The Route Of Nomadism And Healing - 10 Days Tour
About this tour
Route: Bishkek - Chon-Kemin Valley - Son-Kul Lake - Koshoi Korgon Village - Tash Rabat Caravanserai - Kyzyl Tuu Village - Karakol - Altyn Arashan Gorge - Cholpon-Ata - Bishkek
You can watch the lake Issyk-Kul, the pearl of Kyrgyzstan, and feel the essence of nomadic culture at once.
You can walk around lake Issyk-Kul and experience the nomadic culture of Kyrgyz in this tour program. Kyrgyz people have completely kept the tradition of a nomad until these days. You can enter into their lives, experience their lives, and capture their spirits. You can also heal your mind and body by walking around the beautiful lake.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Chon-Kemin, Kyrgyzstan
Burana Tower is an observatory made by Sogd and it is nicknamed as ‘an observatory of the meadow’ due to the height of the top. Looking on the surrounding on the top of the observatory in spring and summer time, you will be in awe by the mountain covered with snow, meadow with beautiful yellow flowers. Chon-Kemin national park is the place for walking, horse-riding, and rafting. You can experience Kyrgyz rural culture by dining with local people and staying in clean and tidy local houses.
Day 2: Chon-Kemin, Kyrgyzstan to Song Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan
Son-Kul Lake, in the height of 3000m above sea level, is only approachable in June to September due to its high altitude, but most people who already have visited there want to go to the lake again because of its beautiful scenery. On the way to the lake, tourists will drop by the salt mine to take a look on how the precious salt is dug out. This salt is really helpful for people who have a respiratory problem. You can take a horse-riding nearby Son-Kul Lake, stay in Yurt, the traditional Kyrgyz mobile tent, see a beautiful night sky full of stars, and think about the meaning of our lives.
Day 3: Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan to Naryn, Kyrgyzstan
Kara-suu village, Naryn Region, in the height of 2000 m above sea level, is the place where you can experience the lifestyle of the nomads thoroughly. Most men are shepherds so they go out to meadows in spring and summer time. Women and children do handcraft works with wool in home. In winter, Men enjoy kokboroo, wild sports of nomads, In a patch of the village, there is a ‘Koshoy Korgon’ fortress which was used to rule this county in 10th century, and a village museum where you can see the ancient daily supplies. Travelers can watch the traditional nomadic wedding and eat food.
Day 4: Naryn, Kyrgyzstan to Tash-Rabat, Kyrgyzstan
The accommodations for the merchants from China were located all over the Silk Road. Tashbat, one of the accommodations, is made of stone and well-preserved round shape Caravansara. Inside Tashrabat, there are not only accommodations but also prisons for criminals. You can go trekking to where yaks are grazing grass, and you can watch galaxies and shooting stars in the guesthouse in 3200m above sea level.
Day 5: Tash-Rabat, Kyrgyzstan to Acha-Kaiyndy, Kyrgyzstan
Shyrdak is the traditional Kyrgyz carpet, and it is completely made by manual labor. The method is come down from mother to daughter, then daughter to granddaughter, and it is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage. Achakyindy village is where this tradition is preserved and maintained thoroughly, so you can visit there and make Shyrdak and even purchase one with qualified designs. Chech-Dobo, the village nearby Achakaiyndy village, was the place for chief meetings in the past. You can walk watching the sunset. You will be treated with a nice dinner in well remodeled house of local people.
Day 6: Acha-Kaiyndy, Kyrgyzstan to Kyzyl Tuu, Kyrgyzstan
Yurt is invaluable, traditional house for the Kyrgyz nomads. The present design of Yurt has been developed over hundreds of years, and most nomads still live in and take care of their animals. Kyzzyl-tu village is the place for Yurt production, and more than 70% percent of villagers are engaged in making Yurts. You can make a Yurt with villagers and rest in the salt lake nearby.
Day 7: Kyzyl Tuu, Kyrgyzstan to Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
There is sandstone area around Issyk-Kul. It creates a variety of sceneries because sandstones have been carved by rain and wind. Skazka means “the valley of fairytale” in Kyrgyz language, and you can really feel like you’re in somewhere in a fairy tale. Jeti-Oguz means ‘seven bulls’ in Kyrgyz, and there are seven red rocks seeming like coming towards to you. Karakol is really famous for winter sports, and ski slopes are popular among people all over the world so that a large number of people gather there every winter. There are also an old Chinese temple and a Russian Orthodox church.
Day 8: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan to Altyn-Arashan, Altynarasan, Kyrgyzstan
Thanks to Altyn-Arashan, Kyrgyzstan is nicknamed as “Switzerland of Central Asia”. It’s a well-known course for trekking in Kyrgyzstan. You can go trekking in Altyn-Arashan and get yourself into a hot spring, which will give relief to your mental strain. Don’t worry if you haven’t gotten a chance to visit a hot spring. You can visit another hot spring in Lisnoye town under the mountain. You can rest there.
Day 9: Altyn-Arashan, Altynarasan, Kyrgyzstan to Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyzstan
There are plenty of petroglyphs in Kyrgyzstan. Among them, petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata has superb accessibility and they are also well-reserved. You can feel like you go back to the past and talk to ancient people while walking down on the petroglyph park. The attractive feature of Issyk-Kul tour is taking on a ferry, going to the middle of the lake, and watching the land nearby. You can watch peaks of the mountains covered with snow as well.
Day 10: Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, the number one city, the capital of Kyrgyzstan is the complex city with the population of 1.2 million. It is quite different with other cities in the tour program. You can see people walking with hurried steps, traffic congestion, and exhaust gas. Despite of these, the traditional market is a really good place to experience Kyrgyzstan. You can buy honey, dried nuts, conaq in there. Then, it’s time to go home.
What's included
shashlyk (beef or lamb) in Son-Kul Lake
international flights, personal expenses, insurances, tips for guide and driver
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Chon-Kemin, Kyrgyzstan