KYRGYZSTAN FREERIDE

CATSKI KYRGYZSTAN, NOMADIC CULTURE AND POWDER

Cat skiing in Kyrgyzstan is an unparalleled experience in the stunning Jyrgalan Valley, known for its deep, dry snow and exceptional micro-climate thanks to Lake Issyk Kul. Our cat skiing tours take you to the heart of the untouched Central Asian terrain, where you’ll carve fresh powder with the guidance of local experts. After a day of thrilling freerides, relax in a traditional Russian sauna or experience the cozy warmth of winter-adapted yurts, fully embracing the rich culture and beauty of Kyrgyzstan.

Our trips cover nearly 10,000 hectares of skiable terrain in the eastern Tian Shan Mountains, offering a range of slopes from mellow tree runs to challenging 40-degree faces. Each day promises multiple descents, with the snowcat reaching altitudes of 3,400 meters. The terrain is perfectly suited for all levels of freeriders, ensuring exhilarating runs without any down-days. Lunches are served at our ice bar, where you can take in panoramic views of the mountains and, on clear days, even spot Kazakhstan in the distance.

Accommodations are arranged in local guesthouses or yurts, run by friendly Kyrgyz families. The yurts, traditional to Kyrgyz nomads, are adapted for winter with heating and insulation, offering a unique, cozy retreat. Modern amenities such as electricity and Wi-Fi are available at the guesthouse, with authentic Kyrgyz cuisine served daily, blending Turkish, Chinese, and Russian flavors to fuel your adventure. After an intense day on the slopes, meals like Laghman and Plov await, ensuring a hearty, local dining experience.

Our cat skiing tours focus on supporting local communities by working with local guides and partners. We ensure that tourism contributes to the region’s development while giving you an authentic, sustainable experience. From the moment you arrive in Bishkek to your final descent in Jyrgalan, you’ll be immersed in both the thrill of freeriding and the warmth of Kyrgyz hospitality.

For this freeride trip, a correct level of off-piste backcountry skiing and having previously done some similar activity before is required. Depending on the physical and technical level of the participants and the snow and weather conditions, the mountain guide will adapt the outings for maximum enjoyment. Do not hesitate to contact us to jointly evaluate whether you have the appropriate level of skiing.

Our trainer Mr. Pablo Ral,  graduate in Physical Activity Sciences, Master in High Performance, Chilean Ski Mountaineering Coach and specialist in endurance sports… can make you a specific personal training plan for this trip.

• Standard training plan (one-time payment): 99€ (Fill out online form, 30 min personal interview (to adjust the plan and resolve doubts), Receive your personalized plan)
• Premium training plan (monthly): 130€ (Fill out online form, 1h personal interview (to adjust the plan and resolve doubts), Receive your personalized plan. Weekly monitoring of your progression and monthly readjustment of the training plan)

You can request your training plan at the time of booking your trip or later. (Standard training plans are valid for a maximum of 3 months)

Ski equipment

• Your ski equipment; skis/splitboard, poles, ski boots, skins, helmet.
• Ski crampons and/or crampons (mandatory and essential for split-boards)
• Ski bag and boot bag (Required).
• Avalanche equipment in backpack, shovel, probe, DVA and  transmitter/receiver (Mandatory).
• Airbag backpack (recommended).

Other things recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel equipment:

• Socks.
• Mountain ski pants.
• Thermal T-shirt (first layer).
• Fleece lining or similar (second layer).
• Gore-Tex type jacket and pants (third layer).
• Light and thin primalof or feather jacket.
• Neck gaiter.
• Thin fleece-type gloves and thick gloves.
• Hat for the cold and cap for the sun.
• Sunglasses and blizzard.
• Head lamp
• Canteen or thermos, minimum 1 liter. If you choose a Camelbak type bag, keep in mind that the tube can freeze recommending carrying an auxiliary bottle.
• Sun cream and lip protection.
• Snacks (bars, gels, nuts…) to eat in the mountains during the treks.
• Optional: spare batteries, camera, powerbank, first aid kit.

Food:
The Itinerary explains what meals are included each day according to the program. If you have allergies or preferences, let us know on the registration form and we will take it into account.

We always recommend that you bring your own energy bars, nuts… so that you can eat while doing the activities.

Accommodation:

Accommodations are detailed in the program.

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

In case you wish that we can look for the best flight combination tickets from your nearest airport to the destination you can add this service in “extra services” on the checkout before booking the trip and will give you the best proposal beforehand and once accepted buy it for you. This service includes monitor the flight prices over time to get the best deal when prices are low and check in of your flight. The administrative fee for this service is 35€ + the flights cost that will be invoice to you afterwards.

We offer you a 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance. The discount is just valid if you buy the travel insurance policy after clicking on the link.

In case you wish that we can look for the best travel insurance that covers the trip destination/activity with your nationality. You can add this service in “extra services” on the checkout before booking the trip and will give you the best proposal beforehand and once accepted buy it for you. The administrative fee for this service is 15€ + the insurance cost that will be invoice to you afterwards.

The client is informed that B4Experience will issue the trip without including a cancellation, repatriation or accident policy, unless it is explicitly included in the trip contract and paid in the first payment. During the trip contracting, you will be offered how to contract it if you wish.

Rescue insurance: Recommended / Not mandatory
Rescue insurance is highly recommended on all active trips. It must be taken into consideration that these insurance policies are specific for each type of activity (hiking, climbing…)

The user is informed that the GUARANTEE COMPANY that covers the risks of contractual liability and guarantee against insolvency is MARKEL INSURANCE SE

Visas, and Entry Requirements
Certainly! It is important to have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity when traveling to any country.

To know the specific visa requirements for your trip, it is recommended to contact your local embassy or consulate, or consult with your travel agent. Remember that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct travel documentation. Visa requirements can vary based on your nationality and your destination. While we strive to keep our information updated, visa rules can change unexpectedly. Therefore, it is crucial that you verify the information yourself and understand that you are accountable for meeting your own visa requirements.

Vaccines
For each trip, clients are solely responsible for having the mandatory and/or recommended vaccines required in each region or country. Consult with your doctor to have all vaccinations before the start of the trip.

The client can take out trip cancellation insurance to be able to obtain payment of the entire amount paid (according to its conditions).

The end user may withdraw from the contracted trip, having the right to a refund of the amounts paid, except for the indicated penalties, but must also satisfy the Agency in the amounts indicated below once the trip has been confirmed. If it is not carried out due to not reaching the minimum necessary places, the client can save the credit for future trips or request a full refund of the reservation.

Cancellation Policy 4:

• • FULL REFUND UP TO 24H AFTER PURCHASE
  • Up to 90 days before the trip 100% refund of the trip amount.
  • Up to 60 days before the trip Refund of 50% of the trip amount.
  • For terms shorter than those described in the cancellation policy, the amount already paid will not be paid.

*€250 management fees apply

* Cancellation fees will not be paid for reservations already issued. If there are other non-refundable expenses already issued, these will not be paid either and will be deducted from the amount to be paid.
* The cost of cancellation of issued flights is 100% of the amount.

EXEMPTION OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
B4Experience offers active trips for different sports and Outdoor activities, as well as information related to these activities through our web platform www.b4experience.com and other channels.

The practice of any activity in nature carries a risk for those who do it, with most of these activities being considered high-risk sports. Each one must know and apply their limits and be aware that regardless of the technical training and physical level one has, their practice can lead to accidents or even death.

The in-person activities and trips offered by B4Experience are carried out on land and activities that may inherently involve risks for those who carry them out and thus clients are informed that they contract them.

DOSSIER DISCLAIMER:

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print/ download a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

ITINERARY DISCLAIMER:

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. On all Outdoor trips, the routes will be adjusted depending on the weather, the level of the group participants and the risks assessed by the guide/trip leader.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.