Ski touring on the Suusamyr range

We spent this summer three weeks with family (parents and adult children) in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, with a trip to the city of Kashgar in Sinkiang (China) .Nomads' Land organized all the Kyrgyzstan and China part as well as the trips to Uzbekistan. You can work with them with your eyes closed: impeccable organization, enthusiastic and passionate guide (also speaking perfectly French), good choice of accommodation and activities. Very pleasant preparation with Fabien, who is attentive and has concocted a trip to us. All for good value for money. Allow at least 10 days for Kyrgyzstan to really enjoy it. The change of scenery is total and the way of life is authentic. Expect "average" comfort but the superb landscapes and the amazing welcome of the Kyrgyz people will give you unforgettable memories. To fully enjoy it, nothing like walking: you will go on beautiful hikes: Altyn Arashan, Song Kul, Lenin peak ... They are all doable but still require good condition, especially that of Lenin peak (base camp to camp 1), which is quite long and demanding (allow 10-12 hours round trip), but it is the most impressive. To reach the south of Kyrgyzstan, you have the choice between a few hundred km of tiring tracks or to make a detour through China and the city of Kashgar. The road is excellent and the city itself is worth the effort (with the added bonus of "Western-style" comfort which feels good). However, it was necessary to endure two days of painful police checks between Kashgar and the border, with an occupying army (Han Chinese, from the east) omnipresent. So it's up to you to decide (knowing that this "detour" is quite expensive considering the short season and the few tourists). After Kyrgyzstan, we visited the cities of the Silk Road in Uzbekistan: Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Impressive and superb monuments, a very rich history, few tourists and a very pleasant atmosphere. The historic centers are not very extensive and can easily be visited on foot. Do not forget Khiva: it is the smallest of the three but the atmosphere is peaceful and timeless, you sometimes have the impression of going back 100 years. This trip was really exceptional, thank you again to Fabien, Murat and the whole team.

Traveling to Kyrgyzstan is in itself a different experience and far from any imaginable stereotype; If you add an off-road guide, fun, versatile, communicative, aware of the well-being of the group and more decisive than McGiver in a hardware store, you have all the perfect components to make the adventure unforgettable! Mikel was able to extract from us, among thousands of moments of laughter and good humor, skills and a capacity for improvement that many of us do not even imagine. And, although a few weeks have passed, I can say that he has managed to transmit and maintain in all his spirit - probably innate - of struggle, adaptation, respect for the environment and for the cultures that are alien to us, as well as joy and gratitude for every little thing that we were able to enjoy. And also, the curiosity to learn and extract the positive from each new experience! (including misadventures) :) Anyone traveling to Kyrgyzstan should know that unforeseen events happen, but they are a perfect opportunity to redefine planning and be surprised by each new possible adventure. And that, Mikel knows. That's why in his red backpack, there are thousands of letters up his sleeve. Someone in the group defined him as a "human referent". Frankly, I can't agree more. Thank you Mikel for sharing with us your experiences and that wisdom that is so natural to you. And to Nomad's Land, for the signing piece! And above all, if you agree with him, ask him earnestly for "little carrion" (and write a comment here). I assure you that you will live many adventures, but with laughter, a healthy mind and a good mood, you will probably not find the same trip. It was like going back to childhood, only at 35