Pamir Canyons
Trekking to the Lenin Peak via the picturesque Kozho-Kelen valley
| Country: | Kyrgyzstan, Pamir-Alay area | ||
| Tour duration: | 10 days / 9 nights | ||
| Itinerary: | Bishkek - Osh - Kosh-Moynok Pass - Kozho-Kelen village - Dzhiptyk Pass - "Edelweiss Meadow” yurt сamp - Osh - Bishkek | ||
The trekking begins in a scenic area of Pamir – the Kickik-Alay region (“Small Alay”) near the Kozho-Kelen valley. Not only can you see the incredible mountain landscapes, but also get acquainted with the life of the highlanders as they originally lived – shepherds who have preserved their traditions, which are hundreds of years old, and kept their way of life unchanged. As we go along our route, we will get to see a wonderous juniper forest and a relic birch grove, huge orange and red rocks of various shapes and sizes, canyons, and waterfalls, raised alpine meadows and high-altitude summer pastures where we will witness grazing yaks, the Blue Grotto cave, and the exotic Kozho-Kelen mountain village where you can witness red clay houses and ancient water mills.
As we hike up and down the canyons, we will overcome two high-mountain passes: Kosh-Moinok (3250 m) and Dzhiptyk (4185 m) while moving along the Alay Range, which opens a grand panorama of the snow giants of the Pamir mountains, and in particular, its main peak – the Lenin Peak (7134 m). After we climb up, another spectacular part of the journey will await – our descent to the Alay valley – a humongous tectonic trench located between the Alay and Trans-Alay ridges.
After that, we will head down to the very foot of the over 7000-meter-tall Lenin Peak and will take a break at the well-equipped yurt camping site called the Edelweiss Meadow (3600 m). The surroundings of the campsite are rather picturesque: we will take a hike to the infamous Lukovaya Meadow, as well as to the “Edge of the Earth” canyon, and the sacred Turpal-Kyol lake, after which, we will climb up to the crest of the Petrovskiy peak which will open up a view of not only the entire Alay valley, but also the incredible multi-colored mountains and the huge glacier of the Lenin Peak.
Join the mountain trek and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Pamirs’ most picturesque regions!
- Itinerary,
Services & Cost - Visa
- Frequently Asked Questions
| Tour program | ||
| Day 1. | Arrival in Bishkek. Domestic flight Bishkek – Osh. Arrival in the international airport “Manas” (Bishkek). Domestic flight to Osh. Meeting at the airport of Osh. Transfer and check in at the hotel after 14:00. Leisure time. Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 2. | Transfer Osh – Kyzyl-Shoro village. Travel time: 3 hours; distance: 120 km. The road to the village of Kyzyl-Shoro, located at an altitude of 2400 m above sea level, passes through the picturesque Papan reservoir, and then along the Ak-Buura river. Lunch at a guest house upon arrival. Trekking to the Kosh-Moinok river valley. Travel time: 5 h; distance: 10 km; altitude difference: +850 m, -450 m. Crossing the Kosh-Moinok pass (3250 m). A majestic panorama of the Kichik-Alai range with peaks of 4000–5000 m opens from the pass. Descent to the Kosh-Moinok river valley. Accommodation in a yurt camp located in the meadow near a fabulous juniper forest. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at a yurt camp (2800 m). |
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| Day 3. | Sary-Bel River valley – Kozho-Kelen village. Travel time: 5 h; distance: 12 km; altitude difference: +400 m, -970 m. Crossing over the Sary-Bel pass (3200 m) to the valley of the exotic red rocks – Kozho-Kelen. Accommodation at a guest house in the Kozho-Kelen village – an authentic nature-ethnographic complex where locals have preserved ancient water mills and houses made of red clay; and right near the village itself, there are some natural grottoes. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at a guest house (2230 m). |
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| Day 4. | Surroundings of the Kozho-Kelen gorge. Hike to the “Blue Grotto” – a famous Kozho-Kelen cave that is considered to be sacred. Along the way, we will get to see canyons, waterfalls, red and orange rocks. Return to the guest house. Lunch. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at a guest house (2230 m). |
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| Day 5. | Kozho-Kelen – Dzhiptyk pass. Travel time: 8 h; distance: 18 km; altitude difference: +1280 m. Passing up along the valley of the Ak-Buura river to the Dzhiptyk pass through alpine meadows and high-mountain pastures. Accommodation at a yurt camp on a small meadow by a natural stream. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at a yurt camp (3510 m). |
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| Day 6. | Crossing over the Dzhiptyk pass (4185 m), descent to the Alay valley. Travel time: 8 h; distance: 18 km; altitude difference: +675 m, -1015 m. Climb up to the Dzhiptyk pass (4185 m), where we will get to witness a breathtaking panorama of the sparkly snowy and icy hills of the Trans-Alay range with its dominant peak – the Lenin Peak (7134 m). When the weather is nice, you can also see some other giants of the Pamir mountains – the Communism peak (7495 m) and the Korzhenevskaya peak (7105 m). Descent to the Darbaza Tash village to the transportation pick-up spot. Transfer to the “Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp. Transfer to the yurt camp located on the Edelweiss meadow at the foot of Lenin Peak. Arrival at the camp, accommodation, lunch. Walking to the Lukovaya (Leek) Meadow (3800 m). Travel time: 3 hrs; altitude difference: +200 m, -200 m. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at “Edelweiss Meadow” camp (3600 m). |
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| Day 7. | Hiking to sacred Tulpar-Kel Lake. Travel time: 5 hrs; altitude difference: -100 m, +100 m. Hiking to the lake. Getting familiar with everyday life and traditions of Kyrgyz nomads. Tasting koumiss (traditional Kyrgyz milk beverage). Return to the camp. Master class on cooking Uzgen plov. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at “Edelweiss Meadow” camp (3600 m). |
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| Day 8. | Hiking to a scenic viewing point on the Petrovskiy Peak ridge. Travel time: 4–5 hrs; altitude difference: +500 m, -500 m. Hiking up to 4100 m. where you can enjoy a stunning circular panorama of the picturesque Alai Valley, colorful lakes, the majestic Trans-Alay Range and its main peak – Lenin Peak (7134 m). Return to the camp. Lunch. Transfer to Osh. Travel time: 5 h; distance: 280 km. Transfer to Osh through the famous Alay Valley, high-altitude Taldyk pass (3645 m) and Chiirchik pass (2408 m). Arrival in Osh. Check-in at the hotel. Meals: breakfast, lunch. Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 9. | Domestic flight Osh – Bishkek. Transfer to the airport. Domestic flight to Bishkek. Meeting at the airport of Bishkek. Transfer and check-in at the hotel after 14:00. Leisure time. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 10. | Departure from Bishkek. Transfer to the airport. The end of the program. Meals: breakfast. |
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This tour is guaranteed and will be arranged whatever final number of persons in a group. | ||||||||||||
The cost of the tour includes:
Additional Services:
Bonuses from the Сompany:
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Accommodation.
This tour comes with the following accommodation:
| Location | Accommodation | |
| Osh | Sunrise Osh Hotel 3* or similar | |
| Yurt campsites on the trekking route | Accommodation in yurts 3-4 persons in a yurt | |
| Kozho-Kelen village | Accommodation in a guest house, 3-4 persons in a room | |
| Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp | Standard Option – accommodation in camping tents, 1-2 persons in a tent Comfort Option – accommodation in yurts, 1-2 persons in a yurt |
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| Bishkek | Olive Bishkek Hotel 3* or similar | |
| ► | Hotels. We offer accommodation in cozy hotels often decorated in a national style. It is completely unique: it combines modern comfort and a unique culture of hospitality. |
| ► | Yurt campsites on the trekking route Yurt camps consist of three to four yurts. Guests are accommodated in yurts with kurpachas – national mattresses for sleeping; three to four guests will be lodged in each yurt. All guests are provided with warm sleeping bags to take with them throughout the entire route. All meals are served at the traditional yurt dining hall that is traditionally decorated with Oriental-style elements: guests dine at a dastarkhan, which is a traditional tablecloth that gets laid on the ground of the yurt and guests sit around it. The campsites feature sinks with cold water and restrooms with toilets. |
| ► | Guest house . Accommodation in guest houses will allow you to take a dip into traditions and habits of local people. These are traditional houses located in remote mountain villages. |
| ► | "Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp - Standard Option – accommodation in heated camping tents, 1–2 persons per tent. The tents are equipped with electricity, individual heaters, beds, mattresses, blankets, pillows and changeable bed linen: flat sheets, bed sheets, and pillowcases. - Comfort Option – accommodation in a comfortable yurt, 1–2 persons per yurt. The yurt is equipped with private bathroom (shower cabin, toilet, hot and cold water); heating, electricity, beds with changeable bed linen, wardrobes, desk, armchairs, electric kettle, toiletries, hairdryer; towels. |
| Recommended clothes and equipment | ||||
| 1 | A moderate-sized backpack to hike with (30-40 l). | |||
| 2 | Transport trunk. Not essential, but it facilitates the horseback transportation of the luggage. | |||
| 3 | Sun cream (SPF 25-40). | |||
| 4 | Sunglasses. | |||
| 5 | Trekking boots. | |||
| 6 | Hiking shoes to travel within and near the camp. | |||
| 7 | Downy jacket. | |||
| 8 | Assault jacket GORE-TEX. | |||
| 9 | Assault trousers GORE-TEX. | |||
| 10 | Thin thermal underwear – optional. | |||
| 11 | Thin gloves and thick insulated gloves. | |||
| 12 | Peaked cap or panama hat + insulated winter hat. | |||
| 13 | Knitted T-shirts. | |||
| 14 | Thermal socks + casual socks. | |||
| 15 | Lip balm. | |||
| 16 | Personal first-aid kit. | |||
Transport
During the tour the following types of transport will be provided depending on the number of people in a group:
| Group | Venicle |
| Group 1-3 pax | "Mitsubishi Delica" |
| Group 4-15 pax | "Mercedes-Benz Sprinter" |
Visa to Kyrgyzstan
Under current rules visa-free stay within unlimited period on the territory of Kyrgyzstan is granted for the nationals of the following countries:
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List of states granted visa-free stay up to 90 days: Mongolia, Ukraine.
List of states granted visa-free stay up to 60 days
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Visa-free access to Kyrgyzstan up to 30 days: Malaysia.
Frequently Asked Questions
► Memo: Useful tips for tourists »»
- Who can attempt this trek? Should the participants of the tour have prior trekking experience or prepare themselves physically?
- Can people with health problems participate in this programme?
- Is travel insurance compulsory for this tour?
- What is the weather like in the mountains?
- Is it possible to swim in the lakes?
- What are the probabilities of encountering some dangerous creatures (besides relatively harmless mosquitoes) such as snakes, spiders, scorpions, mites etc.?
- Is it allowed to pick up mountain herbs and flowers? Which plants should be avoided?
- What should and what shouldn’t I take with me?
- How are meals organized during the trek programme?
- How about communication facilities during trek travel?
- How good is Internet access?
- Visa, permits.
- Who can attempt this trek? Should the participants of the tour have prior trekking experience or prepare themselves physically?
This trekking is rather easy and is suitable for anyone with good physical condition. Tourist above 16 and under 65 years of age can join this tour provided they have no serious health problems and their doctor does not object to participation in such kind of tourist activities. Children above 14 can also join this trekking tour provided they are accompanied by their parents.
The offered trekking tour can be graded as simple-average, which means no special skills in mountaineering are required. The escort team consists of an experienced high altitude guide able to choose the right path and advise you on the precautions to be taken in each section of the route. During the tour you will have to trek on foot long distances. Therefore the only condition for those willing to participate in this trekking programme is absence of medical contraindications to such activities. - Can people with health problems participate in this programme?
Please note, that the route of the tour runs through mountains with considerable altitude differences (the maximum altitude is 2750 m above sea level). The participants can experience some symptoms of altitude sickness which disappear when the descent from the mountains starts. Therefore the tour may not be suitable for persons suffering from heart or respiratory problems (hypertension, asthma). We recommend you to consult your doctor before planning this tour. - Is travel insurance compulsory for this tour?
Yes, it is. The medical insurance of up to $ 10,000- 15,000 should be obtained before leaving your homeland. - What is the weather like in the mountains?
In the summer the weather is fair and sunny with daytime temperature reaching +28°С. At night, however, and on rainy days the temperature drops to +8 or + 10ºС which makes the availability of warm jacket rather useful. - Is it possible to swim in the lakes?
Most definitely it is. In summertime the temperature in the lakes is about 17-19°С. No wonder many travelers like to experience some bracing bathing. So don’t forget your swimsuit. - What are the probabilities of encountering some dangerous creatures (besides relatively harmless mosquitoes) such as snakes, spiders, scorpions, mites etc.?
Though such a probability exists, it is too small as proved by our long experience of organizing trekking tours. - Is it allowed to pick up mountain herbs and flowers? Which plants should be avoided?
It is advisable not to touch the plants you are not familiar with as some of them can be rather toxic (for example giant fennel can sting you when you touch its leaves). It is forbidden to pick up Red Book plants. The mountain slopes are home to many medicinal herbs including mint, origan, thyme, which you can pick up and brew a delicious ‘mountain tea’. The banks of the rivers are covered with bushes of dog rose and sea-buckthorn. - What should and what shouldn’t I take with me?
We provide spacious two person tents and big mess tent to be used in inclement weather, as well as foodstuff, tableware, tables, chairs, portable WC, first aid kit, gas burner and gas cylinders (or primus stove and gasoline) in case it is raining and the wood is wet and does not burn.
You should also have on you any special medicine you usually take in case of health problems. Should you need any detailed information regarding personal gear you can contact our tour operators. - How are meals organized during the trek programme?
You will be escorted by a cook and other service staff responsible for arranging regular and tasty meals. You don’t need to bother about tableware, kitchen utensils and equipment as we provide all these as well as tables, chairs, and tents throughout the whole trek programme.
Drinking water is provided from crystal-clear mountain springs. However, it is recommended to drink only boiled water. In cities and during long transfers it is advisable to use bottled water.
Below you can find the menu of one of the trekking days:
Breakfast:
First dish: cereal porridge (semolina, oats, rice).
Second dish: cooked eggs with sausages, omelette, pancakes, thick pancakes, toasted bread, cottage cheese pancake, etc.
Buffet table: cheese, sausage, assorted bread, butter, ketchup, marmalade, chocolate paste, sweets, cookies, wafers, dried cream, honey, sugar, halavah.
Drinks: selection of hot drinks, such as tea (black and green), coffee, cocoa.
Lunch:
Buffet lunch: assorted bread, fresh salads, canned fish, cheese, sheep cheese, assorted meat appetizers, tea (black and green) sweets, cookies, wafers, fruits (apples, pears), dried fruits (apricot, raisin, figs, etc.), assorted nuts.
*In case of camp lunch first course is added.
Dinner:
First course - soup (European or local cuisine).
Second course - various dishes of European cuisine with assorted garnish, as well as a choice of local dishes.
Buffet table: assorted bread, cheese, sausage, ketchup, spices (mustard, various dressings), sweets, cookies, wafers, sugar.
Drinks: selection of hot drinks, such as tea (black and green), coffee, cocoa, thin jelly.
Dessert: watermelon, melon, fruits. - How about communication facilities during trek travel?
Cellular telecommunication is available in Osh and on the way to Aflatun settlement. In the mountainous areas, especially in mountain valleys, there are difficulties with signal receipt. Tour manager is equipped with portable satellite terminal to provide uninterrupted external link. Moreover, the group is provided with walkie-talkie to ensure trouble-free connection between trekkers. - How good is Internet access?
Internet access is available only in Osh. There are many internet-cafes there. - Visa, permits.
Kyrgyzstan has considerably simplified its visa policy and today citizens of 70 countries of the world enjoy visa-free access to this Central Asian state.
Visa-free entry to the territory of Kyrgyzstan is granted for the nationals of the Russia, the CIS countries and a number of citizens of European and other foreign countries.
The details on Kyrgyz visa, rules of entry and stay on the territory of Kyrgyzstan you can find here.
To enter the territory of Kyrgyzstan the foreign national must have a foreign passport valid for not less than 6 months following the termination date of the tour.
It is also important that before their trip to Kyrgyzstan foreign nationals arrange travel medical insurance with coverage of up to $10,000-15,000.
Photo of the tour:
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