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Adventures in the lands of Kyrgyzstan

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14 day
Tour Details

Travel: accessible to all
Effort: 2+ out of 5
Duration: 14 days

Trip to Kyrgyzstan to discover the nomadic life, spending nights in hotels, in yurts and with locals, among wild nature and exceptional encounters…

Introduction
This trip to Kyrgyzstan is an exciting adventure full of discoveries.
During the trip you will meet people with a different lifestyle. You will spend nights in yurts and houses of local families, taste delicious Kyrgyz cuisine, visit oriental bazaars, architectural monuments of antiquity, meet with shepherds and participate in fun national games.
You will see breathtaking passes, mountain pastures where herds of cows, sheep, horses and yaks graze, as well as the pearls of the Tien Shan mountains – the Issyk Kul and Song Kul lakes.
You will see the country where life flows slowly, where people respect and honor the traditions of their ancestors, where women are engaged in needlework: weaving, knitting, creating felt items, preparing national dishes and where men develop crafts, hunt, build houses and graze livestock.
Discover a new culture, new people, new sensations – discover the incredible Kyrgyzstan with us.

Highlights:

  • Meet with local people and discover their lifestyle;
  • Enjoy the picturesque and varied landscapes;
  • Experience living in yurt and with locals;
  • Taste rich and genuine cuisine;
  • A very rich and varied craftsmanship and culture, music, dance, poetry and great traditional games;

Technical information:

  • Type of trip: Accompanied international tour with English speaking guide ;
  • Group: 4-8 people;
  • Feature: A total change of scenery and unexpected wonders.

The price includes:

  • Accompaniment by a local English-speaking guide
  • Transport services (for you and your luggage) throughout the trip + private transfers
  • Accommodation in double or twin room (separate beds) except guesthouse, homestay, yurt
  • Breakfasts, lunches and dinners (full board)
  • Visits, entrance fees to sites or parks and activities indicated in the program (and not optional or carried out in free time)
  • Local agency assistance during your trip 24/7
  • Eagle hunting in the Ak-Say canyons
  • Demonstration of yurt building techniques at Kizil Tuu
  • Local Guides (Day Trip to Turnaluu Koul Lake and Song Kul Lake)
  • The pack animal (horse) for a day ride in Song Kul Lake

The price does not include:

  • International flights
  • Airport taxes and fuel surcharges, to date
  • Optional cancellation and/or repatriation insurance
  • Single room supplement (not possible in guesthouses, homestays, yurts)
  • Visits and activities not included or carried out during free time
  • Meals listed as free in the program
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Paid video and photo shooting on site
  • Lost, stolen and damaged baggage
  • Tips for guides, companions and drivers
  • Visa fees (if necessary)
  • Cancellation charges
What to Expect

Dates and prices 2024 per person in US dollars:

Departure date 2024:

02.08-15.08.2024 (arrival in Bishkek on the night between 02.08 and 03.08)

 

Accommodation:

  • Bishkek (3 nights): 4* hotel in Damas or similar.
  • Chong Kemin Valley: (1 night) in guest house
  • Tamchi Village: (1 night) homestay
  • Jyrgalan Valley: (2 nights) in guest house
  • Karakol: (1 night) in hotel
  • Ak Say Canyon Yurt Camp (2 nights).
  • Song Koul Lake: (2 nights) in yurt.
  • Kizil Oï: (1 night) homestay.

 

In total: 13 nights with early check-in included on arrival.

 

CANCELLATION POLICY:

30 days or more 0% of the trip cost

30 – 15 days 50% of the cost of the trip

15-8 days 75% of the travel cost

1 – 7 days 100% of the travel cost

 

Good to know:

 

  • This trip contributes to sustainable tourism!
  • This trip is not suitable for children under 7 years old
  • Hotels may change depending on availability. If the hotel changes, the category will be similar.
  • Some days of the trip may be modified due to weather or safety conditions
  • The guide is English speaking, if the trip is privatized, we can offer you separate dates, with the group and a French/German/Italian/Spanish guide, etc.
  • Transfer time is approximate (average speed) and depends on weather and traffic.
  • A shower and toilet can be outside for nights in the yurt or at homestays.
  • Currency Exchange. If you intend to exchange dollars/euros for som (local currency), we recommend that you take 20, 50, 100 euro/USD banknotes without defects. For commission-free exchange, only clean and new banknotes are accepted.
  • Generally limited to less than 5 hours of travel in a comfortable minibus. We draw your attention to the fact that the use of a seat belt is mandatory both at the front and at the rear in all vehicles you use during the journey, when they are equipped with one, regardless of the regulations in force in the country visit!
  • This trip combines different types of accommodation in hotels, guesthouses, homestays, yurts
  • Central Asian cuisine is generally healthy, quite varied and you will often have the opportunity to enjoy hearty traditional dishes. Keep in mind that mutton forms an important part of the local gastronomy and is often prepared in the form of small grilled skewers, kebabs or shashlik and dumplings. We find some flavors from the Middle East and even the Mediterranean and the influences of Chinese, Russian, Persian, Oriental, etc.
  • Water: You have to be careful with water. Avoid drinking tap water in the city or water outdoors. Drink boiled water or water treated with Micropur or Hidroclonazone or drinks in closed bottles.
  • Altitude : check that you have no contraindications to staying at altitude. Do not leave without consulting a doctor, especially if your health condition requires regular treatment. (there is a night at 3000m)
  • Sufficient cameras and films (you can find some on site but check the expiry date before buying them, there are only paper films and no slides anyway) + spare batteries.
  • You will not need a light sleeping bag or sheet for accommodation in a yurt or with a local

Equipment

Some personal equipment:

  • Sunglasses
  • Thermal bottle (1 L min.)
  • Backpack (25-35l)
  • Flashlight and/or headlamp (waterproof if applicable)
  • High protection sun cream
  • Folding knife (to be placed in checked baggage)
  • Toiletries (preferably biodegradable products)
  • Quick drying towel
  • Noise canceling hearing protection
  • Hat or cap that covers the neck

 

Personal pharmacy

In addition to the usual medications, it is advisable to bring with you: antidiarrheal, analgesic, possibly vitamins, sunscreen, plaster, disinfectant, broad-spectrum antibiotic, cure for colds (nose, throat, bronchi, ears), anti-inflammatory product – mosquitoes in summer.

 

CLOTHES :

  • Warm clothing (warmer trousers, sweaters, fleece, windbreaker, gloves, hat).
  • Rain coat
  • Swimming suit
  • Hiking shoes with high uppers, tennis shoes, sandals.
  • Toiletries, towel and washcloth

 

When visiting temples and villages, correct clothing that respects local customs is required: trousers and short-sleeved or loose-fitting t-shirts. No shorts, tank tops or dresses that are too tight or revealing. For women: Bermuda shorts must be replaced with cropped trousers.

Itinerary

Day 1Departure from Europe.

Flight to Bishkek, night on the plane

Day 2Discover Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Morning arrival to Bishkek. Transfer to hotel (in case of different flight from the group, transfer with driver but without guide). The rest of the program is to be modulated based on the arrival time of the flight.

Meeting point for everyone at 11am in the hotel lobby.
Let’s first take a walk through the Osh market, the main bazaar and meeting point of the country’s traders, a quite unique place, where you can see the bright rows of dried fruits, nuts, sweets and spices, as well as the meat department, that of bakeries or artisan shops. After visiting Osh market, we head towards the city center.

Stroll along the large shaded avenues of the city, discovering its monuments, museums, the presidential palace, the central ”Ala Too” square, Panfilov Park and Victory Park…

Lunch and dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Day 3From Bishkek to the beautiful Chong Kemin valley.

Breakfast. This morning we will discover the Ala Archa national park. The canyon, classified as a natural park, features an impressive gorge and great viewpoints.

Warm-up walk to Ala Archa waterfall (2800 m)

Picnic with lunch boxes for lunch.

Then transfer to Tokmok town.

En route visit ancient Balasagun settlement with Burana tower which is also home to a museum of important archaeological pieces that tell the history of the Silk Road and Kyrgyzstan’s place on it.

Burana Tower is all that’s left of the city of Balasagun, which was the capital of the Karakhanid Empire in the 9th century.

After excursion we will head towards Chong Kemin Valley via the mountain road.

Dinner and overnight stay in guest house.

 

Ala Archa:

Distance: 8 km on foot/approximately 4 hours

Altitude difference on foot: + 450 m.

Negative height difference on foot: -450 m

Night and dinner in guesthouse.

Shipping time: approx. 3 hours/170 km

Day 4Konorchok Canyon - Kyrgyz Colorado

Breakfast. Transfer to Tamchi village. Along the route 3-hour walk in the Konorchek canyons located 140 kilometers from Bishkek in the western part of the Boom Gorge. These fabulous places are unique for their extraordinary formation based on red sandstone. Continue to Issyk Kul Lake. Arrival in Tamchi in the afternoon and possibility to swim.

 

Konorchok Canyon:

Distance: 11 km on foot/approximately 3-4 hours

Elevation difference on foot: + 300 m.

Negative height difference on foot: -300 m

Night and dinner at the house of local family.

 

Shipping time: approx. 2 hours/120 km

GOOD TO KNOW : Homestay with simple comfort. Single rooms are not always available, so we will share rooms and bathrooms .

Day 5Jyrgalan Valley: a jewel set in the heart of the mountains

After breakfast, transfer to the Grigor’evka gorge where we will begin our short walk towards the Kyrchyn pastures. (1h) The landscapes today are completely different, yesterday we were in the canyons of Colorado, today they remind us of the Alps.

After the tour easy transfer to the agro-farm “Kyzyl Tash” in the village of Zharkynbaevo. This is a unique complex dedicated to the life of nomads, where you can learn a lot about the life of the Tchaban (herders). In a kind of museum, a local guide will talk about animal husbandry, sheep breeds bred in Soviet times, and also tell about the times when Kyrgyzstan was the largest supplier of high-quality wool and meat in the entire USSR .

Lunch on a farm overlooking Issyk Kul Lake. We will enjoy grilled fish with vegetables.

Transfer to Jyrgalan Valley.

Arrival at Jyrgalan village, accommodation in guest house. Dinner and rest.

 

Walk at Grigoryevka and Semenovka:

Distance: 5km on foot/approximately 1h30

Altitude difference on foot: + 280 m.

Negative height difference on foot: -280 m

Road transportation time: approx. 5 hours/280 km

GOOD TO KNOW : Guest house with simple comfort. Single rooms are not always available, so we will share rooms and bathrooms .

Day 6Mysterious Lake - Turnaluu Kol

Full day in Jyrgalan Valley.

Departure for a walk at Lake Turnaluu Kol (12 km return). The route passes through picturesque alpine-type meadows, characterized by a variety of herbs and medicinal plants. Upon arrival at the lake we will rest a bit and have lunch (packed lunch included).

The name Turnaluu Kol is translated as “a lake where cranes live”, so these beautiful birds can often be found here. Depending on your wishes you can organize a walk in the village or to the waterfall.

Dinner and overnight stay in guest house.

 

Walk to Turnaluu Koul Lake:

Distance: 12 km on foot/approximately 5 hours

Altitude difference on foot: + 600 m.

Negative height difference on foot: -600 m

Day 7Karakol, a small town with green avenues and wooden chalets

Transfer after breakfast to Karakol heading west via the northern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. During the route swimming in the Aksu hot springs. Upon arrival in Karakol, visit the Prjevalski Museum, the first Russian explorer.

In the afternoon short city tour to the town of Karakol, where we will visit the famous Doungane Mosque and the

Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity. Both buildings have cultural and material value for Kyrgyzstan and its history.

The program includes a visit to the regional historical museum and its gallery

by Ella Maillart – great traveler who arrived in Central Asia in the 1930s.

Dinner with a Dungan family. Night in hotel.

 

Road transportation time: approx. 1h30/70km

Day 8Road towards the Ak Say canyon and its "valley of the forgotten rivers".

Along the way, we will stop to admire “Broken heart” mountain formation, located at the entrance to the Jety Oguz valley, this natural jewel reveals all its romance. This lush valley is particularly popular between hikers for its magnificent views of mountains, waterfalls and caves. We will take a hiking trail to the picturesque Valley of Flowers. Crossing pastures covered in pine forests, we will have

the sensation of being in the heart of the Swiss countryside. The men on horseback driving the cattle and the yurts scattered here remind us that we are truly in one of the greenest valleys of Central Asia. Entering the valley of flowers, we continue on a narrow and dusty path that leads, through the alpine woods, to a small cool and shady paradise under the Devechi Kosy waterfall. Packed lunch in the heart of this environment. We will continue our route through the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake and arrive to the yurt camp at the lake shore, where we will spend the night.

 

Walk in the Djety Oguz gorge:

Distance: 2km on foot/approximately 1h

Elevation difference on foot: + 500 m.

Negative height difference on foot: -500 m

 

Road transportation time: approx. 3 hours/160 km

GOOD TO KNOW : Individual yurts are not always available, so we will share yurts and bathrooms .

Day 9Day in Ak Say canyon

Breakfast at the camp. This morning we will enjoy a relaxing moment on the shores of Lake Issyk Koul. In some periods of the year the waters of the lake can reach 24 degrees, perfect for cooling off. We will then board our vehicles to reach the starting point of our excursion. We will follow the hiking trails of this splendid canyon to reach the highest point and admire the splendid 360° panorama. This amazing canyon is often called the “valley of forgotten rivers” here, because at the entrance we can observe the traces of dry rivers that flowed in this place many years ago. Packed lunch. Descending through winding paths, we will finally find the southern shore of the beautiful Issyk Kul Lake. Eventually we will find our yurt camp. At the end of the afternoon our guests will reveal to you all the secrets of eagle hunting. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.

Elevation difference on foot: + 200 m. Negative height difference on foot: -200 m
Walk to the Shatyly panorama: Distance: 10km on foot/approximately 2h30

GOOD TO KNOW : Individual yurts are not always available, so we will share yurts and toilets

Day 10Towards Son Kol lake – paradise for lovers of the great outdoors

Breakfast. Departure by road to reach the heart of Kyrgyzstan, Lake Son Kol. Along the way we will stop in one of the workshops in the village of Kyzyl Tuu to discover the techniques of building a yurt . The route is sometimes difficult, but after a few passes we will reach a true oasis of peace placed at the altitude of more than 3000 m above sea level in the heart of the Tian Shan massif. Upon arrival we will settle into our lakeside yurt camp. Nomads live there for a few months in spring and summer with their herds of yaks and horses. A great opportunity to meet local shepherds and their families in the heart of breathtaking landscapes. The always-friendly Kyrgyz families will invite us to taste the regional products, Airan (yoghurt) and Kumis (fermented national drink made from mare’s milk). In this nomadic environment, we will have dinner and spend the night in the summer mountain pastures in warm yurts. We will not feel time pass: privileged moments spent with the inhabitants to learn more about their culture, their traditions, share their daily life, discover the work of the nomads, and walk on the shores of the lake or on the ridges above it. .. Our yurt camp is located in the northern part of the lake (its most beautiful coast). 

Road transportation time: approx. 4-5h / 160km

Attention! a night at altitude 3,000 m

GOOD TO KNOW : Individual yurts are not always available, so we will share yurts and toilets

Day 11Immersions in the nomadic lifestyle. Easy day walk (and encounters) at Tulpar Tash Pastures

After breakfast we head west towards the lake and walk along the lake shore. Your driver will follow you by his car but the local English-speaking guide will accompany you. Small climbs and descents (max 50 m) await you before arriving at the Tulpar Tash Yurts camp. The lake shore is magnificent with herds of horses, yaks, cows, sheep and goats. Chance to visit shepherds and taste fermented mare’s milk, cheese balls and simply cow’s milk tea…

Lunch at Uzbek yurt camp (included in the price)

After breakfast – free time.

Dinner and overnight at Tulpar Tash yurt camp.

 

Distance: 13 km on foot / 4-5 hours of walking

Elevation difference on foot: + 150 m.

Negative height difference on foot: – 150 m

GOOD TO KNOW : Individual yurts are not always available, so we will share yurts and toilets

Day 12Kizil Oï – village surrounded by impressive mountains

Breakfast at the camp. Departure by road towards the village of Kyzyl Oy, our last stop on our journey before Bishkek. After crossing the Karakeche pass at more than 3,600 m, we will immerse ourselves in the Jumgal valley and regretfully

leave Son Koul lake behind us. We will stop at Chaek village, this small town in the middle of nowhere, to do some shopping. The road will then lead us towards a path that flows into a canyon where a splendid river with turquoise waters flows with magnificent green and ocher cliffs as a backdrop. The time has come to immortalize this extraordinary nature, photography enthusiasts will be wondered. Upon our arrival we will be won over by the hospitality of the inhabitants of the village of Kyzyl Oi. They will open the doors for us for the night. For those who want to stretch their legs, the town is an excellent starting point for a short excursion upstream from the town to enjoy a beautiful view of the valley, the town, the river… Dinner and overnight stay in the home of local people.

Road transportation time: approx. 5h / approx. 160 km

GOOD TO KNOW: Homestay with simple comfort. Single rooms are not always available, so we will share rooms and bathrooms .

Day 13Return to Bishkek

Breakfast at the locals’ home. We will board our vehicle to cover the last kilometers to Bishkek. The route runs alongside the Kekmeren River, which rises to the Too Ashuu Pass at over 3,500 m above sea level. On our journey we pass through two isolated villages in the upper part of the valley. Then we will descend the wide Chuy valley. We will arrive in Bishkek mid-day. For those who wish, head to the Osh market to make the latest purchases or for a moment of relaxation. Dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate your last evening in Kyrgyzstan.

Road transportation time: approx. 5h / approx. 200km

Day 14Departure.

According to our flight schedule, transfer to Bishkek airport. Return flight

Road transportation time: approx. 45 minutes / 30 km

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