Ski touring Arlberg: Top 5 tour tips from the ski guide
Alexander Kunert 7 July 2026
Discover the most beautiful ski tours in Arlberg. From Hochkarspitze to Wösterspitze – exclusive route tips & requirements for your adventure.
Dry, Central Asian winds preserve the snow as feather-light, cold-smoke powder. Endless expanses where civilisation dissolves into the haze of the vast Issyk-Kul Lake. And at the heart of it all: a group of eight close friends, united by their passion for uncompromising lines and real alpine adventures.
In January 2026, we left the Alps behind and embarked on an exploratory trip to Kyrgyzstan. Drawn by tales of legendary Kyrgyz hospitality and the pristine powder of the Tien Shan mountains, it was clear: we had to experience this ski touring mecca for ourselves.
Here is our travelogue – packed with ascents, unforgettable descents, rugged yurt nights, and intense cultural contrasts.
Our journey began at Munich Airport. Via Istanbul, we were meant to fly directly to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. While our luggage – including the bulging ski bags and avalanche backpacks – miraculously arrived in Bishkek intact, the travel devil struck three friends in our group: they started in Vienna and missed their connecting flight in Istanbul due to a delay.
Having arrived in Bishkek, we were met by our local team: Tilek, our experienced Lead Guide, the young aspirant Malin, and our bus driver. As the three Viennese had a later flight, Tilek reacted with his usual professionalism and flexibility. He stayed in the capital to wait for the stragglers while we set off eastwards with Malin and the minibus.
Just under six hours of driving lay ahead of us – no easy feat after an already sleepless night on the plane. But Kyrgyzstan knows how to awaken tired spirits: a stop at one of the natural thermal baths situated right by the vast Lake Issyk-Kul and a hearty, late lunch of traditional Kyrgyz dishes gave us back the energy we needed. Late in the evening, we finally reached the district capital of Karakol and, exhausted but full of anticipation, fell into our beds.
The next morning it was finally time: skins on! Our first destination was the Austrian Kiss Peak. Even on the ascent, we got a first, overwhelming impression of the sheer endless expanse of Kyrgyzstan. Our gaze swept over the vast lowlands with the deep blue Issyk-Kul lake, across to the Kazakh border region and the mighty Tien Shan mountain ranges on the other side.
On the way to the summit, we experienced a real surprise: Our three Viennese friends, who had only arrived in Karakol in the middle of the night, had lost not a minute. They followed us directly, caught up with us on the ascent, and completed our eight-person team just in time for our summit victory. The first descent in the wide, untracked terrain was the perfect foretaste of what was to come in the following days.
Next, we proceeded to the small, former mining village Jyrgalan, which was to become our basecamp home for the next few days in a cosy, family-run guesthouse. Jyrgalan is undergoing transformation: the Vorarlberg-based cable car manufacturer Doppelmayr is currently building the first gondola lift here. This is the starting signal for a multi-million euro project by the Kyrgyz government, which aims to develop Jyrgalan into a modern winter sports resort with a three-valley ski connection in order to bring prosperity to the structurally weak region.
However, Jyrgalan still belongs to the individualists and adventurers. And so, the next day, we set off on our first Cat Skiing Kyrgyzstan Adventure.
The piste basher reliably and comfortably took us to the ideally sloped runs above the village. Our guide Sergej had a keen sense for the snow and found an untracked line in the bone-dry powder on every run. The gentle, playful terrain not only offered fantastic descents but also ensured a thoroughly relaxed feeling regarding avalanche danger – a welcome change for us alpine athletes, who are otherwise accustomed to the steep, often critical slopes of the Alps.
After an epic day in the deep snow, the most curious après-ski experience of the trip awaited us: the „Buchenwagen“. This is an old construction container that was lovingly converted into a rustic bar. Together with a group of party-loving Americans, the mood in the container escalated proportionally to the schnapps consumption. An unforgettable evening, after which – honestly – not everyone from our group managed to make it to dinner upright.
No Ski touring trip Kyrgyzstan is complete without a night in a traditional nomad felt tent. On the fourth day, our yurt adventure began. Skidoos brought us and all our gear deep into a lonely, long valley. The ride on skis behind the roaring engines of the skidoos demanded a good deal of balance and concentration, even from us experienced skiers!
At the end of the valley, we set up our small yurt camp. After arranging the sleeping spots, we were immediately drawn back outside. However, the Tien Shan doesn't always show its best side: The weather worsened, visibility was poor, and snow conditions were only moderate. After a short reconnaissance tour, we were glad to be back in the shelter of the yurt.
Our sleeping yurt was equipped with a simple coal stove. We quickly learned that these stoves only have two operating states: merciless sauna or ice-cold freezer. However, thanks to our high-quality -5°C comfort down sleeping bags and the nightly heating inserts, we survived the night perfectly.
The next day, our hardships were rewarded: under a cloudless sky and with glorious sunshine, we climbed an unnamed, proud 3,700-metre high peak. The descent through the untouched mountain landscape, far from all civilisation, was a profoundly impressive experience that made the return to civilisation all the sweeter after another icy night in a yurt.
Back in Karakol, the first hot shower after days in the wilderness felt like pure luxury. We took the opportunity to explore Karakol in more detail. The unmistakable Soviet charm of the architecture, combined with the vibrant hustle and bustle of the local market, offered fascinating contrasts to our usual Alpine towns.
On the six-hour drive back to the capital, Bishkek, we delved even deeper into the fascinating nomadic culture of Kyrgyzstan:
The Hunters of the Sky We visited traditional eagle hunters and were able to marvel at the majestic golden eagles up close.
Kyrgyz horsemen: We met local riders whose horsemanship on the vast steppes of Kyrgyzstan is deeply rooted in their DNA.
Genuine craftsmanship We bought handmade hunting knives from a local blacksmith – an authentic memento of this wild journey.
We celebrated the crowning finale of our trip in Bishkek. After an opulent, extremely delicious Georgian dinner, we plunged into the vibrant nightlife of the capital before embarking on our flight home via Istanbul the next morning.
Our clear verdict: Absolutely! Kyrgyzstan is a land of extreme contrasts, boasting incredibly warm people, an authentic culture, and a landscape that is second to none in its vastness. Anyone looking for a real adventure off the beaten track will find it here.
However, one must be aware: ski touring and cat skiing in the Tien Shan are – much like in the Alps – heavily dependent on the current conditions. There is no guarantee of snow for the perfect „cold smoke,“ and a good dose of luck with the weather is always needed. But this is precisely what makes genuine alpinism so appealing.
Kyrgyzstan, we will definitely be back!
At PEAKX experiences, we know exactly what's important for demanding trips and tours. Our local guides are state-certified qualified ski instructors and state-certified qualified ski guides or mountain guides. This is your absolute advantage: For us, maximum downhill fun with minimal risk is paramount on every run. You'll be out in the backcountry with genuine alpine specialists who can perfectly read the terrain and avalanche conditions – for boundless powder flow and the reassuring certainty that your safety is our top priority.
Whether you're practising your technique Arlberg Whether you want to perfect your technique or dream of an international ski touring trip: we will accompany you with maximum competence, passion and safety.
Ski touring & cat skiing in wild Kyrgyzstan. Adventure trip to a wild powder paradise.
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Discover the most beautiful ski tours in Arlberg. From Hochkarspitze to Wösterspitze – exclusive route tips & requirements for your adventure.
Bone-dry powder and rugged wilderness: Read our real experience report on a ski touring and cat-skiing adventure in Kyrgyzstan. Read now!
Ski touring is more than just a sport – it's the ultimate freedom in the mountains. However, for your first time in untouched terrain to be a pleasure and not an ordeal, the right preparation is crucial. Professional ski guide Alex Kunert explains for peakx.at what really matters when it comes to fitness, technique, and planning.