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Tours in Kyrgyzstan
Tours in Central Asia
Nomad's Motherland
Ethnographic tour: Nomad's Motherland
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Duration: 13 days
Places to visit: Bishkek - Arslan bob - Jalal Abad - Osh city - Kazarman village - Tash Rabat Caravanserai - Son Kul Lake - Kochkor village - Chon Kemin - Konorchek canyons - Burana Tower - Bishkek
If you like different cultures and traditions - we can organize a perfect ethnographic tour for you! During this program you will find out about nomadic traditions and it will be even possible to participate in them! This program includes south and north of Kyrgyzstan and that is why it is even more interesting!
Tour itinerary:
Day 1: Bishkek
Your guide will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany you to Bishkek City (30 min. drive), where you will start the day with a breakfast. Then you will go to have a rest in a local family of Dungan people. Dungans are Chineses Musliems. They escaped from China many years ago and many of them live in the territory of Kyrgyzstan. They have a lot of unusual traditions and customs. Your guide will tell you about them and it will be possible to find out about ther life style.Then you will have an excursion to Natural Park Ala-Archa. It is situated in the Ala-Arch gorge, on the Kyrgyz ridge (a spur of Tien-Shan), in 45 km from Bishkek-capital of Kyrgyzstan. You will go to the top of a mountain to have a nice view of this famous gorge. Returing to Bishkek. Traditional dinner will be made by ... you and Dungan family!!! You will personally participate in the national cusine making. They will tell you about the secrets of national food and then you will try it. This night you will spend with this family.
In Brief:
- Pick up at Airport and Transfer to City
- Breakfast
- Visiting of Ala Archa gorge
- Making of national Dungan food
- Traditional dinner
- Overnight in a Hotel***
Day 2: Bishkek - Arslan bob
The day starts with a breakfast at 8 o'clock. Afterwards we start our trip to Arslan Bob forest by car. Arslan Bob is one of the most famous places in Kyrgyzstan. Here the trees, with their dome shaped crowns atop two meter thick trunks, can reach a height of 30 meters and are found growing wild on mountain slopes and along river banks at an altitude of between 1000 and1800 meters above Sea Level. Arslan Bob itself lies at 1700 m. a. s. l. Along the whole way to the forest you will see plenty of picturesque places that will amaze you by their beauty. Also after passing Tuu Ashu pass we will drive along the biggest water reservoir Toktogul. This night you will spend with a local family.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Arslan Bob
- Short stop to take lunch
- Toktogul water reservoir
- Dinner and Overnight in a home stay
Day 3: Arslan bob - Jalal Abad
After a strengthen breakfast we will start our trip to Jalal Abad town. One of Kyrgyzstan's main branches of the Silk Road passed through Jalal Abad and the region has played host to travelers for thousands of years. You will have drive to this town along a mountain road that will have many amazing views on the way. Night in a homestay with Kyrgyz people. Today you will make national food Manti and you will get acquainted with this Kyrgyz family.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Jalal Abad
- Short stop to take lunch
- Making national Kyrgyz food
- Overnight in a home stay
Day 4: Jalal Abad - Osh city
Your breakfast will be served at 8 o'clock. Then we will start to the second biggest city Osh. It is said that the city is older than Rome because it is more than 3000 years old. You will visit our Asian bazaars in the city. These bazaars are the most famous in Kyrgyzstan. You can make hundreds of pictures there and after that you we will visit sacred Suleiman Mountain that is situated in the middle of the city. On the way to the city we will visit also Uzgen town. There is a Tower and 3 beautiful mausoleums that were built in the 11 century. The evening you will spend with a Kyrgyz family. Osh city is famous as the best place where people make plov. Plov is one of the favorite dishes for local people. You will make it with a local family in the open air - only in this way the plov has a fantastic taste!
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Osh city
- Short stop to take lunch
- Toktogul water reservoir
- Uzgen town
- Uzgen Tower and mausoleums (11 century)
- Makin dinner with a local family
- Overnight in a home stay
Day 5: Osh city - Kazarman village
Today we will drive back to Uzgen in order to cross Pamir Alai Mountains and to drive in the heart of Tien Shan Mountain system. We will drive along stunning mountains and you will have a great chance to enjoy its nature. As soon as we are in Kazarman you will have a dinner and then you will spend a night in a home stay.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Kazarman
- Short stop to take lunch
- Dinner and Overnight in a home stay
Day 6: Kazarman - Tash Rabat Caravanserai
After packing your backpacks, you will be served breakfast at 8 o'clock Then you will be transferred to the Tash Rabat- Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road (Stone Castle from the 14th century). You will be carried away by the amazing scenery offered through views the untouched nature. The building is a unique one. Tash Rabat is located at the very heart of Tian 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. In the evening you will erect a yurt - collapsible nomadic dwelling that is made without using a single nail. Also today you will milk cows. You will spend the night in yurts near by the Tash Rabat caravanserai.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Tash Rabat Caravanserai
- Lunch on the way
- Erecting of a yurt
- Milking of cows
- Dinner and Overnight in yurts
Day 7: Tash Rabat Caravanserai - Son Kul Lake
After breakfast we start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan Son Kul Lake. Lunch will be taken on the way. 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. 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. Today you will participate in making national drink Kumis. Kumis is mare's milk. It is a fermented drink and it has a vey unusual taste. Dinner and overnight in nomadic collapsible dwellings - yurts. It is made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings. Yurts are built without nails.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to the Son Kul Lake
- Short stop to take lunch
- Arrival at the Son Kul Lake
- Making national drink Kumis
- Dinner and Overnight in yurts
Day 8: Son Kul Lake (3013 m. a. s. l.)
At 9 am is your breakfast. Free time at Son-Kul Lake, where you will have the opportunity to explore its nature on your own. You can ride along the lake on a horse, or just relaxing in the atmosphere of the wild, but calm nature. Lunch will be served at 2 pm. Then you will see also ancient petrogliphs. It is a great chance to get acquainted with nomadic traditions and culture. National dinner will be served in original nomadic houses - yurts. You will spend the night in yurts as nomads do.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Horseback riding tour (optional)
- Visit of ancient petrogliphs
- Dinner and Overnight in yurts
Day 9: Son Kul Lake - Kochkor village
After a strengthening breakfast you will be transferred to Kochkor village (185 km). At the Kochkor village you will meet a family that 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 dinner with a local family. Overnight in a home stay.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Kochkor by car
- Lunch on the way
- Dinner with a local family:
- National woolen felt carpet production (optional)
- Overnight in a home stay
Day 10: Kochkor village - Chon Kemin valley
The day starts with a breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then you will be transferred to Chon Kemin valley by car along the Boom gorge with mountain river that flows there. You will be served dinner in "Kalmak Ashuu" Guesthouse, where you will also spend the night.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Chon Kemin valley
- Traditional dinner
- Overnight in "Kalmak Ashuu" Guesthouse
Day 11: Chon Kemin - Konorchek canyons - Chon Kemin
Today you will have hiking in a stunning place of red canyons. This place is completely different from all other mountains in Kyrgyzstan. The canyons are of different shapes that make your hiking so interesting. First you will go along the bottom of canyons and then we will come back hiking along the top of it. This is a real paradise for people who like to make pictures! After hiking you will be transferred back to "Kalmak Ashuu" Guesthouse.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Konorchek canyons
- Hiking with a picnic
- Traditional dinner
- Overnight in "Kalmak Ashuu" Guesthouse
Day 12: Chon Kemin - Bishkek
You will be served breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then you will be transferred to Bishkek city. On the way visiting of Burana Tower (minaret of 11 century) and an open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors). When you will come in Bishkek you will have a city tour. At 7 pm a farewell dinner is served. Night in a home stay with a local family.
In Brief:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Bishkek city
- On the way:
- Burana Tower
- Balbals
- Farewell dinner
- Overnight in a home stay
Day 13: Bishkek - Europe
Your guide will meet you at the hotel at the pick up time arranged previously according to your flight details and accompany you to Manas International Airport.
