SpiceRoads Launches Thrilling Bicycle Tours to Pakistan and Kazakhstan

[HD video below] SpiceRoads Cycle Tours has launched two new challenging bicycle tours to the remote destinations of Pakistan and Kazakhstan. These 15-day bicycle tours are designed for mountain bikers looking for some very different riding experiences in countries where foreign cyclists are a rarity.

The highlights of the Biking Pakistan's Karakoram Highway tour include cycling 560 kilometres in 10 days to: Skardu, the gateway to K2 expeditions; along the Indus River, Pakistan's longest river; on the Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world, which traces part of the Old Silk Road; the Hunza valley which has been mythologized as James Hilton's "Shangri-La"; and to the bustling bazaar at Gilgit. Along the whole route cyclists have a dazzling backdrop of 7,000-8,000 m snow-capped peaks of the Karakoram mountain range.

Biking Pakistan's Karakoram Highway 15-day tour includes camping for four nights, two of those nights are above 4,000 metres. The altitude, unpredictable weather, as well as the dirt roads and rough condition of the tarmac roads makes this a challenging tour for fit cyclists. The tour cost is US$2,650 with two scheduled departures for 2012: 24 June and 26 August. If booked by 31 March SpiceRoads is offering a US$300 discount.

The 15-day tour to Kazakhstan also dips into Kyrgyzstan during the 600 kilometres of riding in 11 cycling days. The tour starts in Almaty and after an initial transfer the riding is from campsite to campsite, with the exception of two rides, where a helicopter is used to take riders up to 3500 m from where they will have an uninterrupted 1300 m descent. Heli-biking in the Tien Shan mountains of Kazakhstan is unique, but so are the other days of riding across meadows of wildflowers, through gorges formed by rushing rivers and near nomadic camps under snow-capped peaks. After an ascent of Chon Ashy Pass (3820 m) the route descends into Kyrgyzstan where a night is spent before returning to Kazakhstan and ending in Almaty.

The Mountain Biking Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan tour is also at high altitudes, but never higher than 4000 m. The riding is primarily off road, with rough dirt roads and rocky downhills, therefore technical mountain biking skills are highly recommended. The tour cost is US$3,650 with scheduled departures for 8 July and 9 August 2012. If booked by 31 March SpiceRoads is offering a US$300 discount.

HD Video of Almaty, Kazakhstan

See more: Videos

See other recent news regarding: Airlines, Airports, Awards, Flights, Codeshare, FFP, Inflight, Lounges, First Class, Business Class, MICE, GDS, Rewards, Miles, Hotels, Apartments, Promotions, Spas, Yoga, Retreat, New Hotels, Traffic, Visitor Arrivals, Cruises, Free Deals, Interviews, Videos, Tickets, SpiceRoads, Cycling, Bikes, Pakistan, Kazakhstan