Tour Overview
Kyrgyzstan under snow is a country that almost no one has seen. The steppe becomes an infinite white canvas, the mountains rise even higher above the frozen valleys, and the nomadic culture that retreats in winter reveals its most intimate, fire-warmed side. This 8-day MotoRover snow convoy is the most adventurous thing in our catalogue — and arguably the most memorable.
You travel in a Toyota Sequoia fitted with snow chains and winter tyres, supported by our most experienced mountain guide who has driven these roads in every season. The itinerary covers the Kegeti gorge's frozen waterfalls, the highland town of Naryn in deep winter silence, a felt-making workshop with a nomadic family, and the vast Suusamyr plateau — 2,000m of unbroken snow with the Tian Shan on every horizon.
Route Map
Day-by-Day Itinerary
| Day | Date | Route | Activity | Meals | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Dec/Jan TBA | Bishkek | Arrival. Dordoi Bazaar winter market — Central Asia's largest market in its deep-winter incarnation. Welcome beshbarmak feast: hand-pulled noodles, slow-boiled lamb, and the warmth of Kyrgyz hospitality. Tour briefing and vehicle handover. | Meals included — Dinner | — km |
| Day 2 | — | Bishkek → Chunkurchak → Kegeti Gorge | Morning optional ski run at Chunkurchak resort, just 40 minutes from Bishkek. Afternoon: drive into the Kegeti Gorge where the waterfalls have frozen into vast ice formations — a natural sculpture gallery carved by winter. Camp or guesthouse in the gorge area. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | 80 km |
| Day 3 | — | Bishkek → Kochkor | Drive east through the frozen Chuy valley — snow-covered steppe rolling to the mountains, frozen streams running alongside the road, the silence total. Kochkor is a small highland town that has changed little in a century. Overnight in a local guesthouse. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | 270 km |
| Day 4 | — | Kochkor → Naryn | Cross the Dolon Pass in full winter condition — snow chains on, the Toyota Sequoia climbing through a white world of absolute stillness. Descend to the frozen Naryn River and the remote highland capital of Naryn, as quiet and beautiful in winter as anywhere on the Silk Route. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | 170 km |
| Day 5 | — | Naryn → Jumgal Valley → At-Bashy | Drive into the remote Jumgal Valley where a nomadic family has agreed to share their winter. A full felt-making workshop — watching raw wool become intricate patterns through techniques unchanged for a thousand years. Tea by the fire. Overnight in At-Bashy. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | 130 km |
| Day 6 | — | At-Bashy → Kara-Keche → Chaek | Cross the high Coal Field plateau at Kara-Keche — an extraordinary Soviet-era industrial landscape sitting atop an ancient steppe. Wide open winter skies, a road that goes nowhere tourists go, and the strange beauty of a working highland in deep freeze. Overnight Chaek. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | 120 km |
| Day 7 | — | Chaek → Suusamyr Plateau → Bishkek | The final, climactic drive. Climb to the Suusamyr Plateau at 2,000m — a vast highland basin blanketed in metres of snow, the Tian Shan visible in every direction. This is why you came. Descend through the dramatic Too-Ashuu Pass to Bishkek. Farewell dinner. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | 320 km |
| Day 8 | — | Bishkek | Traditional winter breakfast. Final walk through Bishkek's snowy central boulevard. Airport transfers for departure. Kyrgyzstan in winter stays with you for a lifetime. | Meals included — Breakfast | — km |
Vehicle Options
- Toyota 4Runner Automatic Transmission
Tour Inclusions
- Toyota Sequoia 4WD with snow chains & winter tyres, comprehensive insurance & fuel
- 7 nights accommodation — hotels (Bishkek, Kochkor) + heated local guesthouses in remote areas
- All meals — breakfasts & dinners throughout
- MotoRover tour manager + local guide (winter mountain specialist) + mechanic
- Snow safety equipment — shovels, emergency kit, satellite phone
- GPS & offline maps for all routes including high-altitude sections
- Airport transfers (Bishkek arrival & departure)
- Felt-making workshop with nomadic family
- Visa support letter for Kyrgyzstan e-visa
- Tour merchandise (MotoRover kit)
- GST & TCS included
Optional Services
- Single Room Supplement $530
- Extra Night in Bishkek (Twin) $195
- Extra Night in Bishkek (Single) $165
Tour Exclusions
- International flights (India ↔ Kyrgyzstan — typically INR 45,000–55,000 return)
- Ski equipment rental & lift passes (est. USD 35/day if skiing at Chunkurchak)
- Personal travel insurance (from India, budget roughly INR 2,500–3,000)
- Kyrgyz visa fee (approx. INR 5,000 — e-visa available online)
- Warm clothing & snow boots (your own kit, or hire locally — often ~USD 20/day)
- Personal expenses
- Single room upgrade (optional) — from USD ~290 when available; confirm at booking
Tour Details
Food and Water
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner as per the itinerary (Veg/Non-Veg)
Accommodation
On twin-sharing basis. Single room upgrade available
Total Travel Distance
Approximately 1450 Kms
Riding / Driving Time
4-5 hours every day with multiple breaks
Terrain
Mix of paved and off-road
Air Connectivity
Bishkek has connecting flights from New Delhi/Mumbai via Almaty, Dubai, Sharjah and Istanbul.
Weather Forecast
December is the middle of winter, expect an average day temperature between 5 to -10
Additional Costs
Airfare – INR 50000 - 60000
Visa – Approx. INR 5000
Personal Travel Insurance – INR 2000 to 3000
Tour Video
Tour Gallery
Traveller Testimonials
Real, verified Google reviews from travellers who have toured with MotoRover.
Once you sign up, MotoRover takes away all your worries. I have done my second driving adventure with this family to Russia during the winters, the first being the Summer Baltic Tour. The tour managers are well trained and go out of their way to look after and pamper us. What I like best is they drive us through county roads as much as possible instead of the highways — this makes the drive a lot more scenic and you get a better feel of the country you are visiting. MotoRover feeds us very well, too well in fact, and the hotels they pick are amongst the best.
Russia Winter Adventure 2025
This was my first ever self-drive tour experience and I am glad my wife reached out to MotoRover for the Balkan Self-Drive Tour. Route planning (detours through National Parks), properties selected for night stays, coffee breaks and meals couldn't have been better. The local guide was an experienced professional, very passionate about giving us the best experience with safety first as his guiding principle. The ever-smiling tour manager from India added to the quality of experience. But the final takeaway was the awesome camaraderie that blossomed among fellow travellers — the best return on investment! Cheers to Kabir and Piyush.
Balkan Self-Drive Road Trip 2025
This Russia 2024 Snow Drive with MotoRover has been by far the best experience for us. From fun to adventure and getting the best weather each day made the trip just amazing. Huskies, hovercraft, snow ATV, walks on a frozen lake, a stay in igloos, reaching the edge of the world, great local food, and so much more. Also making 16 friends who were unknown before and are now like family. BIG SHOUT to team MotoRover. This Russia Tour is a MUST do before you kick the bucket!
Russia Winter Adventure 2024
The self-drive trip in Kyrgyzstan in June 2024 with MotoRover was an exquisite experience. The unparalleled natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan was perfectly complemented by the meticulous planning and execution of the expedition by MotoRover and its team. Pragyesh, Simon, Luda, and the other members of the team put forth their best efforts to make the entire trip memorable for all of us.
Kyrgyzstan Road Trip 2024
Excellent tour management and hospitality. The team really cares about its customers and goes out of the way to ensure customer comfort and experience are maintained with high benchmarks. I have been with them on the Central Asia road trip and had the best experience from booking to arrival back in India. Customers are briefed well in advance regarding itinerary, routes, travel arrangements and vehicle support — the whole experience was seamless. The biggest highlight was two 70-year-old ladies who accompanied us; Piyush and his team took extra care to ensure their comfort was a top priority. A true example of customer-first thinking. Kudos to MotoRover!
Kyrgyzstan Road Trip 2024