Kyrgyzstan
A route through little-explored Kyrgyzstan from Osh: passes above 4,100 meters, views of Lenin Peak from Travelers' Pass, the Three Dragons gorge, nights in yurts among the pastures, and turquoise Lake Tulpar-Kol.
Arrival in Osh: meeting at the airport and transfer to a 3-star hotel. After resting and breakfast, we set out to explore the city. We climb the sacred Sulaiman-Too mountain right in the center of Osh, home to a huge flag, the historic 16th-century "House of Babur" mosque, and a cave museum inside the rock. Then, we immerse ourselves in the bustle and aromas of the Osh bazaar, sampling local flatbreads, samsa, fresh fruit, and Kyrgyz tea. In the evening, we return to the hotel with a hot shower and Wi-Fi.
In the morning, we set off by jeep or minibus (220 km, ≈4 hours). The road winds through the Alai Valley, with photo stops along the way offering views of the snow-capped Pamir peaks rising above 5,000–6,000 m. We arrive in the village of Sary-Mogol (3,000 m) and check into a guesthouse. In the afternoon, an easy walk around the area; in the evening, a home-cooked dinner with national dishes. Accommodation: guesthouse. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
We begin the journey light: 15 km, 4 hours, 450 m ascent, 150 m descent. We walk through open valleys and pastures where yaks, sheep, goats, and horses graze. We cross mountain streams and encounter nomads. By lunchtime, we arrive at the yurt camp at 3,300 m, and after lunch, a short acclimatization hike. Overnight in a shared yurt, dinner by the fire. Accommodation: yurt. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
The highest day: 15 km, 8–9 hours, 1,100 m ascent, 850 m descent. We ascend to the Sary-Mogol Pass – at the summit, a view opens up of the Besh-Kol Lakes and a ring of peaks. A picnic lunch by the river with panoramic views. Descent into the valley to the camp at 3,600 m. Evening in a yurt, hot tea, and dinner. Accommodation: yurt. Meals: breakfast, picnic, dinner.
A long but mostly downhill day: 20 km, 7–8 hours, 900 m of ascent and 1,600 m of descent. We pass through the village of Kyzyl-Shoro, where lunch is at a guesthouse with a shower and Wi-Fi. Then we climb to the Kosh-Moynok Pass (3,210 m) and descend into the green Kosh-Moynok Valley. Overnight in a yurt at 2,800 m by the river. Accommodation: yurt. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
24 km, 8–9 hours, 1,300 m ascent, 1,100 m descent. We cross a stream and ascend to the Sary-Bel Pass (3,132 m). Along the way, we pass the red cliffs of the Three Dragons Gorge, one of the most photogenic sections of the route. Lunch at the Kozhokelen guesthouse, then an easy trail along the river to the yurt camp at the foot of Jiptyk (3,050 m). Accommodation: yurt. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
16 km, 7–8 hours, 1,200 m ascent, 950 m descent. We walk along the river, gradually gaining altitude to the Jiptyk Pass. Lunch is at the pass or slightly below. A steep but scenic descent into the Darbazatash Valley (3,274 m). Overnight in a yurt camp. Accommodation: yurt. Meals: breakfast, picnic, dinner.
Short hike: 11 km, 3 hours, 50 m ascent, 350 m descent. We return to Sary-Mogol and have lunch at a guesthouse with a shower. After lunch, an hour's drive to the yurt camp by Lake Tulpar-Kol. In the evening, we stroll along turquoise lakes reflecting the Pamir peaks. Accommodation: yurt. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
24 km, 8–9 hours, 750 m ascent, 750 m descent. We head south from Tulpar-Kol, pass the base camp, and ascend to Travelers' Pass. From the viewpoint on the right, there's a classic panorama of Lenin Peak and the glacier. A picnic at altitude, then descent into the Achik-Tash Valley to the Pamir International Mountaineering Camp (3,600 m). Accommodation: rooms at the Pamir International Mountaineering Camp. Meals: breakfast, picnic, dinner.
In the morning, we say goodbye to the Pamirs. The 280 km drive back to Osh takes 5–6 hours. Upon arrival, check into a hotel and have free time. Accommodation: 3-star hotel. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Breakfast, transfer to Osh airport. End of tour.
The price of the Pamir-Alai trip is per person based on group accommodation and depends on the number of participants in the group:
| Group | Tour price / per person |
| 2 people | 1 990 $ |
| 3 people | 1 730 $ |
| 4 people | 1 410 $ |
| 5 people | 1 310 $ |
| 6 people | 1 240 $ |
| 7 people | 1 200 $ |
| 8 people | 1 170 $ |
Single supplement for the hotel in Osh — $70 for the entire tour (optional).
Prices include all listed services (accommodation, full board, transportation, guide, pack horses for luggage, border-zone permit). Please check current prices with our manager: the cost may change depending on inflation, exchange rates and seasonal adjustments.
Getting to know the Pamir-Alai is an 11-day journey through Kyrgyzstan to lesser-known corners of the Pamir-Alai. The route starts and ends in Osh and includes crossing two high passes — Sary-Mogol (4306 m) and Jiptik (4185 m) — visiting the red rocks of the Three Dragons Gorge, the system of turquoise Tulpar-Kol lakes, and a hike to Lenin Peak Base Camp (3600 m) with an ascent to the Travelers' Pass (4150 m), from which there is a panorama of the snowy wall of Lenin Peak, 7134 m high.
The total length of the hiking sections is approximately 125 km, reaching altitudes of up to 4,306 m. The trek passes through alpine meadows, high-mountain plateaus, and valleys with pastures where yaks, sheep, and horses are found. Overnight stays alternate: two nights in a hotel in Osh, one in a guesthouse in Sary-Mogol, six in yurt camps, and one in rooms at the Pamir International Mountaineering Camp.
The highest point of the trek, offering views of the Besh-Kol group of alpine lakes and the surrounding peaks of the Pamir-Alai.
The crossing from the Kozhokelen Valley to Darbazatash: a picturesque climb along the river and a steep descent into a green valley.
A viewpoint with a panoramic view of the entire north face of Lenin Peak (7,134 m) and the Lenin Glacier.
The Pamir International Mountaineering Camp in the Achik-Tash Valley, where you can see climbers' tents and experience the atmosphere of a high-altitude bivouac.
The system of turquoise high-mountain lakes at the foot of the Pamirs is an ideal place for photographs and quiet walks at sunset.
Red rock formations near the village of Kozhokelen create a dramatic contrast with the white peaks in the background.
A long crossing over the Kosh-Moynok Pass (3,210 m) with a gradual descent into a cozy green valley and an overnight stay by the river.
A sacred mountain in the city center with a cave museum, Babur's mosque, and views of the Osh bazaar.
11 answers to frequently asked questions
Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, most EU countries, the US, Canada, and many other countries do not require a visa (visa-free travel for up to 60 days). A border pass to the Pamir-Alai region is issued by the organizer and included in the price. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the end of the tour.
List of necessary equipment:
Luggage up to 10 kg is transported by horses, the rest is left in Osh.
Yes, you will need insurance. Be sure to take out travel insurance that covers active recreation (trekking at altitudes up to 4,500 m) and helicopter evacuation — air evacuation may be required in remote areas.
Difficulty is moderate to above moderate: hikes of up to 9 hours, elevation gain of up to 1,300 m per day, highest point 4,306 m. There is no technical climbing, but good physical fitness and mountain hiking experience are required. Acclimatization begins on the third day, which helps the body adapt to the altitude.
A guide is always with the group and can adjust the pace or arrange rest periods. In most camps you can stay in the yurt while the group hikes to the pass (with an escort). However, skipping the trek entirely on individual days is not part of the itinerary—it's best to assess your abilities beforehand.
The yurt camps (6 nights) have no hot showers or electricity — only outdoor toilets and basins of warm water for washing. Showers and Wi-Fi are available in Osh (2 nights), Sary-Mogol (lunches and 1 night) and Lenin Peak Base Camp (1 night). These are typical conditions for an authentic trek in the Alai Mountains.
Spring water is clean in most places, but it is recommended to purify it with tablets, a filter, or boil it—this is standard advice for the highlands of Kyrgyzstan. Bottled drinking water can be purchased in Osh and Sary-Mogol.
Yes, guesthouses and yurt camps can prepare vegetarian meals (without meat, with vegetables, potatoes, rice, bread, sour cream, and jams). Allergies are also taken into account, so be sure to let your guide know in advance or mention them when booking.
Horses carry up to 10 kg of personal belongings per person (clothing, sleeping bag, equipment). Pack your daypack with only the essentials: water, snacks, sunscreen, a warm jacket, a camera, and a first aid kit. Leave the rest of your luggage at your hotel in Osh.
Osh and Sary-Mogol have stable internet and Wi-Fi. Yurt camps and mountain passes usually have no service (only a satellite phone carried by the guide for emergencies). Wi-Fi works at Lenin Peak Base Camp.
Daytime temperatures are +20–25 °C in the valleys and cooler on the passes (+10–15 °C); at night it is around 0…+5 °C, frosts are possible in September, and there may be wind and brief rain. Above 4,000 m it can be cold and windy, so be sure to bring a down jacket, a hat and gloves.
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Super, to była fajna przygoda. Dogrywanie wycieczki trwało dosłownie chwilę -zamawialiśmy ją wieczorem a rano już wyruszyliśmy. Zejście do Wodospadu, zrobiło wrażenie.Przewodnik bardzo profesjonalny, pomocny i z pasją do gór. Zaopiekował się nami jak własną rodziną.Polecamy
We want to say a huge thank you to Victoria for these wonderful two days! ❤️ Thanks to her, we didn't just see the beautiful sights of Tashkent, we truly immersed ourselves in the history, culture and traditions of Uzbekistan. We learned a lot of interesting things, tried national dishes and felt the special atmosphere of this amazing country.
And special thanks to Victoria for her responsiveness and willingness to help! In some situations she literally saved us, helped us sort out our problems and did everything to make the trip comfortable and leave us with only pleasant impressions and lots of great photos))
Thank you for introducing us to Uzbekistan, for your attention and your warm, heartfelt approach 🥰🫶
The Uzbek vibe in all its beauty.
Those 7 days in Uzbekistan are still spinning in my head.
We started right away with the mountains. We headed to Chimgan, and it was the perfect decision. After a long flight, we were greeted by fresh air and cool weather. We climbed higher, looked out over the ridges, had rice soup and shashlik in some yurt, and realized we had already fallen in love. The mountains here are completely different: soft, green, not intimidating.
Then we went down to Tashkent. The city turned out to be a pleasant surprise: modern, with huge bazaars where your eyes run wild. In the evening we sat in a teahouse, ate plov and shashlik, drank green tea, and didn't want to leave anywhere anymore.
And then it took off. Samarkand… Registan is simply out of this world.
Bukhara is a universe of its own. Narrow streets, old courtyards, the Lyabi-Hauz square where people drink tea in the evening and nothing is rushed. Time really slows down there.
And the finale: Khiva.
In short, one of the tastiest and most heartfelt trips in recent years. Uzbekistan hooks you strongly and quickly.
Evgeny took us on an unforgettable hike to the Gulkam Gorge — everything was done at the highest professional level, and he told us a lot about the area, its history, and its plants (very interesting).
I recommend it to everyone!
Hello
When we want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and recharge, we head to the mountains for a hike.
In our family, everyone knows who to call and text, who will take care of everything,……ZHENYA
Evgeny Shabanov has, one could say, made us fall in love with the mountains of Uzbekistan.
He showed us the most beautiful places: rivers, gorges, peaks and waterfalls.
All the hikes are interesting, with stories about the area and its possible inhabitants, what grows and when it blooms, and what natural phenomena shaped it.
Zhenya, thank you so much
See you on new hikes!
My wife and I, along with Evgeny, completed the hike to Yukhin Peak.
Let me say up front: the whole time it felt as if we had asked a friend who knows tourism and the mountains inside out to organize this trip for us.
Before the hike, I had a rather superficial idea of what awaited us. But in the end, everything turned out to be much easier, tastier, and more comfortable than I expected. Despite acclimatization and the physical exertion, we confidently completed all the stages of the planned itinerary and reached Yukhin Peak.
There were times when we felt tired. But the fatigue quickly evaporated as more and more mesmerizing panoramas of the Pamirs opened up before our eyes.
Zhenya was there throughout the entire route, offering advice on how to best adapt to the altitude and load, and helping with organizational matters.
Great views, a great guide — our adventure had it all 😁
I liked how kind and cheerful the staff was. They helped us with minor difficulties. Thank you so much for your hard work! ♥️
A great tour for those who want to see the most beautiful lakes of Tajikistan and completely switch off from city life for a few days.
Six days flew by. After crossing the Uzbek–Tajik border we had lunch in Penjikent, where we tried delicious gul-manti — rose-shaped dumplings made of very thin dough. Then we headed to Artuch, and in the evening walked to the Chukurak and Ziyorat lakes.
The second day was memorable for the trek to the Kulikalon lakes. On the way we swam in an icy mountain river, and in the evening enjoyed the silence, the mountains reflected in the water and the starry sky.
The hardest but most impressive part was the climb to the Alaudin pass. The panoramas from the pass and the turquoise Alaudin lakes are worth every effort. Special thanks to Ali for the delicious home-cooked food — after a long trek it was especially welcome.
We spent the next day resting: walked around, swam in the lake, and then drove via the Vertikal mountaineering camp to the Marguzor lakes, admiring the stunning mountain scenery.
The Marguzor lakes also left vivid impressions. Because of the high water level, the paths around the upper lake were flooded, so part of the route had to be walked right through the water, which added a bit of adventure to the trip.
At the end of the route we visited Iskanderkul and the Fan Niagara waterfall. Then we drove to Dushanbe, where we had a little time to walk around the city before flying home.
I would especially like to mention the excellent organization of the tour. Everything was well thought out: the route, transfers, meals and overnight stays. Many thanks to our guide Evgeny for his attention to the group, help on the trail and a wonderful atmosphere throughout the trip.
This trip gave us incredible views, vivid emotions and a real sense of adventure. The photos turned out great, but they cannot convey all the beauty of the Fann Mountains. If you love mountains and active holidays, I definitely recommend this route. Afterwards you are left with only one wish — to come back again.
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