BIKEPACKING KYRGYZSTAN
Exploring Silk Road
Ancient Cities
bikepacking route
eng/rus
March 31, 2024
by Malik Alymkulov

Distance: 157 km
Days: 1-2 (overnighter)
Unpaved: 90.5 km
Singltreck: 0 km
Rideable time: 100%
Total Ascent: 410 m
Highest Point: 990
Difficulty: (1-10) 2
Resupply: villages of Dөn-Aryk, Ak-Beshim, Krasnaya Rechka,
Bishkek Petroleum Gas Station N 42.97426° E 74.87337°
Camping spot: Wall remains N 42.80380° E 75.19689°
Archaeological sites: Burana N 42.74638° E 75.25021°; Suyab N 42.80452° E 75.19521°;
Nevaket N 42.91239° E 75.01523°

This is an ideal bikepacking overnighter within the capital area of Bishkek.The route is looped, so you won't have to worry about transportation to return to Bishkek. It is not difficult, although it requires sufficient physical abilities.This is a flat route running among the irrigated agricultural lands of the Sary-Өzөn Valley, now more often called the Chui Valley. Trained riders can cover the entire route in one day or even several hours. The valley is quite densely populated or abounds in the presence of cultivated land and livestock farms. Despite this, there is still an adventure aspect, and among the farms, fields and gardens you can choose a place to camp.

The main points of interest of the route are three archaeological sites from the heyday of the Silk Road. These are the ruins of three medieval Silk Road cities supposedly called Nevaket, Suyab and Balasagyn.

The first archaeological settlement of the three on our way is the Buraninskoye Settlement, presumably the city of Balasagyn. You can get to it in two ways, the first, which is the core of the route I am describing, runs along the irrigation Southern Chui Canal in the southern part of the valley, laid in places along the foothills. The Southern Chui Canal is one of three branches of the Great Chui Canal. This canal is essentially also a historical object. Construction of the canal began during World War II and ended 30 years after the start of construction. The canal waters irrigate about half of the agricultural lands of the Sary-Өzөn valley. A dirt double-track road running along the canal will lead you straight to the walls of the Burana settlement - the ancient city of Balasagyn. Watch the famous Burana Tower out there.

The path along the canal to the Walls of Burana is my favorite weekend route. There are no cars and you rarely meet people, and from the north, you have a panorama of the whole valley. From the south you are accompanied by the foothills of the range and mountains crowned with snow-capped peaks. I could ride here every weekend. This is a fairly flat route with a long distance and no steep climbs. In summer, the heat and bumpy, rocky dirt roads can be tiring.
Day 1
I marked the route's start at the intersection of Akhunbaeva and April 7 streets in Bishkek, where there is a Globus grocery store. I suggest stocking up on water and bringing your preferred food for lunch and dinner. This is a two-day trip, so feel free to bring some yummy food for camping. If you continue along the canal without turning off to the nearby villages, you won't come across any stores. Make sure you have enough water to cover the approximately 54 km.
A lunch stop can be made at the garden plantation of 'Zherdev Sad' located at 38 km point, 42.755643, 75.003164 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/GkCGxrBuammJLbm57). This location offers comfortable seating arrangements under the shade of trees.
Additionally, there is a small poplar garden located one kilometer away from the crossroads of Aliaskar Toktonaliev Gate, where water from the canal is distributed to the fields. Here, amidst the rustling leaves and the sound of flowing water, you can take a lunch break. The location is 38 km away and can be found at 42.755254, 75.017071
At the 55th kilometer you need to turn off the canal onto an asphalt road which, passing through the Don-Aryk village, will lead you to the hills that contain the remains of the walls of the once large medieval city of Balasagyn. From this place you will clearly see the rising remains of the minaret Burana tower behind the wall. There is a historical and cultural complex on the territory.
Next, continue riding along the asphalt road through the villages of Burana, Kalygul, and Zhany-Zhol. At approximately the seventieth kilometer, you will reach the suburbs of the city of Tokmok. From there, turn left and continue to the village of Ak-Beshchim. In historiography, the archaeological site on the supposed location of the city of Suyab is designated as the Akbeshim settlement, which the Turkics called Ordu or Orducent. In the western corner of the city, the ruins of a citadel can be found. Ceramic fragments are scattered throughout the settlement and beyond its walls. About two hundred meters east of the citadel, on the hills where the fortress walls once stood, you can pitch tents for an overnight stay.
Each small village along the route has small shops for resupply or short stops for refreshments.
So, on the first day we covered 76.5 km, we visited two of the three planned settlements.

Day 2
To the west of Akbeshim Village, follow the Eastern Chui Canal until the asphalt road M-003, which connects the villages of Nurmambet and Krasnaya Rechka. The dirt road along the canal was occasionally sandy and clayey, which may slightly slow down your ride. At the 95th kilometer of the route (20 km from the Akbeshim citadel), turn north onto the asphalt road M-003 towards Krasnaya Rechka. This is a big village with numerous shops. Remember to bring a snack for lunch and on your way back to Bishkek. After 2.5 kilometers from Krasnaya Rechka, you will find the ruins of the Nevaket, a medieval Silk Road city that thrived between the 6th and 13th centuries CE. The remains of the citadel are massive and tower above the walls. This location provides breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and mountains, making it a must-see destination. The archaeological site covers a vast area where extensive research has been conducted and continues to be carried out.
I built the route to Bishkek from Nevaket along the ЭM-11 highway (A365). I find the old ЭM-20 highway less preferable due to the lack of cycling infrastructure in many villages and towns along the way and poor roadside conditions with numerous obstacles. I prefer to travel along the highway and, therefore, chose the ЭM-11 for my return trip. At kilometer 146 of the ride, turn left onto the country road towards Sadovoe village. Then, pass through Alamedin village to reach the city of Bishkek, avoiding the busy Kurmanjan Datka main street.
I offer three versions of the route:

Exploring Silk Road Ancient Ruins 1
Exploring Silk Road Ancient Ruins 2
Exploring Silk Road Ancient Ruins 3

Some stats, locations and coordinates for each are listed below:

Exploring Silk Road Ancient Ruins 1

Distance: 157 km
Days: 1-2
Unpaved: 90.5 km
Singletrack: 0 km
Rideable time: 100%
Total Ascent: 410 m
Highest Point: 990
Difficulty: (1-10) 2
Resupply: villages of Dөn-Aryk, Ak-Beshim, Krasnaya Rechka,
Bishkek Petroleum Gas Station N 42.97426° E 74.87337°
Camping spot: Wall remains N 42.80380° E 75.19689°
Archaeological sites: Burana N 42.74638° E 75.25021°; Suyab N 42.80452° E 75.19521°;
Nevaket N 42.91239° E 75.01523°

Exploring Silk Road Ancient Ruins 2
excludes a visit to the Krasnorechensky settlement "Nevaket". Return way follows a dirt road along the Southern and Eastern Chui Canals.
Distance: 131 km
Days: 1-2
Unpaved: 107.6 km
Singletrack: 0 km
Rideable time: 100%
Total Ascent: 340 m
Highest Point: 990
Difficulty: 2 (1-10)
Camping spot: Wall remains N 42.80380° E 75.19689°
Resupply: villages of Dөn-Aryk, Ak-Beshim, Nurmambet , Internatsionalnoe, Tuz, Kara-Dzigach
Cool places: Zherdev Sad N 42.75564° E 75.00311°; Poplar trees garden N 42.75525° E 75.01709°
Archeological sites: Burana N 42.74638° E 75.25021°; Suyab N 42.80452° E 75.19521°

Exploring Silk Road Ancient Ruins 3
route is longer, higher, a little more difficult, with more segments.
Distance: 187 km
Days: 1-2
Unpaved: 61.9 km
Singletrack: 0 km
Rideable time: 100%
Total Ascent: 1550 m
Highest Point: 1770
Difficulty: (1-10) 4
Resupply: villages of Arashan, Koi-Tash, Kyzyl-Birdik, Rot-Front, Dөn-Aryk, Ak-Beshim, Krasnaya Rechka, Bishkek Petroleum Gas Station N 42.97426° E 74.87337°
Camping spots: The Farm Yurt Camp N 42.69201° E 75.09761°; Wall remains N 42.80380° E 75.19689°
Cool places: cafe fried trout N 42.64530° E 74.93966°
Archeological sites: Burana N 42.74638° E 75.25021°; Suyb N 42.80452° E 75.19521°; Nevaket N 42.91239° E 75.01523°
Scythian burial mounds: N 42.68209° E 75.06455°; N 42.69375° E 75.09815°

Highlights: I hope you will like the rocky double-track along the canal as much as I do. See the countryside outside of Bishkek. You may get some impressions about people's life here. I myself find it very interesting to visit medieval ruins and learn what life was like here more than 1000 years ago.

Must Know:
Best time for this route is from March to October. It might be hot in Summer but cool breeze from mountains and out of the irrigation canal will make your ride perfect.
Bring cash in local currency with you for shopping in villages.
This route can be considered as a shakedown or acclimatization ride before your odessyes in the Kyrgyz Mountains, with some learning aspects of local history.
If you decide to get back to Bishkek by car, ride to Tokmok and arrange your transfer at the local bus station Avtovokzal https://maps.app.goo.gl/XJdK89QZnhhBWrV28

Camping:
Camping locations can be found almost everywhere at the foothills in nearby mountains.

Food/H2O: Bottled drinking water available in every village along the route. No need to worry about having your own filter for this ride. Make sure to have at least 1 liter for the stretch between Bishkek and Don-Aryk village. Then have enough water in Ak-Beshim Village for dinner, breakfast and the long stretch from Suyb ruins to Krasnaya Rechka Village.

Rig: Gravel

Resources:
https://visitworldheritage.com/en/silk-road/kyrgyzstan-settlements-silk-roads-the-routes-network-of-chang
https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists
https://central-asia.guide/kyrgyzstan/destinations-kg/ancient-settlements-chui-valley-kyrgyzstan/
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Malik Alymkulov