International speleo expedition to the karst areas of the Southern Tien Shan, August 2025

International Speleological Expedition to the Kozu-Baghlan Karst Region, Southern Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan – 2025
Expedition Dates: August 2025 (12 days)

We invite speleological clubs, associations, scientific centers, and all interested speleologists and speleobiologists to participate in the speleological expedition.

Expedition Goals:
Search and exploration of new caves
Cave mapping
Speleo-biological research

To explore the Kozu-Baghlan Canyon, we plan to use a rubber boat. The canyon is approximately 7 km long. Additionally, we will use a drone to locate entrances to new caves.

Expedition program:
Day 1. Meeting at the Osh airport. Accommodation in a guest house. Presentation of the program.
Day 2. Transfer Osh – base camp in the Kozu-Baghlan valley, 350 km
Days 3 – 10. Speleological research: search for new caves, exploration of hard-to-reach cavities, exploration of canyons and plateaus.
Day 11. Return to Osh
Day 12. Transfer to the airport

Project partner: Tian-Shan Geological Society

The mountain ranges of the southern Tien Shan are composed of limestone, and fractured limestones are highly susceptible to karst processes. The region is rich in karst springs.

Our research will focus on two karst areas located in the northern foothills of the Turkestan Range: the Kozu-Baghlan and Madygen Canyons. The karst mountain ranges here are made up of Devonian and Carboniferous limestones.

Karst Features:

The landscape consists of dramatic canyons and plateaus, particularly in the Takta-Boz Mountain Range, where canyon depths reach 300-400 meters. During drone exploration, numerous grottoes were discovered on the vertical canyon walls. Some cave entrances are situated along tectonic faults, and accessing these requires a coordinated effort by an experienced caving team.

To date, these karst areas remain largely unexplored by speleologists and scientists. Local residents are familiar with some caves, but their full extent is unknown.

We plan to focus our research on two main canyons: Madygen and Kozu-Baghlan. In 2021, we conducted a reconnaissance of these areas. These remote canyons, named Kozu-Baghlan and Madygen, are isolated from civilization and located about 50 km from the nearest major settlements, making them one of the most remote karst regions in Kyrgyzstan. The presence of clear karst features suggests strong potential for discovering new caves.

Our base camp will be set up inside the Kozu-Baghlan Canyon on a small, flat area, from where we will explore the canyon and plateau.

Alternative Karst Area:

The Madygen Canyon and its Sary-Beles ridge, located just 25 km from Kozu-Baghlan, will also be explored. Travel between the two karst areas will be facilitated by a 15-seat off-road vehicle.

Team Requirements:

We are looking to form a team of speleologists who are physically fit, capable of navigating difficult terrain, and experienced in cave exploration.

This region, situated between the Fergana Valley and the Turkestan Mountain Range, is part of the Southern Tien Shan tectonic system, with relatively stable geological conditions and a sharply continental climate. Summers are hot, with average daily temperatures of +30 to +35°C, while winters are mild (+10 to +15°C).

Karst Springs and Features:

The region is home to many karst springs, especially at the foot of the Takta-Boz mountain range, which indicate active karst processes. During the reconnaissance, locals mentioned narrow cave entrances behind which large underground galleries and halls continue. However, due to a lack of an experienced team, we were unable to explore these caves.

In 1975, geologists discovered several karst dolines in the eastern part of the Takta-Boz Ridge. These dolines, with diameters of 20-30 meters and depths of 1-2 meters, sometimes end in narrow fissures where water disappears in the spring.

Cave Discovery in 2017:

In Madygen Canyon, a large entrance was discovered in 2017 on the western vertical wall of the canyon. Named “Soaring over the Valley,” this entrance is located along a vertical fault that cuts through the entire limestone massif, from the plateau to its base. The limestone layers above the entrance are about 150 meters thick, and the height of the canyon wall is approximately 150 meters. To enter this cave, a team of professionals will be needed.

Participation Details:

Speleologists from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will also take part in the expedition (2-3 speleologists). If you require visa support, please contact us for assistance.