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Tour Description
Overview:
This superb adventure tour gives the participant a unique and fascinating look into a region and culture unknown to many in the west. Our destination is an area where vast plains, endless steppes and the arid deserts of Central Asia meet the soaring mountain ranges of the Tian Shan, the “Celestial Mountains,” the northernmost reach of the Himalayans.
Experience the desert and climb steep roads to the top of high plateaus. Here you’ll meet local nomads tending their livestock in the high valleys.
While this is a challenging on and off-road tour, with a little riding experience manyone can do this tour on either your dual-sport/enduro or one of ours. Our support truck will accompany the tour to carry your luggage and provide backup in case of problems.
Your riding partner can ride pillion or spend time riding in the support truck.
Our journey focuses on the vast landscapes of these unique countries and encounters with new people and cultures.
Due to the complex logistics and planning it is absolutely necessary that all participants register early.
Daily Tour description:
Day 1:
Our adventure begins in Frankfurt Germany (participants from the US will meet the rest of the group in Frankfurt). From here we fly to the perhaps greenest city in Central Asia, Bishkek, Capitol and seat of the government of Kyrgyzstan, the start and finish point of our adventure tour.
Day 2:
After picking up our motorcycles from customs we’ll visit the city of Bishkek for some sightseeing. In the afternoon we’ll prep our bikes for the long ride ahead, pack our things for the road and finish the day with a stroll through town and dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3:
Today’s stage is easy. Paved roads lead to the foothills of the Tian Shan mountains towering in the distance to the Southwest.
For know we’ll leave the mountains in the distance, there is plenty of opportunity later to explore them in more depth. Riding over a large barren plain that reaches all the way to the horizon we’ll meet the silk road as we approach the ancient city of Taraz in Kazakhstan.
Day 4:
The vast plain leads toward the historic city of Turkistan once a major seat of power in the Islamic world.
Day 5:
We’ll focus on the unique character and colorful ornamentation of the 13th century Muslim architecture as we visit local landmarks along the silk road..
Day 6 is a free day, explore on your own, sightsee or just relax.
Day 7:
After soaking up the culture and history of the area we’ll return to the foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains. At the Aqsu Zhabaghly Nature Reserve in Kazakhstan we’ll have an opportunity to view the wildlife and unspoiled landscape close up.
Day 8:
Day 8 is another free day, spent at the Aqsu Zhabaghly Nature Reserve. Participants have the opportunity to join the guides for an exiting off-road tour through the local landscape. As an option, spend the day exploring the area from the saddle of the oldest form of transportation on the Silk Road, the camel.
Day 9:
The mountains beckon. We’ll cross the border into Kyrgyzstan and make our way through narrow valleys and canyons to the town of Talas in the Talas River Valley.
Day 10:
Gravel roads and high mountain passes await. We’ll climb to a high plain populated by local herdsmen tending their sheep and horses. At night we’ll pitch our tents near the nomad’s traditional felt tents, known as yurts.
Day 11:
We’ll take advantage of portions of the modern paved highway being built to connect the north of Kyrgyzstan with the south. Don’t worry, there is plenty of challenging gravel road to keep you in your best off pavement form.
Day 12:
Forests of walnut trees line the road as it climbs into the mountains. The route is quite demanding, but the rewards are priceless, as we’ll ride across the vast grassy plains toward the towering glacier covered mountains. Discover the history of the land and the ancient trade routes between China and the west. A remote caravan outpost from the 15th century still stands as a reminder of vast camel trains that traversed this route.
Day 13:
Most of Kyrgyzstan is situated in the Tian Shan Mountains. More than 50% of the land area in Kyrgyzstan lies at over 9000 feet in altitude and we are in the middle of it. Dirt roads that will literally take you breath away lead through the Kyrgyz Highlands to the town of Naryn on the ancient silk road to China. We’ll spend the night with the nomads on the shores of Lake Song-Kul. Here we’ll distribute donated winter clothing brought from Germany, to the local children and senior citizens.
Day 14:
A bit of well earned relaxation at Lake Son Kol situated over 9000 feet high is the order of the day. Enjoy the fresh caught fish from the lake and delight in the high altitude landscape.
Day 15:
The road leads us through valleys of sand and stone glowing yellow and red in the sun down to the area of Lake Issyk Kol, which means hot lake. Hot springs deep under the lake feed a steady stream of warm water and prevent the lake from freezing in the cold winter months. The lake is over 100 miles long and 40 miles wide and in the rising steam and fog, appears like an ocean when the mist obscures the towering mountain peaks on the opposite shore. This astonishing panorama surrounds us as we make camp for the night.
Day 16:
The road along Lake Issyk Kol will take us toward the border of Kazakhstan. The barren, vegetation free mountains give way to rolling hills and green meadows.
Day 17:
The high peaks are behind us as we say goodbye to the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and roll on to the steppes of East Kazakhstan. After an exiting day of riding we’ll reach Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city.
Day 18:
Spend the day visiting Almaty, the financial, economic, and cultural center of Central Asia. Don’t miss the cathedral built entirely from wood. A relaxing Turkish steam bath awaits at the end of the day. The city boasts a diverse population of Kazakhs, Russians, Uzbeks, Germans, Poles, Chinese and others.
Day 19:
Over roughly paved roads we’ll follow the foot hills of the Tian Shan Mountains back to our starting point in Bishkek as we end our days on the road.
Day 20:
After sending our motorcycles on their way home, we’ll enjoy a break from the rigors of the road and a chance to walk about the city of Bishkek to experience one final day in this interesting country.
Day 21:
It’s time to say goodbye to this wondrous land. Our flight to Frankfurt allows us to reflect upon the adventures we have just experienced.
Final word:
This exceptional tour took a considerable amount of time, money and planning to put it all together. We have created an adventure tour that is truly unique and full of surprising landscapes and panoramas. Grassland, steppes, endless plains of grass, glaciers, mountain lakes and the towering Tian Shan mountains create a background for the rich history and diverse culture of this ancient land. Join us and learn the meaning of our motto “the adventure is here.” Enjoy – the Overcross team.
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© 2005-2007 by overcross adventure tours.
The use of this text or parts thereof within print media or websites requires the expressed permission of overcross.
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