Kyrgyzstan 01

---

Kyrgyzstan tour: Tour 1

Destination: Kyrgyzstan

Activity: Cultural tour

Duration: 18 days 

Places to visit: Bishkek - Issyk-Kul Lake - Karakol - Tamga - Bokonbaiva - Kochkorka - Son Kul - Bishkek 

This tour offers you a great chance to discover the magnificent land of celestial mountains, situated in Central Asia.  Here you will enjoy seeing our wild nature, primordial places, and unforgettable ancient sights! The whole tour goes along the Great Silk Road passing via the impressive Tian Shan massif. You will visit the second largest alpine lake in the world Issyk-Kul, as well as the picturesque Son Kul Lake, situated on a high plateau in the centre of Kyrgyzstan (3013m. above sea level). You will come back to the time of nomadic life, their traditions, culture and national food. 
Tour summary:

Day 1: Bishkek - Issyk Kul Lake
Our tour-guide meets you at Manas International Airport and accompanies you to the Bishkek City (30 min. drive), where you have breakfast. Then you will be driven to the Issyk-Kul Lake (200 km), the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 meters above sea level). The Lake is also called "the pearl of Central Asia". On our way, we will 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. As soon as we get  the Hotel you will have a rest on the northern beach of the lake where you can lie on the warm sand or swim in refresh waterof the lake. Thanks to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. Time for dinner is 7 p.m. 

Day 2: Issyk-Kul Lake - Karakol
The day you will start with breakfast at 8 a.m. Then you will have free time to swim in the lake till 12 p.m. afterwards we will start our trip to Karakol city by car (200 km). On the way, we will make a short break to visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.), including the local museum. You will have a second stop during the trip at 12 o'clock, where you can enjoy your lunch in a relaxed atmosphere, before continuing our way to Karakol city which will go along the northern shore of the sparkling pearl of Central Asia, which's beauty you will be able to enjoy during another break.  You will have a one hour cruise on a steam boat. Then you will be transferred to Karakol city. National dinner will be at 8 o'clock.  Night will be spent  in a Guesthouse.

Day 3: Karakol - Tamga
You will be served breakfast at 8 a.m. The entire morning is dedicated to excursion around Karakol. The tour includes visit of the Dungan mosque. One of its highlights is the fact that it was 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 worlds 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 finish our excursion with a traditional lunch after what we will leave Karakol at 1 p.m., starting our way to the impressive Jeti Oguz, the gorge of 7 red rocks (30km). You will see the Broken Heart Mountain and the Sanatorium (where you can take a hydro shower or get a massage). Then off to explore the Jeti Oguz valley (Yuri Gagarin's holiday's house, yurts, alpine vegetation) or Chong Kyzyl Suu valley with its hot spring water and geophysics station built in 1948. Then transfer to Tamga village. Tamga was a place where ancient Tibetan monks lived in the 13th century. You will have dinner in the Tamga Guesthouse, where you will also spend the night; sauna optional.

Day 4: Tamga - Bokonbaiva - Kochkorka (120km)
Breakfast is served at 9 a.m.Then you have time to have a rest on the southern beach of the Issyk Kul Lake (till 12 o'clock) or to explore the village of Tamga. Afterwards we start our trip to Kochkorka village by car. We will have a break in Bokonbaeva village, where you will be having lunch  in the house of a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (traditional way of nomads hunting). An eagle hunting show can be arranged. Afterwards, we will continue our way to Kochkorka via the Orto-Tokoi water reservoir. At the Kochkorka village you will meet a family that shows you the way of production of national woolen felt carpets. You even can make your own carpet. You will have a traditional dinner with a local family, accompanied by a special national music show. Overnight is in the Kochkor Guesthouse.

Day 5: Kochkorka - 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 a height 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. Shepherds 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 pristine nature of the lake and its surroundings. 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. 

Day 6: Son Kul (3013m. above sea level)Your breakfast will be served at 9 a.m.  After that you will have free time at Son-Kul Lake, where you will have the opportunity to explore its nature on your own. You can ride a horse along the lake, or just relax in the atmosphere of the wild, but calm nature. Lunch will be served at 2 pm. Then you will see also ancient petrogliphs and ritual stones of shamans. It is a great chance to get acquainted with nomadic traditions and culture. National dinner will be served in original nomadic dwelling - yurts you will also stay for a night in yurt. 

Day 7: Son Kul - BishkekYou will have breakfast at 8 a.m. Then we begin our way back to Bishkek city (the capital of Kyrgyzstan). As soon as we are in Bishkek you will have a city tour;lunch is included. You will visit the central Ala-Too Square, Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Pobeda Square (Victory Square), the Historical Museum, National philharmonic, Bazaar, Art Gallery and many others places of interest. You will receive a separate program, listing all places visited including a brief description. At 7 pm you will have a farewell dinner. Night is in a Hotel****. 

Day 8: Bishkek - Europe
Your guide meets you in your Hotel at the certain time arranged previously according to your flight details and accompanies you to Manas International Airport.