Discover the land of nomads
Discover the land of nomads
Cultural Tour
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Duration: 10 days
Places to visit: Bishkek - Issyk Kul Lake - Karakol - Djeti Oguz - Kochkor village - Naryn town - Tash Rabat - Son Kul Lake - Kyzyl Oi - Ala Archa - Bishkek
This tour includes many places of interest that are completely different one from each other. During this magic cultural tour you will visit the biggest mountain lake of Kyrgyzstan, amazing gorges, mountain rivers, stone castle, forgotten lake and many other places. Also you will sleep not only in hotels and guesthouses but with real nomads in their yurts that are made of felt and wood without using any nails!
Tour itinerary: Day 1: Bishkek - Karakol via Issyk Kul Lake
From the Manas International Airport you will be transferred to Karakol town (430 km). On the way you will see the Issyk-Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608m.above sea level). Thanks to the salty water, Issyk Kul Lake possesses curative qualities. On our way to the lake, we will also visit the Burana Tower (minaret from the 11th century) and an open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors). After having taken a traditional lunch, we continue our way to the lake. Near the lake we will make a short break to give you the opportunity to visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.), including the local museum. We will drive along the northern shore of the sparkling pearl of Central Asia. Your dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Night in a guesthouse.
In Short:
► Breakfast
► Transfer to Karakol
► Visit of Burana Tower
► Drive along northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake
► Dinner
► Overnight in a guesthouse
Day 2: Karakol - Djeti Oguz gorge
The day starts with a breakfast at 9 o'clock. The whole morning is dedicated to a guided Karakol City Tour. The tour includes the visit of the Dungan mosque. One of its highlights is the fact that it is built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. Later, you will visit the museum of M.V. Prejvalsky, one of the world's greatest explores. His biggest achievements were the crossing of the great desert Taklamakan and the discovery of more than 4000 animals, including the Horse of Prejevalsky. We will end the City Tour with a traditional lunch and leave Karakol at 1 pm, starting our way to the impressive Jeti Oguz, the gorge of 7 red rocks (30km). You will see also the famous Broken Heart Mountain. Then off to explore the Jeti Oguz gorge (Yuri Gagarin's holiday's house, yurts, alpine vegetation). At the middle of the gorge is a yurt camp. Your dinner and overnight will be in nomadic collapsible dwellings - yurts. It is made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings. Yurts are built without nails.In Short:
► Breakfast
► City tour in Karakol:
- Dungan mosque
- Orthodox Church
- museum of M.V. Prejvalsky
► Lunch
► Visit of Broken Heart Mountain
► Dinner and the night in yurts
Day 3: Djeti Oguz - Naryn town via Kochkor village
You will be served breakfast at 8 o'clock. Afterwards we start our trip to Naryn town. We will have drive along the southern shore of the Issyk Kul Lake. You will enjoy the amazing view of the lake that is surrounded by mountains. At the Kochkor village you will meet a Kyrgyz family. They have a nice small museum of applied art. If you want you can book a special felt show. This family can show you the way of how national woolen felt carpets are produced. You even can create your own carpet. You will have a traditional lunch with a local family. Then we will continue our way to Naryn town through the impressive Tien Shan mountains
In Short:
► Breakfast
► Transfer to Kochkor village
► Lunch
► Visit of handicraft shop
► Transfer to Naryn town
► Dinner
► Overnight in a private house
Day 4: Naryn - Tash Rabat
At 9 am is your breakfast. Then you will be transferred to the Tash Rabat Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road (Stone Castle from the 14th century). The building is a unique one. Tash Rabat is located at the very heart of Tien Shan Mountains. And It has no analogue in the whole world, because it was made of stones and furthermore it was built inside a mountain at a height 3200 m above sea level. In total there are 31 rooms in the mountain. The thickness of walls is 1 m. There are also underground prison cells for ancient thieves. Traditional dinner will be served at 7 p.m. You will spend the night in yurts near by the Tash Rabat caravanserai.
In Short:
► Breakfast
► Transfer to Tash Rabat
► Lunch on the way
► An excursion inside the Caravanserai
► Dinner and overnight in yurts
Day 5: Tash Rabat Caravanserai
Free time at the gorge near Tash Rabat Caravanserai, where you will have the opportunity to explore its nature on your own. You can ride along the gorge on a horse, or just relaxing in the atmosphere of the wild, but calm nature. Also you will have a short trek to Chatir Kol pass. It is a great chance to get acquainted with nomadic traditions and culture. Night in yurts.
In Short:
► Free time
► Horse riding (optional)
► Overnight in yurts
Day 6: Tash Rabat - Son Kul (3013m. above sea level)
After breakfast we start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan Son Kul Lake. Son Kul Lake is surrounded by mountains and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level. Since ancient times Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation. Herders of the Naryn region come to the lake to use it as a pastureland. After our arrival, you will be free to explore and enjoy the virgin nature of the lake and its surroundings. Then you will see ancient petrogliphs that are hidden in mountains with a view on the lake. National dinner will be served in original nomadic houses - yurts. You will spend the night in yurts as nomads do.
In Short:
► Breakfast
► Transfer to Son Kul Lake
► Lunch on the way
► Dinner and overnight in yurts
Day 7: Son Kul - Kyzyl Oi village:
After breakfast you will be transferred to the Kyzyl Oi village. On the way, you will see mountains in different shapes. You will be carried away by the amazing scenery offered through views the untouched nature.
In Short:
► Breakfast
► Transfer to Kyzyl Oi village
► Lunch on the way
► Dinner and overnight in a private house
Day 8: Kyzyl Oi - Bishkek:
You will have breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then we start our trip back to Bishkek city (the capital of Kyrgyzstan). As soon as we are in Bishkek you will have a city tour including lunch. You will visit the central Ala-Too Square, Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Pobeda Square (Victory Square), the History Museum, National philharmonic, Oriental Bazaar, Art Gallery and many others places of interest. At 7 pm a farewell dinner is served.
In Short:
► Breakfast
► Transfer to Bishkek city
► Lunch
► City tour
► Dinner
► Overnight in a hotel
Day 9: Bishkek - Ala Arch gorge - Bishkek
The day starts with a breakfast at 9 o'clock. Then you will be transferred to Natural Park Ala-Archa to have an excursion. This park is situated in the Ala-Archa gorge, on the Kyrgyz ridge (a spur of Tien-Shian), in 45 km from Bishkek-capital of Kyrgyzstan. This gorge situated on the altitude of 2100 m above sea level and it is one of the most beautiful gorges in Kyrgyzstan because it has juniper and fur tree forests, mountain river, waterfall and snow white peaks that are possible to be seem from a far distance. You will have a track to Ak-Sai falls, about 5-6 hours. From your path you can see the highest peak of the Kyrgyz range - Ala-Archa peak (4000 m). A lunch near falls. Descent to the gorge Ala-Archa. Returning to Bishkek. At 7 pm a farewell dinner is served and if you wish we can organize for you a national folklore show because Kyrgyz people are very famous for they fantastic playing on their unusual musical instruments.
In Short:
► Breakfast
► Transfer to Ala Archa gorge
► Lunch
► Hike to the waterfall
► Dinner
► Overnight in a hotel
Day 10: Flight home
Early in the morning you will be transferred to the airport.