Made on
Tilda
Time of year: May to October
Tour category: Most popular Combined
Duration: 7 days
PRICE
The price is influenced by various factors such as group size or season. The accessability of some places can change during the year. Therefore, it is difficult to provide a fixed price.
Itinerary
Accommodation
Useful info
Why you will love this tour
Day 1. Bishkek to Kyzyl-Oi
This morning, you will start explore the country with a drive towards beautiful Kyzyl-Oi village. The drive through the Too-Ashuu pass (3600 m) takes about 4-5 hours. Take your time and admire the amazing scenery as you pass by dramatic mountains of Kyrgyz-Ala-Too mountain range. After a couple of camera shots on the pass, you will head further into Suusamyr valley driving on the cost of Kokomeren River. By the river, you will stop for picnic. In the evening, you will eventually arrive in the village and have a rest before diner, taking a walk with your guide on the streets of this remote, authentic and hospitable village. Cap of the day by eating a meal at a dining room of the guesthouse. Notes: at yurt
Day 2. Kyzyl-Oi to Song-Kol Lake
After breakfast, you will head to Kyzart village. The drive time is three hours, so you will arrive in the village by the lunchtime. Before you will get on your horse, you have a lunch in local guesthouse. After a brief demonstration of horse riding from your guide, you will begin the journey on horse towards to Uzbek-Ashuu pass on the way to Song-Kol Lake. The pass provides a great panoramic view to both – Song-Kol lake and Jumgal valley on other side. After a while enjoying the view and giving a break for the horses, the ride continues across grassy hills, home to grazing herds of sheep, goat, horse, and cattle. In the warm summer months, nomad families will be busy with daily chores including milking cows and horses. You will arrive in yurt camp by the lake where local shepherd’s family will cordially welcome you with a bowl of kymyz – a national Kyrgyz drink made from horse milk. The remainder of the day you will spend with the family watching their daily life. For hiking lovers, the valley is a great place to stroll over the mountains around. Enjoy a supper at yurt under a starry night sky in this beautifully wild landscape and get ready to spend your first night at boz-ui – a traditional yurt of the Kyrgyz people. Notes: at yurt
Day 3. Song-Kol Lake to Ysyk-Kol Lake
Take some extra time to enjoy the scenery of Song-Kol lake before you start the journey. With mountains in the background, the lake looks even more beautiful in the morning sunlight. Once you get on your horse again, choose the upper trail for better views of the lake and make your way towards Kara-Kiya pass. From here, the ride is fairly moderately strenuous as you will descend towards the village, then spend the last hours of smooth riding until you will reach the village. On arrival, you will have a lunch at guesthouse and continue your journey east driving to Bokonbayevo village, taking in stunning views of Ysyk-Kol Lake and enormous mountains of Terskey-Ala-Too. After you will check-in at the guesthouse, you can rest until dinner. Notes: at guesthouse
Day 4. Explore the south shore of Ysyk-Kol Lake
Today in the morning, you’ll meet eagle hunter. First, you’ll drive to an open field near the village where you will meet the hunter with his eagle. After some explanations of the peculiarities of golden eagles and hunting with them, he will demonstrate hunting to fox and rabbit. If you do not want to see how the eagle hunts the wild animals, then the hunter will use the skin of a fox. After the demonstration, there will be many opportunities for you to snap some great photos with the eagle on your wrist. Leave Bokonbaevo behind as you travel to the east along the south shore of Ysyk-Kol Lake. Your destination is a city of Karakol – the most touristic city of the country. On your way, you will discover some of beautiful and popular sites on the southern shore: Skazka canyons, Barskoon waterfalls and Jety-Oguz mountains In the early evening, you will arrive in the city of Karakol. Founded in 1869 by Russian settlers, now Karakol is the most popular tourist city. After a little bit of rest at your hotel you will go for a guided city tour where you will visit the local market and taste the most famous dish of Karakol “ashlyamfu”. Following the tour, you will visit popular and interesting sites including Dungan Mosque and Holy Trinity Church among other sites of interest. Finish up your day with a dinner in restaurant. Notes: at hotel
Day 6. Trekking to Altyn-Arashan
Hop the car from Karakol to start your hike up the Altyn-Arashan gorge. First, you will drive to Ak-Suu village whence your trekking starts. Lace up your hiking boots and begin your 2-days trekking to the gorge with your guide following the path by the river. The hike is smooth and easy and offers an opportunity to enjoy both hill and mountain landscapes often coming into direct view. As you will reach the first panorama, you will linger for picnic, taking in views across the entire valley and peak Oguz-Bashi (nicknamed 'Tent'). Altyn-Arashan (translated as "Golden Spring") is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kyrgyzstan, thanks to its unique nature, extensive spruce forests and stunning views. Altyn-Arashan is also widely known for its hot springs located right in the gorge. Upon your arrival in the gorge, relax in the hot springs after a 5-hour trekking. You can also take a short walk to the waterfall in the valley before the dinner in yurt in the gorge. Overnight at yurt or in the guesthouse. Notes: at yurt
Day 6. Trekking back to Karakol. Drive to Chong-Kemin
Wake up with breakfast in Altyn-Arashan and perhaps take one last walk around the valley before you hit the path back to Karakol following the same way. After you will arrive at the finish point in Ak-Suu village, you will drive to Karakol and visit the local market to taste the most famous dish of the city – Ash-lyam-fu. On the second half of the day, you’ll drive to Chong-Kemin gorge. You’ll have about four hours more of driving on the main coastal road with Ysyk-Kol Lake on one side and the Kungey Ala-Too mountain range on the other. By the evening you will arrive in a guesthouse in the gorge where the local family will cordially welcome you with a cup of tea after difficult but adventurous day. The remainder of the day you will spend as you like: you relax in your room or stroll over the mountains around. Notes: at guesthouse
Day 7. Chong-Kemin to Bishkek
Finish up your Kyrgyzstan experience with a driving day back to the capital of Kyrgyzstan - Bishkek city. The last stop on your travel map is an archaeological and architectural complex "Burana Tower", registered on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites. Founded in the 11th century, the Burana tower was the minaret of a mosque in the city of Balasagun, the capital of the once largest empire – Khara-Khanid Khanate of local Turkic-speaking tribes in Central Asia. While except of the tower none of the original city stands above ground today, there is a museum onsite that explains the history of this important site and showcases some of the archaeological discoveries. Take a tour of the ruins in the surrounding hills and then visit the top of the tower with a view of Chui Valley. After arriving and lunch in the restaurant, you'll have the afternoon for sightseeing. Highlights include The main square Ala-Too, the Houses of Parliament, White House and vibrant market Osh bazaar. Top off the day at restaurant with the farewell dinner with your guide team.
Good to know
Horse riding experience not required
We have from 8 to 10 days tour options following this itinerary