Ditch the tropical vacation; visit Nepal and climb Island Peak this autumn!

Kyrgyzstan new

Kyrgyzstan: Land of the Nomads and Epic Landscapes

Kyrgyzstan is one of the best-kept secrets amongst adventurers, a hidden gem of a country nestled between some of the most isolated and epic landscapes in the world. Many people upon arriving exclaim at the beauty of Kyrgyzstan and why so few people know about it: we aim to change this.  

We love Kyrgyzstan for its immensely varied landscapes, unique nomadic culture, and adventure potential. Few countries in the world allow you to experience soaring mountains, lush meadows, and surreal desert formations all in the course of a single day…

And we haven’t even gotten to the alien landscape that is Issyk Kul: arguably one of the most impressive alpine lakes in the world. 

Best of all, Kyrgyz people are warm, friendly, and immensely hospitable. Doesn’t matter if you’re chilling in a yurt camp with nomads or having a pint of beer at the esteemed Save the Ales brewery in Bishkek – everywhere you’ll find good people.

Our staff has gone to great lengths to craft the best itinerary possible for Kyrgyzstan. It would seem simple, given the extraordinary nature of the country, but we’ve gone the extra length to make sure you have an authentic and unforgettable experience.

Join on a trip in the land of the horsemen and limitless boundaries. We’d love to show why Kyrgyzstan is one of our favorite countries in the world.

Our Current Tour in Kyrgyzstan

Discover the Adventure Capital of Central Asia

Things to Know about Kyrgyzstan

Our Favorite Places in Kyrgyzstan

A windmill
Altyn Arashanr
ala kul lake kyrgyzstan
Ala kul
Song Kul
Song Kul
bishkek
Bishkek, Capital City
Enylcheck
Fairytale Canyon
Fairytale Canyon
Sary Jaz
Sary Jaz
Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul
Sunset

Kyrgyzstan FAQ

The trekking in Kyrgyzstan that we do on our trips can be classified as moderate. 

You can expect the following when trekking on almost any of our Nepal adventure tours:

  • Well-established routes and trails
  • The chance of snow at higher elevations (4000+ meters)
  • A chance to learn about Kyrgyz culture
  • Healthy, tasty food while trekking
  • A healthy dose of camaraderie and the chance to form lifelong bonds

Food in Kyrgyzstan can vary greatly depending on where we are. In Bishkek, there will be a respectable diversity — international restaurants are plentiful and are of a high quality.

In the more remote parts of the country, cooking is more traditional. Classic Kyrgyz cuisine is very filling — there will be a lot of bread, dairy, soups, and red meat. Spicing is simple. Vegetables are generally hearty and include potatoes, dark greens, and roots.
Kyrygz people love to offer sweets and jams at the end of every meal. Kumis (fermented mare’s milk) may also be offered. It is a very strange drink and we encourage going outside comfort zones to try it.

Hosts will not be offended if you say no.

Food whilst camping will be the best possible quality, but please have realistic expectations of what our camp cooks can deliver. On some occasions, especially when trekking to Ala-Kul, we may have special opportunities: some entrepreneurial locals pack wine and vodka up to the high camps and sell them (for reasonable prices).
Below is a list of what you can expect from our Kyrgyz hosts:

Breakfast: fried eggs, porridge, jam, sweets, bread, cheese, milk, tea, coffee

Hotel/Yurt Stay Lunch: Soup course, rice, veggies, meat, some sort of salad, pasta, tea.

Trekking Lunch: usually an array of finger foods e.g. cheeses, charcuteries, canned fish, bread, sandwiches, salads, more sweets.

Dinner: larger meals, rice, stews, grilled meats, bread, salads, sweets

Please let us know early on if you have any diet restrictions/preferences. If you are vegetarian/vegan, you might want to consider bringing some of your own food (for snacks/breakfast stuff), as it can be very difficult to cater to individuals in a big group, though we always do our best.

This adventure tour requires a lot of energy output each day and a big part of our job is keeping everybody well-nourished, happy, and energized.

The official currency of Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyz Som.

ATMs are common in the larger urban areas, like Bishkek, Kochkor, and Karakol but less common in-between.

We also recommend that instead of relying on your ATM card, bring foreign cash and change it at the airport or in the city (if the money changer is open at the airport). USD, Euro, British Pounds are all fine.

Outside of Bishkek, credit cards are not commonly accepted at local businesses.

The weather in Kyrgyzstan can be EXTREMELY variable. While it may be bright and sunny in the capital, it could be snowing in the mountains. Lower elevations are generally hotter and drier; snow is common at any time of the year in the mountains, even summer. A storm can happen at any time.

  • Bishkek – Hot and dry in the summer. Afternoon thunderstorms are common. Average temperatures: High: 35°C / 95° F Low: 24°C / 76° F.
  • Song Kul – Brisk in the morning, warm during the day, potentially stormy at night, cold at night. A true alpine climate. High: 23°C / 73.4° F Low: 10°C / 50° F.
  • Issyk Kul/Karakol – Probably the hottest place we will visit in Kyrgyzstan besides Bishkek. Lake itself can be quite chilly. Less prone to afternoon storms as nearby mountains generally attract clouds. High: 23°C / 73.4° F Low: 10°C / 50° F.
  • Ala-Kul – Probably the coldest place that we will visit on the trip. Snowfields may still be present on trail even in August. Snow is also a possibility. High: 23°C / 73.4° F Low: 10°C / 50° F.
  • Chong-Kemin – Very pleasant. Cooler than Bishkek but not as cold as Song Kul or as warm as Issyk Kul. High: 23°C / 73.4° F Low: 10°C / 50° F.

We have unique packing lists for each our adventure tours in Kyrgyzstan. You can access it using the link below. 

Have a Question?

Let the experts help you out!

Our team members are experts on all things adventure in Pakistan!

If you’re interested in traveling to Pakistan but still have unanswered questions, feel free to give us a shout anytime. We’re ready and able to assist you in any way possible when it comes to planning your next big trip. So ask away!

What People Have to Say

Adventure Guide

Hailing from the Toronto region of Eastern Canada, with a background as a former standout athlete (hockey of course) and a  love of mountain adventure, Clark is a welcomed addition to the Epic team.

In addition to being a keen photographer and adventurer, Clark brings his brilliant sense of humor, leadership skills, and positive attitude to everything he puts his mind to. 

When he is not leading trips, he is working on taking over the hard apple cider game in Canada as a skilled craft brewer. 

Adventure Guide

Noemi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.

She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos. 

Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team! 

Adventure Guide

As our man on the ground in Mongolia, there is not much this legend can’t do. As a native the Bayan-Ölgii province of the Western Mongolia Altai, Syerik has been working as a guide and tourism entrepreneur…

for the past several years and is one of the rising stars in Mongolia adventure travel industry. 

He is currently building a beautiful Ger (Yurt) camp near his hometown where he will host Epic Mongolia team members on our trip as well as other travelers from around the world! 

He is the perfect guide for your trip to Mongolia. Serik did an amazing job giving us a well rounded experience in the Altai NP region and down in the Gobi…
The food was fantastic and Serik gave us many opportunities to learn about the Kazakh culture in that region including traditional meals. (I can’t recommend enjoying the milk tea enough!)

– Coastal

Head of canine operations

Choriza started off life as a care-free vagabond on the streets of Madeira Island without any place to call home. From the moment we met her, we knew this dog was just different, and it was pretty much love at first sight. 

She gave up the dog street life in favor of joining her new dad Chris to become a full-time member of the Epic family towards the end of 2022.

These days she can be found listening in on the fringes of important Epic business meetings while half-asleep on the couch. She is a keen hiker, lover of mud, rare steak, and might just be the sweetest little dog we have ever seen. 

Adventure Guide

An experienced trek leader and
IFMGA aspirant ski guide, avid alpine climber, devoted adventure photographer.

Organized and guided trekking expeditions, climbs and ski tours in Tajikistan’s Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Georgian and Russian Caucasus and Kamchatka.

A full member and meets the organiser of the British Alpine Club. Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.

We joined Andrew on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous passes and through some rough and icy cold rivers. Thank you for a very memorable trip, your planning and prep was excellent!

– Monika Steinlechner

epic expeditions team

Adventure Guide

Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.

His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.

Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens. 

His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.

We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations! 

– Alexandra Ruth

Fairy Meadows

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Our Favorite Experiences

#1 Sunrise from Reflection Lake

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#2 Hiking to Nanga Parbat Base Camp

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#3 Playing cricket with the locals

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Trips Where We Visit Fairy Meadows

Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour.  Road trip with some  hiking and cultural immersion.

A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.

Adventure Guide

João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare. 

With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.

João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions. 

After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.

João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none

When not in Pakistan, João is  guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails –  discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.

João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!

– Jeffery 

travel hunza valley

Adventure Guide

Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains. 

Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles 

in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.

Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!

– Borgan

iran travel tour

Adventure Guide

Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.

Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.

Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro lead his 11th tour in Iran with Epic in spring 2020

When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Expeditions, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.

 I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!

– Coastal

Diane Bouvet

Adventure Admin / Marketing

After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe

She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Expeditions and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements. 

Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.

k2 gondogoro la trek

Head of Operations | Guide

A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations. 

Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.

Together with Epic Expeditions, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.

Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge. 

– Calvin


Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.

– Katrina 

adventure tours pakistan

Founder | Adventure Guide | Director

Since he started exploring the world, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 70 countries along the way. 

Over the last 10 years, Chris has logged more than 7000 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.

A few years back, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and the people of Pakistan led Chris to co-found Epic Expeditions at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 20 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.

Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe. 

For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.

He lives in Madeira Island when not leading expeditions in far-flung lands. 

Chris also works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan.  

Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!

Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”

– Will De Villers

Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]

Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.

– Clark Tyler

epic backpacker tours

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