Explore Kyrgyzstan 10-Day Tour
About this tour
Highlights: Burana Tower, Issyk Kul Lake, Song Kul Lake, Tash Rabat caravanserai, hiking, horse riding, nomadic lifestyle.
This trip will lead you through the Tien Shan Mountains on the tracks of the Kyrgyz nomads. You will discover the natural and cultural treasures of Kyrgyzstan: the wild shore of Issyk Kul lake, Tash Rabat caravanserai, and the alpine pastures of stupendous Son Kul Lake. Throughout this trip, you will be immersed in the ancient nomadic culture and its equestrian tradition.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Day 1: Arrival in Bishkek and city walk • Your guide/driver will meet you at the airport. Transfer to the guesthouse in Bishkek city. Installation and resting time. • Meeting with the guide at the guesthouse for a welcome lunch and briefing. • Bishkek city tour, we discover the city center, parks, and monuments. • Here you can enjoy the view of the real eastern bazaar. Then dinner at the best canteen in town. • Night in the guesthouse. L, D included Altitude: 800m
Day 2: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Beltam Yurt Camp, Kyrgyzstan
Day 2: Burana Tower on the way to Issyk Kul • Meeting at 8.30 for departure. • Visit of Burana tower site, on the ruins of the ancient Karakhanid’s capital, Balasagyn. • Lunch with a Dungan family in Tokmok city, and then an interesting walk through the Konorchek canyons to admire the red rocks structures. • Arrival at Aida’s place, our yurt camp for the next 2 nights, on the southern shore of Issyk Kul, the second biggest mountain lake in the world, at 1600m high. Discover the place, go for a swim, and play, you will have free time. • Overnight in the yurt. B, L, and D included Driving time: 4h Driving kilometers: 360km Walking time: 2,5h Altitude: 1600m
Day 3: Beltam Yurt Camp, Kyrgyzstan to Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Day 3: The Red Skazka Canyon and the Barskoon Forest Valley • Today we will have a unique opportunity to freshen up in Issyk Kul Lake, sunbathe on the beach, take a walk to the waterfalls and climb the majestic glaciers. • In the morning, visit Skazka (Fairy Tale) canyon. The red, ocher or yellow sedimentary rocks are stunning and seem to be taken out from another planet. A paradise for photographers! Discovery of places. • We meet with a berkutchi, an eagle hunter who will tell us about his passion and showing his eagles and will show us how he trains them to hunt during the summer. • After a picnic on the Beach of Issyk Kul Lake, we will head to Arabel Valley, which is an amazing highland place located at an altitude of 3900 meters above sea level. • Then we will take the road to the Forest Valley of Barskoon, one of the many mountain valleys watering Issyk Kul Lake. We leave for a beautiful walk through the fir trees to discover the waterfalls that spring here from the rock wall. • Back to our yurt camp after the first “physical day” • Overnight in the yurt. B, L, and D included Walking Time: 3h30 Driving time: 3h Driving kilometers: 220km Altitude: 3900m
Day 4: Beltam Yurt Camp, Kyrgyzstan to Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan
Day 4: Heading to Song Kul Lake • Last moments on the shore of Issyk Kul, we meet Kurmanbek, with his family that makes yurts in the small village of Kyzyl Tuu for several generations. He will teach us the secrets of making yurts, symbols of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia. • We continue our discovery of Kyrgyz handicrafts at the Kochkor Altyn Kol Felt Cooperative. We will have lunch here in a cozy café or guesthouse in Kochkor. • After lunch, we take the road to Song Kul Lake via Kalmak-Ashuu at 3447m., the view is amazing, make sure that you grab your camera. • Arrival at the yurt camp at 3016m, at the foot of the mountains. Now is a great time to discover the surroundings, gather and milk the cows, gaze at the fascinating lake, this time is designed to be flexible. • Overnight in the yurt. B, L, and D included Driving time: 3h45 Kilometers by car: 275km Altitude: 3447m
Day 5: Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan
Day 5: At Song Kul Lake • Let’s go hiking in the vast meadows covered by Edelweiss around the lake, and search for petroglyphs on the heights of the Song-Kul Lake. This is the opportunity for you to walk among the grazing cattle and scattered yurts and herders. • Second and last night in Song Kul. • Optional: if you prefer horse riding to hiking, this is also possible = 40 USD / person B, L, and D included Hiking Time: 4-h Altitude: 3150m
Day 6: Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan to At-Bashi, Kyrgyzstan
Day 6: Through the Tien Shan on the Silk Roads • We leave at 8 am to Moldo-Ashuu pass. Glimpsing Song Kul for the last time, we start driving and discover the Naryn river valley. It is still the beginning of the mighty Syr-Daria, known as Iaxartes by the ancient Greeks, irrigating Central Asia with his sibling Amu-Daria. • We continue driving across Tien Shan Mountains. Visit 18th and 19th centuries mausoleums. Lunch in Baetov’s oasis. We cross the mountains thanks to the MELS pass. • Arrival in the valley of At Bashy at Jackshylyk, a farmer from the region who welcomes us to his house in the last Kyrgyz village before China, on the ancient Silk Road. • Overnight in the homestay. B, L, D included Driving time: 6h Kilometers by car: 320km Altitude: 3450m
Day 7: At-Bashi, Kyrgyzstan to Tash-Rabat, Kyrgyzstan
Day 7: Hike to infinity and beyond, to Tash Rabat • After breakfast, transfer around 1, 30 hrs. to the entrance of the Ichke Valley, we start a beautiful hike (4h) in this valley dotted with yurts and shepherds. • We cross the Belzhol pass (3500m altitude) which allows us to reach the Valley of Tash Rabat. We arrive like the caravans of yesteryear, on foot, to the caravanserai of Tash Rabat, the highest in the world at 3200m altitude. • Visit this place full of history on the Silk Roads before settling at Nazira, who welcomes us in his yurt camp near the caravanserai. • Overnight in the yurt. • Optional: if you prefer horse riding to hiking, this is also possible = 40 USD / person? B, L, and D included Walking Time: 6h Driving time: 1h Kilometers by car: 25km Altitude: 3500m
Day 8: Tash-Rabat, Kyrgyzstan
Day 8: Free day in Tash Rabat, Afternoon transfer to Char Valley • Today we have all the leisure to discover the Valley of Tash Rabat and its surroundings. • Culture lovers can learn more about the history of the Kyrgyz Silk Roads with our guide. • After lunch, we will drive toward Char Valley. Which is located in the Naryn region. This is a calm and relaxing place, the nature here is amazing. It is possible to do a short hike to a nearby peak to see a panoramic view of the whole At Bashy region. • Overnight in the guesthouse. Walking time: 2h Driving Time: 2h15 min Kilometers by car: 110km Altitude: 3200m B, L, and D included
Day 9: Tash-Rabat, Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Day 9: Way back to Bishkek • After breakfast, short hike to the canyons near the guesthouse. We will be able to see the rocky canyons and fir trees. • Then we leave the mountains and drive to Bishkek. Arrival in Bishkek in the middle of the afternoon. • Farewell dinner. • Night in our cozy guesthouse in Bishkek Walking time: 2h Driving time: 5h Kilometers by car: 340km Altitude: 3300m B, L, and D included
Day 10: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Manas International Airport, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Day 10: Goodbye Kyrgyzstan • Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule. • Flight back home with the head full of memories... at least we hope so!
What's included
Organization of the stay All transfers in vehicle incl. from/ to airport Еnglish/french speaking tour guide Full board incl. drinking water and tea Accommodation described in the program All activities mentioned in the program Entrance fees for monuments and parks mentioned in the program
Visas (if applicable) & any other administrative costs PCR test Insurance repatriation and CR insurance International airfare and taxes International banking fees Alcohol or sweetened beverages Any charged activity not mentioned in the program Rental of personal equipment (sleeping bag, water bottle, flashlight, etc.) Tips (always optional, but always appreciated) Personal expenses Additional costs due to personal problems (health, loss of luggage, etc.).
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan