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Trip: itinerant
Guaranteed departures
Effort: 1 in 5
Duration: 8 days
Introduction…
A trip to Kyrgyzstan is an exciting adventure full of common discoveries. A journey into the heart of wild nature, between lakes, canyons, peaks with eternal snow and endless steppes, as explorers and knights discovered in their great crossing of Central Asia.
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, meet shepherds.
You will see with your own eyes breathtaking passes, mountain pastures where herds of cows, sheeps, horses and yaks graze, as well as the pearls of the Tien Shan mountains: the lakes Issyk Kul and Song Kul.
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. A total change of scenery and unexpected wonders.
You’ll have fun:
TECHNICAL INFORMATION :
Accommodation: under the yurt, homestays, guesthouses and hotels.
Total: 7 nights
*It is not possible to provide individual yurts. The accommodation in yurt is for 3-4 people on Song Kul Lake and Ak-Sai Canyons.
*An additional night at the Bishkek-SGL hotel: 70 dollars per room; Double/TWN: 90 dollars per room.
*Extra airport transfer – Bishkek or Bishkek – airport = 35 dollars per vehicle (30 km between city and airport)
*The program is guaranteed for groups of 4 and more
*Maximum 8 people in a group.
Departure dates 2024:
22.06-28.06-2024 (arrival in Bishkek on the night between 21.06 and 22.06)
07.06-13.09-2024 (arrival in Bishkek on the night between 6.09 and 7.09)
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:
Equipment
Small personal equipment:
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 :
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.
Flight to Bishkek, night on the plane
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 the Osh market, we head towards the city center.
Stroll along the large shaded avenues of the city, discovering its monuments, museums, works, the presidential palace, the central ”Ala Too” square, Panfilov Park and the monument to Lenin, Victory Park…
Lunch and dinner in a traditional restaurant.
Breakfast. This morning we will discover the Bishkek Historical Museum which traces the history of this Central Asian destination from the Bronze Age to the Soviet past. Then, head to Kyzyl Oï village via Too Ashuu pass (3400m). Our route will then take us towards a track 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 Oï. 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.
Shipping time: approx. 5 hours/205 km
GOOD TO KNOW : Homestay with simple comfort. Single rooms are not always available, so we will share rooms and bathrooms .
Breakfast. Departure by road to reach the heart of Kyrgyzstan, Lake Son Kul. The route is sometimes difficult, but after a few passes we will reach a true oasis of peace located at 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). We will have the opportunity to take long walks on the dominant ridges or, for those who wish, to go horseback riding (at your expense and under your responsibility). In this nomadic environment we will have dinner and spend the night in the summer mountain pastures under the warm yurts.
Road transportation time: approx. 4-5h / 160km
Attention! a night at 3,000 m
GOOD TO KNOW : Simple comfort yurts. It is impossible to have an individual yurt, so we will share the yurts and bathrooms with other participants. Exceptionally for couples: yurts for two people if available.
Meeting with Kyrgyz artisans.
Breakfast. Departure by road to the village of Kochkor through the “32 parrots” pass. Upon our arrival we will sit with a local family to share lunch and at the same time discover the secrets of traditional wool carpet making. We will continue our route until we reach the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake located at an altitude of 1660 m. Fed by 88 neighboring rivers, it is the second largest “alpine” lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America at 182 km long and 58 km wide. The result of volcanic activity, it warms up thanks to thermal activity and never freezes, even in the middle of winter. In summer the water temperature can reach 23-24° (warmer than the air) and we can even swim, surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Tien Shan mountains. 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. Finally, our last stop of the day will be on the shore of Issyk Kul Lake. Dinner and night in a yurt by the lake in a place isolated from everything.
Road transfer time: approx. 5 hours/270 km
GOOD TO KNOW : yurts with simple comfort. It is impossible to have an individual yurt, so we will share the yurts and bathrooms with other participants. Exceptionally for couples: yurts for two people if available.
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 on 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”, 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.
Road transportation time: approx. 1 hour/50 km
Travel time: approx. 1h30 / approx. 6km / difference in altitude: +220m -220m
GOOD TO KNOW : Yurts with simple comfort. It is impossible to have an individual yurt, so we will share the yurts and bathrooms with other participants. Exceptionally for couples: yurts for two people not if available.
Breakfast. This morning you go towards Bishkek. Along the way we will stop there to admire the famous Burana Tower. At lunchtime we will stop in Iskra village to share lunch and the hospitality of the Dungan ethnic villagers. Scattered throughout Central Asia since their migration from China in the 19th century, this minority has managed to preserve its unique cultural identity, a blend of different influences: Chinese, Russian and Arab. It is an immersion in their tasty gastronomy renowned throughout Central Asia that we offer you during this simple lunch. We will taste some of their signature dishes, including the famous Lagman. After a moment of conviviality, we will continue our journey, with Bishkek as our last stop. Free time. Dinner in restaurant and overnight stay in hotel.
Road transfer time: approx. 4 hours/250 km
According to our flight schedule, transfer to Bishkek airport. Return flight.