Celestial Mountain Action Adventure

With the overwhelming success of this exhilarating and totally unique trip over the last few years, we are delighted to report that we will be running it again this year.

On this multi-activity adventure you will take an incredible helicopter ride over some of the most spectacular glacier systems in the world, white-water raft on the Chui River, cycle and horse ride through the Celestial Mountains and stay with eagle hunters and nomads. Blending equal amounts of activity with living culture, you'll get to experience this remote part of the world from many different angles.

All in all it is the perfect combination for anyone with a love of the great outdoors, wanting a physical holiday and some life-long memories.

‘The trip was amazzzzziiiinnngggg! Bike ride was great, helicopter was great, guide was great, in fact everything was great!' Tracey Munford

+44 [0]20 7736 3968

Itinerary / Highlights

Highlights:-
• Helicopter ride over the Tien Shan Mountains
• Glacier walk at Mount Khan Tengri
• Mountain biking through the Nairn Valley
• Riding through the Mountains of Heaven
• White water rafting on Chui River

Day 1: Almaty (Kazakhstan):
Accommodation for this night is included in the tour cost, due to the arrival times of our suggested flights. Those on the suggested group flight will arrive early hours of Day 2.
Hotel (no meals)

Day 2: Almaty: The tour starts at our joining hotel before having a look round the city centre and visiting the museum and the orthodox Russian church, Holy Ascension Cathedral, which is made entirely of wood. After lunch we shall have the rest of the day take it easy (it'll be your last chance!) and acclimatise.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 3: Almaty & Karkara (Kyrgyzstan): After breakfast we will drive out of Kazakhstan and into Kyrgyzstan, and on to Karkara Mountain Camp. The drive takes about 6 hours so we will have a picnic lunch on the way. Once at the camp we will check into our large tents and then take a walk into the surrounding hills. Evening drinks in the bar followed by dinner, and the chance to try out the camp sauna.
Camp (B, L, D)

NB & Please make sure your Kyrgyz visas are valid from this day.

Day 4: Karkara: To help acclimatise we will go for a good walk north towards the high mountains before swinging east around a high ridge, over a pass and back round to camp. This will take about 6/7 hours so once again we will take a picnic lunch with us. Dinner will be back at camp, where again a sauna will be available.
Camp (B, L, D)

Day 5: Karkara & Inylchek (4000m) & Karkara: Hold on to your hats, today will be one of the most exciting of your life as we take a helicopter flight to North Inylchek Base Camp (4000m). This really is an experience of a lifetime as we ride in the Mi8-MTV high-altitude ex-Soviet helicopter and weave our way through the green-forested valleys of the foothills high into the centre of the Tien Shan, to reach the worlds' most northern 7000m peaks. The machine may not be pretty & the Soviets were always more concerned with performance than looks (the Mi8 MTV is the world's most reliable helicopter and holds the record for the highest mountain rescue) & but it certainly does the job. Opening the portholes will give you the chance to take some incredible photographs as you soar over the confusion of peaks, valleys, snow bowls and meandering glaciers that meet and divide like motorway junctions. And at the end of the line & literally just a couple of kilometres from the Chinese frontier & we will put down on a glacier between the beautiful and imposing Mt Khan Tengri and Mt Pobeda. After spending a little while here we will return to Karkara and spend the afternoon on another beautiful mountain walk.
Camp (B, L, D)

Day 6: Karkara & Bokenbaevo: After breakfast we drive down to Karakol on the edge of Lake Issyk Kul from where we will continue on to Bokenbaevo and visit the family of once famed eagle hunter, Sogan Bai. Although Sogan Bai sadly died in 2009, his family are continuing this marvellous tradition and welcome us into their home. Arriving mid afternoon there should be plenty of time for a swim in the lake.
Homestay (B, L, D)

Day 7: Bokenbaevo: After breakfast we will walk up through the foothills of the verdant Tien Shan & the Mountains of Heaven & for lunch at our Yurt camp. In the afternoon we will watch the eagles hunting. There will be plenty of chances for walks and horse rides should you prefer. We will spend the evening in the yurts and eat dinner cooked at the camp by Sogan Bai's children… followed by vodka toasts and, if we're lucky, entertainment by the family singing songs and playing local guitar!
Yurts (B, L, D)

Day 8: Bokenbaevo & Hot Springs: Trek from the yurt camp, over the 4100m Ton Pirival Pass and down to a dirt road to camp by the river and a natural hot-water spa. Though the scenery on this walk is magnificent, it should be made clear that it is a reasonably tough trekking day that will take between 9-11 hours. Those not wishing to walk can travel in our vehicle, via Sari Bulak, to meet up with the trekkers at our campsite. Dinner will be cooked in camp by our own cooks. Camp (B, L, D)

Days 9/10: Hot Water Springs & Camp & Narin: Here we pick up the mountain bikes and spend the next two days on the remote track running down the valley of the Little Narin River. On our 90km journey we pass the classic Central Asian steppes and high mountains (where eagles, horses and wild yaks are frequently sighted), before stopping in the narrow forested gorge to camp. En route there is even a beautiful crystal pool where we will be able to swim and at the end of the 2-day ride we will check into our guesthouse for dinner and a well earned rest.
Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Days 11/12: Narin & Camp & Son Kul: After breakfast we will drive out of Narin on the main China road, turn off to the west and pick up our horses which will lead us the final part of our journey. From here we will ride for two full days through some of the region's most breath-taking scenery before descending to the shores of Son Kul, the spectacular 3000m mountain lake, to stay with local nomads in their Yurt camp. We arrive in the late afternoon. Dinner cooked by the local family. PLEASE BE AWARE IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO RIDE YOU CAN TREK.
Shared Yurts (B, L, D)

Day 13: Son Kul: We can spend all day walking into the hills with a picnic lunch and enjoy the mind-blowing views. Those wanting a bit of downtime are welcome to hang out at the camp watching the plethora of bird life.
Shared Yurts (B, L, D)

Day 14: Son Kul & Bishkek: This morning we will set off early to Bishkek, but don't think the fun and games are over just yet! On the way we will stop just beyond Koch Korka to enjoy a few hours bouncing down the rapids of the Chui River. This white water rafting is not the toughest in the world but it will certainly get your pulse racing and will provide a fittingly spectacular climax to the trip. After this we shall continue on to the Kyrgyz capital, check into our hotel and enjoy late evening meal.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 15: Bishkek The tour finishes after breakfast at the hotel.
(B)

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Accommodation will be in small hotels and guesthouses with Western style bathrooms and on certain itineraries yurts and tents.
All hotels mentioned in the itinerary are subject to availability and if not available substitutes will be of a similar quality.

Transport:-
Transport in Kazakhstan will be in jeeps and helicopters. In Kyrgyzstan we´ll use jeeps, mountain bikes, horses and rafts!

Single Supplements: These are NOT compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. Where single supplements are available please note that a single room cannot always be guaranteed for every night of the tour as depending on the destination, rooms may be limited. On this tour we are able to offer an optional single supplement that will cover you for all nights except when staying in the yurts and homestays.

NB: for those nights when we are camping you will get a single tent.

Flights: If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flight (see GETTING THERE) or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know.

Fitness…
Anyone in a decent state of health can do our trips, although obviously to get the most out of this particular trip, clients should be fit and active. It should be noted that on some itineraries through certain parts of Central Asia you will be camping and staying in yurts so you should be prepared for long-drop toilet facilities and no showers for part of the trip. But don´t panic too much – what you will be witnessing will easily make up for any discomfort.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Start: Sat 07 Aug 10
Finish: Sat 21 Aug 10

+44 [0]20 7736 3968