Tour around Lake Issyk-Kul

Day 1 Bishkek

Arrival at Bishkek airport early in the morning. Meeting with a guide and driver. Transfer from the airport to the city (35 km). Rest at the Bridge Hotel. Excursion around the city center. During the excursion, visit the central square, Oak Park, an open-air art gallery, the Historical Museum, the National Philharmonic and many other attractions.

After lunch, transfer to the Ala-Archa National Park. This place is very popular among city residents primarily because of its accessibility and proximity to Bishkek, as well as its magnificent nature, riot of colors, cold rivers where you can hide from the sweltering summer heat. A special feature of the reserve is the mountaineers’ camp, located at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. It is on the territory of the reserve that such famous mountain peaks as Semenov-Tyan-Shansky Peak (4875 m) and Korona Peak (4860 m) are located. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky Peak is the highest point of the entire ridge. Mountaineers from all over the world gather here to conquer this summit. Walking tour in the park in the fresh air. Upon returning to the city, dinner at a restaurant. Accommodation for the night at the hotel. (Meals on this day: Breakfast included, Dinner included)

Bishkek  – Chon Kemin (180 km) 

Breakfast. Visit to the central market “Osh Bazary”. Markets in the morning are more colorful and attractive with fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as other diverse abundance

Transfer to the Chon-Kemin Nature Park (160 km). On the way, visit the ruins of the medieval settlement of Balasagyn and the Burana watchtower – 9th-11th centuries AD. Upon arrival in Chon-Kemin, accommodation in a private guest house. You will be offered two options: Horseback riding in the Chon-Kemin gorge, 1.5-2 hours or rafting on the Chon-Kemin river 1.5 hours, 19 km. You can choose one of the options. Dinner at the guest house. (Meals on this day: Breakfast included, Dinner included in the guest house)

Bishkek – Issyk – Kul southern shore Tosor village (220 km)

Breakfast at the guest house. Transfer to the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Issyk-Kul is the second largest high-mountain lake in the world. Stop in Boom gorge for a walk in the Konorchek Canyons. They consist of red Paleogene sandstone and clay, in May and early June there is a lot of greenery, many shrubs – ephedra, barberry and others, flowering plants are represented by semi-desert species that grow in arid areas. From the main glade Konorchek, where the dry beds of streams converge, numerous large and small gorges diverge, along which you can take walks. The canyons have names: “Skyscraper”, “Bobsleigh”, “Grand Canyon”. The walk lasts 2-3 hours. Continuation of the journey to the village of Tosor. Upon arrival, accommodation in a yurt camp near the shore of the lake. Free time until dinner. Swimming in the lake, rest in the area. Dinner and accommodation in a yurt camp. Meals on this day: Breakfast included, Dinner included)

Tosor  

Breakfast in the yurt town. The whole day on the lake shore. Swimming, rest. If desired, it is possible to take a trip to the Skazka gorge. The Skazka gorge is located on the southern coast of Issyk-Kul, near the village of Tosor, 4-5 km from the main highway. You will find yourself in one of the man-made fairy-tale cities. Here you will see a canyon called the “Chinese Wall” 5 kilometers long, it seems to guard the peace of sleeping castles and amazing animals created by nature itself from red clay and sandstone – elephants, hippos, snakes and some completely unseen animals. The duration of the walk is 1.5 -2 hours. Return to the village of Tosor. Dinner and accommodation in a yurt camp.

(Meals on this day: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Tosor – Kyzart (240 km) – trek in the Kilemche gorge (4-5 hours)

Early breakfast in the yurt camp. Transfer to the village of Kyzart, from where we will begin the hike to Lake Son-Kul, that is, the second largest mountain lake in the world at an altitude of 3015 meters above sea level. Trekking to the foot of the Dzhalgyz-Karagay pass (3300 m above sea level) to a place called Kilemche (4-5 hours). The Kilemche jailoo is located in the Dzhumgal district of the Naryn region. This jailoo offers a wonderful view of the high-mountain lake Son-Kul. Nearby, a river flows, which is also called Kilemche. It does not have steep rapids, so it is more reminiscent of a plain river than a mountain river, flowing calmly and measuredly. Jailoo Kilemche has amazingly beautiful meadows, where many herbs and flowers grow, pleasing to the eye. Dinner and overnight in a yurt camp (2800 m above sea level). Accommodation in a traditional Kyrgyz dwelling called yurts (4 people per yurt).

(Meals on this day: Breakfast included, Lunch included, Dinner included)

Kilemche – Son – Kul (3-4 hours trek)

Breakfast. Trekking up the Dzhalgyz-Karagay southern mountain range (3-4 hours). You will meet local shepherds along the way. Arrival at the plateau of the mountain lake Song-Kul, located at an altitude of 3015 m. From June to September, locals live and graze their cattle in the meadows (jailoo) around the lake. Here you will experience the freedom of nomadic life. This place preserves the traditions and habits of nomadic people, it seems that life here has stopped, there is no mobile phone, no electricity, just cars that may pass by you not every hour. You can try the Kyrgyz traditional drink – kumyz (fermented mare’s milk).

Dinner and Overnight in a yurt camp (3015 m above sea level). Accommodation in a traditional Kyrgyz dwelling called yurts (4-5 people in a yurt).

(Meals on this day: Breakfast, Lunch (picnic) and Dinner included)

Son – Kul – Suusamyr (280 km)

After breakfast we will go to the Suusamyr Valley. Suusamyr is a small valley, 150 kilometers long, which is located between three large ranges of the northern Tien Shan: Kyrgyz, Suusamyr-Too and Jumgal-Too. In Izrevle, this valley was a very fertile place: it is no coincidence that the Great Silk Road passed through it, and nowadays it has become one of the favorite attractions for tourists. The average altitude of the valley is 2300 meters, so even in summer it is fresh and cool. Dinner and accommodation at the tourist complex – “Baitur”.

(Meals on this day: Breakfast, Lunch (picnic) and Dinner included)

Suusamyr – Arslanbob (450 km, 7-9 hours drive)

Breakfast. Transfer to Arslanbob. The vast areas of fruit and nut forests in the Arslanbob River Valley are the largest in the world, their area reaches more than 600,000 hectares. Each year, Arslanbob harvests up to 1,500 tons of nuts, as well as 5,000 tons of apples, pistachios and cherry plums. For many years, Arslanbob, which means “king of the forests” in Kyrgyz, has been a national reserve. Nuts from this area were transported to different corners of the world during the heyday of the Great Silk Road. You have a long way to go from the valley of eternal snows to the subtropical zone. You will have many stops to take photos and you will have memories of this day. Fantastic roads, amazing views, nomads, high mountains; all this will leave you with memories of Kyrgyzstan that will last a lifetime. Upon arrival, dinner and accommodation in a guest house.

(Meals on this day: Breakfast, Lunch (picnic) and Dinner included)

Arslanbob – Osh (180 km, 3-4 hours drive)

Breakfast. Walk in the walnut forests to the waterfall. A few minutes walk from the center of the village there is a small waterfall (23 meters). Opposite the waterfall there is a small cave known as the Cave of Forty Angels, where a holy woman lived, to whom people came with various requests. You will visit both of these places. After lunch, we will continue our way to the southern capital of our homeland – the city of Osh. The city of Osh is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan and one of the most ancient cities in Central Asia. The exact date of its foundation is unknown. Its written history dates back over a thousand years, and archaeological finds go back three thousand years. On the way, you will visit the Uzgen Historical and Cultural Complex. The Uzgen complex consists of a beautiful minaret, standing alone, and a group of mausoleums, built in one line and located at a distance of about 100 meters from the minaret. These outstanding historical monuments are an invaluable gift to current generations, left to us by History itself from the time of the Great Karakhanid Empire (10th-12th centuries).). These buildings are unique masterpieces of monumental architecture of the peoples of Central Asia in the Middle Ages. Excursion around the area. Continuation of the journey to Osh. Upon arrival, accommodation at the SunRise Hotel, dinner at the cafe.

(Meals on this day: Breakfast included, Dinner included)

Osh – flight to Moscow by evening flight of Avia Traffic or Aeroflot flight, and it is also possible to see tourists off to the border with Uzbekistan

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion around the city of Osh with a visit to Sulaiman-Too – the Throne of Solomon (is the first monument of Kyrgyzstan included in the UNESCO World Heritage List), the Museum of Local History, located in a mountain cave, the House of the ruler Babur. And also: Osh Bazaar, located in the center of Osh and one of the oldest bazaars in the Fergana Valley since the time of the  Great Silk Road. The excursion will continue with a walk around the central square, where the Statue of Lenin stands, as well as the Old Russian Orthodox Church of St. Michael the Archangel of the 18th century. After a walk around the city, at 5 pm transfer to the airport for a flight to Moscow: Avia Trifikom flight at 19:30, arrival at 21:30.

(Meals on this day: Breakfast included)