KE Adventure

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Mountain Bike Mayhem

Mountain Biking in Kazakhstan with KE Adventure Travel

Heli Biking in Kazakhstan with KE Adventure Travel

Wilderness mountain bike holiday in the Tien Shan of Kazakhstan
Heli-biking above the Karkara Mountain Base
Meeting the nomadic Kazakh and Kirghiz shepherd communities on bike
Views of Khan Tengri when cycling across the Mingtur Pass
Experience a REAL mountain bike adventure holiday

A perennial mountain bike holiday favourite, with superb biking into the wilderness of Kazakhstan and Kirghizstan in Central Asia. The Tien Shan or Celestial Mountains are one of the world's greatest mountain ranges featuring Peak Pobeda (7439m/24,400ft) and the famously beautiful spire of Khan Tengri (6995m/22944ft). These impressive peaks provide a spectacular backdrop for this very special mountain biking holiday in Central Asia through Kazakhstan and Kirghizstan. After a transfer from the former Kazakhstan capital of Almaty to the Turgen River Gorge, we start biking through a stunning landscape of open steppe, inhabited by nomadic herdsmen and their horses. As we bike across high passes and camp beside wild rivers, 5 days of mountain biking through the Zailyisky and Kungey Alatau mountain ranges brings us to the Karkara Valley. Here we enjoy 2 unforgettable days of 'heli-mountain biking' flying high above camp for some heavenly downhill. The climax of the trip is a 4-day bike ride across Mingtur Pass (3900m/12,792ft) and Chon Ashy Pass (3820m/12,530ft) into Kirghizstan. This is challenging off-road mountain biking and a genuine adventure travel experience as we bike in an area of incredible cultural interest and stunning high mountain scenery.

If you're unsure if this holiday is for you, or want to learn more about KE world biking, whilst enjoying the best mountain and trail rides in the Lakes - check out Dirty Weekends in the Lake District

Trip Guide

FAT TYRE ADVENTURE - Mainly following rough hardpack and loose track. Strenuous climbs, fast descents, demanding terrain and long, tough days are the norm - providing inspirational riding for any regular biker. 10,000m/32,800ft of ascent and descent over 11 days biking means that a good fitness base is essential. The support vehicle (amazingly) follows the bikes throughout. Average 57 km/35 miles per day.
This tremendous cycling adventure is on rough rural roads, tracks and trails that vary from hardpack to rocky ‘n loose. Many of these were originally built for forest access and to connect some of the more remote villages in the area. Steep and strenuous climbs, ballistic descents, rough terrain and long days are the norm and you should be prepared for challenging off-road rides. This part of the world is virtually untouched by mountain bikers or trekkers and is a true adventure in every sense. Since the Soviets pulled out of Kazakhstan and Kirghizstan, some of the roads have fallen into disrepair and many of the short sections of 'tarmac' on our route are now akin to rough forest logging roads. As rough as the roads and trails are, you may still come across the unlikely spectacle of non-4x4 cars being coaxed along them! Our off-road specific support vehicle follows us throughout the whole trip and we must stress that aside from the usual kit and food that you would carry on any day ride at home, you will not be required to carry any additional equipment - this is adventure mountain biking at its purest. There are not many bridges en-route and we have to wade across many small rivers. From the spectacularly located mountain base in the Karkara Valley we enjoy two days of incredible heli-biking before biking over the Mingtur and Chon Assy passes. This trip is graded as INTERMEDIATE. Intermediate trips will provide a fun challenge for regular weekend bikers with reasonable off-road skills. Longish days with some technical riding, including fast and narrow singletrack. A support vehicle will not always be available.