Exploring the Celestial Mountains (Tian Shan) in Kyrgyzstan: Tosor Pass, Arabel & Engilchek
All the information you need to explore the Tian Shan by 4×4, van, motorcycle or bicycle
At first glance, Kyrgyzstan looks like a jumbled mass of mountains tangled up in every direction. In fact, the country is crossed from east to west by the Tian Shan mountain range or “Celestial Mountains”, whose peaks rise above basins and valleys where human activity is concentrated.
In this article, we focus on the central part of the Tian Shan that can be explored by motorcycle, 4×4 or bike, including the Tosor and Arabel passes and the ghost town of Engilchek.
- If you’re planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan by van, 4×4, motorcycle or bicycle, our book EXPLORE KYRGYZSTAN will be a great help.
- If you’d like to rent a vehicle (4×4, van, motorcycle or bicycle) in Kyrgyzstan, you’ll find our recommendations here.
Hello! We’re Olivia & Victor, authors of the OunTravela guides.
Over the years, our passion for adventure has led us to create original travel guides sold in over 70 countries worldwide. Our mission is to spread a travel philosophy based on adventure, freedom, improvisation and exploration. Our guides inspire travellers to explore the world’s forgotten paths, encountering wilderness and civilization.
We hope you find this article, based on our own experience, useful.
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Exploring the Celestial Mountains (Tian Shan) in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan’s altitude ranges from 401 m to 7,439 m at the summit of Pobedy Peak, the country’s highest point! Over 90% of Kyrgyzstan’s territory lies above 1,500 m and 41% above 3,000 m, making it a very mountainous country and a veritable water tower for the region, with almost 7,500 km² of glaciers.
The country is crossed from east to west by the Tian Shan range, which stretches over 2,000 km through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang province in western China. In this article, we’ll focus on the central Tian Shan, which lies to the south-west of Lake Issyk-Kul.
The Celestial Mountains are mainly the domain of mountaineers and hikers, but it’s also possible to explore these incredible landscapes via small mountain trails, provided you’re well-informed! Most of the routes to and through these mountains are old tracks dating back to the USSR, and require off-road vehicles (trail bikes, 4x4s, mountain bikes). If you have a 2×4 vehicle, you can reach the Arabel valley and the Kumtor gold mine (track 07 in the EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN book) or the town of Engilchek (track 10 in the EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN book).
The map below shows the various roads in the Issyk-Kul region, including the tracks in the book EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN. This A2 folding card is available here.
Tosor Pass (3,893 m)
The 3,893 m-high Tosor Pass lies in the Terskey Ala-Too mountain range. The trail to the Tosor Pass offers magnificent views of the Issyk-Kul basin, before dropping down into the green and picturesque Uchemchek valley. It’s in this fascinating mountain setting that you can discover the sparkling blue of Lake Teshik-Kul on foot, before tasting the comforting hot springs. A challenging trail for experienced adventurers!
Don’t underestimate the difficulty of this trail, whose condition varies greatly from year to year. You’ll encounter many difficulties: fords, deformations, mud, stones, etc.
- If you’re driving, 4-wheel drive is compulsory, and off-road tires will be a great help. Make sure your tires are in good condition, and don’t set off if you don’t have a spare. If you get stuck in the mud, remember to unload the vehicle or deflate your tires slightly.
- If you’re on a bike, you’d better have good tires and suspension, but the scenery will be well worth your efforts.
- On a motorcycle, your main difficulty will be fording the river, which is more important in early summer. What’s more, lightness will be your ally on this difficult trail.
Dhe trail runs along the Uchemchek River at the bottom of the valley. Water levels and current intensity fluctuate according to the day and snowmelt. In June or July, there will be more water than in August or September.
Depending on the year, snow cover on the pass can last until June or even July. You’ll need to get all the information you need before starting the ascent to the pass.
“If you hesitate to cross a river, one solution is to sleep on the spot and attempt the crossing early in the morning when the water level is lower and the current less strong. You can find all our advice on fords and off-road driving in the book EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN.”
