Cycle the Wild Heart of Kyrgyzstan

It's no secret that we love cycling and many of us at HQ think it's the best way to see a country, however, we realise that organising your own trip can be a total faff. On our cycling trips, we’ve found a local guide who has put together a perfect route and will navigate for you all the way. We also send a van that transports your overnight luggage and provide high-quality bikes and delicious snacks to keep you going. Faff eliminated!

All you have to do is turn up, pedal and take in the amazing landscape with your fellow tourers. You will cycle at your own pace, with regular stops to regroup so that no-one gets left behind.

Have a read of our article on cycling difficulty levels for further information on selecting the right level of bike adventure for you.

You'll be riding hardtail mountain bikes, with a carbon frame, hydraulic disc brakes and front suspension. Gearing is typically 1x34, 50-11, offering a big enough range to help make those climbs as enjoyable as possible! You'll need to let your host know your height ahead of the trip, via your booking, to ensure that the correct frame size is supplied.

The bikes are equipped with standard flat pedals and male/standard saddles. If you would rather pack your own saddle and pedals (including SPDs), please do – and these will be fitted for you.

Can I bring my own bike? Bringing your own bike is discouraged. This is due to a lack of storage for bike boxes/bags, and also, the support trailers are tailored to fit the bikes the host provides, which means safe carriage of your personal bike cannot be guaranteed. In addition, your own bike may require special parts for maintenance which may not be locally available, nor possible for the support vehicle mechanics to repair, so the use of the bikes provided by your host is recommended.

The guide ratio on the trip is one guide per eight cyclists. This means that for groups of nine or more people, there will be two cycle guides. Throughout, you will also be accompanied by a support vehicle driven by a bike mechanic.

On most days, yes. However, on two days there will be a transfer (driving durations are stated in the itinerary above) to get you between the cycling routes – this is to keep you away from unpleasantly busy roads, and on the best cycle routes.

E-bike upgrades are not available for this trip; you’ll be riding mountain bikes as listed in the trip inclusions. Keeping everyone on the same bike type helps maintain a comfortable group pace, simplifies logistics and ensures a more inclusive experience. We do, however, have a growing collection of e-bike adventures which you can explore.

In the event of poor weather such as heavy rain, strong winds and/or storms, it is possible that conditions may become unsafe to complete the planned rides on this trip. Your guide will assess the conditions and weather forecasts and make a decision with your safety in mind. If it becomes necessary to make a change to the planned itinerary, an alternative route or activity will be offered.

The support vehicle will have large containers of water that you are able to top your water bottles up with.

While the distances in Kyrgyzstan are relatively short, travel times can be long due to the mountainous terrain and poor road conditions, which are often littered with potholes. Roads can be either dusty or muddy, depending on the weather. In certain areas, traffic may increase, particularly in dusty conditions. If this happens, the cycle route will be adjusted and necessary stops taken to ensure both safety and comfort.

Yurts have been used by the Kyrgyz people for thousands of years as a way of adapting to their nomadic lifestyle, allowing them to move easily and quickly with their herds of livestock in search of grazing grounds. These portable, circular tents are still used nowadays throughout Kyrgyzstan by many families who wish to preserve their cultural heritage and remain connected to a more traditional way of life. On this trip you'll spend one night in locally-run fixed yurt camps which have been adapted to tourist lodging. This experience not only enables you to experience the traditions, customs and hospitality of the Kyrgyz up close, but it also allows you to fully connect with nature and surrounding wilderness. Be aware that most yurt camps in Kyrgyzstan are basic; it can’t be compared to a hotel or luxury glamping of any kind. Sometimes, it can get a little cold at night (but a stove and warm blankets will always be available) and some yurts may smell a bit musty. Due to the remoteness of the location and as with any camping experience, you may also have to put up with the sound of insects, humans snoring, dogs barking or the hoofs of wild horses nearby – but this is nothing a good pair of ear plugs can't solve! You'll have access to shared toilets and hot showers, and you'll be in twin-share yurts. Overall, this type of accommodation totally adds to the adventure of Kyrgyzstan!

Yes, you need to bring your own cycle helmet on this adventure. It should meet recognised safety standards, display a relevant certification mark, and be in good condition. It is mandatory for all riders to wear a helmet whenever cycling.

Please make sure your helmet is:

• A purpose-built cycling helmet that meets a recognised safety standard and displays a relevant certification mark, including (but not limited to):

  • CE/EN 1078 (UK & Europe)
  • CPSC or Snell B90/B95 (USA)
  • AS/NZS 2063 (Australia & New Zealand)

• In good condition:

  • ideally no more than five years old
  • not involved in a crash
  • no visible cracks/dents, compressed foam, or damaged straps

• A good fit:

  • sits level (not tipped back)
  • snug, secure and stable when fastened (doesn't rock or slide)
  • retention system and straps work properly

If your helmet isn’t suitable on arrival:

• you may need to rent or buy a suitable helmet locally (availability varies by destination)
• if a suitable helmet can't be sourced, you may be unable to join some or all cycling activities on safety grounds, in line with your booking conditions

Need help choosing or fitting a helmet?
For advice see British Cycling’s guidance.

Cycle Safety Please see our cycling safety guidance for further information.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

The trip is scheduled to run between July to September, when days are dry and warm. It will be hot in Bishkek at this time of year – about 35-40°C. Around Issyk Kul, days are warm (25-30°C) but evenings and nights are cooler (10°C). Above 3000m (in Song Kul and Tash Rabat), it's possible to experience the four seasons within one day, with the potential for freezing conditions during the night (although this is rare). Please ensure you come prepared with the appropriate kit and clothing (see Kit List below).