Tour to Kyrgyzstan

Your guide will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany you to the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, just a 30-minute drive from the airport. In the morning we will visit Ala Archa gorge. It is a Natural Park. At the Soviet Time only V.I.P. people had permission to go for a walk here. The Ala Archa gorge is on a spur of the Tien Shan mountain range. It is just 45 km from Bishkek. You can have a short hiking tour to see a panoramic view of the gorge. Afterwards we return to Bishkek for lunch. The second half of the day is dedicated to a guided tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic, and many others places of interest. IA traditional dinner will be organized at 7 o’clock.

This overnight will be in a hotel.

After breakfast we start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, Son Kul Lake. Son Kul Lake is surrounded by mountains and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level. Since ancient times Kyrgyz nomads have come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation. On the journey we will drive over Tue Ashu Pass which is 3586 meters above sea level. Lunch will be in lunch-boxes. Dinner and overnight will be spent in nomadic collapsible dwellings - yurts. They are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings.

Yurts are built without nails.

Today we will walk and meet real nomads. It is a great chance to get acquainted with nomadic traditions and culture. All nomads are very hospitable. They will always invite you inside their yurts to drink tea with them. They are not used to seeing many tourists and are always happy to speak with you. Hospitality is one of the main laws among nomads. The used to say: “Guest is sent by God”. So they cannot just let you pass without having a rest with them.

You will get to spend the night in yurts as nomads do.

After breakfast you will have free time at Son Kul Lake, to explore nature on your own. You can ride along the lake on a horse, or just relax and soak in the calm atmosphere of the lake side wilderness. Also you will have time to communicate with nomads and have a glimpse into their way of life. Then we will drive to the town of Naryn which is situated right in the gorge. The drive to Naryn traverses over one of the most beautiful passes, along the top of a mountain.

Night will be spent in a guesthouse.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Tash Rabat Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road (Stone Castle from the 14th century). The building is unique. Tash Rabat is located at the very heart of Tian Shan Mountains. Tash Rabat was built of stone blocks inside a mountain at an elevation of 3200 m above sea level. In total there are 31 rooms in the mountain. The walls are 1 m thick. There are also underground prison cells formerly used to incarcerate thieves in ancient times.

Overnight will be spent in yurts near Tash Rabat Caravanserai in yurts.

In the morning you will be transferred to Kochkor village through beautiful Kichi Naryn gorge. The road will go along amazing gorge and you will drive today over mountain pass Jalpak Bel that is over 3 000 meters high. In Kochkor village you will spend some time with a family that will show you the way our national felt carpets are produced. You even can create your own carpet together with them. Also you will visit a small handicraft museum there. They have many examples of silver decorations, coats made of wolfs, horse saddle decorations, carpets and many other things.

Overnight will be in a homestay.

Today you will be transferred to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world. The lake is called "the pearl of Central Asia". For more than 1 500 years local people considered the lake to be a sacred one. You can come up to the lake and to see mountains all around it. We will have a break in Bokonbaeva village, where we will visit a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (traditional way of nomads hunting). Then is transfer to famous gorge of Jeti Oguz, Red Rocks.

Night will be in nomadic felt dwellings, yurts.

This day is devoted to a radius hiking. We will start our hike in the morning to see a view of Oguz Bashi glacier. The name is translated as the Head of a Bull. Its peak indeed looks like a head with horns. We will be going along a green gorge covered with trees. There are nomadic yurts on the way because this place has very nice pastures. We will not come up to the snow itself because it takes 3 days and the road back will be along the same path. Instead оf it you will have a very nice picnic with a view of this snow white peak. After a short rest enjoying nice view of this snow white peak we will return to the yurt camp. Afterwards transfer to Karakol town.

Overnight is in guesthouse.

In the morning we will visit the Dungan mosque. It was built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. Afterwards you will be transferred to Issyk Kul Lake. This time we will drive along the northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake. This is a great chance to see the whole lake from all sides. It is the biggest mountain lake in Central Asia and also the favorite place for swimming in summer time. People come to vacation at the lake from neighboring countries. In the afternoon you will visit a small local museum that has examples of handicrafts, musical instruments, and a lot of artifacts. Afterwards, it is free time on the beach to have a rest.

Overnight is in a hotel.

In the morning you will be transferred to Bishkek city. On the way, we will make a short break to give you the opportunity to visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.). Today we will visit Burana Tower. It is a minaret from the 11th century. Burana Tower was used during the Great Silk Road as a sign for travelers that there was a city to have a rest. Nearby you will see an open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors). After an interesting excursion and climbing to the top of the tower you will transfer to the Kyrgz capital.

Night is in a hotel.