This tour gives you the opportunity to see the northern part of Kyrgyzstan, where you will see many beautiful mountain gorges. Also a great opportunity to see three high-mountain lakes of Kyrgyzstan: Issyk-Kul (1060 m.a.s.l.), Son-Kul (3016 m.a.s.l.) and Lake Kel-Suu (3560 m.a.s.l.). You will see not only the nature of this wonderful country, but also the culture and life of the local population. You will have an interesting wholesale with an overnight stay in yurts.
11 days, 10 nights
Specific Tour
Chinese, English, Espanol, German, Korean
16 people
Arrival in the city of Bishkek. Meeting with the guide and driver at the airport. Breakfast at a local cafe nearby. Departure to the Cholpon-Ata. On the way, an excursion to the Burana tower near the city of Tokmok. This battlement was built in the ancient city of Balasagun; - existed at the peak of the development of the Great Silk Road.
Lunch with a local family. Arrival to Issyk-Kul lake. Accommodation at the hotel on the lake.
After breakfast, departure to the city of Karakol along the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. On the way, excursion to the so-called "Stone Garden" or petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata, an open-air temple left by the Scythians and Huns, dating from the 9th and 8th centuries BC and the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.
Departure to the Grigorievskoe gorge (Chon Ak-Suu 1600 m a.s.l.). Walk along the river, up to 2 km, +150 -150 m. Lunch with lunch boxes in nature. Dinner at local cafe Karakol. Hotel accommodation. Free time.
Breakfast in the hotel. Tour of Karakol: Dungan mosque, a unique Chinese-style building without a single nail, but used for worship by Muslims, an old Russian Orthodox church - "Holy Trinity Cathedral" made of wood. We will also visit the local ethnographic museum. Then transfer to the Jeti Oguz gorge (30 km to the side). Jeti Oguz translated from the Kyrgyz language means "Seven Bulls". This picturesque canyon got its name due to its reddish sandy formations covered with coniferous forests of the Tien Shan. Walking through the gorge to see the most famous rocks "Broken Heart" and "Seven Bulls". Gorge walks. Arrival in Tamga village, accommodation and dinner at the yurt camp/guest house.
Breakfast. Then departure to the Barskoon Gorge, where Yuri Gagarin was on his visit. We can climb to the waterfall "Bowl of Manas" (250 meters to the waterfall), and we can also climb to the waterfall "leopard's tears" (2.3 km and 800 meters climb). Then we will make a stop at the Skazka canyon for short walks. Can be up to 5km, +150m-150m. The canyon consists of multi-colored petrified clay, which offers a very interesting view of the lake in the background. Arrival to the village of Kochkor. Accommodation and dinner at the guest house.
Breakfast. Departure from the village of Kochkor towards Lake Kel-Suu. On the way, stop in the city of Naryn to visit a small blue mosque, we will also visit the local ethnographic museum of the city of Naryn. Then departure towards Lake Kel-Suu, one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. On the way we will pass through many beautiful places - At-Bashi valley and Ak-Sai valley. Accommodation and dinner at the yurt camp or tent camp. Yurt or shawl camps are located at an altitude of 3200 meters above sea level. Note: To travel to Kel-Suu Lake, we will need a border pass because the lake is close to the border with China.
Breakfast. Then we will make a hike of medium difficulty to Lake Kel-Suu. The hike will take 2.5 - 3 hours one way. The lake is located at an altitude of 3500 meters. The name of the lake is translated as “coming water” and for good reason, because the lake tends to disappear and then fill up again. You can also ride horses to the lake. After arrival, we can take a walk around the lake. Return to camp. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Departure from Lake Kel-Suu. Today we will drive towards Son-Kul Lake, the second largest lake in the country, which is located at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level. Way to Son-Kul lake through Moldo-Ashuu pass. One of the most picturesque passes in the country. There are a lot of nomads living around Son-Kul Lake, who graze their cattle and live in yurts. We will also see countless horses, cows and sheep. Arrival at the yurt camp, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
The whole day is devoted to getting to know the nomadic life: walks and light hikes along the shores of the lake, visiting Kyrgyz yurts. Here, the Kyrgyz still lead a nomadic lifestyle. Optionally, you can take horseback riding on the lake (for an additional fee). We can also go to see ancient petroglyphs. We will walk through the picturesque area, enjoying nature (if you wish, you can take a horseback ride). You can also talk to local families who lead a nomadic lifestyle and try the national mare's milk drink - kymyz. Overnight and dinner at the yurt camp.
Breakfast at the yurt camp. Departure to the city of Bishkek, on the way we cross the pass "33 parrots" (3133m above sea level) or Kalmak Ashuu (3436m above sea level), depending on weather conditions. Stop to go to the waterfall and take some photos of panoramic views. Arrival in Bishkek. You can visit the Osh market (closed on Mondays) where you can buy souvenirs or just see the daily life of the locals. Hotel accommodation. Free time. ATTENTION: in bad weather it will be impossible to cross the pass "33 parrots", so you need to return through the Kalmak Ashuu pass.
After breakfast, transfer to the nearest park Ala-Archa in a picturesque gorge house 40 km from the city. You can walk along the river or to the waterfall (depending on your physical fitness). Bishkek - 800 m above sea level m. Ala Archa (2000 m above sea level). Hike to the waterfall (4-5 hours in both directions) +600 m. The waterfall is located at an altitude of 2600 m above sea level. Also a city tour around the city of Bishkek. Walk along the main square of Ala-Too, visit the monument to Manas, the monument to Lenin, if available in time, you can see the changing of the guard on the Main Square. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant with a folklore show.
Arrival at the airport depending on the time of departure.
We have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old to join the tour. Group members aged 16-17 years old are welcome to join the tour but only with a family member that will act as their guardian whilst on tour. Aside from that, no age requirements at all!
All hotels and guest houses have a washing machine for washing clothes. But the exception is yurt camps, where there will be no possibility to wash clothes.
There is Wi-Fi in guest houses and hotels, but in mountainous areas there is no mobile Internet or Wi-Fi.
No vaccination requirements or PCR testing are required.