Kyrgyzstan – The Shepherd’s Way

Another fantastic trip from Redspokes, this one is right up there with the best of them!

The cycling was tough, exhilarating, and brilliantly varied, featuring a mix of challenging off-road trails and tarmac, testing long climbs, dramatic switchbacks, and thrilling downhills. The scenery evolved constantly: from alpine passes and breathtaking mountain vistas to wide-open plains shared with grazing horses, cattle, yaks, and sheep.

The warmth of the local people made it even more special: car occupants waving as they passed and children rushing to the roadside for high-fives as we rode by.

The accommodation, although basic, struck the perfect balance of comfort and authenticity. We stayed in cozy local guesthouses, spent two magical nights in a traditional yurt (with a horse-ride to break up the cycling!), and enjoyed four nights of wild camping in beautiful locations. Sitting outside our tents, chatting while watching the stars slowly emerge from the gathering night sky, is a memory I will cherish forever.

A huge shoutout to our support crew led by the incredible Ayman. Together they were unstinting in ensuring everything ran seamlessly.

I’m already planning my next Redspokes tour!

Kyrgyzstan is an untouched natural nomadic paradise made up of stunning, wild and diverse landscapes! I would highly recommend traversing by bicycle throughout this incredibly beautiful countryside!

To top this trip off, the friendships formed with the funny, witty and smart local guides just made the trip all the better for me! So step out of your comfort zone for a challenging, yet memorable, cycling adventure to one of the fewer places left on earth unchanged!

An unforgettable experience. The Kyrgyzstan expedition with Red Spokes exceeded all expectations, from the breathtaking landscapes to the flawless logistics.

Our tour guide Ayman and support crew were world-class, striking the perfect balance of professionalism and warmth. Every detail was handled with care, allowing us to fully immerse in the adventure. A true 5-star journey. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I will have special memories of camping at Kurtka – the campsite was peaceful, open and the skies were beautiful. I enjoyed the camping as it was more 'in the wildnerness' than staying in hotels. I also enjoyed the particularly homestay at Kyzyl-Oi as the rooms were bright and it felt like we were staying with the locals rather than being detached from the environment and culture. I had a fantastic holiday. So many smiles and happy memories … a beautiful country that I got to travel through by bike – my happy place. Thank you.

I’m more of a leisure rider and it was a stretch for me to sign up for Kyrgyzstan, but I really wanted to see the Tien Shan. High altitude, weather and road conditions really did make this a challenging and at times difficult trip, but you get rewarded with outstanding vistas and a sense of achievement. I'm glad I brought enough warm clothes and had even bought a warmer sleeping bag for this trip.

Our guide Ayman and the support team were outstanding. Among my favourite moments were exchanges with the friendly local people, for example this young boy who spontaneously led us in a dance at the campfire at Son Kul! I look forward to sifting through some 1,000 photos on cozy winter nights.

I enjoyed the Red Spokes Shepard's way tour. The scenery was varied and spectacular, the people of Kyrgyzstan were friendly and happy to see us. Our guide Ayman was friendly and enthusiastic, very helpful with translation and sharing his local knowledge. His support team provided wonderful breakfast and lunches and serviced the bikes each day with lots of water and snacks to aid our riding efforts. The hire bikes were the right bike for the tour in my opinion. My first time riding and sleeping at altitude, take it easy until you adjust and bring the right amount of warm and waterproof clothing layers for the varied conditions at that elevation.

This was my 4th tour with Redspokes and I think it was very well organized in general. Scenery in Kyrgyzstan was breathtakingly beautiful but cycling on 95% gravel was also super tough for me as I wasn’t a natural born cyclist nor was I comfortable in this terrain at these altitudes.

My tour mates were great and the laughters often helped ease off the pain. All said, I was very glad to have done this. I don’t think I would’ve seen so much if I weren’t on two wheels in a country that isn’t very accessible. I’ll continue to tour with Redspokes as long as they provide these adventurous options.

I’ve done a number of redspokes trips and this one was another great trip. The trip was well organised. Lidia was a very good Leader who never tired of answering all our many questions. She gave us a great insight into the culture and customs of her country. The back up team did a great job and everything ran very smoothly.

The trip takes you off the beaten track into the wilds of the country with fabulous varied scenery. Son Kul Lake is an amazing spot where we witnessed Kyrgyz nomadic life. The sunsets and sunrises were awesome. The trip is mostly off road and rough in places so a good level of fitness is required. Kyrgystan is a fabulous country and certainly worth a visit.

Our trip to Kyrgyzstan was a real adventure. The cycling was tough and made more challenging by the heat, altitude and rough "washboard" rutted roads – however, the dramatic scenery, mountains and gorges plus the remote nature of the unpopulated areas we cycled through, were well worth all the effort. We were challenged by some huge climbs, the most memorable being the switch back climb up to the mountain pass before our yurt camp stay, but luckily we had a very supportive group who encouraged each other throughout. The downhills we had earned were enjoyed by everyone!

Throughout the trip we were treated to lots of traditional Kyrgys food and particularly enjoyed our riverside packed lunches mid ride. Soup is a staple and steamed dumplings are an ever present option! Cake stands full of fruit, sweets and biscuits provided welcome treats and bread and jam were always abundant. The accommodation was very varied and gave us an insight into the semi nomadic way of life still followed by some people. The experience of watching amazing sunsets while staying at Son Kol in a yurt will stay with us for many years!

This trip with Red Spokes tales you through some extremely spectacular scenery, it was also fascinating culturally, the support team were excellent.

Overall an amazing experience that will forever remain in memory!

This was my 6th trip with Red Spokes. I have loved all of them, but Kyrgyzstan was the most spectacular and varied and I loved the mostly off-road element (since I’m a mountain biker, not a road cyclist).

The cycling was very difficult at times – and I hated the washboard roads, horrendous! – but it was worth it to be exposed to such exceptional scenery and tucked away treasures. The group of 12 was very nice and everyone got along fine; a bonus. Looking forward to my upcoming trip later this year to N. Thailand.

Thanks from your happy client!

This was my first ever tour and Kyrgyzstan and it did not disappoint. The landscape was truly amazing, the route was excellent and the people were very friendly and welcoming.

Our guide Mirs was first class, nothing was too much trouble.

The Kyrgyzstan tour was a phenomenal way to see this very beautiful country. From the challenging climbs, exhilarating descents, and the many interactions with people along the route, it was a very satisfying tour. In particular, our tour organizer Aikokul was a constant source of information and context. She and her small team did a phenomenal job of managing to keep everything on track.

Thank You Kyrgyzstan for a fabulous trip to your beautiful country. The group and leader were great, the scenery stunning and the people very friendly.

Would highly recommend.

Have completed Kyrgyzstan The Sheperds Way and The first time with Redspoke. Well organized and must praise the local guide and the crew who contributed to a great trip.

I am already considering another trip for next year!

‘I have been on 4 group trips and this was the best by some way. Scenery was spectacular, varied and stunningly beautiful throughout the entire trip. There were no bus transfers apart from the start and end. Biking was excellent both in terms of the fitness challenges and technical challenges presented. Camp sites were in beautiful locations and camping was fun and comfortable for someone who is an occasional rather than regular camper.

The tour leader related well to all parties and successfully kept the stronger and weaker cyclists reasonably together without being unduly restrictive. The support team were great.’

This was our first organized bike tour – we usually organize our own bike trips – but we wanted to do something different and redspokes offered Kyrgyzstan!

The trip did not disappoint: the vistas were stunningly beautiful and the cycling was appropriately challenging, mostly due to very rough (i.e. unpaved) surfaces, which we were not accustomed to as road cyclists. We had so much fun with the off road parts as well as with the downhill portions. We loved the semi-nomadic culture and our time at Son-Kol lake and the yurt camp.

The local team was excellent. One caution is to be sure to take proper clothing for cold, wet weather at high altitude.

I had the most magical holiday and have absolutely fallen in love with the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

Absolutely fantastic support team and some of the valleys were picturesque.

Our redspokes trip to Kyrgyzstan exceeded our expectations. The pre-trip communication was efficient and helpful. The trip was well-organized and the itinerary exposed us to different landscapes and aspects of Kyrgyz life.

Our Kyrgyz crew were wonderful and helped us gain an insight into their intriguing and beautiful country. The cycling is challenging due to the roughness of the roads but the rewards far outweigh the difficulties – it is a truly stunning country that is only just starting to be discovered!

Entering into the unknown has never been so rewarding. You will be thrown out of your comfort zone and into a fabulous world of friendly locals, stunning views and great food.

Daniyar and the support crew were great — not only did I love Kyrgyzstan, I loved the fact that they all did too. They dealt with the inevitable issues that arose smoothly, were always in good spirits (even on the days when we hit wind, rain, hail…and yeah, we had a couple of those), made great food, and were excellent guides into Kyrgyz language and culture.

If I ever toyed with the idea of getting into the support van, I knew that Daniyar would support that — but was really hoping we could just keep cycling. Another memorable redspokes trip.

Tough roads, extreme weather, friendly people all make for a great trip in a country where even the city folk are horse experts. If you like wide open spaces then this trip is for you.

This is an excellent trip – The guide was probably one of the best I have ever had on any tour, nothing was too small or too much to be achieved. The quality of food and accommodation is very good, I was particularly impressed with the range of vegetarian food available. I loved staying with the local families and in the yurts. All the people involved were highly welcoming and hugely enhanced the enjoyment of the trip.

The riding is challenging, but not overly so – the scenery is spectacular and the route has been well-considered to offer sufficient challenges without being tortuous! The bikes available for rent are perfectly adequate for the job and the support is highly professional, competent and reassuring.

This is a tough ,mostly offroad tour for fit , committed and reasonably experienced cyclists. As such it is extremely rewarding. This mountainous country is amazing and very varied and it is keen to encourage visitors although many services and facilities are in their infancy – this adds a sense of adventure expected in Redspoke’s tours.

The principle guide although young and inexperienced at cycle guiding specifically had an amazing attitude , was keen to learn ( from us) and solved all of the problems that came his way as they inevitably do. The rest of the support crew thankfully grew into their roles as the requirements of the tour become known. The food was regional , generally plentiful and delicious. They adjusted the menus on the hoof to accommodate our needs in the hot hot weather. The camping was enjoyable but the yurt camp was exceptional and very memorable. The rest of the accommodation was varied to suit what was available and always acceptable. I would recommend this tour for the adventurous.

Another unforgettable trip with Red Spokes – hard but rewarding cycling through stunning scenery on barely used roads.

The people of Kyrgyzstan helped make the trip with their friendliness, humour and hospitality, and the support from both Craig and the local guides was brilliant.

Another great redspokes trip. Very different scenery/environment to any other I'd been on.

The outstanding local guide was extremely informative and knowledgeable about Kyrgyzstan, it's people and history!

It was an excellent and breathtaking trip! A star trip!! The country, scenery, the guides and support crew and the group makes this trip a memorable one!

Kyrgyzstan is quite simply one of the most beautiful countries on earth and a fantastic cycle destination!

My 5th redspokes tour, well organized as usual.

A fantastic adventure in an amazing country. The tour took us through a varied environment of the dry rocky lowlands to the lush green of the higher mountains. It was a step back in time as we encountered the hospitality and welcome of traditional nomadic people in their yurts and shared the open plains with wild horses. The locals seemed as interested in us as we were in them as tourism in this area is truly in its infancy. We exchanged a ride on their horses for a ride on our bikes and although maybe didn’t enjoy the taste, we certainly appreciated the kind offer of fermented mare’s milk.

With long periods away from any villages or shops it is great to have the support of the excellent redspokes staff and vehicles to carry all the food, water and camping equipment. I look forward to my next trip!

This was the first time with redspokes and was in every way a success. Especially my thanks to Kyrgyzstan guide Aikokul, who made our time even more interesting and enjoyable with her enthusiasm, knowledge and humour!

Thanks for a great trip!

It was a great trip/adventure seeing some fantastic scenery and country. People all got on very well, and the leader was easy to get a long with.

A wonderful experience in Kyrgyzstan! The cycling was tough but the beautiful scenery made it worth it. Aikokul was the most amazing guide, a veritable fountain of knowledge/ resourcefulness/ kindness and wit! The people, food and landscape of Kyrgyzstan surpassed all expectations and we all fell in love with the country. Thank you redspokes for an unforgettable trip!

Our trip to Kyrgyzstan was unforgettable. The scenery took our breath away, our fellow travellers were great company, and the local hospitality was second to none.

The trip was my biggest cycling challenge yet, and yet has left me excited for more!

My first time on an organised tour, and my first time in Central Asia. I highly recommend the camaraderie, organisation and excitement on this redspokes tour. Great fun. Do it!

We had a wonderful trip in Kyrgyzstan with redspokes. The country is beautiful of course, but the cultural experience was the best part of the trip.

The people are wonderful and happy to see tourists on bikes. The homestays made the experience even better.

Kyrgystan is a wonderful place, and this trip, was the first redspokes had made with an official tour group. Despite some teething problems, the trip was exciting, culturally rewarding, and gave us day after day of amazing scenery.

It was tougher than the 6/10 billing due to the majority of the route being off-road, but don’t let that put you off!

One of the most rewarding incredible adventures I have ever had the pleasure to experience! Would definitely do this again!

‘This was my first tour with redspokes and I wasn’t disappointed. A wonderful country.’