Majestic Tien-Shan: Journey around Issyk-Kul Lake

8
Days
May
-
October

Discover Kyrgyzstan, the land of celestial mountains and rich culture. Immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes, explore reserve areas, and witness pristine nature.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through our breathtaking country. Explore our natural parks, immerse yourself in the fascinating customs of our nation, and witness the untouched beauty of our pristine nature. Take a dip in the "Pearl of the Tien-Shan," the famous Issyk-Kul lake, nestled between the majestic Terskey and Kungei Ala-Too mountains. With its remarkable clarity, this lake is one of the largest and deepest in the world, second only to Lake Baikal.

Program
Day
1

Manas Airport - Bishkek City - Ala-Archa National Park

Meet with a guide at Manas Airport. Transfer to Bishkek City and rest. After breakfast, there will be a short briefing before starting the drive to Ala-Archa National Park, which is located 40km from the city in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountains. Take a walk in the park and have a picnic on the river bank. Return to Bishkek for a city tour. Visit Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, and Erkindik Avenue. Enjoy dinner at a national cafe. Spend the night in a 3-star hotel.

Day
2

Bishkek City - Burana Tower - Chon-Kemin National Park

Breakfast. Start driving south and visit Toguz-Bulak Mountain Valley, where nine villages are located, translated as "nine springs" from the Kyrgyz language. Visit the panoramic viewpoint of Issyk-Ata Gorge. After that, we will meet a local family and have lunch. Visit Burana Tower, known for its architecture from the 11th century during the Karahanid epoch in the history of the Great Silk Road. Continue driving to Chon-Kemin National Park in the north Tein-Shan Range. Accommodation will be provided in a local guest house with dinner.

Day
3

Chon-Kemin National Park - Yurt Camp on the Issyk-Kul Lake

Breakfast. Today, we will discover Nomad's Horse Games named Kok-Boru. It's a traditional Kyrgyz game that has been a part of the nomadic lifestyle for many years. We will then continue driving to the southern part of the Issyk-Kul Region. We will visit Kyzyl-Tuu village to see the process of yurt building, which is a nomadic house made from sheep felt. For lunch, we will dine with a local family. In Jaichi Valley, we will meet a Berkutchi eagle hunter to learn about the ancient nomad's tradition. Finally, we will arrive at the south shore of the lake and have accommodation and dinner in the yurt camp.

Day
4

Yurt Camp - Jeti-Oguz Valley - Karakol City

After breakfast, continue driving and visit the Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyons. Take a hike between the colorful hills. Then, visit Barskoon Gorge, where the biggest waterfall in the region is located. Enjoy a hike in the gorge and have a picnic in nature. Afterward, continue driving on the south shore's road and visit Jeti-Oguz Gorge, which is translated as "7 bulls". Take a hike to the panorama viewpoint of the Oguz-Bashi Mountain Range. In the evening, arrive at Karakol City and have dinner at a local national cafe. Stay overnight at a family hotel with a 3-star rating.

Day
5

Karakol City - Altyn-Arashan Hot Springs Valley

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will drive towards the Terskey Ala-Too mountains in a "Vahtovka" - a Soviet army car with 6WD. Our destination is the Altyn-Arashan valley, which is well-known for its hiking trails to nearby peaks and Lake Ala-Kul. One side of the gorge is covered in dense spruce forest, while the other side is adorned with a vibrant carpet of mountain herbs, flowers, berries, and low shrubs. Altyn-Arashan is also home to several small hot spring sites, where natural hot water flows into concrete pools enclosed by wooden sheds. After exploring the valley, we will have a picnic lunch and enjoy swimming in the hot springs. In the evening, we will return to Karakol and have a dinner featuring a fun lagman-show, showcasing the preparation of this national dish. We will spend the night at the hotel.


Day
6

Karakol City - Kyrchyn Valley - North Shore of the Issyk-Kul

Today, we will visit the northern part of Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way, we will pass through Kyrchyn Valley. We will visit a fisherman's family in the forest in the valley, where we will have lunch. Afterward, we will continue driving inside the valley to reach a panoramic viewpoint of the Kungei Ala-Too Mountain Range. We will then drive to Chon Ak-Suu Gorge and hike along the river. Finally, we will return to the Issyk-Kul road and arrive in the Cholpon-Ata district. Dinner and accommodation will be provided in a 3-star hotel.

Day
7

Issyk-Kul Lake - Ruh-Ordo - Bishkek City

Breakfast. Visit the Cultural Center Ruh-Ordo and learn about the history of the Kyrgyz people. Then, we will visit the open museum of petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata City. Lunch at a cafe. Continue driving through the Boom Mountain Pass to the Bishkek City. Upon arriving in the city, we will have a farewell dinner at a national cafe with a folklore show. Spend the night at a 3-star hotel.

Day
8

Bishkek City - Manas Airport

Transfer to Manas Airport. Fly home.

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Included

  • Transfers from and to Manas airport
  • Round-trip transportation (Mercedes Sprinter)
  • English speaking guide
  • Meals full board
  • Accommodation at hotels, guest houses and yurt camp 
  • Excursions, entrance fees to museums and parks
  • Horse nomad games
  • Special transport to Altyn-Arashan
  • Folklore show
  • Falconry
  • Yurt installation
  • Hot springs
  • Culinary shows 
  • City tours

Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Visa
  • Single rooms
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Costs, not mentioned above

Notes

The climate in Kyrgyzstan is sharply continental, and throughout the day the temperature in the mountains can range from + 30 to 0 degrees. We recommend the tourists to take hike shoes, sticks, warm clothing, sunscreen and sunglasses with them.