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Karakol or Bishkek — where should I fly?
Karakol for the flying, Bishkek for the convenience. Karakol gives two to four times the airtime and a far better view; Bishkek gives you a flight on a day you already have.
In detail
Karakol: launch above the ski base with the Terskey Ala-Too wall behind you and Issyk-Kul ahead, 10 to 20 minutes airborne, or 15 to 25 from the 3,040 m upper station. This is the real product.
Bishkek (Chon-Tash): 45 minutes from the city, 5 to 15 minutes airborne, a view over the Chui valley. Same $170 for less air, because the cost here is the vehicle and the pilot's day, not the flight time.
The decision is almost always about your itinerary rather than about flying. If Issyk-Kul is on your route, fly Karakol and skip Chon-Tash. If Bishkek is the only place you will be, Chon-Tash is a genuine flight and better than not flying. If you are choosing purely on flying quality and have the days, Karakol wins by a wide margin — and the high-altitude flight is the one people remember.
Related
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- Do I need any experience to fly?
- What are the weight and age limits?
- What should I wear and bring?
Tell us your dates
Send the dates you are in the country and we will come back with the slots that have the best chance of usable air. A person reads it and answers within one working day.
Or just get the season report
One email at the end of each season with the flyable days we actually logged, and one more if the SIV course opens. Nothing else, ever.