Highlights of Kyrgyzstan

Overview:

2019 Departure Dates:

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Bishkek - National Park Ala Archa - Bishkek 

Arrival in Bishkek early in the morning. Upon arrival at Manas International Airport you will be met by our tourist guide at the arrival gates. Transfer to the city will take 30-40 min. Hotel check in (early check in is included into the tour cost)

After a restful morning and breakfast at the hotel we drive around 40 km out of Bishkek to Ala Archa National Park, a popular place for picnics, hikes, rock climbing and alpinism. There are 20 glaciers in the territory of the park. You can go for a walk on the paved road along the river or hike up to the mountains to get a spectacular view of the gorge. If you are feeling energetic you can hike up to the waterfall (3.75 km- 2.5-3 hours one way)

Heading back to Bishkek. Lunch at a local cafe.

After lunch we head out on a sightseeing tour of Bishkek, which includes: the Monument of Kyrgyz National hero Manas, Changing of Guards of Honor, Kurmanjan Datka Monument.

A sightseeing tour of Bishkek comes to an end at Victory Square. After excursion we will go to ZUM (Central department store) to buy souvenirs.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – local cafe, dinner – local restaurant)

Day 2: Bishkek - Son Kul Lake

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we will have a long drive to Son Kul Lake, so we leave early in the morning. The road to the lake lies through Boom gorge; Orto Tokoi Reservoir and dramatic Kalmak Ashuu pass (3445 m). 

Lunch with a local Kyrgyz family in Kochkor village.

Alpine Son Kul Lake is located on Tien Shan range at the elevation of 3016 m. The territory around Son Kul is a pasture for the cattle driven from Kochkor village, Naryn and Jumgal regions. During the summer Son Kul is considered to be the best pastureland in Kyrgyzstan. The road to the lake goes through the windy mountain passes and vanishes in the sky. 

Arrival at Son Kul Yurt Camp.  Accommodation in yurts (3 - 4 people per yurt). Here you can feel like a real nomads and get acquainted with the culture of Kyrgyz people.

Yurt – is a traditional dwelling of nomadic people of Central Asia. The foundation of yurt consists of wooden lattice and several layers of felt.

Yurts don't take a lot of time to assemble which makes them practical and useful for locals.

The interior of a yurt is decorated with felt carpets and traditional embroidery. 

Dinner and overnight at yurt camp.

(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – local Kyrgyz family, Dinner – yurt camp)

Day 3: Son Kul Lake - Tash Rabat Caravanserai

Breakfast at yurt camp.

After breakfast, departure from Son Kul Lake to Tash Rabat Caravanserai via Kalmak Ashuu pass (3665 m) that brings you to great scenery of the Tien Shan Mountains. The road takes you down to Naryn town.

You will make a stop for lunch in Naryn town.

Naryn is a town of long and narrow form, situated along the famous Naryn River also named Syr Darya, which is one of the biggest rivers in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Naryn is the only town in Kyrgyzstan, where 90 % of the population is Kyrgyz.

Upon arrival in Kara Koyun gorge accommodation at the yurt camp (4-6 people in one yurt)

Free time for a walk.

The excursion to Tash Rabat Caravanserai can be accomplished the following morning. Tash Rabat caravanserai is situated at the elevation of 3200 m asl. not far from Chinese border (Torugart). Its origin is a complete mystery; however there is a hypothesis that it was built in 10th century. Researchers consider it to be a Nestorian monastery, others suppose it to be a resthouse for trade caravans, and others insist othat it was used for defence. It is obviously clear that during the various epochs Tash Rabat Caravanserai had different functions.

Dinner and overnight at the yurt camp.

(Breakfast – yurt camp, Lunch –local café, Dinner – yurt camp)

Day 4: Tash Rabat Caravanserai - Naryn - Kochkor

Breakfast at the yurt camp.

After breakfast, departure to Kochkor village via Naryn town and Dolon pass (3000m)

Lunch at a local café in Naryn town.

After lunch you will visit the Central Blue Mosque, the Central Square, and Historical-ethnographical museum.

After excursion continue your way to Kochkor village.

In Kochkor village you will visit a local women's cooperative, who produce felt and felt carpets.

Shyrdak is a traditional carpet used by nomads to cover the floor. This method of carpet making is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. It is a hard labor that has a lot of subtleties (color choice, decorative patterns, and production techniques)

Those who are interested in will be able to try this ancient handicraft themselves (supplementary payment)

Dinner and overnight with a local family.

(Breakfast – yurt camp, Lunch- local café, Dinner – local family)

Day 5: Kochkor - Djety Oguz Gorge - Karakol

Breakfast with a local family.

After the breakfast you head the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake towards Karakol town.

Karakol – is a small but very interesting town with traditional Russian architecture. It was established in the middle of 19th century and became an important garrison settlement in the territory of Issyk Kul region.

Issyk Kul Lake has a tectonic origin. It is a second largest alpine lake in the world after Titicaca located in South America. Its length reaches 182 km, and width is 58 km, maximum depth is up to 668 m. During the summer period the water reaches up to 20-25 Co

On the way you admire beautiful landscape and changing of scenery.

You will make a stop at one of the most beautiful places for a short walk. The place is Fairy Tale Canyon (Skazka). The canyon looks scenic with the dark blue Issyk Kul Lake on the background.

After a walk we continue our way to Tamga village.

Lunch with a local family.

After lunch you will head to Djety Oguz gorge.

In the Kyrgyz language, Djety Oguz means "Seven Bulls".  This picturesque gorge is covered with the Tien Shan Fir Tree. The tourist guide will tell you the legend about the origin of the gorge name. During the Soviet Union, there was a sanatorium built in the gorge. Many people used to come here for treatment with the help of radon water. Soviet cosmonaut, used to come here for rehabilitation, including Yuri Gagarin - the first man in Space.

Drive to Karakol town after the walk. Check in

Dinner with a local Uighur/Dungan family.

(Breakfast – local family, Lunch - local family, dinner - local family)

Day 6: Karakol - Cholpon Ata

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast you will visit Dungan mosque a unique building in a style of the Chinese pagoda which is functioning mosque up to now.

Also you will visit the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church built of wood without a single nail used. In the miraculous iconostasis of the church there is the famous Tikhvinian icon of Divine Mother, painted in 1897.

After Karakol sightseeing you head to Memorial Museum of  N.M. Przhevalsky a great Russian explorer and researcher of the Asian continent. Drive to Cholpon Ata town.

Lunch at a local café.

After lunch visit the Open air Petroglyphs Museum. Petroglyphs are dated back Sak-Usun period from 9-8 century up to 3-5 century AD. The territory where Petroglyphs are found lying below the Kungey Alatoo Mountains with a beautiful view of the lake.

Drive to the hotel.

Time at leisure.

Dinner at the hotel.

(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – local cafe, Dinner – hotel)

Day 7: Cholpon Ata - Bishkek

Breakfast at the hotel.

After the breakfast we will take another beautiful drive on to Bishkek city. En route you will visit Architectural- Archeological Complex “Burana Tower” (UNESCO)

Burana Tower (ancient minaret)   is located in 12 km far from Tokmok town. The territory where the tower is located was called Balasagyn town. This town had the strategic meaning for Great Silk Road. Here you will see a small museum with exhibits found at excavations, providing more details about this ancient settlement, and become familiar with collection of Balbals, turkic grave marks.

Lunch with a local Kazakh family in Tokmok.

Arrival in Bishkek, check in.

Optionally: You can take a wander around Osh bazaar (closed on Monday)

Farewell dinner and folklore show at a local restaurant.

Just for you, musicians will play national melodies of Kyrgyz people and show you musical instruments. You will enjoy the songs and charming melodies of our ancestors.

Overnight at a hotel.

(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – local Kazakh family, D- local restaurant)

Day 8: Bishkek - Airport

Early breakfast. 

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

 (Breakfast – hotel)

Package Includes:

• Connecting return flights from London to Bishkek via Moscow or Istanbul (flights from other airports available on request)
• 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveller (up to 23 kg)
• 5 nights' accommodation in 3-4 star hotels
• 2 nights' accommodation at a Yurt Camp
• 1 night's accommodation at a local family homestay
• Full board (8 x breakfast, 7 x lunch, 7 x dinner)
• Transportation throughout
• Professinoal tour guide throughout
• Entrances and ecological fees according to the program
• Farewell folklore shore
• Drinking water (1 litre per person per day)
• 24-hour emergency service
• ATOL protection
• All taxes