Kyrgyzstan 2025 Day 3
Fron lake Son Kul to the town of Naryn
Getting deeper into the Silk Road 🇰🇬
We woke to the serene, crisp silence of a morning at Son Kul Lake. After a hearty breakfast to fuel the day, we packed the bikes and hit the road, the air buzzing with the excitement of a fresh stage. With the sun shining and spirits high, we were ready to dive deeper into the heart of Kyrgyzstan.
The Descent from the Son Kul lake
Our first challenge was the Moldo Ashuu Pass. This stretch is a rider’s dream—a winding descent from the high-altitude lake plateau into the valley below. The pass serves up a series of tight, technical switchbacks paired with dizzying views from the summit. As we lost altitude, the trail ducked into lush forests before the landscape began to shed its greenery. By the time we hit the main valley, the scenery had transformed into a dramatic semi-desert, framed by distant peaks and rugged “badlands” terrain.
Mels Ashuu: A Pass Named by History
After a quick fuel stop and a caffeine hit in the village of Baetovo, we pointed our front wheels toward one of the region’s most stunning climbs: the Mels Ashuu Pass.
The name itself is a relic of the Soviet past, an acronym for Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin (with Ashuu being the Kyrgyz word for mountain pass). Despite the heavy name, the riding here is pure freedom. The ascent is smooth and approachable, but the vistas are nothing short of epic. We found ourselves stopping constantly, not out of fatigue, but simply to soak in the sheer scale of the horizon.
Lunch at the Edge of Time
Leaving the high passes behind, we traded natural wonders for ancient history at Tash Rabat. This 15th-century stone caravanserai is one of the best-preserved Silk Road sanctuaries in the world. Tucked into a hidden valley, it provided a breathtaking backdrop for a homemade lunch. Sitting in the shadow of its domed roof, it was impossible not to feel the weight of history, imagining the thousands of merchants and explorers who sought refuge within these same walls centuries ago.
The Road to Naryn
The final stretch of the day took us through wide-open landscapes to our overnight stop in Naryn. Over a solid dinner, we swapped stories and replayed the day’s best corners—a perfect end to a day that captured the true essence of Central Asian adventure: high passes, deep history, and the camaraderie of the road.
The journey continues.
Stay tuned for Day 4. We’re heading from Naryn to what might be the coolest spot of the whole trip: the stunning Kok-Kiya Valley.
📸 All photos by @jakebaggaley.photographer