This is basically a tour around Issyk-Kul – the pearl of Central Asia with a stopover at the Songkol lake. It is possible to make quite the same tour shorter by sacrificing some spots or being longer on the road. Otherwise this is a perfect tour to see the best of Kyrgyzstan in 7 full days. The Issyk-Kul area is the number one area of attraction in the whole Kyrgyzstan and there is no wonder why. It has the million-year old deep blue (700 m deep) lake surrounded by green forests, breathtaking canyons, powerful mountainous rivers, hot springs and nomadic culture. You can find all the adventures one can need in this area including horseback riding, trekking, alpinism, camping etc. If you come to our country and do not see all the beauty of the Issyk-Kul area then you don’t experience the real Kyrgyzstan!
Around Issyk-Kul - the second biggest alpine lake in the world
7 days, from 1200$
7 days, from 1200$
Trip overwiew
Itinerary: Bishkek-Songkol-Bokonbaevo-Karakol-Altyn Arashan-Karakol-Chong-Kemin-Bishkek
Best season: June-July-August
Transport: depending on the number of people in the group it can be a private car, a minivan or a minibus. AWD vehicle is not necessary.
Accommodation: one night is at the yurt camp; other nights are at very good guesthouses and 4* hotels.
Special notes: all the hiking on the tour is optional but feasible for most of the travellers, hiking shoes and walking sticks (if necessary) are recommended.
Shows: felt carpet making, yurt making, eagle hunting, folklore concert, kok boru horse game, boorsok (traditional bread) making.
Group size: Min 4 - Max 12 (negotiable)
Best season: June-July-August
Transport: depending on the number of people in the group it can be a private car, a minivan or a minibus. AWD vehicle is not necessary.
Accommodation: one night is at the yurt camp; other nights are at very good guesthouses and 4* hotels.
Special notes: all the hiking on the tour is optional but feasible for most of the travellers, hiking shoes and walking sticks (if necessary) are recommended.
Shows: felt carpet making, yurt making, eagle hunting, folklore concert, kok boru horse game, boorsok (traditional bread) making.
Group size: Min 4 - Max 12 (negotiable)
Tour program by day
Day 1: Bishkek-Ala-Archa-Bishkek (80 km, 700-2500 m above the sea level)
Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Sightseeing walk in Bishkek: the colorful Osh market, Ala-Too central square where three revolutions took place since 2005, National flag guards changing ceremony, Oak Trees Park, parliament and government houses, monuments related to Manas - the longest epic in the history (half a million rhyme lines), open air art gallery, the copy of the blue mosque in Istanbul named after imam Sarakhsi (the founder of Islam in Central Asia), the Victory square etc. Drive to the Ala-Archa national park for an easy hiking for about 40 km one way.
Accommodation: 4* hotel
Sightseeing walk in Bishkek: the colorful Osh market, Ala-Too central square where three revolutions took place since 2005, National flag guards changing ceremony, Oak Trees Park, parliament and government houses, monuments related to Manas - the longest epic in the history (half a million rhyme lines), open air art gallery, the copy of the blue mosque in Istanbul named after imam Sarakhsi (the founder of Islam in Central Asia), the Victory square etc. Drive to the Ala-Archa national park for an easy hiking for about 40 km one way.
Accommodation: 4* hotel
Today we have a full day driving to the lake of the Kyrgyz semi-nomads. We will leave the Chui valley, go through the Boom gorge and make several passes on the way to the lake. The highest point will be the 3400 m high Kalmak Ashu pass. In Kochkor town we will stop for the carpet show at the local female cooperative to learn how Kyrgyz people make felt carpets. Before the dinner we will arrive at the yurt camp on the shore of the beautiful and peaceful lake Songkol. Free time at the camp to go the lake and enjoy the scenery around.
Accommodation: yurts with heating stoves
Accommodation: yurts with heating stoves
In the morning we drive back to the highway but via another pass called 33 parrots and make a stop at the viewpoint. Picnic lunch on the way. In the afternoon we will stop at Kyzyl-Tuu village to visit the local family where we will learn how to make a real Kyrgyz yurt and how to set it up. This village is quite famous outside the country as most local families deal with manufacturing of yurts’ wooden and felt carcass and accessories. The village exports its yurts all over the world. Shortly after the yurt activity in Kyzyl-Tuu we will come to the beautiful spot with superb view of the Teskey mountain range where we will have our exciting eagle hunting show. You will meet the real eagle hunter in his 3rd generation who goes hunting every week from September to February. You will learn everything about eagles, have a ton of unforgettable pictures with the eagle and the hunter, and watch the eagle hunting and training and finally even shoot from the bow.
Accommodation: mini resort hotel
Accommodation: mini resort hotel
After the breakfast within one hour will be in the magnificent Skazka (fairytale) canyon for taking pictures of the magnificent and multicolor formations and hiking among them. The next destination will be the picturesque Barskoon gorge with the monument of Juri Gagarin (you will be explained why Gagarin’s monument is right there on the spot) and we will have picnic lunch there. In the afternoon we will come to another popular spot for travellers – Jeti Oguz (Seven bulls) gorge formed by red sandstone, one of the oldest stones on earth. We will climb to the viewpoint from where you will have a perfect view of the “Seven bulls” rocks. There is also a Soviet Jeti Oguz sanatorium with hot springs and mud baths nearby.
Accommodation: guesthouse
Accommodation: guesthouse
The whole day is devoted to Altyn Arashan gorge and it is worth it! This is one of the most beautiful gorges of Central Asia with impressive views of the river, forest and mountains. The destination is the Altyn Arashan valley with hot springs pools. Taking bath in the hot springs is optional but recommended. Lunch on the spot. On the way to Altyn Arashan valley and back there will be easy hiking organized with a chance to walk between 4-8 km (optional). Free time upon return to the hotel in Karakol. In the evening you will witness one of the best folklore concerts you have ever seen, professional musicians and singers will perform traditional Kyrgyz melodies and songs playing on various authentic Kyrgyz musical instruments.
Accommodation: guesthouse
Accommodation: guesthouse
In the morning we will start driving along the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul lake. On the way we will visit Semenovka and Grigorievka gorges and the valley where the World Nomad Games took place in 2014, 2016 and 2018 (eagle hunting, wrestling, horse games and races etc.). We also stop in Cholpon Ata town – the center of the resort area to visit the cultural and spiritual place called Rukh Ordo with plenty of thematic monuments, installations and other objects representing our culture and history. After visiting the open-air museum of 2500-year-old petroglyphs we will head to the Chong Kemin valley where we will have the exciting kok boru (ulak tartysh) game performance.
Accommodation: guesthouse
Accommodation: guesthouse
Today morning we leave Chong Kemin valley and driveto the UNESCO historical site Balasagyn. There are the ruins of the palace, the local museum, the open-air museum of 2500 year old carvings and 1200 year old Turkic gravestones (balbals). But the most interesting spot at this site is the ancient 1000-year-old Burana tower which is the only object that remained in the course of times. Then we shortly drive to the neighboring village Don-Aryk to be hosted by the local family. There we will learn to how to make boorsok (traditional Kyrgyz bread) and have authentic Kyrgyz lunch. In the afternoon we arrive at Bishkek and you will still have some time for shopping and walking around in the city. Farewell dinner.
Accommodation: 4* hotel
Accommodation: 4* hotel
The tour price includes:
The tour price doesn’t include:
- Transport from meeting and seeing off at the airport;
- All the shows mentioned in the program and entry fees;
- Excellent English speaking guide with outstanding sense of humor and deep knowledge about the country;
- All the meals;
- Accommodation for all places.
- Great spirit on the tour and unforgettable impressions!
The tour price doesn’t include:
- Air tickets to Bishkek and back;
- Alcoholic drinks;
- Personal expenses;
- Extra activities like horseback riding;
- Tips for the staff.
Transfer to the airport
Our contacts:
Kyrgyz Republic. Bishkek city
Miko Travel
