The Silk Road Scramble
Follow ancient routes across Kyrgyzstan over high passes and open steppe to discover a part of the world few motorcyclists will ever ride
Join us for a 1,200 km journey through Kyrgyzstan’s stunning landscapes and vibrant culture. Starting in Bishkek, ride through high-altitude lakes, historic sites, and remote valleys of this country of nomads.
Discover Kyrgyzstan on two wheels
Each day offers 200km of exhilarating riding alongside Mountain lakes, alpine passes, endless gravel tracks and remote silk road outposts
"Leave the main road behind and ride deep into the Tian Shan mountains — across glacier-fed streams, through nomad lands, and into a protected national park on the edge of Western China"
So, where are we riding this July?
Day 1: Arrive in Bishkek
Opon arrival, you’ll transfer from the airport to the hotel, giving you time to rest and refresh after your journey. Most riders will arrive early in the morning on a Turkish Airlines flight via Istanbul (typically around 04:45 or 08:25). On arrival, you’re welcome to check in and get some sleep before the day begins. Around lunchtime, we’ll meet as a group to explore Bishkek, exchange money for Kyrgyz Som, and head to the motorcycle rental shop to collect and prepare the bikes for the route through Kyrgyzstan starting the following day. The evening is spent at the Evropa Hotel, a comfortable western-style hotel in the centre of the city. Secure parking is arranged for the motorcycles, and we’ll kick things off with a relaxed, celebratory meal in the hotel restaurant before setting off on our Central Asia adventure.
Day 2: Bishkek - Song-kul
The route begins in Bishkek, rolling out of the city on smooth tarmac before quickly shedding traffic and urban noise. The first hours are flowing and open — long valley roads, wide horizons, and a gradual sense of leaving civilisation behind. This early section allows riders to settle into the rhythm of Central Asia, with paved mountain roads transitioning into broken asphalt and fast gravel as elevation steadily increases. As the route climbs toward the high plateau around Song-Kul, the landscape opens dramatically. Grasslands stretch in every direction, horses outnumber vehicles, and the riding becomes freer and more exploratory. Tracks here are a mix of gravel and dirt — generally flowing, occasionally rough — with big skies and space to breathe.
Day 3: Song-Kul - Tash Rabat - Naryn
Day three begins high above the tree line, leaving the open grasslands and yurts of Song-Kul behind. Early morning riding here feels expansive and unhurried — wide horizons, grazing horses, and cool mountain air as the bikes roll away from the lake on gravel tracks and rough alpine roads. The surface is generally fast and flowing, with occasional rocky sections shaped more by weather than engineering. Midway through the day, the landscape narrows and the route turns decisively historic as you approach Tash Rabat. Tucked deep in a stone valley near the Chinese border, this 15th-century caravanserai once sheltered Silk Road traders and still feels remarkably isolated. After leaving Tash Rabat, the ride opens up again. The route follows river valleys toward Naryn, with a noticeable shift in pace and surface quality. Gravel transitions back toward patched asphalt, and the sense of deep remoteness begins to soften as small settlements reappear.
Day 4: Naryn - Kel Suu
Day four leaves Naryn early, following the river out of town before the road begins to thin and the landscape opens once more. As the route pushes east, the riding becomes more remote and the surface transitions to dirt tracks and rough gravel roads shaped by weather, runoff, and seasonal use rather than maintenance. Beyond the last small settlements, the route enters a restricted cultural and border zone near China. Permits are required here, and the feeling is unmistakable: fewer tracks, fewer signs of habitation, and a vast, quiet landscape that seems to stretch endlessly in every direction. Kel-Suu feels almost unreal — a long, narrow alpine lake set beneath sheer rock walls, its colour shifting with the light and weather. The day ends near the lake, at a simple yurt camp, where the contrast is striking: after a long day of exposed riding, you’re met with warmth, food, and hospitality in one of the most isolated places most riders will ever reach by motorcycle. It’s a powerful finish to a demanding and deeply rewarding day.
Day 5: Kel Suu - Naryn
The day begins slowly at Kel-Suu, with a morning off the bikes to explore the lake and its surrounding valleys. An old army jeep carries us along rough tracks to the base of the lake, where time is spent on foot and by boat, taking in one of the most beautiful and remote valleys in the world. Sheer rock walls, shifting light, and near-total silence make this a rare pause in an otherwise riding-focused journey. After lunch in the yurt camp (and maybe a splash in the Banya), we’re back on the bikes, retracing gravel and dirt tracks out of the border zone. The riding feels relaxed and familiar now — flowing surfaces, clear river crossings, and a steady rhythm as the landscape gradually opens and elevation drops. The final stretch into Naryn follows smoother roads along river valleys, offering an easy transition back toward civilisation and time to reflect on a unique experience that few riders ever reach by motorcycle.
Day 6: Naryn - Bishkek
The final riding day leaves Naryn following wide river valleys and open mountain roads, gradually trading altitude for distance. The riding is flowing and enjoyable, with a mix of smooth tarmac, broken mountain asphalt, and fast gravel sections that allow the group to settle into a relaxed, end-of-journey rhythm. As the route drops out of the high country, the landscape softens and traffic slowly returns. The contrast is clear after days of remote riding, and the final kilometres into Bishkek feel like a gentle re-entry rather than an abrupt finish. We arrive back in the capital by late afternoon, with time to return bikes, clean up, and share a final evening together — tired, satisfied, and carrying the quiet confidence that comes from having crossed Kyrgyzstan properly, from high passes to city streets.
Day 7: Departure from Bishkek
The final day begins with breakfast in Bishkek, followed by time to pack, check flights, and organise onward travel. Airport transfers are arranged as required, and the group departs throughout the morning. Goodbyes are straightforward and relaxed after a full week on the road. Riders head home with bikes returned, gear packed, and the satisfaction of having completed a demanding and rewarding journey across Kyrgyzstan.
upcoming rides
The Silk Road Scramble: 10-16 July 2026
Day 0: Thursday, 9 July 2026 – Depart from your city
Day 1: Friday, 10 July 2026 – Arrival in Bishkek
Day 2: Saturday, 11 July 2026 – Bishkek – Song Kul
Day 3: Sunday, 12 July 2026 – Son Kol – Tash Rabat – Naryn
Day 4: Monday, 13 July 2026 – Naryn – Kel Suu
Day 5: Tuesday, 14 July 2026 – Kel Suu – Naryn
Day 6: Wednesday, 15 July 2026 – Naryn – Bishkek
Day 7: Thursday, 16 July 2026 – Departure from Bishkek
Pricing
The Silk Road Scramble
A seven day all-inclusive tour of Kyrgyzstanon two-wheels including motorcycle rental- £3,500 for the single supplement package
WE ONLY HAVE 15 PLACES PER RIDE – TO RESERVE A SPACE WE REQUIRE A 25% DEPOSIT
About the Silk Road Scramble
Quality routes and stays selected by local riders show you the best of Kyrgyzstan
The Silk Road Scramble is mostly off-road, following easy gravel and smooth dirt roads that are well suited to riders who are comfortable off the main tarmac but not looking for technical or extreme riding. The emphasis is on flow, scenery, and distance, rather than difficulty.
The riding takes us through very remote parts of Kyrgyzstan, including sections within permitted cultural and border exclusion zones that are rarely accessed by visitors. These areas are open and expansive, with light traffic and a strong sense of space, making for relaxed and immersive riding days.
Accommodation reflects the nature of the route. Some nights are spent in comfortable hotels or guesthouses, while other evenings finish in traditional yurt camps, chosen for their location and access to the landscape rather than luxury. These stays are a natural part of the journey and allow us to reach places that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Overall, this trip is best suited to riders who value time on the motorcycle, open routes, and remote landscapes more than fine dining or high-end accommodation. It’s an approachable, enjoyable ride that rewards curiosity and a love of being on two wheels.
We kick off our scrams at about 9:00am each morning and plan to return to our evening accommodation around 6:00pm with plenty of stops for coffee, lunch and off-the-bike experiences.
Bikerbnb Adventure tours take into account differing riding abilities – so if you have any concerns about the length of the trip, terrain or riding in a group – just drop a member of our team a message at info@bikerbnb.com and we’ll get you sorted.
Six nights in unique accommodation to help you relax off the bike each evening
Bikerbnb Adventures prides itself on offering accommodation that is not only incredibly relaxing, but provides the piece of mind that your motorcycle will remain where you parked it. All of our accommodation options across our tours feature secure parking, drying facilities in the event of rain and convenient locations next to some of the best roads in the world.
During The Silk Road Scramble, we will start our ride in the capital city of Bishkek. From there, we wil travel in a long loop around the southern corner of the country.
We offer two types of accommodation packages: shared or single. At checkout, please specify if you prefer the shared or single supplement and if you are traveling with another rider or partner so we can plan accordingly.
Breakfast and dinner featuring fresh and local ingredients
Those familiar with Bikerbnb Adventures know that what we do off the bike is just as important as the riding. And moreover, we really pride ourselves in the authenticity of the food and drink served on all of adventure tours. It goes without saying that you won’t go hungry while travelling with us.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the price of The Silk Road Scramble. Meals feature local and seasonal ingredients prepared fresh for you. We will experience a taste of the country featuring the freshest trout, horsemeat and seasonal fruit and vegetables.
If you have any special dietary preferences please just let us know and we’ll be sure to accommodate your request.
Professional photography to capture the trip of a lifetime
Bikerbnb Adventures works with partners like Royal Enfield, Adventure Spec, Fuel Motorcycles, Yeti, QuadLock, Rev’it! and other likeminded motorcycle, food and drink brands to support content marketing and product launches. We work with professionally trained photographers, filmmakers and drone pilots to capture snaps that you will print out and put up on your office wall.
A comprehensive album free of charge will be provided within two weeks of returning from our ride.
Support vehicle to carry gear, luggage and provide assistance
The Silk Road Scramble is a fully supported ride. We will be followed by a support vehicle driven by a local guide fluent in Russian. Feel free to safely store your luggage and gear in the van.
A certified technician and trained first aid responders are present on all Bikerbnb Adventures experiences. If there is an incident involving you or your motorcycle, we will do as much as we can to ensure that you can continue to enjoy your holiday.
Motorcycle rental included in ticket purchase
Motorcycle rental is included in the cost of your ticket. Please speak to us about what bikes we have available for hire.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR EVENTS OR TO RESERVE A SPACE ON THE RIDE, PLEASE EMAIL INFO@BIKERBNB.COM WITH ANY QUESTIONS
The Silk Road SCRMAMBLE KEY POINTS of interest
Lake Song Kol
Tash Rabat
Join us in Kyrgyzstan this July
There’s a reason adventure riders keep returning to Kyrgyzstan. Featured in Itchy Boots’ recent travels, it’s a safe and welcoming country with near-endless dirt and gravel roads that are smooth, flowing, and easy to ride. Expect spectacular scenery throughout — from wide-open steppes and glacier-fed valleys to dramatic 20,000-foot peaks and desert sandstone formations.
Enjoy Authentic & Locally-sourced Food and Drink
Kyrgyz cuisine is simple, hearty, and shaped by the country’s nomadic heritage. Meals are built around meat, bread, rice, and dairy, with influences from Central Asia, Russia, and the Silk Road. Expect warming soups, grilled meats, fresh bread, and filling dishes designed to sustain long days outdoors rather than impress with presentation. Food is often shared, generous, and closely tied to local hospitality — especially in rural areas and yurt camps across Kyrgyzstan.
Relax after a Rewarding Ride in Bikerbnb-approved Accommodation
Accommodation is a blend of traditional yurts in spectacular, remote settings and modern western-style hotels in towns along the route, balancing access to incredible riding areas with regular comfort and recovery.
Can't join us on The Silk Road Scramble? Want to plan your own trip? Check out our website to find a large range of motorcycle-friendly accommodation options.
Bikerbnb Adventures Testimonials
The staff is great, the ride is beautiful and exciting, the stays and food were top notch, and Steve’s knowledge of Scottish history and the castles we saw was really great.."
The food and accommodations were all top notch. As a woman on a trip meant for a mixed group of riders I felt that we were given so much respect and freedom to ride our ride. I’d recommend this trip to EVERYONE!!"
Silk Road Scramble FAQ’s
We’ll outfit you with a motorcycle that is suited for travelling both on and off-road across Kyrgyzstan.
Yes, the support vehicle is there for extra luggage, tools and to pickup any breakdowns and some emergency fuel just in case.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the ticket price. Extras on the road like coffee and snacks are not included.
We strive to balance the best interests of our riders and the financial wellbeing of our small business. The following Cancellation Policies establishes clear timeframes to help ensure we are equipped to run a high-quality event and meet obligations to our partners, vendors and accommodation providers, while balancing any unexpected circumstances that may arise. We appreciate that sometimes circumstances outside of our control can necessitate last minute changes. If you do need to cancel your spot on The Sardinian Scramble, we would like to first offer you a credit of your booking fee (less the deposit and any ticket increases) toward a future reservation with us. If this is not possible, the following table outlines our official Cancellation Policy for the 2025 riding season. If you have any questions or concerns about cancelling or postponing your reservation, please make an enquiry with a member of staff by emailing us at info@bikerbnb.com.
During the ride we will stay in some unique accommodation that is safe and especially suited for motorcycle travelers. Please note, we are staying in some remote locations across the country, including some yurt tents during the course of the ride.
We try to price our trips fairly to accommodate different budgets. The Silk Road Scramble takes a lot of consideration, planning, coordination and time! The knowledge and experience of the organisers is second to none and every detail is carefully collaborated. From unique locations, specialised kit, great food, support vehicle, insurance, content producers, chefs, and experienced staff, we offer an incredibly competitive product compared to other tour operators.
The route is designed to explore the best that Kyrgyzstan has to offer.
The route is primarily hard packed gravel and dirt. There is some tarmac, but the focus of this ride is enjoying very flowly, smooth and relatively easy to ride off-road sections.
While some stages will be more challenging than others, the ultimate goal is to encourage you to ride at your own pace and enjoy the beautiful scenes along the way. You may feel you want to push out of the comfort zone but we encourage you to ride to a level you feel safe and comfortable with.
We aim to ride around 200 kilometers per day, depending on the type of roads we take. On the smaller twisty roads, we will allocate more time to enjoy the scenery! We anticipate that each leg of the journey should approximate 5-6 hours of riding, with planned and regular breaks for lunch and refreshments. Evening meals are aimed to be served around 7:00pm.
Please do and shout from the roof tops! Each ride will be allocated a unique hashtag for sharing and following.
Unfortunately no, we can only offer accommodation, food and support to those who have paid in full for the tickets in advance.
If weather conditions are abysmal then we will hold tight for a prolonged pitstop, however, we are not ‘the sunshine only’ club. Weather conditions that pose safety issues to our riders will be taken into account but the bottom line is, come fully prepared and hope for the best! Remember, there is no bad weather, only bad gear!
Everyone participating will be at different levels of riding ability. If you wish to go ahead or take your time, the route will be shared with you on a group chat. We will also send you the route in advance to study. The support vehicle is only a phone call away so don’t panic.
Our support vehicle and mechanic will be there to help along the way. Equipped with tools and knowledge, we can try and assist with a roadside repair.
You are responsible for paying for your own fuel and any additional refreshments. You will also need to pay for alcohol that is not offered during meals. The rest is sorted by Bikerbnb Adventures.
Please email us at info@bikerbnb.com to share a special rate with you to accommodate pillion riders.
Go ahead! Stop reading! Just buy a ticket already through our web shop.