Kz-kg - Altyn Emel & Sonkol: Hidden Gems Of Ala-too
About this tour
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan tour with Altyn Emel National Park and Song-Kol lake for 7 days.
- Spots for visiting: Almaty, Altyn-Emel National Park, Jarkent, Charyn canyon, Kolsay lakes, Karakol, Issik-Kul South Shore, Jety-Oguz redrocks, Aksay and Skazka canyons, Song-Kol lake, Bishkek.
- The itinerary could be reversed
- The tour program includes: meals, tickets, overnights in yurts and guesthouses, horse riding and eagle hunting show.
- Booking the tour means i will personally conduct it. The program can be customized and during the trip we can be flexible and i try fulfill with some gems, which I don’t open in public programs.
- Total distance ~ 2380 km (200km inside Altyn Emel NP).
ADDITIONAL lOCATIONS:
• Enilchek ghost town (320km, +1 extra day)
• Altyn Arashan (+1 extra day)
• Ara-Bel plateau on 4000 asl (160km, + 6 hours)
• Tosor Pass and Glacier on 3900 asl (+1 extra day)
• Chong-Kemin gorge (+80km, +4 hours)
• Ak-Tuz abandoned uranium factory
• Kol-Ukok (+1 extra day)
• Kol-Kogur (+1 extra day)
• Big Almaty Lake, Medeo and Shymbulak Ski Resort (+1 extra day)
• Ala-Archa National Park (+80km, +4 hours)
• Assy plateau and cosmic station (+1 extra day)
• Bayankol village, Tekes waterfall and Tuzkol lake (+1 extra day)
• Narynkol gorge (+1 extra day)
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Almaty, Kazakhstan to Basshiy, Kalinino, Kazakhstan
ANNOUNCEMETS: The Tien-Shan mountain system in Central Asia covers the territory of 5 countries. Most of it lies on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan. The most green and picturesque part - Kyungoy and Terskei Ala-Too ridges are the border between Almaty and Issyk-Kul regions. Start from Amaty. Kapshagay waterreservoir coffee stop. Basshy village and tickets for Altyn Emel National Park. Driving to Aktau and Katutau mountains. Dinner and overnight in Basshy village guesthouse.
Day 2: Basshiy, Kalinino, Kazakhstan to Shonzhy, Kazakhstan
Breakfast and driving to Singing Dune, Lunch and Jarkent town Mosque in China style. Driving to Chunja town. Dinner and overnight in Chunja guesthouse.
Day 3: Shonzhy, Kazakhstan to Saty, Kazakhstan
Driving to Charyn canyon, Black canyon viewpoint. Driving to Kolsay Lake National Park. Kolsay lake hiking. Overnight and dinner in Saty village guesthouse.
Day 4: Saty, Kazakhstan to Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast and driving to Kaindy Lake. Hiking around, Driving to Karakol through Kegen-Karkyra border point. Hotsprings in Ak-Suu village, Dinner in kyrgyz traditional cafe with ethnic music band in Karakol. Overnight guesthouse.
Day 5: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan to Bokonbayevo, Kyrgyzstan
City tour. Dungan mosque and Russian Orthodox churche. Issuk-Kul state museum. Trying local street food as a cold noodles soup. Jety-Oguz rocks and gorge for waterfall hiking (optionally). Barskoon gorge (optionally), Skazka canyon. Overnight and dinner in Bokonbaevo village or yurtcamp on the shore.
Day 6: Bokonbayevo, Kyrgyzstan to Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan
Aksay canyon hiking, Pitstop for fried Song-Kol fish, Kalmak-Ashuu pass to Song-Kol or Terskey-Torpok (33 parrots). Overnight in yurt on the shore of Song-Kol Lake.
Day 7: Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Horse riding (optionally). Via Kochkor town – Kok-Moynok canyon. Trying street and road food cafe near Kemin town as a fried traditional bread with onion. Burana tower museum complex. end in Bishkek. Or Alternatively via Kyzyl-Oi village (+ extra day maybe), along Kokomeren river, Suusamyr valley, Too-Ashuu pass, Suluu Tor lakes, end in Bishkek.
What's included
Overnight in best guesthouses and yurtcamps. All meals. Entrance fees. Eagle hunting show, horse riding.
Alcohol drinks.
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Almaty, Kazakhstan to Basshiy, Kalinino, Kazakhstan