Exploring Kyrgyzstan

Our guide will meet you at the international airport. This day will be dedicated to a city tour. It includes visits to Victory Square, Oak Park, the central Ala-Too Square, the Historical Museum, the National Philharmonic, and many other attractions. But no Bishkek tour would be complete without a visit to our Asian bazaar! We'll show you around today, and you'll have the chance to take lots of dynamic photos of the bustling local life. This bazaar is bustling and colorful, with a huge variety of goods on offer. You'll spend the night at your hotel.

The day begins with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Today we'll drive to the Chon Kemin Gorge. Along the way, you'll visit the Burana Tower, built in the 11th century. Burana Tower served as a lighthouse along the Silk Road. Nearby, you'll see an open-air museum of balbals (stone warriors). These stones were made in honor of the brave warriors who died for their homeland. After the excursion, a scenic transfer to the Chon Kemin Gorge. That night, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a rustic guesthouse, and a Kyrgyz family will prepare a delicious dinner for you.

Today we will go to Issyk-Kul, the second largest high-altitude lake in the world (1,608 meters above sea level). It is 180 km long and 60 km wide. The lake is often called the "pearl of Central Asia." For more than 1,500 years, locals considered the lake sacred. Thanks to its salty water, Lake Issyk-Kul has healing properties. You will see incredibly beautiful mountains around the lake. During the Soviet period, only officials could have their houses on the lake's shore. Your dinner will be in local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Immediately after breakfast, we'll drive to the town of Karakol. Along the way, we'll stop at a small open-air museum featuring ancient stone inscriptions dating back to 800 BC. These petroglyphs were made over 2,000 years ago by local shamans. We'll then continue along the northern shore of the lake to the town of Karakol. Here, you'll visit a Dungan mosque, built in the Chinese style without using a single metal nail. The mosque will be followed by a visit to an old wooden Orthodox church. You'll spend the night in a guesthouse.

After a hearty breakfast, we'll travel to the picturesque Altyn Arashan gorge in special military vehicles. Altyn Arashan, which translates as "Golden Spa," is one of Karakol's favorite destinations. It boasts exceptionally beautiful Tien Shan spruce trees. After a pleasant walk in the gorge, a dip in the hot springs, and a picnic in the countryside, you'll head back to the city. Lunch will be served at 7 PM at a local restaurant. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Today we'll head to the Jeti Oguz Gorge. It's famous for its red rock formations, known as the Seven Bulls, supposedly shaped like the animal. You'll also see a mountain shaped like a broken heart. You can also climb to the top, which takes about 20 minutes, and from the summit you'll enjoy a stunning panoramic view. From here, you'll see not only snow-white peaks and spruce forests, but also small yurt camps and the entire gorge. Jeti Oguz offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature and spend an unforgettable time surrounded by friendly people.

This day will be dedicated to hiking. We'll start our excursion in the morning to catch a glimpse of the Oguz Bashi Glacier. Its name translates as "bull's head." Its peak truly resembles a head with horns. We'll walk along a green gorge. You might encounter many nomads along the way, as this area offers abundant, good grazing land. We'll enjoy a picnic in the countryside overlooking the snow-white glacier and then return. Overnight in yurts.

Today we'll head to the village of Kochkor. This time, we'll travel along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. This is a great chance to see the lake from all sides. We'll have a short break in the village of Bokonbaeva, where we'll visit the home of a local eagle hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with eagles. This is a traditional nomadic hunting method. And in the village of Kochkorka, you'll meet a family who will demonstrate how traditional woolen carpets are made. You can even create your own carpet with them. We'll spend the night in a local home.

After breakfast, we'll head towards the city of Naryn and stop near Tash Rabat. This is a famous caravanserai on the Silk Road, dating back to the 14th century. The building is unique in that it's located in the heart of the Tien Shan Mountains, and there are no other similar structures in the world! Tash Rabat was built of stone blocks inside a mountain at an altitude of 3,200 meters above sea level. There are a total of 31 rooms, with walls one meter thick. There are also underground prison cells, formerly used to imprison thieves in ancient times. You'll spend the night in a yurt camp near the castle.

After breakfast, we'll set off for the second-largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, Lake Son-Kul. Today we'll have a long but incredibly beautiful drive. Lake Son-Kul, the highest lake in Kyrgyzstan, is located at 3,013 meters above sea level among the mountains. These areas have been inhabited by Kyrgyz nomads since ancient times because of the good grazing lands for cattle. Along the way, we'll pass through the incredibly picturesque Ashu Pass (3,586 meters). Dinner and overnight will be in yurts. Yurts are unique prefabricated nomadic dwellings. They are made of a wooden frame covered with felt without using a single nail.

Today we'll explore the area around Lake Son-Kul. We'll be able to stroll along the lake or climb to the mountaintop to see petroglyphs, carvings carved into rocks more than 2,000 years ago. We'll also get a glimpse into the lives of Kyrgyz nomads. You'll learn many interesting facts about nomadic life, traditions, and the culture of this people. They'll be happy to welcome you and treat you to a national drink made from mare's milk. They'll be happy to tell you about themselves, their children, and anything else that might interest you. They're very hospitable and friendly. We'll spend the night in yurts.

After breakfast, you'll have free time at Son-Kul Lake to enjoy the surrounding views. You can ride along the lake on horseback or simply relax and soak in the tranquil atmosphere. You'll also have time to chat with the nomads and gain insight into their way of life. Lunch will be served at 2 PM. Afterward, we'll drive to the village of Kyzyl Oy, located right in the gorge. The drive to Kyzyl Oy takes you through the most beautiful mountain passes, where the landscape changes every moment. You'll spend the night and dinner with the locals.

After meeting with the locals, we'll head to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The road to the city passes through southern Kyrgyzstan. During our journey, be prepared for stunning views of impressive mountains and gorges. Today, you'll see a panoramic view from the Too Ashuu Pass, located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters! This road is considered one of the most beautiful in Kyrgyzstan. You'll have plenty of photo stops to capture these views. Fantastic roads, breathtaking views, nomads, and towering mountains—you can be sure to leave with the best memories of this country. Overnight at a hotel.

Today we'll visit the Ala Archa Gorge. This national park was once only accessible to high-ranking officials during the Soviet era. Ala Archa is located on the foothills of the Tien Shan mountain range, just 45 km from Bishkek. You can take a short hike to the top of the hill, which offers a stunning panoramic view of the gorge. If you'd like, we can take a more challenging four-hour hike to a picturesque waterfall. Then we'll return to Bishkek. A traditional dinner will be served at 7:00 a.m. Overnight will be at the hotel.

Transfer to the international airport