Tour Route:

Bishkek – Ala-Archa Nationalpark – Burana Tower – Chon-Kemin Nationalpark – Son-Kul Lake – Issyk-Kul Lake – Bokonbayevo Village – Skazka Canyon – Barskaun Gorge – Jety-Oguz – Karakol – Grigoriev and Senenov Gorges – Cholpon-Ata – Bishkek

Highlights and Overview of this Trip

Introduction:

In this tour, you can actively spend your vacation, learn a new country, and enjoy the mountain fresh air, great views and cool mountain rivers. The beautiful mountains and lakes of Central Tien-Shan Mountains with magnificent landscapes, hospitable Kyrgyz people with their unique way of life and traditions, delicious Oriental cuisine, national drinks, fruits and see learn about Kyrgyz Arts and Nomad’s Ethnography. Immerse yourself in Eastern culture, small villages, colorful bazaars, unique nature and recharge yourself with a positive energy, bright sun, taking only pleasant memories back home.

Please note that this tour is run by one of our trusted partners, ensuring the same high quality service. If you have any questions, fell free to contact us.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ala-Archa Nationalpark
• Burana Tower
• Son-Kul Lake
• Issyk-Kul Lake
• Sazka Canyon
• Barskaun Gorge

Duration: 9 days, 8 nights

Trip season: May – October

Accommodation: Guest House, Yurt camps, Hotels

Difficulty: Easy

program:

DAY 1 - 13.07.24: Airport – Bishkek – City Tour (40 km 35 min)

Arrival in Bishkek and transfer to the hotel and check-in at the Hotel. Rest.

Bishkek sightseeing tour: Visit Central Ala-Too Square, Oak tree Park with sculptures and statues of Famous Kyrgyz People, Old Square, National Philharmonic, Victory square, White Mosque, Historical Museum.

Dinner in traditional Kyrgyz restaurant.

Accommodation at the hotel. Meals: dinner

DAY 2 - 14.07.24: Bishkek – Ala-Archa National Park – Shaman ceremony - Bishkek

Breakfast. Morning transfer to the “Ala-Archa National Park”. Ala-Archa it is an alpine national park in the Tian Shan Mountains. The park, which includes the gorge of the Ala-Archa River and the mountains surrounding.  Walking and taking photos 2-3 hours.

Drive back to Bishkek for lunch.

Then we will visit a shaman who lived not far from Bishkek.

Kyrgyz shamanism displays a mixture of Islamic and pre-Islamic practices of Turkic people. Nowadays there are several types of shamans: “bubu”, “bakshy” – the ones using the healing properties of herbs and other natural substances, “kozuachyk” using different techniques to tell the future and “moldo” using Islamic practices to heal people.

You will see shaman ceremony and take picture.

Dinner in local restaurant.

Accommodation at the hotel in Bishkek. Meals: breakfast, dinner

DAY 3 - 15.07.24: Bishkek - Burana tower – Chon-Kemin Nature Park (150 km 3 hr)

Breakfast. Continue city tour and visit Oriental famous Osh bazar in Bishkek.

Transfer to Burana tower, cultural complex of X-XI AD. Here you can go up to the top of tower where will be seen all local area and visit local museum and Balbals (Stone warriors) and petroglyphs. Lunch in Kyrgyz family.

Then you will see traditional Kyrgyz game ‘’Kok-Boru’’ (it is a traditional game played by two teams on horses, where players try to maneuver with a goat’s carcass and score by putting it into the opponents’ goal.

Transfer to Chon-Kemin valley for night stay. Chon-Kemin National Park, a lush natural area brimming with diverse flora and fauna. Upon arrival explore Chon Kemin village. Here you will be able to take picture of farmers and animals. Dinner and overnight in cozy guesthouse.

Meals: full board

DAY 4 - 16.07.24: Chon-Kemin – Son-Kul Lake (250 km 4-5 hrs)

Breakfast. Transfer to Son-Kul Lake, this is high mountain lake at the altitude of 3060 m and one the most beautiful places in country which is must to visit, where you can see nomadic life, ancient culture, tradition and customs of Kyrgyz nomad’s which is still alive today. Taste Kyrgyz national drink “Kymyz” (fermented mare’s milk). Altitude varies from 1750 to 3060 meters above sea level. Lunch is in Yurt Camp.

After lunch explore Son-Kul lake, Horseback riding (optional) along the lakeshore and enjoy the beauty of virgin nature and Nomad’s pasture. Dinner and accommodation in Yurt Camp, nomad’s traditional dwelling. Meals: full board.

DAY 5 - 17.07.24: Son-Kol lake – Bokonbaevo village - (300 km 4 hrs)

Breakfast. Transfer to south shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, the second largest high-altitude alpine lake in the world after Titicaca Lake in South America. Locals called this lake “a pearl of Kyrgyzstan” and symbol of Kyrgyzstan.

On the way, visit Yurt maker’s village workshop to see the hand manufacture process of Yurt Inn. The Yurt Make Master will demonstrate and tell the manufacturing process.

Lunch in Kyrgyz family.

Drive to Bokonbaevo village where you will meet and visit eagle hunter house (Berkutchi). Eagle hunting it is nomad traditions which one still very popular in Kyrgyzstan. Here you will see demonstration of hunting birds of prey and detailed stories about these amazing creatures and they show how they treat them. Dinner and accommodation in Yurt camp, traditional Kyrgyz house. Meals: full board.

DAY 6 - 18.07.24: Bokonbaevo – Skazka canyon – Barskaun gorge - Djetty Oguz gorge - Karakol (220 km 4 hrs)

Breakfast. Drive to Karakol. On the way visit Skazka Canyon (Fairy Tale). The whole originality of the place is the frozen in bizarre forms colorful red rocks, like after the eruption

Drive to Barskaun gorge, famous for cascading waterfalls with interesting names: “Beard of old man”, Tiers of Snow Leopard” and “Cup of Manas”. Lunch-picnic near waterfall.

Drive to Djetty Oguz gorge, by nickname as Switzerland thanks to beautiful fir, junipers, and birch tree forests covered valley. Djetty Oguz Gorge valley with seven red stones rock formation where you can see famous mountains “Broken Heart” and “Seven Bulls”.

Continue drive to Karakol. Check-in to the hotel. Rest. Dinner in Dungan family (Chinese Muslims). Accommodation at the hotel. Meals: full board

DAY 7 - 19.07.24: Karakol – Kyrchyn pasture - Cholpon-Ata(200 km, 3 hrs)

Breakfast. Karakol sightseeing: Dungan mosque, Russian orthodox church, local bazar, animal market (Sunday only).

Drive to North shore of Issyk Kul Lake. On the way visit, Semenovskoye gorge by entering from it and exiting from Grigorievskoye Gorge it is enough attractive places for nature lovers, and travelers during beach season time. Here you will see Nomad Games which consists from Horse racing, horse archeries, wrestling on the horse ant etc.

Here, you can dress up in traditional Kyrgyz clothes to take a lot of amazing pictures of the tour group along with local people in the summer pasture. Lunch near the Ak-Suu river (grilled trout). Drive to Cholpon-Ata and check-in resort. Free time on the beach. Overnight at the beach resort.

Meals: full board

DAY 8 - 20.07.24: Cholpon-Ata – Bishkek (270km,4hrs)

Breakfast. Drive for excursion to Cultural Complex “Ruh Ordo”, Petroglyphs museum on open air dating from 500 BC – 100 AD – image of wolves, long-horned ibex, goats, horses, snow leopard and some hunting scenes.

Transfer to boating 1 hour in Cholpon-Ata. Lunch.

Felt show in Tamchy village, local women will show how they are making traditional Kyrgyz carpet. Drive to Bishkek. Dinner in local restaurant accompanied by Kyrgyz folklore. Accommodation at the Hotel. Meals: breakfast, dinner

DAY 9 - 21.07.24: Bishkek – Airport (30 km 40 min)

Breakfast. Transfer to the International Airport. Departure. Meals: breakfast

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.

Package includes in Kyrgyzstan:

• Accommodation in mentioned in program based on twin room occupation
• Transportation during this tour by Mercedes Sprinter 18 seats
• Meals as mentioned in program:
• Daily breakfast, 5 lunches, 8 dinners
• English speaking Guide
• Excursions according to tour program
• Entrance fees for all mentioned monuments.
• All mentioned activities in the program description:
• Visit Shaman house
• Kok-Boru (Buskasi)
• Eagle hunting show
• Yurt assemble show
• Felt show
• Visit ethnic people in traditional Kyrgyz cloths in Semenov gorge
• Boating – 1 hr
• Kyrgyz Folklore show
• Show in Traditional Kyrgyz clothes (in Semenov gorge)
• All local taxes

Not included:

• International and domestic flights
• Visa
• Medical Insurance policy
• Horse riding in Son-Kul lake – 10 USD per horse/hour
• Tips and gratuities.
• Any personal expenses.

Notes:

• Contact us for addition nights, activites or any other questions
• You can add other trips to your journey
• Tour Operator reserves the right to modify itineraries and/or substitute hotels of a reasonably similar quality, when available, should circumstances beyond our control deem it necessary.
• Domestic flights are booked as per availability, if flight is cancelled or no tickets available on the time of booking, itinerary will be modified as per timetable

Clothing

• Layered clothing: Include base layers, mid-layers, and outer layers to adapt to varying weather conditions.
• Waterproof jacket and pants: To stay dry during rain or wet conditions.
• Warm hat and gloves: To protect against the cold, especially at higher altitudes.
• Comfortable boots: Well-fitted and sturdy, preferably waterproof.
• Additional pair of shoes or sandals for leisure time
• Extra socks and underwear: Moisture-wicking and quick-drying options are best.

Gear

• Backpack: A durable and comfortable backpack with a capacity suitable for the length of your trek. Recommended weight maximum 10kg
• Sleeping bag liner: Adds warmth and ensures cleanliness. We cannot give you 100% guaranty that mattresses at the Yurt Camps or Homestays will be ideally clean and meet your standards. That is why better to put your own inlet to these beds.
• Headlamp or flashlight: With extra batteries, for visibility at night.
• Multi-tool or knife: Useful for various tasks.

Food and Water

• Water bottles: To reduce waste we’ll recommend you to buy 7-10l Bottles from the stores and refill your bottles.
• Food: meals which are not included to the program, you’ll have the choice to try local food at markets/bazars on the way, at restaurant or cafes.

Safety

• First aid kit: Include bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and any personal medications.
• Personal hygiene items: Biodegradable soap, toilet paper, wet wipes.
• Medications: Any personal medications, plus extras in case of delays. We are sometimes in very remote areas, so obtaining these items could be difficult.
• Sun protection: Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF, hat, sunglasses.
• Insurance: Travel insurance is not included in the tour package. It is highly recommended that clients have their own travel insurance to cover illness, injury, and loss or damage to personal belongings. In case of an emergency, the staff will do their best to assist and transport you to a hospital or another point of care. However, if you do not have insurance, you will be required to cover the charges yourself. Your insurance should also cover helicopter services and rescue/search operations in the mountains.

Miscellaneous

• Money: it’s common to pay by cash.
• Credit cards and Visa cards to withdraw money can be used in Bishkek, Karakol only.
• In bigger restaurants, cafes or gas station sometimes you can pay by card.
• Camera or smartphone: To capture the beautiful scenery.
• Power bank: To keep your electronic devices charged. In theory, accommodation places in the countryside have electricity. But it does not mean “automatically” that in practice it’ll be so. Sometimes there is the problem with electricity in some places but it is very unpredictable.
• Wifi: at accommodation at the moutains can be possible but don’t expect it. Same with mobile phone reception
• Reusable bags: For carrying trash out of remote areas.

Remember, packing light is important, but make sure you have all the essentials to stay safe and comfortable during your horse trekking adventure. Enjoy the ride!