Culture tours
From Bishkek to Almaty
This journey invites you to explore the majestic landscapes of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — where snow-capped peaks rise above emerald valleys, crystal-clear rivers flow through deep gorges, and every turn reveals a new natural wonder
Departures Summer (May – September): Day 6: visit Son-Kol Lake
Departures Spring & Fall: (March, April, October, November): Day 6: visit Tash Rabat
Arrive at any time. Standard check-in at hotel after 14:00.
Free time on your own.
Welcome meet with the guide and group at 14:00.
Briefing about the itinerary & travel plan. City tour in Bishkek.
Welcome Dinner in the traditional restaurant where you can taste the national Kyrgyz cuisine.
Meals included: dinner
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Note: it is highly recommended to book an extra night at the hotel, as most flights to Bishkek arrive late at night or early in the morning.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Our journey begins with a visit of the Burana Tower, an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the north part of Kyrgyzstan. The tower with funerary monuments, earthworks, remains of the castle and three mausoleums – that’s all what last out of the ancient Balasagyn town that was founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.
Lunch in the Iskra village with Dungan family, the ethnicity of Chinese Muslims who had to flee China. You taste their national cuisine.
Then departure to Issyk Kul, the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and one of the deepest in the world. We drive you to the hotel located on the lake shore.
First location at Issyk-Kul lake is visit the petroglyph museum. The 42 hectares of the museum are dotted with stones, tombs, balbals and various petroglyphs dated from the 2nd millennium BC until the 4th century AD.
Free time. You can rest on the beach and swim in the lake.
Dinner in the restaurant.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Lakeside Resort
Breakfast at hotel.
Next location is Grigoriev and Semienov gorges. Picnic or lunch in the café on the road.
Grigoriev and Semienov gorges are considered as one of the most famous attractions of the Issyk Kol region. You can go for a walk, enjoy the wild nature around you and spend a nice time in this beautiful place.
After departure to Karakol, the administrative center of the Issyk-Kol region. Visits in Karakol:
You have dinner in the local restaurant and you have a rest in the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
After breakfast, we set off from Karakol toward the breathtaking Jeti Oguz Gorge, where nature greets us with the striking red cliffs of the famous “Broken Heart.” Standing at the entrance to the gorge, this dramatic rock formation sets a romantic and mysterious tone for our visit. We’ll enjoy a leisurely hour-long walk, surrounded by fresh mountain air and sweeping views.
Our journey continues to the scenic Barskoon Gorge, a place celebrated for its cascading waterfalls. Among them, the enchanting “Tears of the Snow Leopard” captures both beauty and legend. Midway through the gorge, we’ll come across a unique monument dedicated to Yuri A. Gagarin, the world’s first cosmonaut, standing proudly amid the rugged landscape.
Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
After breakfast, we head towards Kochkor village and pass by the south shore of the lake. On the road we visit the Skazka canyons which translate as the “Fairy Tale”. Here you can find objects of surprising shapes and sizes. A real skyscraper or an animal can appear in front of you.
Next, we meet an eagle hunter with his bird. You can appreciate the alertness and speed of the bird during the hunting. It is one of the oldest traditions of Kyrgyz nomads.
Lunch in the guesthouse or café.
Our next stop is Kyzyl Tuu village where the local family reveals the secrets of yurt production. This family is engaged in this unique art from generation to generation.
Continue to Kochkor. Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Departures: May – September
After breakfast, the beautiful mountain roads lead us to Son Kul Lake.
Today, we overcome the mountain pass Kalmak Ashu (3447 m). From the pass the lake Son Kul seems very small, but descending lower and approaching the lake, it appears as a big and gorgeous lake.
Upon arrival at a camp at the lake, you get to know the hospitality of the nomads, their lifestyle and their customs. Dinner and night in the yurts.
Departures: March, April, October, November
The goal is to reach the caravanserai Tash Rabat, so we overcome a mountain pass called Dolon Pass at 3030 meters above sea level.
Tash Rabat is a historical monument founded by monks in the 10th century. During the Silk Road, Tash Rabat lost its religious significance, and the monastery provided a stay for caravans and travelers.
Lunch in the restaurant in Naryn and dinner in the yurt camp in Tash Rabat.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Note: up to 4 people per yurt. Toilets, shower and sauna are outside.
Departures: May – September:
From Son-Kul to Chon-Kemin
Departures: March, April, October, November
From Tash-Rabat to Chon Kemin
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Spend the morning soaking in all the beauty of surrounding nature.
Departure towards Chon-Kemin.
On the way visit Kochkor to discover the significance of felt-making in Kyrgyz culture and meet local artisans. Take part in a hands-on workshop where you’ll create a miniature version of the traditional ala-kiyiz carpet.
Take in the breathtaking views as you wander through the village, then enjoy a freshly prepared traditional dinner.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Border
Border Crossing (Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan)
Ready for a one more stamp in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Add one more country into your collection
Our destination for the day is Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan. Upon arrival, we begin a guided city tour, taking in its most celebrated sights: the grand Independence Square, the colorful wooden masterpiece of Zenkov Cathedral, the serene Panfilov Park, and the striking WWII memorial.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
City tour in Almaty.
Medeo gorge where the highest mountain sports complex at an altitude of 1691 meters is located. Medeo is often a favorite place for the residents of Almaty on weekends.
After we go to Kok Tobe, the highest point in the city. It is famous for its panoramic view of the city from all directions. To reach the Kok Tobe hill, we take a cable car ride which starts near Hotel Kazakhstan and goes over some of the oldest parts of Almaty and the magnificent fruit-growing gardens. Once you reach the Kok Tobe hill, you would see the famous 372 meters high TV Tower which is visible from far and offers great views of the mountains and the city plus a few attractions at the top.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
The Charyn Canyon is located in the national park. It is considered the little brother of the Grand Canyon in the United States.
The erosion of the Charyn River has created dramatic and impressive landscapes. When you arrive, you will admire the magnificent panorama and walk down to the bottom of the gorge to hike about 2 km in the labyrinth of the Valley of the Castles.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out at the 12:00.
Departure at any time. End of the service.
Meals included: breakfast
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