border formalities, pack our bikes to the truck, take a bus transfer 15 km. to Karkara Base camp (Kyrgyzstan) 2200 m., where we’ll see our helicopter MI 17. After dinner, we can get hot sauna near a river. Fixed tented camp near small Kirgiz village.
Ride 65 km. B L D
Day 6. Heli-biking! Karkara BC.
Today morning we put our bikes to the wide body of helicopter, take a rest seats and fly 20 min. to Dzhalanach Pass 3510. On good weather conditions we can see a Great Tien Shan Range with a highest peaks Khan Tengri(7010) and Pobeda (7439) – very well known among climbers and trekkers. Helicopter will leave us and we start to ride down 45 km to Karkara BC. Off road along Dzhalanach river, with green glades full of domestic animals, Kirgiz yurtas, follow us to green Karkara river Canyon with nice rocks and pine forest. We can stop somewhere to visit local nomads and their families.
B L D
Day 7. Karkara BC – Charyn River Canyon – Almaty.
Drive from Karkara BC to Charyn Canyon crossing the frontier checkpoint, enter to Kazakhstan. Next 80 km. and we’ll arrive to Charyn river Canyon, where we visit Valley of Castles. Late arrival to our hotel in Almaty (180 km) and get hot bath in the hotel and dinner at restaurant. Hotel.
Total downhill riding 45 km. B L D.
Day 8. Almaty excursions.
Morning checking out, keep bikes and luggage in the storage. Bus transfer to Medeo Gorge. Take a cable car lift to Shymbulak Ski Resort and Talgarsky Pass, 3128 m. Panoramic view to the Zailiysky Alatau chain of mountains. Couple of hours walking along Bogdanovich Glacier and back to the pass. Pack-lunch. Descent by cabin and bus to Almaty. Visit to Green Bazaar, ethnic and souvenir shopping. Farewell party. Transfer to the airport. Departure.
The expedition fee is available on request.
The price includes:
- All transport services according to the program – a\c tourist bus or a\c 4 WD
- Two 4WD cars escort
- Double\ Twin sharing accommodation: at Hotel (4*) in Almaty - 2 nights
- Family-tent for 2 persons in Karkara BC- 1 night
- Sauna or shower in Karkara BC Tented Camp
- Tented Camp (2-persons trekking tents with mattresses* dining tent * toilet tent* shower tent*kitchen accessories*)
- 3 meals a day according to the program (hot breakfast and dinner, lunch-box)
- Accompany crew (biking guide, cook, camp workers)
- Heli-biking (!)
- Entrance fees for the tourist sites as specified in the program
- Almaty city tour
- Evacuation if debris from the campsites
- Local staffs’ insurance
The price excludes the following:
- International air tickets
- Personal equipment (bike, spare parts, helmet, gloves )
- Single supplement charge
- Bar bills
- Items of a personal nature
- Insurance