Travel To The Most Popular Lakes In Kyrgyzstan 7 Days
About this tour
Combined tour of 2 days trekking to one of the magnificent lake Kol Tor and in Jety- Oguz Gorge with culture travel make this journey adventurous. during this tour you will enjoy the beauty of Central Tien-Shan mountains, see one of the most magnificent alpine lakes, see how nowadays people live in the villages and experience the ancient culture of Kyrgyz nomads, that is still alive today in their Djailoos (summer alpine pastures) where you will be welcomed with warmest hospitality and invited for everything they have in their yurts (Kyrgyz national dwelling).
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Shamshy Nature Reserve, Kyrgyzstan
Day 1. Bishkek – Kol – Tor Lake – Shamshy (Short Hiking) Meeting in Bishkek at 09:00 and transfer to Kegety Gorge (2 hrs driving) and from here we will start trekking to the Cold Lake Kol Tor which is hidden beauty of Kyrgyzstan and located at the altitude of 2733 m. The trekking way is medium and even beginners can reach it in 3 hours. Lunch-box. Afternoon drive to Shamshy Gorge and stay in mountain cottage located in fir tree forests. Dinner and accommodation in Mountain Cottage. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 2: Shamshy, Kyrgyzstan to Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Day 2. Shamshy – Burana – Son-Kul lake (330 km, 5 hrs) Breakfast. Today you will be transferred to Second Large Alpine Lake Son-Kul (350 km, 5 hours). On route to the gorge you will visit Burana Tower (an 11th century minaret) and an open air museum of Balbals (stone warriors). After an interesting excursion and climbing on the top of the tower is transfer to Son-Kul lake. Traditional Lunch in local family on the way. The lake Son-Kul is surrounded by mountains and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level. Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation. Herders of the Naryn region come to the lake to use it as a pastureland. After our arrival, you will be free to explore and enjoy the virgin nature of the lake and its surroundings. Overnight is in nomadic collapsible dwellings – Yurts. They are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 3: Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Day 3. Son Kul lake (free day in summer pasture) Free Day to rest in summer pasture surrounded by sheperds live stocks like camels, horses, cows, sheeps. See local nomads life style, traditions and customs, breath fresh alpine air. This pasture is reach by horses and you can rent a hosre to do horse riding alonf the lake. Night time you can see the open sky with bright starts on the sky. The sheperds familly give you Kymyz to taste which is mae from farmented mares milk. Full Board. Accommodation in Yurt Inn.
Day 4: Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan to Bokonbayevo, Kyrgyzstan
Day 4. Son Kul lake – Kochkor – Bokonbaeva, south Issyk-Kul lake, 370 km (5 hrs) Breakfast. We will drive to Bokonbaeva, southrn Issyk-Kul lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 m above sea level). Its length is 180 km and it is 60 km wide. The lake is called "the pearl of Central Asia". For more than 1 500 years’ local people considered the lake to be a sacred one. Thanks to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. On the way visit Yurt maker’s family and their workshop where you will see how Yurt is manufactured by hand without any modern machines. Today you will stay in the local family house with lake view Fruits Garden. Taste local gem and eco fruits (apple, apricots, raspberry, currant). See local traditions and customs. Dinner and accommodation in local family house. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 5: Bokonbayevo, Kyrgyzstan to Jety - Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
Day 5. Trekking to Jeti Oguz Gorge, southern Issyk-Kul Lake, (5 hrs) Breakfast. Drive to Kysyl Suu 1 hours’ drive where we will start trekking of 5-6 hours to Jeti Oguz Gorge by nick name “Switzerland” as it has same beauty with Switzerland’s nature, located in southern part of Issyk-Kul lake. Jety Oguz Gorge is famous for its red rock formations that are called the Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. Also you will see Broken Heart Mountain. There are yurts in the gorge and people can offer you Kumis to drink. It is a national drink that is made from fermented mare’s milk, and it is mildly alcoholic. Your night will be in nomadic felt dwellings, yurts. Meals: Full Board
Day 6: Jety - Oguz, Kyrgyzstan to Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Day 6. Jety Oguz Gorge – Karakol, 45 km (40 min) Breakfast. Walking up to the beautiful water fall (30 minutes) where on the way you will see a panoramic view of the gorge and it is the best place to take magnificent many photos. After lunch we continue our way along the northern shore of the lake to the town of Karakol (40 km, 1 hour). Visit few sights in Karakol: Dungan mosque - one of its highlights is the fact that it was built in a Chinese style without using a single metal nail. The mosque will be followed by a visit to an old wooden Orthodox Church. The night is spent in a Guest house. Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Day 7: Karakol, Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Day 7. Karakol – Grigorievskoye – Semenovskoye – Bishkek, 390 km (5 hrs) Breakfast. In the morning you will drive to Bishkek along Northern Side of Issyk-Kul lake (390 km, 5 hours) and through the most beautiful gorges of the lake named Grigorievskoye and Semenovskoye. These two picturesque gorges are connected at the end. It means you will start driving in at one gorge and will drive out through the other one! While journeying from one gorge to another you will see yurts and we will stop many times to have a rest and to enjoy Mother Nature. In this Gorge took place World Nomad Games which is getting famous all over world. Lunch in enroute restaurant. Arrival to Bishkek be evening and drop off to the your hotel / gust house
What's included
Package includes in Kyrgyzstan: Accommodation in mentioned hotels: Meals: daily breakfast, daily lunch, daily dinners Transportation by comfortable car / minibus Professional English speaking guides. Excursions according to tour program. All mentioned activities in the program description Entrance fees for all mentioned monuments. One liter of mineral water p/p during city tours All local taxes
Not included: - International air tickets. - Tips and gratuities. - Any personal expenses - Horse rent for horse ride - Alcoholic drinks not mentioned above.
What to know
Notes: 1. It is highly recommended to have warm clothes 2. Trekking shoes / boots
Route & locations
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Shamshy Nature Reserve, Kyrgyzstan