Cultural tour through Kyrgyzstan

Upon you arrival to Bishkek, our team will be waiting for you. Then we will transfer you to the hotel for checking-in. After having breakfast we will begin our city tour with lunch in one of the city café’s. Lately we will drive you to the National Park of Ala-Archa, which is just 40 km away from Bishkek, where we will explore the are. At the evening we will return to Bishkek for a dinner and overnight at hotel.

Bishkek surely can't hold such economic and historical value, such as major cities like London or Paris, but capital of Kyrgyzstan do have its own charm. We will visit numerous interesting places across the city, suh as museuims, thetres, historical monuments and parks. We ofer easy tours, that provides a great introduction to Bishkek and it's history.

Ala-Archa is a large National Park located in the same gorge, that posseses 10 large glaciers, 50 mountain peaks with more than 140 varying routes for mountain climbers with changing difficulty, and about 30 mountain passes. National park preserve more than 800 plant species and 300 both birs and animal species, such as Marco Polo sheep, famous snow leopard, boars, lynx and eagles.

Shortly after breakfast we will take you to the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul. Along our way we will have a lunch and see the tower of Burana and open-air museum of rock petroglyphs. At Issyk-Kul we’ll stop by ethnography museum Ruh-Ordo at Cholpon-Ata. We will ahev dinner and stay for night in a private resort.

Burana tower is known to the last remnant of once great city of Balasagun, which dates back to the 10th century and was known for being home to famous Kyrgyz poet Jusup Balasagyn, who was born there in 1015 and mostly famouse for writing a historical poem about Kyrgyz heritage “Knowledge that brings happiness” (Kutadgu Bilim) which was translated into number of languages, including English.

Issyk-Kul is the second largest alpine lake in the world and fifth deepest with impressive 180 km wide and 668 meters deep at the lowest point.

In the morning we will continue our travel along the northern lake shore towards the city of Karakol. On our way we will have a lunch in great Grigorevskoe gorge. At the town we will see the memorial complex built in honor of great Russian explorer of Central Asia N.M. Prjevalski. We will also see Russian Orthodox church and Dungan Mosque during our tour.

Karakol sits at the farthest eastern point of the Issyk-Kul, keeping the role of an administrative center. City was founded in far 1869 by first Russian settlers. Kyrgyz name resembles “black hand”.

Today we will transfer you to the starting point of out trek. We will ascend to Altyn-Arashan gorge for 4,5 hours with vehicle, ready for our assistance nearby. We will have a lunch on our way and enjoy a thermal bath at the destination point. We will stay there for night and dinner in a wooden lodge.

Altyn-Arashan means Golden Spa and it is a valley that grows from Ak-Suu valley, not far from the village of Teplokluchenka, very Spartan ‘hot springs” recreational complex. Our way will require 4WD purposed vehicles, while we travel through fine pine forests with many springs sparkling from the ground with both hot and cold water. Also we may have a great opportunity to see wild bears.

Exploring the area. Lunch In a lodge, followed by the transfer to the Karakol, where we will enjoy a dinner and folklore show at the Dungan family. Night in a hotel.

Today we will visit Jeti-Oguz gorge and explore the area with short hike to the waterfall. Then we wil enjoy a lunch in a yurt and then travel further to the southern shore to Tamga village, and we will visit Barskoon gorge on our way. At tamga we will stay for a night and dinner in a guest house.

Southern region of the Issyk-Kul is known for it’s fascinating red rocks formations, that resemble seven bulls in Kyrgyz folklore. Also in this area you may encounter another rock, that resemble a broken heart of a woman, that died after two men killed each other trying to gain her attention. This place is mostly beloved by the photographers and artists.

We continue our journey and see beautiful Skazka gorge. Skazka means fairy-tale and that place is really beautiful with rock soil that changes color depending on the weather. We will have a lunch and participate in demonstration of nomadic eagle hunting (rabbit will be brought for demonstration). Then we go further to Kochkor village, which is famous among tourists for its hand-made crafts. Also we will see the process of making national felt carpets, shyrdak and ala-kiiz, and stay there for dinner and overnight in a home stay.

We continue our journey through the picturesque way between Kochkor Eki Naryn and Naryn, with lunch stops along the way. In Naryn we will stay for a night in a guest house.

Eki Naryn region is a beautiful valley, where tow rivers meet with each other, which provides plentiful of water for the region, which made it a great place for founding a national Park reserve. You may encounter here the same animals, that are preserved in Ala-Archa national park. Additionally you cal also notice some unearthed remains of ancient settlements at find the hot springs of Jillu Suu.

Today we will take you to the ancient kervan-saray Tash-Rabat, where we will explore the area, and stay for a night. Meals are provided full board. Yurts are offered as a place of accommodation (up to 6 people in 1 yurt).

Tash-Rabat is known for being a tavern for travelers from and to China in the times of Tamerlane and Genghis Khan, which seek there a shelter and a place for worship. It was built around 10th century and stood there since today.

We will leave Tash-Rabat and depart towards remote lake of Son-Kul. Lunch will be served on the way. We will have a great time at the are and stay there for dinner and night in a yurt camp (up to 6 person).

Son-Kul is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, and interestingly lies right at the geographical center of Kyrgyzstan. It name means the last lake, which implies the lake being a last resort for travelers, who seek place for rest.

Today’s day we will dedicate to meditations and relaxation. In afternoon we will take part in nomadic ways of living and take horses for a ride. Whole day will be around the yurt camp. Meals full board.

Son-Kul basin is rich with healthy and fresh mountain grass meadows (jailoo), which provides great food for animals and greatly improves meat and milk qualities. Evidence was revealed that this place were used by shepherds centuries ago in the ancient times!

Today we will take you to Chychkan gorge. Along our way we will visit Kyzyl-Oi village, and have a lunch with a local family. Picturesque views of Kekemeren river and Suusamyr valley along the road. Night in a hotel, dinner provided in a café.

Kyzyl-Oi village is built from local rocks with a distinct red color, which actually gave name to the whole village (Red Bowl). It lies at the height of 1800 meters and is just about 200 km away from Bishkek and surrounded by majestic red rock mountains.

After breakfast drive to Chui region to Kara-Bulak gorge. Lunch on the way. Explore the area upon arrival. Dinner and overnight at the resort.

Kara-Bulak is located 30 km from Bishkek at 1800 m above sea level.

After breakfast hike to the waterfall. Return to the resort. Lunch. Afternoon return to Bishkek. Free time. Dinner and Kyrgyz folklore show at Silk Road Lodge hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

It is possible to taste fresh mare’s milk, which has invaluable healing properties.

Fly to home.