Camp d'entraînement de course en trail
2–11 août 2026

Sunday, August 2 - Bishkek - Chong Kemin

You will be picked up from the airport and taken to a woman-owned art guesthouse in Bishkek. Later in the morning, we will have a Welcome Orientation and City Walking Tour, where you will learn about the area’s rich history spanning the Silk Road, Russian Empire, Soviet Union and independence. After lunch, you will have time to stop by an outdoor gear store in case you need to purchase anything before we hit the road to our first mountain destination, Chong Kemin! Upon arrival in the village Chong Kemin, we will jog up to a bird’s-eye view of the valley just in time for dawn.

Running distance: 12km, Elevation gain: 675m 

Monday, August 3 - Chong Kemin

In the morning, we will run into one of the nearby picturesque valleys. Includes a small river crossing. After breakfast back at the guesthouse, we will go to a nature reserve to learn about traditional herb collecting. In the afternoon, we will get a tour of a local bee keeper’s hives and learn about honey production. In the evening, there will be optional group yoga to stretch out your legs, and then we will try out cooking a traditional Kyrgyz dinner for ourselves (with the help of an experienced chef, of course).

Running distance: 16km, Elevation gain: 775m 

Tuesday, August 4 - Chong Kemin - Tura Suu

For those of you who’d like to squeeze a run in before we hit the road, there will be time for a longer, flatter run before breakfast. Then we will drive to the stunning Canyon Konorchek*, a landscape drastically different from Chong Kemin valley. Other exciting stops include a camel farm and participatory yurt-building class. Finally, we will arrive at an eagle master’s home on the south shore of lake Issyk Kul, where we will enjoy dinner and a musical evening.

*If it rains, we will have to skip Konorchek

Running distance: 15-20km, Elevation gain: 100m

Wednesday, August 5 - Tura Suu

There will be a morning run from the guest house towards Tong Pass, paralleling the Tong River. We will drive down to lake Issyk Kul, the second largest alpine lake in the world, to wash off our sweat and dirt, splash around, and relax on the beach. In the evening we will see a berkut (Golden Eagle) show. These majestic animals have played a key role in supporting nomadic livelihoods for centuries.

Running distance: 18km, Elevation gain: 750m

Thursday, August 6 - Tura Suu - Song Kul

After a panoramic trail run from the eagle master’s guesthouse, we will pack up and head to Kochkor, where we will meet the founder of a local woman’s entrepreneurship organization. In addition to discussing the challenges and achievements of female entrepreneurs in rural Kyrgyzstan, we will make our own small ornamental felt mat. Then we will drive to the famous Song Kul lake, renowned for its breathtaking landscape and peaceful nomadic atmosphere. 

Running distance: 4.5 km, Elevation gain: 175m 

Friday, August 7 - Djaman Echki

Today you will get a taste of Kyrgyz nomadic life. In the morning, we will run into Djaman Echki valley and up a small peak to get an all-encompassing view of Song Kul and the surrounding mountains. After showering and refueling at the guest house, we will immerse ourselves in nomadic activities such as playing traditional games, learning how to make dairy products unique to Central Asian mountain cultures, and more.

Running distance: 13km, Elevation gain: 700m

Saturday, August 8 - Djaman Echki

We will have a relaxing day today, jogging down to the shore of Song Kol for a picnic. On the way back to the guest house, you may choose to ride a horse. Before dinner, we will practice yoga in the pristine mountain air.

Running distance: 4km, Elevation gain: 0m

Sunday, August 9 - Djaman Echki - Kyzyl Oy

Today is a long day packed with a variety of landscapes, from the dark greens and blues of lake Song Kul to the warm red and ochre hues of Kökömeren Canyon. We will leave Song Kul by running over Djalgyz Karagay pass, meeting our van on the other side. This will be an intense but rewarding run – and we will celebrate with a sauna session! Before arriving in the village Kyzyl Oy for the night, we will stop by Kökömeren gorge and canyon for a short walk and taking pictures.

Running distance: 15km, Elevation gain: 525m

Monday, August 10 - Kyzyl Oy - Bishkek

On our final full day together, we will return to Bishkek around noon and meet up for a city jog with a team of local young women runners who train with Juniper Kyz, a running community for girls and women which your guide, Lily, co-founded. After lunch, there will be free time for banya, last-minute shopping, and anything else. Finally, we will have a farewell dinner, where we will reflect on our time together and hopefully make plans to cross paths again!

Running distance: 5-6km, Elevation gain: 50m

Sunday, August 11 - Bishkek - Airport

Transfers from hotel to airport according to departure flight time.