10 DAY TOUR TO KYRGYZSTAN

MANAS AIRPORT - BISHKEK - ALA ARCHA NATIONAL PARK - BISHKEK CITY TOUR

Meeting at the airport in the morning. Check in and rest time
at the hotel. Departure to Ala Archa National Park. At the
National Park you can easily hike along the main gorge of Ala
Archa and back to enjoy views of magnificent peaks of Kyrgyz
Ala Too Ridge (Tien Shan Mountains). We head to the capital
Bishkek for a sightseeing tour: the central Ala-Too square,
Victory Square, National Philharmonic, Opera and Ballet
Theater, the largest mosque in Central Asia.
Driving time: 2 hours
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.

BISHKEK - CHUNKURCHAK CANYON - ORTO TOKOI - SONG KOL LAKE

Departure to Konorchek Canyon (one hour walk one way).
Konorchek canyons are unique fabulous places only in
Central Asia. Konorchek canyons are composed of red
Paleogene sandstone and their appearance resembles the
American Grand Canyon in miniature. They have similarities
with the ruins of ancient cities, castles, and modern
skyscrapers. There is practically no vegetation in these
canyons. They were formed by erosion, which lasted millions
of years. Arriving at Son Kul in the evening. This is a remote
mountain lake situated on a treeless, high mountain plateau
(3016 m) where shepherds bring the livestock in the
summertime, establish a camp for living – setting up their
yurts. In this magnificent place you can see hundreds of
herds and a lot of different yurts, where you will, for sure, be
invited to have kymyz, the national drink made of fermented
mare’s milk, with traditional bread, try other diary products
and homemade jam.

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Driving time: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight in the yurt camp.
Note: the living conditions in the yurts are very traditional,
which means that a person will have the opportunity to share
a toilet outside the yurt and experience a real Kyrgyz way of
life. Single accommodation is not available, 3-5 people in the
yurt.

WALKING/HIKING

Walking on the beach and area of the Song Kol lake and
feeling ourselves as we live nomadic life. Also we will hike to
Bel Ashuu pass (3400 meters) you will have high mountains
and a panoramic view of the beautiful jailoo. While hiking
you will see shepherds who take care of their cattle (horses,
sheep, cows), they bring them here for summer time from
close areas.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight in the yurt camp.

SONG KOL LAKE - KOCHKOR - ISSYK KUL LAKE

Departure to Kochkor. From time immemorial Kochkor was
considered a convenient transshipment base on the Great
Silk Road leading to the Chinese city of Kashgar through the
Torugart Pass. Acquaintance with the life and culture of the
locals. At noon you will see master classes in felt making
(shyrdak), creating patterns on the felt. Felt is a dense
material of lamb wool, which for centuries played a major
role in the everyday life of the Kyrgyz people. The secrets of
felt making art and decoration with ornaments were handed
down from generation to generation. Felt was primarily used
as a material for covering yurts from outside. From felt, they
made carpets, bags, as well as toys. After lunch head for
Issyk Kul Lake. Yssyk-Kol is the second largest lake after the
Titicaca in the Andes, a high mountain lake. It is widely
believed that the name Yssyk Kol in Kyrgyz means ‘hot lake,’
because the water in the lake never freezes. Located at an
altitude of 1609 meters, the lake covers an area of 6236 km2
and it can reach depths of 668 meters. The coast is famous
for its exceptional landscape and particular maritime climate.
It is also the largest health resort zone in Central Asia.
Evening free for water activities at Yssyk Kol Lake. Here you
enjoy the fresh air, light breeze from the lake, and beautiful
nature.
Driving time: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight at the guesthouse.

SKAZKA CANYON - BARSKOON GORGE - JETI OGUZ GORGE

In the morning we will see the show hunting with golden
eagles (Salbuurun) in Kyrgyzstan is a unique chance to
comprehend all the secrets of this ancient art, adopting a
thousand-year experience of hereditary nomad hunters.
During the hunt, you will be able to trace and experience for
yourself how a graceful, dexterous and proud bird shoots
from the hand of the host to the very clouds and rapidly falls
on its prey. Also, you will have the opportunity to consider
the bird closer and even hold it in your arms.
We will visit Fairy Tale Canyon. Among weird rock
formations there is a ridge that resembles two walls of
fortification, which looks like the Great Wall of China, it rises
vertically out of the surrounding sandstone. The rocks vary in
color from a sandy yellow to red and orange, there are
colorful striations visible in places, which show the different
chemical composition of the rocks. The next stop will be in
the Barskoon gorge. Barskoon Gorge is one of the most
beautiful gorges on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, famous
for high waterfalls and dense spruce forests. The gorge is
famous because it was visited by the first man who flew into
space – Yuri Gagarin. Arriving at Jeti Oguz gorge in the
evening. On the way there, we will visit main local attractions
such as Broken Heart, Seven bulls, and have a brief walk in
Djety-Oguz Canyon, which looks like a small version of the
Grand Canyon. Afternoon walk to the waterfall (one hour one
way).
Driving time: 4 hours.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight yurt camp.

HIKING IN KOK JAYIK VALLEY - KARAKOL CITY TOUR

Hiking to the mountains, where there is a magnificent
panoramic view. After lunch departure to the Karakol,
Excursion to Trinity Orthodox Church of the 19th century is
an old Russian six-barreled church with a copy of the Holy
Trinity icon by Andrei Rublev, a Muslim Dungan mosque built
without a single nail in 1907.
Driving time: 1 hour.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.

KARAKOL - ALTYN ARASHAN GORGE

In the morning we will change our car to a Russian car
(UAZ) and to go to Altyn-Arashan gorge (Golden Source) OR
Hiking OR Horse riding (optional). The area was named after
hot, curative sources of hydrogen sulfide origin. Here you can
relax and unwind in one of the mini pools. Altyn-Arashan is a
high-mountain gorge in the eastern part of the
Terskey-Ala-Too ridge. This gorge is one of the most popular
tourist places in Kyrgyzstan due to its unique nature, hot
springs are located right in the gorge, extensive spruce
forests and stunning views.

Driving time: 2 hours.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight in yurt camp.

WALKING IN THE GORGE - KARAKOL

Walking through the gorge. One of the main attractions of
this day will be an overview of the peak Palatka (5020 m.). In
the evening, we are back to Karakol.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.

KARAKOL - CHOLPON ATA - BURANA TOWER - BISHKEK

Day of return to Bishkek via Burana Tower. En-route visit an
important point on the ancient Silk Road — the Burana Tower
architectural complex, dated back to the 10th century,
monuments include a minaret, remnants of a castle, and
ancient warrior cemetery. On the way the equestrian
hippodrome in Cholpon-Ata, where the World Nomad
Games took place, covers an area of twenty-five hectares.
The arena is the only one in Central Asia located on the lake.
The total capacity of the hippodrome is 10 thousand people.
Driving time: 7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.

BISHKEK - MANAS AIRPORT

In the morning transfer to the airport.
Driving time: 40 min.
Meals: Breakfast.