Kyrgyzstan 2025 Day 2
From Bishkek to Son Kul Lake
Start your engines! 🇰🇬
On this first day of riding in Kyrgystan, we leave Bishkek behind to reach the Son Kul Lake, into the Heart of the Silk Way
Day two is where our adventure truly began. With the city behind us and the mountains ahead, this was the moment when our motorcycle tour in Kyrgyzstan shifted from anticipation to pure riding.
After a relaxed breakfast and our first full tour briefing, we geared up, fired the engines, and rolled out of Bishkek, heading straight toward the vast interior of this part of Central Asia. Almost immediately, 50 km outside Bishkek, the landscape began to change: open valleys gave way to winding mountain roads, and the feeling of riding along ancient Silk Way routes became more present, with the sights of the first yurts and free horses.
Crossing the Too-Ashuu Pass
The highlight of the morning was the Too-Ashuu Pass, one of the great gateways from northern Kyrgyzstan into the high mountains of the Tien Shan in the south. As we climbed higher, the air grew cooler and the views were more dramatic with every switchback. Snow-capped peaks, huge valleys, and endless horizons accompanied us along a road that feels tailor-made for adventure riding.
This is what motorcycle touring in Central Asia is all about: mountains, a sense of isolation, and the feeling of riding through a landscape that has barely changed for centuries.
Local Hospitality, Silk Road Style
For lunch, we stopped at a cozy family-run guesthouse, where a local Kyrgyz family welcomed us with open arms. A proper homemade meal: simple, hearty, and full of flavor. It was exactly what we needed. Moments like this are a core part of riding the Silk Road by motorcycle: genuine human connections far away from tourist crowds.
Refueled and recharged, we set off again toward higher ground.
Son Kul Lake: Riding at 3,000 Meters
In the afternoon, narrowly dodging incoming rain clouds, we climbed onto the vast Son Kul Lake plateau, sitting at an altitude of around 3,000 meters. The transition was spectacular. Suddenly, the road opened into wide grasslands stretching endlessly in every direction.
Riding across the plateau as Son Kul Lake slowly came into view was, without question, the highlight of the day. The deep blue water, framed by rolling meadows and distant peaks, creates one of the most iconic landscapes in all of Kyrgyzstan. And one of the most unforgettable settings for a motorcycle tour along the ancient Silk Way.
A Night Under the Stars
The evening was about simple, perfect moments. We enjoyed a traditional dinner, shared stories from the day, and laughed like old friends, even though most of us had met just one day before!
As night fell, we settled into warm, comfortable yurts, experiencing firsthand the nomadic lifestyle that defines this region. Outside, the sky filled with stars, untouched by light pollution, reminding us just how remote and special this place truly is.
A fantastic first full day on the bikes, and a powerful introduction to what motorcycle touring in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia is all about.
The journey continues.
Stay tuned for Day 3, as we leave the peaceful shores of Son Kul Lake and ride deeper into the country, following ancient routes toward the town of Naryn.
📸 All photos by @jakebaggaley.photographer