Kyrgyzstan - Winter
Journey off-grid in deep-winter to spot wild snow leopards.
The Journey
Venture by 4x4, horseback and on foot in a remote region to track and spot one of the planet’s most elusive and beautiful animals: the snow leopard.
On our specially tailored 9-day expedition, you’ll experience the realities of Kyrgyz deep-winter as you work with local park rangers to travel between remote camp locations in Sary-Chat Reserve. You’ll cross frozen rivers by horseback, scale challenging ridges and experience extreme temperatures.
As you explore this vast wilderness, you’ll grapple with challenging winter-conservation activities of wildlife monitoring and camera trapping, all at the best time of year to spot wild snow leopards.
You’ll learn to track and spot iconic wildlife like snow leopards and wolves as you venture deep into the park. We work closely with the Snow Leopard Trust and you’ll get to meet conservation champions from organisations to individuals who have dedicated their lives to protecting the species.
This is our most remote expedition yet, and you’ll be firmly in sub-zero temperatures. You’ll be far from the luxuries of city life, journeying by horseback over tough terrain and experiencing altitude and freezing deep-winter temperatures. No previous experience is required, but a mindset to adventure and explore is necessary. You’ll be well looked after by our expert team who have years of experience in the region.
Previous guests have been amazed at the true remoteness of this expedition. This is not a holiday, but an experience you will never forget.
Bringing together conservation and expeditions.
Departure Dates & Prices
22nd - 30th January 2024
£5,150 per person
Bookings paused.
10th - 18th February 2024
£5,150 per person
Bookings paused.
Introductory rate for 2024. From 2025, our deep-winter expeditions will cost around £6,500pp.
Find out more about our October expeditions here.
Our October expeditions have much warmer weather and less adverse conditions. Transport and movement around the reserve is much easier, but wildlife tends to live at higher altitudes, meaning sightings are at a greater distance. Our deep-winter expeditions tend to be much more unpredictable given the conditions in the park. Therefore a flexible mindset and a real desire for adventure is required. Those looking for more certainty around day-to-day activities and reserve accessibility should look at our October expeditions.
Payment in other currencies available, please contact us.
20% deposit required to secure booking. Full payment required no less than 60 days before departure.
The price excludes flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, tips for staff and any costs outside the expedition dates.
Minimum number of guests: 2. Maximum number of guests: 6.
Itinerary
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Day 01
Arrive in Bishkek - you’ll meet everyone on the expedition and get briefed on the journey ahead. We’ll conduct kit checks and safety briefs.
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Day 02
Meet some of the leading figures in Kyrgyz snow leopard conservation at the Snow Leopard Trust. Learn more about Sary-Chat reserve and its significance to global snow leopard populations. Then travel over 300km to Barskoon, a small town at the foothills of the Tian Shan range and experience Kyrgyz hospitality before our departure into the wilderness.
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Day 03
Expedition launch day! You’ll meet some of the reserve’s dedicated rangers and travel deep into the Tian Shan range towards the Chinese border. You’ll settle into our base camp and snow leopard spotting will begin. You’ll learn about snow leopard behaviour, how to use tracking equipment effectively and how we’ll be working as a team to track and spot them.
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Day 4 - 5
You’ll experience all that Sary-Chat has to offer. Riding by horseback down ancient glacial valleys, hiking up to isolated mountainous ridges and spotting snow leopards with park rangers who have spent their lives in the mountains. Our itineraries remain flexible so whatever you’re here for, you can get the most out of it.
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Day 6-8
You’re a pro by this point, and you’re putting all your spotting, photographing, tracking and riding skills into action. We’ll depart on a three-day excursion on horseback to a ranger cabin deep in the park. Few people have ventured this far. Expect basic conditions and a wild adventure into the heart of Kyrgyz snow leopard territory.
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Day 9
After an adventure to remember, we'll head to Bishkek, arriving in the evening. You'll have one night in a hotel and dinner provided.
What to Expect
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Accommodation
In Bishkek you can expect a comfortable room in a hotel, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city.
In Barksoon, we will be hosted by a local Kyrgyz hotel where you’ll experience true Kyrgyz food and hospitality.
In the reserve you’ll be sleeping on mats in expedition-grade tents or old ranger cabins deep in the park. At our main camp, you will have access to a communal heated yurt.
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Food
Food will be provided by local chefs for the duration of the expedition. They will cook a mixture of delicious Kyrgyz, Central Asian, and Western dishes. Veggies and vegans catered for, however, meat is an essential part of Central Asian cuisine. If you are a flexible veggie or vegan, we recommend you take this approach to make the most of the food on offer. Vegans in particular can expect a lack of variety on the expedition itself, but also in major cities and towns.
Nonetheless, whatever your preferences, you’ll be well fed!
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Solo-travellers
Many of our guests travel with us solo and often find they meet wonderful like-minded people on our expeditions.
We don’t charge single-person supplements and we try and provide a private room in hotels where possible. However, sometimes individual arrangements are not feasible. You will be paired with someone of the same gender where ever possible.
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Transport
You’ll be in a mixture of transport from regular taxis to rugged 4x4s, as well as on horseback. Horse riding experience is not necessary and those less confident on horseback can be tethered to a ranger’s horse for additional safety. Roads in the region vary, but a lot of driving will be done on poorly marked single track roads.
We provide regular breaks on our journeys and often find loads of interesting sights along the way!
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Hygiene
There is no running water in the reserve, but you will have access to a hand washing station to maintain hand hygiene at the main camp.
The main camp also has a ‘toilet tent’, which is essentially a simple hole with a western-style toilet.
During our winter expeditions, we are unlikely to find free flowing sections of river where it’s possible to wash, so most people will use wet wipes to stay clean until returning to Bishkek for a proper shower.
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LGBTQ+
We want everyone to enjoy our expeditions no matter who you are and how you identify yourself.
There are a number of up-to-date resources on LGBTQ+ rights and lived experiences in Kyrgyzstan for information. We don’t want anyone feeling like their enjoyment will be affected by how they identify. We’d be happy to have a discussion if you have any concerns, just get in touch.
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Fitness
You don’t need to be a tough mudder to enjoy our expeditions. You will need to be fit enough and able to trek by foot or ride on horseback for several hours at a time (with breaks). We’ll be at altitude for much of the expedition - around 2,800m. No experience of altitude is necessary, but be prepared to feel a little more breathless than you’re used to. If you have any concerns, please talk to us.
As this expedition is extremely remote, we are unable to accommodate people with existing conditions requiring regular medical attention.
Meet the team
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Kuban
With a lifetime of working to protect the natural world, and over 10 years working directly for the Snow Leopard Trust, Kuban has become an important figure for snow leopard conservation in Kyrgyzstan. Kuban’s advocacy work and relationships with local leaders has transformed snow leopard conservation in the region.
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Ulan
From a family of local herders, Ulan has decades of hardened experience in the region, both as a herder, local villager and as a park ranger. His ability to spot signs of wildlife from bears to small rodents is incomparable.
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Ulan (Jr)
Born locally, Ulan has spent much of his life exploring the remote reaches of the Tian Shan range. An expert horseman, a competent wildlife spotter and a family man, he’s spent much of his life working in Sary-Chat Reserve.
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Askat
Askat has lived his life in a village local to Sary-Chat reserve. His passion for protecting wild spaces has led him to train as an expedition chef, providing delicious meals to our guests and our hard working rangers.
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Tinshtik
A man of many talents, Tinshtik doubles excellent horsemanship with attentive camp craft to provide guests with a comfortable stay despite the extreme conditions of the region.
Collaborating with the Snow Leopard Trust
The Snow Leopard Trust aims to protect this endangered cat through community-based conservation projects that are based on an improved scientific understanding of snow leopard behaviour, needs, habitats and threats.
Frequently Asked Questions
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For our Kyrgyzstan winter expeditions, you’ll be able to check into your hotel by around 2pm on the first day of the expedition. We’ll aim to have dinner as a team that evening and go over kit and safety briefs.
You can depart anytime after 11pm on the last day of the expedition. However, a single night in a hotel is provided for you in Bishkek, so most people will fly the following morning in case of delays.
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You will be provided with all accommodation, food and transport from dinner on the first day of the expedition, until dinner on day 9. Airport transfers from Manas Airport to your hotel in Bishkek are included.
Exclusions: visa costs, flights, personal expenses like drinks other than water, tips for local staff, any costs outside the expedition dates.
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Kyrgyzstan offers free visas on arrival for most passports. However, you must check the requirements yourself before departure. If you require a visa before arrival, we can recommend an agent to process this for you.
Please ensure you also check vaccination and COVID-19 information carefully before departure as these can be subject to change.
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You are required to have travel insurance covering you for the duration of the expedition and for all the activities you will be undertaking. This includes horse trekking and trekking/hiking up to 4,000m, as well as helicopter medical evacuation.
You will be asked to provide your insurance information closer to departure.
Previous guests have noted World Nomad, BMC and Endsleigh as providing sufficient cover.
We strongly recommend that you take out cancellation and curtailment insurance (including Covid-19 cancellation) as part of your cover as soon as you have booked one of our expeditions to protect against cancellations.
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Our expeditions are remote so we need to make sure the trip is appropriate for you.
Upon booking, you will receive a medical form from us which needs to be completed fully and honestly. We review all medical forms thoroughly. Please ensure you're completely honest when completing the form. It doesn't necessarily follow that you cannot join us if you have a medical issue, but it may mean adapting elements of the expedition, or ensuring we have appropriate medical supplies on site.
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Yes. No matter your experience or background riding horses, it is required that you wear a helmet at all times while riding during the expedition.
You will be provided with a British safety standard-riding helmet.
In order for us to meet our obligations under our company insurance, you will also be required to sign a helmet disclaimer form. This is required by all guests.
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You can take a look at the full expedition kit list here:
www.wildexpeditions.info/kyrgyzstan-kit-list-winter
We’re always happy to provide further advice and recommendations.
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You don’t need to be super fit to join our expeditions!
You will need to be comfortable in 4x4 transport for long periods of time as our locations are very remote.
You will need to be comfortable riding on horse back for up to 4 hours (with breaks).
You do not need to be able to ride at speed, or be able to hike long distances at altitude.
Due to the expedition’s remoteness, you will need to be free of any medical concerns that require regular medical attention.
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Tips for local staff are completely at your discretion. All our staff are paid fairly for their work. Tips are welcomed in either Kyrgyz SOM or USD.
Giving tips at the end of your trip is a wonderful way of showing your gratitude for their hard work. If you plan to give tips, we can provide guidance on this, just get in touch.
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We have a wealth of experience photographing and filming in our destinations. We’re currently developing a blog to give advice specific to Kyrgyzstan - check back here soon for more info!
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You will be offline for the majority of the expedition. You will have wifi in your hotel in Bishkek, but it may be slow. You can buy a sim card and data in the airport just after passport security. This will provide some connection on the way to the park, but in the park you will not be able to get signal.
We will hold a sat phone for the duration of the expedition. This is strictly for emergency use only.
If you have any further questions, please contact us
Enquire Now
Drop us a line, we’re happy to answer any questions you have.