General fitness will help. If you do any sport or maintain an active lifestyle you’ll be totally capable to climb with joy.
7-Day Ice Climbing Adventure in Barskoon Valley
Price: from €750
- Location: Barskoon, Kyrgyzstan
- Group of: 4 person max for 1 guide
- Difficulty: Any level
- Season: December—February
- Duration: 7 days
| Location: | Barskoon, Kyrgyzstan |
| Group of: | 4 person max for 1 guide |
| Difficulty: | Any level |
| Season: | December—February |
| Duration: | 7 days |
About program
Barskoon Valley in Kyrgyzstan is one of Central Asia’s standout ice-climbing destinations, offering a rich mix of frozen waterfalls, dramatic winter scenery, and routes suitable for both beginners and experienced climbers. The valley lies on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, extending south into the Terskey Alatoo mountains. In winter (typically December through February/March), numerous creeks and waterfalls freeze into climbable ice formations, making it one of the region’s best areas for waterfall ice.
Barskoon features a wide variety of routes — from easy introductory gullies (WI2) to tall, sustained cascades (WI4–5).
When to go
The most reliable ice conditions are from late December through late February or early March. Later season can still offer good climbing, but warmer weather may lead to wet surfaces or unstable ice. January–February typically offers the best quality and coverage.
Program overview
Day 1: Transfer to Tamga village
The most convenient place to start from is Bishkek. It is also possible to start the trip in Almaty or Karakol. Traveling from Almaty takes longer and is more expensive, while Karakol is the closest city to Tamga — transfers are shorter and cheaper, though flight options can be limited.
Day 2–3: Introduction to ice climbing
We begin with approachable routes to learn and refine the basics of ice climbing — efficient swinging and kicking technique, stable body positioning, as well as how to place ice screws and create V-thread anchors for protection.
Day 4: Rest day
If you feel strong and motivated, we can still go climbing — but a rest day here is highly recommended for recovery. We can take a short hike to Lake Issyk-Kul and even try a refreshing (and cold!) winter swim. After lunch, we’ll continue with technical skills such as anchor building, rappelling, and rope management.
Day 5–6: Climbing on more challenging routes
We continue climbing and progress onto steeper and longer routes. Depending on the group’s confidence level and conditions, we can choose easier or more advanced objectives.
Day 7: Departure from Tamga
We will determine your optimal departure time together and arrange your transfer accordingly.
Want a shorter adventure? Check our 1-day ice climbing program in Almaty!
Photos from the tour
Details
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