It’s a total mystery why Kyrgyzstan is such an underrated backcountry skiing destination. The powder there is deep, runs uncrowned, and the prices are ridiculously cheap. For anyone looking to expand their backcountry skiing horizons, the Khrebet Babash-Ata mountain is a great place to start. The mountain is a backcountry paradise. The 20 meters of annual snowfall combined with the freezing temperatures results in some of the best backcountry powder out there, rivaling much more expensive European and American tourist destinations, but with none of the overbearing crowds. The scenery here is also stunning, with picturesque snowy peaks above and sprawling walnut forests below. It would be a shame not to mention the locals and their culture, as overwhelming hospitality, comfy homestays, and unique culinary experiences are the norm here. For your next skiing adventure, look eastward — Kyrgyzstan’s backcountry is sure to welcome you with open arms.
Explore the solitary wilderness of Kyrgyzstan’s backcountry
Test your skills on some of the best powder in the world
Experience Kyrgyzstan’s fascinating local cuisine and culture
As you arrive at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, meet up with your guides who will take you to your hotel and make sure you’re all set for the rest of the trip!
Spend a whole day acclimating to your new surroundings by exploring Kyrgyzstan’s largest city. Engage in the culture and take the opportunity to taste some local specialties.
Take a local flight from Bishkek to Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city. After a short layover, your guides will drive you to Arslanbob. The scenic drive serves as the perfect introduction into the Khrebet Babash-Ata Mountain’s beautiful backcountry.
Get ready for 5 full days of touring throughout the Khrebet Babash-Ata Mountains! Kyrgyzstan’s cold temperatures and high amounts of snowfall create some truly spectacular powder, which you get to ride to your heart’s content! When you’re off the slopes, enjoy the local culture, interact with the friendly locals and participate in their traditions.
When you’ve had your fill of touring, say your goodbyes to the beautiful village and travel back to Bishkek via car and plane.
The tour ends and your journey home begins!
This tour includes an extra contingency day, so if you experience travel delays, bad weather, or any other form of delay in your itinerary, it’s not a big deal!
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Khrebet Babash-Ata Mountains, Kyrgyzstan, please refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice for Kyrgyzstan and the US Government’s Kyrgyzstan travel advisory.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
In order to enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to have a high level of fitness. The tour is strenuous, and you will be on your feet for 5 full days. While there is terrain for all skill levels in the Khrebet Babash-Ata mountains, you will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.
Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner-friendly, meaning anyone with challenging blue or black-level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Bishkek and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Ski touring in Kyrgyzstan can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation. The balance of program fees will generally be due 90 days prior to the starting date of the program. It is your responsibility to adhere to the fee payment schedule. Late payment will result in cancellation of program reservations and forfeiture of all fees paid.
If you decide to cancel the trip, the following policy applies:
To get to Arslanbob, most people fly into Manas International Airport half an hour north-northwest of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital. From there, you can rent a car, take a bus, cab, or private shuttle to Bishkek.
Upon arrival in Bishkek, you will be met by your guides and transferred to the hotel. After a day of sightseeing and acclimating to your new surroundings, your guides will arrange your flight from Bishkek to Osh and the drive from Osh to Arslanbob, where your tour will take place. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.Northeast Mountaineering
