An in-depth information to mountain biking in Jyrgalan, a stunning village within the mountains of Kyrgyzstan!
Jyrgalan is a small village, within the far East of Kyrgyzstan on the foothills of the Tian Shan mountains.
It was as soon as a affluent coal-mining village, nevertheless following the autumn of the Soviet Union the mine closed and the native financial system collapsed. Many individuals needed to go away the realm to seek out new work.
In 2016, six households from the village joined collectively to type a community-based tourism venture referred to as Vacation spot Jyrgalan.
They believed that based mostly on the realm’s excellent pure magnificence, it had the potential to grow to be a favourite vacation spot for vacationers on the lookout for outside actions.
Tourism within the Jyrgalan Valley has steadily been rising since. Whereas the village might by no means be described as busy, there’s a small however regular stream of vacationers arriving.
Whereas a lot of the tourism focus is on climbing, horse-riding, and ski-touring, there has by no means been any doubt concerning the potential of Jyrgalan as a base for glorious mountain biking.
Whether or not you’re a newbie on the lookout for a simple route, or a extra skilled rider on the lookout for a severe journey there’s something for you right here.
Better of all it’s nonetheless utterly undiscovered, you’ll virtually actually have the paths to your self, bar the odd horse or sheep!
Interested by visiting Kyrgyzstan? NOMADasaurus runs small group excursions to this fascinating nation – discover extra information right here!
When To Go to Jyrgalan
Mountain biking might be executed as early as June and as late as September. Nevertheless, July and August are one of the best months.
Getting To Jyrgalan
It’s doable to rearrange a personal taxi to deliver you straight from anyplace in Kyrgyzstan to Jyrgalan.
If coming by public transport you’ll first want to achieve Karakol. From Karakol marshrutka (native minibus) quantity 331 leaves from Ak Tilek Bazaar at 8:30, 13:30 and 17:30. The journey to Jyrgalan takes about 2 hours, it’s the final cease.
Alternatively, it’s doable to cycle from Karakol (62km 781m complete elevation). The highway is comparatively quiet, navigation could be very simple – there are even some signposts pointing the best way.
Try our full information to one of the best locations to go to in Kyrgyzstan!
Lodging
There’s a vary of lodging in Jyrgalan, from hostels to extra luxurious visitor homes. The simplest option to test costs and availability, and make a reservation, is thru the reserving.com web site.
Meals
There isn’t any café or restaurant within the village. Meals might be offered by means of your lodging. Your lodging also can offer you a lunchbox to take out with you.
There are just a few small outlets promoting some primary meals and snacks (bread, rice, chocolate bars, chips, ice lotions and so forth.)
Cash
There isn’t any ATM in Jyrgalan. Most locations solely take money (Som is most well-liked, however Euro and USD could also be accepted). Vacation spot Jyrgalan can take card (Visa or Mastercard) for bigger purchases.
So be sure to get money out earlier than you head to the village!
A Information To Mountain Biking In Jyrgalan
Now that we’ve coated the fundamentals, listed here are some extra in-depth summaries of mountain biking routes round Jyrgalan. We’ll embody information concerning the terrain, guides, and bike leases. Plus we’ll checklist a few of our favourite mountain biking routes and provides an in depth description of every one!
Terrain
The routes recommended on this article function quite a lot of terrain from “highway”, to single monitor, to utterly off-road making your individual monitor.
Bear in mind that “highway” could be very a lot relative to the Kyrgyzstan mountains, and extra like mud/gravel trails – don’t count on to see tarmac. It’s uncommon to see even 1 automobile on these routes, if you happen to do expertise “visitors” it would extra doubtless be horses, cows, or sheep.
For those who’re trying to hike as nicely, take a look at our information to the Keskenkija Loop, additionally positioned within the Jyrgalan Valley!
Bike Rental
It’s doable to hire mountain bikes in Jyrgalan. The fee is 1500som per day. There’s a restricted provide so it’s finest to e book forward to keep away from disappointment.
The selection is proscribed to 1 mannequin, so if you need one thing particular it may be price hiring a motorbike in Karakol the place there are extra choices. In case you are planning on doing quite a lot of mountain biking in Kyrgyzstan it might be price contemplating bringing your individual bike from residence.
Jeep Choose-up/Drop-off
A few of the routes on this article counsel a Jeep pick-up/drop-off. You may set up this by means of Vacation spot Jyrgalan, contact them for up-to-date costs ([email protected]).
Guides
It’s envisioned that the routes on this article might be executed with out a information. Navigation is pretty straight ahead, and maps and GPS tracks are offered.
Nevertheless, a information can actually add to your expertise; taking away the stress of getting to fret about navigation, discovering you one of the best traces in locations, and offering details about the native space.
There are a restricted variety of mountain biking guides, so finest to e book nicely upfront. Contact Vacation spot Jyrgalan to make a reservation!
Learn extra concerning the Jyrgalan Valley and why it’s our favourite place in Kyrgyzstan!
Jyrgalan Mountain Biking Routes
New Mine Street
A straightforward route appropriate for households and newbies.
The route begins on the foremost entrance to the village on the Welcome to Jyrgalan signal. Cross the bridge heading out of the village, and instantly flip proper and keep proper on the fork. From there simply observe the highway all the best way to the brand new coal mine.
Alongside the best way you’ve good views; beginning with the previous mine, after which of a pleasant inexperienced valley with plenty of yurts and animals.
There are not any steep or technically troublesome sections, and the highway is extraordinarily quiet. The experience again to the village from the mine is sort of completely downhill, and really pleasurable.
Even for folks with none biking health you possibly can count on the path to take lower than 2 hours. If you need to make this into an extended journey, you possibly can cycle a little bit previous the mine after which proceed on foot to Kok Bel Waterfall.
Birch Grove Loop (with Tulpar Tash)
A enjoyable and comparatively simple Jyrgalan basic half-day experience, with a facet journey to Tulpar Tash.
The route begins on the bridge over the Jyrgalan River on the South finish of the village. Proceed over the bridge and observe the jeep monitor to the suitable, there are some good panoramic views of the village from this part. The highway finally flattens out and turns left, earlier than forking. The left monitor goes to Tulpar Tash, the suitable monitor is the Birch Grove Loop.
After the fork, the primary part of the monitor to Tulpar Tash is steep and rocky. Don’t be stunned if you must get off the bike and stroll up this part, it’s by far the toughest a part of this route.
After this, the path begins to stage off and you’ll attain a pleasant wide-open plateau with incredible 360-degree views. Preserve following the jeep tracks over rolling terrain as much as the very giant rock – Tulpar Tash.
Tulpar Tash (Horse Rock) is a part of the Manas Legend. It’s mentioned that Manas rode his horse off the rock, leaping into battle and scaring away the invading Chinese language. You may nonetheless see the horse footprints on the rock. It’s a pleasant place to relaxation for a couple of minutes and benefit from the views.
From Tulpar Tash descend the best way you got here up. Whenever you get again to the fork this time take the opposite path, that is the beginning of the Birch Grove Loop. Preserve following the jeep path by means of the Birch forests.
For probably the most half, it’s a pleasant simple flowing descent, with the occasional barely steeper part and one small stream to cross (it’s very shallow and doable to experience by means of).
Ultimately you’ll attain the highway, the place you are taking a pointy proper turning again on your self barely (there’s a signal right here directing you in the direction of Jyrgalan). Comply with the highway all the best way again to the bridge on the North facet of the village. For those who nonetheless have the time and power as an alternative of going into the village you possibly can be part of the New Mine Street path right here.
Temirlan Tash Loop
A troublesome however rewarding day getting nicely off the overwhelmed path!
The route leaves Jyrgalan on the highway in the direction of Karakol. After some quick gravel descents, flip proper on the fork within the highway, and proceed till the suitable flip on the Jyrgalan Valley signal publish. From right here you start climbing steadily earlier than it will definitely ramps as much as the primary cross of the day.
From the cross take the left fork descending down into the valley a little bit. The following 6km slowly climbs over rolling terrain surrounded by inexperienced hills stuffed with yurts and animals. This Jailoo (excessive pasture space) is a very distant stretch, nicely off the overwhelmed path. Don’t be stunned if the native Shepherds look a little bit stunned to see a foreigner on a motorbike!
After a barely technical and bumpy descent, you’ll attain the highway going to the border crossing with Kazakhstan. Flip proper and observe this highway till the suitable flip on the backside of the Tyup Valley.
After round 1km you’ll attain a small bridge, after crossing there’s a path leaving the highway to the left which takes you to Temirlan Tash (Temirlan Stones). For those who don’t wish to make this quick detour you possibly can nonetheless see them from the highway.
The story behind these rocks is that Temirlan — the ruler of Samarkand in the course of the medieval ages – requested his troopers to every place a rock on the pasture earlier than going into battle in opposition to the Chinese language. After they returned every soldier eliminated one rock from the pile. The remaining rocks present the variety of troopers that died within the battle.
Proceed heading South up Tyup Valley. It’s a lovely wide-open inexperienced valley very, stuffed with; animals, yurts, and previous railway carriages which have been transformed into lodging for shepherds. You’ll attain a bridge crossing the river, which is a very good picture spot.
Cross the bridge and go straight into the valley forward. There may be an apparent path utilizing an previous highway which is now principally destroyed. That is the place the final massive climb as much as Kok Bel Go actually begins.
The primary part is especially tough attributable to its steepness and rocks. Preserve climbing, at some factors it’s truly simpler to climb subsequent to the path within the grass, simply attempt to decide the best line.
Ultimately you’ll attain Kok Bel Go which affords incredible views all the best way all the way down to Jyrgalan Village. There are a number of doable descents. The simplest possibility is to make use of the jeep monitor the North Aspect of the valley. A extra attention-grabbing route with just a few barely technical rocky descents might be seen right here.
Learn subsequent: The Final Information To The Boz Uchuk Trek in Jyrgalan
Chong Ashu Go
A completely epic descent! From excessive within the mountains within the snow descend all the best way all the way down to a lush inexperienced valley. If solely doing one mountain bike experience in Jyrgalan that is the one to do.
From Jyrgalan a jeep takes you and the bikes as much as Chong Ashu Go at 3800m. From right here you’ve good views of the Tian Shan mountains.
The route begins straight from the cross. It’s not uncommon to nonetheless have 7ft+ snowbanks on the facet of the highway right here in the beginning of summer time. The descent follows an apparent highway, there are not any navigation abilities required.
Merely benefit from the first 18km descent, dropping down from snow-capped peaks all the best way to the plush inexperienced Turgon Ak Su valley. For many, this might be round 30mins of barely (if in any respect) having to the touch the pedals, with continuous nice views.
As soon as within the valley, the terrain is flatter with just a few rolling hills, however at all times trending downwards. Take your time having fun with the gorgeous broad valley stuffed with yurts, horses, and a roaring turquoise river. There are a lot of good viewpoints good to cease for lunch.
You’ll finally attain one other good lengthy descent all the way down to the bridge crossing the Turgon Ak Su River. After the bridge, there’s a quick climb, earlier than a closing final descent on good easy roads all the way down to Ak Bulak Village, the place the jeep might be ready to take you again to Jyrgalan.
For those who nonetheless have power the jeep can drop you off on the flip level for the Birch Grove Loop, the place you possibly can experience again to Jyrgalan through Tulpar Tash and a pleasant panorama of the village.
(It’s doable to do that route with out jeep help, biking from Jyrgalan to the cross and again. Nevertheless, it’s a particularly robust bodily problem (129km with 2500m elevation acquire). Even for a match bicycle owner that’s acclimatized to the altitude count on the spherical journey to take 8+ hours.)
