BISHKEK – BURANA -CHON-KEMIN (180 km, 3.5 hours) Altitude 1533 m

Bishkek - Upon arrival, drive to Bishkek for a city tour. Begin with a visit to the Ala-Too main square, the National flagpole & changing of guards, the Peace and Friendship monument dedicated to the April 2010 revolution victims, the Manas on horse monument, and the open-air Art Gallery showcasing local artists’ paintings. Stroll through Oak Park, the Old Square, and along Erkindik boulevard where you can meet locals of all ages. Visit Youth Alley where the Statue of Manas, the founder of the Kyrgyz nation, stands in front of the Kyrgyz State Grand Philharmonic Hall.

Burana Tower - Next, drive to the Burana Historical Complex near Tokmok, 80 km east of Bishkek. This unique 11th-century minaret was built in the medieval town of Balasagun, the capital of the Karakhanid State. Originally, a mosque and minaret stood near the tower, which was used to call people to prayer. Climb the stairs to the top of Burana for a stunning view of the surrounding valley. The east side of the tower has remains of mausoleums, and ancient Turkic stone sculptures can be found around the museum complex.

Lunch at a local family’s home to experience the local lifestyle and traditions.

Tar-Suu - Continue driving to the Chon Kemin Valley, a protected area known for its diverse flora and fauna.

Arrive at Tarsuu village and check into a family-run guesthouse in the Chon-Kemin valley. Before dinner, take a gentle stroll around the village to gain insight into rural Kyrgyz life. Enjoy a campfire in the evening.

СHON-KEMIN - TEPKE (300 km / 5 hours) Altitude 1600 m

Issyk-Kul Lake - Issyk-Kul Lake is the second-largest mountain lake in the world, situated at an altitude of 1,607 meters above sea level with a depth of 668 meters. Located within the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve, the lake is 182 kilometers long and about 60 kilometers wide, covering an area of 6,236 square kilometers.

Issyk-Kol translates to “warm lake” in Kyrgyz, as it never freezes. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountain ranges – Kungoi Ala-Too (“sunny” slopes) to the north and Terskei Ala-Too (“shady” slopes) to the south. These ranges create a mild microclimate year-round. About 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake, but none flow out, giving the water healing properties and a salinity of 0.6%. Major towns around the lake include Karakol, Cholpon-Ata, Balykchy, Bosteri, Kyzyl-Suu, and Bokonbaevo.

Cholpon Ata - The small city of Cholpon-Ata is known for its petroglyphs, resorts, sandy beaches, and underground mineral springs. The city grew with the construction of caravanserais and became a summer destination during Soviet times due to its many resorts. Today, it remains a popular summer spot with numerous resorts, hotels, and attractions. Visit the open-air petroglyphs museum, which contains over 2000 petroglyphs dating from 800 BC to 1200 AD. The rocks feature drawings depicting hunting scenes, sacrifices, victories, wars, and daily activities.

TEPKE - JYRGALAN (50 km / 1.5 hours) Altitude 2300 m

JYRGALAN – KARAKOL (60 km / 1.5 hours) Altitude: 1700m

Karakol - In the afternoon, drive along the scenic road to Karakol town. Located at the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-Kul, Karakol was founded in the late 19th century as a Russian military outpost and grew as a refuge for Chinese Muslims fleeing persecution in the early 20th century. Some buildings are constructed in a Chinese style from wood without metal nails, while others date back to the Russian colonial period.

Take a sightseeing tour in Karakol. Explore the Central Bazaar to see locals buying and selling household products, food, and fabrics. Visit the One Village-One Product shop for local organic and handmade products.

Visit the beautiful Dungan mosque and Orthodox church in Karakol.

Enjoy a home-cooked dinner at a local Uighur or Dungan family’s home, featuring traditional food specialties. (Uighurs are Turkic Muslims who make up a large minority of the population of Western China, and Dungans are Hui Chinese people who also consider themselves Muslims).

KARAKOL - ALTYN ARASHAN - KARAKOL (100 km / 5 hours) Altitude: 2400 m

KARAKOL - KOCHKOR (270 km / 5 hours) Altitude: 1770 m

Kaji-Say - Visit Fairy Tale Canyon (1-2 hours hiking, easy to medium level). The canyon is named for its bizarre rocky landscape, which has been shaped by wind into fabulous sculptures and formations over the years. Some formations in “Skazka” are named for their resemblance to well-known objects, such as “The Chinese Wall” for its similarity to the Great Wall of China. You can also find formations resembling a hippopotamus, snake, dragon, sleeping giant, and even castles. The different rocks are composed of distinct materials, giving the rocky statues unusual shapes and magical colors.

Bokonbayevo - Enjoy a home-cooked lunch at a local family’s home in Bokonbaev village.

Visit the home of a local hunter who trains falcons. Learn about the hunting heritage and watch an eagle hunting show.

KOCHKOR – KOK-KYIA (KEL SUU) (260 km / 6-7 hours) Altitude: 3514 m

Kochkor - After breakfast, enjoy a presentation of cultural activities. Spend time with a local expert learning about the traditional craft of felt making, a skill that has been passed down through the centuries. Kyrgyz people have always used felted wool to cover their yurts and make rugs, bags, slippers, and hats. To make an ala-kiyiz rug, a second layer of felt in one or more colors is pressed into the original piece, creating a rug with a fuzzy pattern. A shyrdak is made using the appliqué method, resulting in a crisper design. In 2012, the art of making these felt rugs was included on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The knowledge of this craft is mostly held by older women and is not being passed down to new generations.

KEL SUU – NARYN (120 km / 4.5 hours) Altitude: 3514 m

NARYN - SON-KOL (150 km / 3.5 hours)

Song-Kul - The road to the lake offers stunning views of the Tien-Shan Mountains, green pastures with herds of horses and sheep, small mountains, rivers, and local nomads with their yurts.

Stop to visit nomads who will offer bread and the national drink Kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) as a gesture of hospitality. Son Kol is a mountain lake in the center of Kyrgyzstan, surrounded by picturesque scenery, especially in summer. Due to the high altitude, there are no trees, only low hard grass and edelweiss. Arrive at Son-Kol and check into a yurt camp.

SON KOL Altitude: 3000 m

Song-Kul - Spend the day learning about nomadic life. Visit local shepherd families, watch them perform household duties such as milking mares and cows, making Kymyz and other dairy products, cooking meals, and taking care of livestock. Take an easy hike to enjoy the beautiful views and panorama. Walk to the lake and take a boat trip if weather permits.

Enjoy a traditional horse games show.

Optional: horseback riding tour available upon request for an extra charge (1-3 hours).

Optional: early in the morning, join the shepherd in driving the animals out, participating in this ancient tradition.

SON KOL - BISHKEK (230 km / 5 hours) Altitude: 800 m

Kalmak-Ashuu - The Kalmak-Ashuu pass stands at 3447 m above sea level. The road through the pass is open only in summer and autumn (from June to October) and is impassable the rest of the year due to heavy snow. The journey to the pass features a variety of landscapes, from stone deserts to endless alpine meadows adorned with beautiful edelweiss.

Osh Bazaar - Upon arrival, visit Osh market for final souvenir shopping. Osh Bazaar is the oldest market in Bishkek and a popular site to visit. The bazaar is not just a place for sales but also for socialization and organization among locals. People come to bargain, communicate, and catch up on the latest news. The market is divided by interests for convenience. Fresh bread and ready-made meat delicacies are sold on the right, along with an indoor meat pavilion. The left rows feature sweets, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, nuts, and food.

Kiyal Market (“dream”) is located on a parallel street opposite the food market, selling clothes, household goods, national products, and souvenirs.

• English speaking local guide
• Cultural activities: Boorsok show, Eagle hunting show, Yurt show, Felt making show, Horse games
• All meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Comfort with in-vehicle air conditioning and standard twin-share accommodation
• Excursions and entrance fees to monuments as per itinerary
• Required border zone permit (D8) included
• Bottled drinking water

• Travel/Medical insurance
• Beverages with included meals
• Personal expenses; payment for photo and video cameras at monuments
• Tips for guides & drivers & porters at hotel
• Horseback riding in all places Helmets are not available!
• Boat in Kel-Suu