Kyrgyzstan Highlights in a Tour
During this 7-day tour in Kyrgyzstan you will have a great chance to explore the country in depth. You will visit the most beautiful places along the legendary Issyk Kul lake, both Southern and Northern shores, with its historical monuments and amazing gorges where you will participate in master class of preparing felt carpets and meet the hunter with eagles to learn about this ancient tradition. Horse-riding is also included, but if you are not familiar with it we can add a walk instead. Another highlight is a yurt-stay at amazing Song Kol lake at the altitude of 3,016 m where you indulge into nomadic lifestyle. You will come back to Bishkek city along the highway while gazing out at breathtaking views.
Day 1
Bishkek
Your driver will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany you to the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, just a 30-minute drive from the airport. This entire day is dedicated to a city tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, the National Arts Museum, National Philharmonic, and many others places of interest. But no tour of Bishkek is complete without visiting our Asian Bazaar! You will be able to take a lot of dynamic photos of bustling local life. This bazaar is a noisy and colorful tapestry of fabrics, produce, and people selling and buying goods. You will spend the night in a hotel.
Day 3
Chon Kemin – Issyk Kul lake northern shore – Karakol
Today you will be transferred to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 m above sea level). 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. You can come up to the lake and to see mountains all around it. Today you will drive along the whole northern shore and arrive to Karakol town. Also we will visit today a place with ancient stone patterns – petroglyphs. In Karakol we will visit the Dungan mosque. It was built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. Night is in a guesthouse.
Dat 5
Kochkor – Song Kol
In the morning we start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan – Song Kol. This lake is surrounded by mountains and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3 013 meters above sea level. Since ancient times Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation. Your night will be in nomadic felt dwellings yurts near the lake. It’s a real nomadic place.
Day 7
Bishkek – Airport
Early Morning- Transfer to the airport.
Day 2
Bishkek – Burana – Chon Kemin
Today you will be transferred to Chon Kemin gorge. 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 Chon Kemin gorge. Here you will meet a nice family. In the afternoon we will have 3 hours of horse riding. Your route will go high in the mountains and you will even ride horses through a mountain forest. On the top you will see the panorama view of the gorge. Overnight will be in a guesthouse .
Day 4
Karakol – Jeti Oguz – Issyk Kul southern shore – Kochkor
Today we will drive to Jeti Oguz gorge. It’s famous for its red rocks formations that have a name Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. Also you will see there the Broken Heart Mountain. If you want it is possible to go on a top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panorama view of the gorge. Then we continue our trip, breaking in Bokonbaeva village, where we will meet a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (a traditional way of nomadic hunting). Night is in a guesthouse.
Day 6
Song Kol – 33 parrots Pass – Kochkor – Bishkek
In the morning we will drive back to Bishkek. The road to the city goes through 33 parrots pass (3 133 m) which is an experience on its own! In Kochkor village you will spend some time with a family that will show you the way our national felt carpets are produced. Also you will visit a small handicraft museum there. They have many examples of silver decorations, coats made of wolves, horse saddle decorations, carpets and more. Afterwards you will be transferred to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek city. Night is in a hotel.
