2 Days Issyk Kul Lake Canyons Horse Riding and Yurt Stay

Embark on a thrilling 2-day adventure in the Issyk-Kul Lake region. Explore ancient landmarks, ride horses through stunning canyons, and experience traditional yurt living.

Duration: 2 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Bishkek - Burana Tower - Konorchek Canyons - Bokonbayevo(280km - 4 hours drive)

Bishkek - In the morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel, and you’ll immediately head towards Issyk-Kul Lake. En route, you’ll stop at Burana Tower and Konorchek Canyons—two key highlights before reaching the lake.

Burana Tower - Upon arriving at Burana Tower, part of the ancient city of Balasagun, you’ll get an immediate sense of history. Your guide will take you straight to the local archaeology museum, where the artifacts on display paint a vivid picture of the Silk Road’s legacy. Afterward, step outside to encounter the balbals, intriguing stone markers bearing ancient inscriptions and depictions, standing as a silent testament to the area’s past. Climbing the tower rewards you with sprawling views of the Chui Valley and Tien-Shan mountains—a perfect spot for reflection and photos.

Konorchek Canyons - After exploring Burana Tower, you’ll drive towards the striking landscapes of the Konorchek Canyons. In the heart of the Boom Gorge, these red sandstone formations stand like nature’s own monuments. Your hike takes you through the canyons’ dramatic passageways, where each step brings you to yet another stunning view. The path culminates at a viewpoint offering a panoramic spectacle of the canyon’s grandeur—a highlight for any camera or memory.

Bokonbayevo - The day’s journey culminates as you arrive at the yurt camp by Issyk-Kul Lake. The traditional yurts welcome you with their cozy interiors, offering a blend of comfort and authenticity. A delicious Kyrgyz dinner awaits inside the dining yurt, where you’ll savor the local cuisine in a warm, communal atmosphere. Post dinner, gather around the bonfire to share stories and reflections of the day’s experiences, the flames flickering against the backdrop of a starry sky, rounding off the perfect adventure day.

Bokonbayevo - Skazka Cayons - Bishkek(350KM - 5 hours)

Bokonbayevo - Start your morning with a hearty breakfast in the yurt camp, preparing you for the day’s adventure. Soon after, you’ll set off on a horseback ride into the surrounding mountains. This 1-2 hour trek will lead you to a spectacular viewpoint where you can look out over the vast expanse of Issyk-Kul Lake, a perfect opportunity for panoramic photos and unforgettable memories.

Bishkek - After lunch at the yurt camp, you’ll say goodbye to Issyk-Kul and begin the drive back to Bishkek. The 230 km journey will provide time to unwind as you reflect on the past two days’ adventures. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel or a preferred location in Bishkek by 8-9PM, ending your memorable excursion.

What's Included
  • Guided Trek through Konorchek and Skazka Canyons
  • Horseback Riding
  • Accommodation at traditional Kyrgyz yurt
  • Professional English speaking guide
  • Comfortable, Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
What's Not Included
  • Personal expenses and health insurance
  • Eagle Hunting Show (optional add-on available 50USD)
  • Accommodation on the 2nd night
Additional Information

This private 2-day tour of the Issyk-Kul Lake region is tailored for those seeking both adventure and culture. Your journey will uncover the secrets of the ancient Burana Tower, navigate the majestic Konorchek and Skazka Canyons, ride horseback for captivating views of the lake, and rest in the traditional comfort of a yurt. With personalized transport and a dedicated guide, this journey promises to showcase the best of Kyrgyzstan’s natural beauty and ancient traditions.

  • The travel is included in the total duration of the experience.
  • We can accommodate dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc. If you have dietary requirements. Please kindly indicate it to the special requirements at the time of booking.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.0
(1 Rating)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Yuktia2024
Apr 6, 2024
Nice trip but not worth the premium price - The trip followed the exact advertised itinerary. The driver was polite and friendly throughout the trip, and pick-up was also smooth. The yurts had electricity, Wi-Fi, and all basic amenities. The car was also well maintained. However, the tour guide was not very skillful in explaining the places we visited. We had to google basic information, for e.g. Around what time the Burana Tower was built? Why was it built? The tour guide was a good driver but did not seem to know much about the sights he took us to. While canyons, yurt, and Issyk Kul lake were all magnificent sceneries, they did not justify the premium price we paid for this trip. This trip was 50% above the market price from our research, but we did not find any added-value in this trip than the others. Because we found out that most of the other travel agencies take their customers to the same yurt, we don't know why we paid the premium price for this particular trip. Finally, the horse riding was just very un-organized, at best. There was one horse for each of us, and a horse guide. One of the horses was very disobedient and wasn't listening to the guide's commands at all. When I requested them to change the horse repeatedly, they did not listen to me and I had to get off myself. I was yelling for them to please help me get off, and the horse guides who did not speak English were motioning for me to stay on, and our English speaking driver clearly heard me requesting to get off and did not come over to help me. I simply got off myself and told the driver to switch with me. This could have caused major accidents and made us feel very uncomfortable with the experience. I had ridden horses before in other contexts, and even I was uncomfortable with the experience. In addition, we thought we would ride horse by the lake, but we just rode them in a random village, not close to the lakeside at all. Overall, great natural beauty, polite and communicative travel agents, but unjustified premium price, unorganized horse-riding experience, and unskillful tour guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 4 guests
1
Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today