Sapphire Of Terskey
About this tour
The fantastic beauty of mountain views stretching to the far horizon, the turquoise surfaces of high-mountain lakes and the juicy greens of the Alpine meadows framed by unclimbable rocks and many different kinds of animals and flora.
The program allows spending the time in the quiet, among the mountains with pure, clean, air, sated by oxygen and the aroma of mountain flowers. Now you have chance to explore the sapphires of Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul Lake, Kol-Ukok and Song-Kul lakes.
- Beautiful mountain views
- Trekking in the remote area
- Kol-Ukok lake – the calmness of this place inspires
- Issyk-Kul lake – the pearl of Kyrgyzstan
- Son-Kul lake – famous dwelling of nomads
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Kyzyl-Oi, Kyrgyzstan
Arrival in Bishkek (formerly Frunze), the capital of Kyrgyzstan early in the morning. Transfer to the hotel for rest. After breakfast transfer to Kyzy-Oi village. The road goes over the Too Ashu pass 3580 m. Picnic on the way at the river shore. To Suusamyr valley and in to the Kokomeren Gorge. Upon arrival accommodation and dinner in family. • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: 800 m in Bishkek, highest point – 3580m at Too Ahuu pass, end of the day – 1800 m in Kyzyl-Oi village
Day 2: Kyzyl-Oi, Kyrgyzstan to Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Transfer to Kyz Art village about 2 hours. Lunch in the village. Meet the local guide. Start the trekking cross Kyzyl-Kiya jailoo, an enormous, relatively flat sea of grass. Continue over the Chaar-Archa Pass (3061 m) into the Chaar-Archa Valley follow the trail over verdant hills to Kilemche Jailoo. The name means “like a carpet,” and this swathe of grass covers whole mountain ranges, with shadings as subtle as any shyrdak. Dinner and overnight in Kilemche yurt camp of CBT (simple toilet). • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: beginning of day – 1800m in Kyzyl-Oi village, highest point – 3061m at Chaar Archa pass, end of the day – 2700 m in Kilemche Jailoo
Day 3: Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
After breakfast at Kilemche, spend the morning climbing to Jalgyz Karagai pass (3300 m, about 2-3 hours), over the Song-Kol Mountains and into the lake’s basin. The morning climb affords wonderful views of Kilemche jailoo, and the pass itself is rocky and exciting. From the pass, Song-Kol is still distant, but as you trek down the slopes about 2 hours, it gets larger and larger; the mountains on the other side get higher and higher, until finally the lake fills most of your field of view and the southern mountains tower above it. Lunch in NoviNomad Yurt camp. Spend afternoon time at the lakeside. Dinner in the Yurt camp of NoviNomad. • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: beginning of day – 2700 m in Kilemche Jailoo, highest point – 3300m at Jalgyz Karagai pass, end of the day – 3080m in Yurt camp
Day 4: Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Full day in Song-Kul lake. This is a popular place among the local people, who come here every summer with their families and cattle. You can do one day hiking to mountains, meet local shepherds, and watch the shepherd’s way of life: taste bread and kumyz (the national Kyrgyz drink from mares’ milk). For walking excursion and visit nomads the guide will be with you. It is different possibilities of walking distances on Song-Kul. Watching and / or participation in everyday life of shepherds, watching the processes of milking mares; making national milk products like kymyz (a fermented mare’s milk) or airan (a sour dense milk product). Optionally it is possible to have horse riding. Dinner in the Yurt camp of NoviNomad. • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: 3080m in Yurt camp
Day 5: Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan to Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Transfer to the Kochkor village. The road goes over the Kalmak Ashu pass (3447 m). Lunch in Kochkor. Visiting woman group who is producing traditional nomad’s carpets from the felt which call “Shiyrdak’” and “Ala Kiiz”. Preparing to the trekking at the guesthouse. Dinner. Overnight stay in the small new hotel Nomad Lodge. • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: beginning of day – 3080m in Yurt camp NoviNomad, highest point – 3447m at Kalmak Ahuu pass, end of the day – 1800m in Kochkor village
Day 6: Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan to Kol'ukok, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Transfer to Issakeev village to the Kol-Ukok gorge (about 30m-1 hour). Meet the horses and local trekking staff. Start the trekking to Ukok lake about 4-5 hours. The trail goes along the Ukok valley over the small pass Kichi-Ukok 3130 m. Tent camp at the shore of Ukok lake. The shepherds come to the pastures of the lake for the summer time with the cattls • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: beginning of day – 1800m in Kochkor village, highest point – 3130m at Kichi-Ukok pass pass, end of the day –3050 m in Ukok Lake
Day 7: Kol'ukok, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Trekking to Tuura-beshik About 2 hours. Cross the small river. Lunch. Trekking over the Sary-Bel Pass (3519 m). From the pass the panorama of the mountains will amaze you. The pass is rocky. Trekking down to Mazar-Ukok valley about 2-3 hours. On the way you will cross the small river. Overnight in the Mazar-ukok valley in tents by the river • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: beginning of day – 3050 m in Ukok Lake, highest point – 3519m at Sary-Bel Pass, end of the day – 3380 m in the tent camp
Day 8: Kol'ukok, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Trekking up to the pass Ukok 3860 m above sea level about 2 hours. On the way it is possible to see the marmots, Golden eagle and at the pass possible to see the trails of the Ibex. The pass is rocky in some places you could still see the glacier. Picnic for lunch. Descent to the Taldy gorge about 3 hours. On the way you will cross the river about 2 times. Overnight in the tents by Taldy River. • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: beginning of day – 3380 m in the tent camp Mazar-ukok, highest point – 3860m at Ukok pass, end of the day – 2900 m in Taldy gorge
Day 9: Kol'ukok, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Trekking down along the river Taldy to the valley of Tura Suu about 8 km. On the way you could meet the local shepherd and see the Yaks. Meet with the car at the junction of Taldy and Tura- suu valleys and transfer to the lake Issyk-kul about. Overnight in the Yurt camp or in guesthouse on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul. • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: beginning of day – 2900 m in Taldy gorge, end of the day – 1600 m in Issyk-Kul lake
Day 10: Kol'ukok, Kyrgyzstan to Tamga, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Full day relax at Issyk-kul lake. The second largest mountain lake after Titicaca. Optionally it is possible to see the Eagle hunting show in Bokonbaevo. Overnight in the Yurt camp or in guesthouse on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul. • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: 1600 m in Issyk-Kul lake
Day 11: Tamga, Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Transfer to Bishkek about 350 km, 5-6 hours of the driving. The road goes via Boom canyon. On the way visit Burana tower, the remaining of ancient town (11 c). Lunch on the way. City tour in Bishkek with visiting the Central Square, victory square, Osh bazaar. Farewell dinner in the restaurant. Optionally folklore show during the dinner. Accommodation in the hotel Asia Mountains. • Meals: B, L, D • Altitude during the day: beginning of day – 1600 m in Issyk-Kul lake, 800 m in Bishkek
Day 12: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Manas International Airport, Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Transfer to airport (B/-/-) • Meals: B, -, -
What's included
Level of difficulty: This tour is recommended for people with hiking experience (hiking time approximately 5-6 hours per day). Conditions: It is necessary to bring a sleeping bag (-10), warm clothes and trekking boots. Service is included: Double room accommodation in the hotel in Bishkek (with private facilities in each room) Double room accommodation in the hotel in Kochkor (with private facilities in each room) Four people accommodation in yurt camp on Song-Kul Four people accommodation in yurt camp in Tamga (with private facilities for each yurt) Transport for all transfers and excursions as per program; Trekking equipment (tents, mats, kitchen equipment) Trekking personal (cook, assistant of cook) in days; English or German speaking guide; Horses for the luggage; Meal based on full board as indicated in the program; Entry fees to museums and National Park;
Service is not included: Alcohol and soft drinks; Single supplement International flights; Porters at the airport and hotels Kyrgyz visa
What to know
Single supplement is 93 USD (only possible in Bishkek and Kochkor) Single tent supplement is 9 USD per tent for all trekking days Folklore program in Bishkek is 70 USD
Route & locations
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Kyzyl-Oi, Kyrgyzstan