Culture tours
This trip over the whole country, southern and northern parts, offers you a great opportunity to meet the local population of different ethnicities, to know their traditions and cultures. A lot of incredible discoveries and positive impressions expect you: horse riding on the shore of Son Kul Lake, hiking in the biggest walnut forest in the world and other pleasant activities.
Arrival at Manas Airport in Bishkek where our team will pick you up and will drive you to the capital. Standard check-in at hotel after 14:00.
We start our city tour in Bishkek. We will visit the heart of the city, Ala- Too Square. After we can enjoy a walk in Oak Park, one of the favorite places of local people. Bishkek is known as the
greenest city in Central Asia thanks to its countless parks and alleys.
After lunch, we will have time to visit the local market Osh bazar. Here you can appreciate the creativity and talent of local artisans. Just as you step into the market, you plunge into the oriental atmosphere: an infinite flow of people, and a great variety of goods and colors.
In the evening, we can go to one of the best restaurants in Bishkek where you can taste delicious Kyrgyz national dishes.
Meals included: no meals included
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. Departure.
At the beginning of our trip, we overcome two mountain passes: Too Ashu and Alabel. You cross the wonderful Suusamyr valley, a paradise for nomads. It is an important grazing area for locals, who bring their yurts and flocks of sheep to the valley during the summertime.
Lunch on the road in a small cafe.
Our road leads us to Toktogul, the largest reservoir in Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival at the hotel, we can take a walk on the shore of the artificial lake and enjoy the fascinating scenery around us.
Dinner in the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Simple hotel
Departure after breakfast. Our goal is to get the unique Biosphere Reserve of Sary Chelek.
Lunch on the road or upon arrival to the guesthouse.
Sary Chelek Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Kyrgyzstan. A strong earthquake caused its creation. Thanks to its location Sary Chelek has a mild climate: warm summers and winters with little snow. A significant part of the reserve is occupied by walnut, apple, and pear forests.
As you arrive at Sary Chelek, you can take a walk to the lake.
Overnight and dinner at the guesthouse.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Note: guesthouses in this area are simple and mostly with shared bathroom and WC.
After breakfast, you will continue the trip towards Arslanbob, the unique walnut-fruit forest in the world.
During the transfer, you can appreciate the breathtaking landscapes and take pictures. You ride along the largest and the most important river of Kyrgyzstan – Naryn.
On the road, we will stop to have lunch.
In the evening, we get to the small village of Arslanbob, surrounded by walnut forest.
Overnight and dinner in the guesthouse.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Note: guesthouses in this area are simple and mostly with shared bathroom and WC.
*It is not allowed smoking and drinking alcohol in the guesthouse
Breakfast in the guesthouse. Then you go to explore the majestic walnut forests of Arslanbob.
We take a walk to the first small waterfall of 25 meters. After, we go up to the panoramic point with a beautiful view where we can see the entire valley. Here you can take beautiful photos.
Later, we continue our walk toward the second waterfall. Our way passes through the walnut forests where we will have the picnic.
Dinner in the guesthouse.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Note: guesthouses in this area are simple and mostly with shared bathroom and WC.
After breakfast, we head to Kazarman village.
You will cross the part of Fergana valley with its endless fields. We stop in Jalal Abad to have lunch in the local restaurant.
In the evening, we get Kazarman. You will be positively surprised by the hospitality of the local population. It is well known that the people in the south part of the country are very welcoming and friendly.
Overnight and dinner in the guesthouse.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse (CBT Guesthouse)
Note: guesthouses in this area are simple and mostly with shared bathroom and WC.
Breakfast in the guesthouse. Departure.
The goal is to reach Son Kul Lake, located at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level. The lake is surrounded by green meadows, long used by nomads for grazing their animals.
When we arrive at the yurt camp, you can appreciate the hospitality of local shepherds and learn about their lifestyles and customs.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Note: yurt capacity 4-5 people. But during the low season, you can be accommodated 2pax per yurt according to the availability. Toilets and sauna are outside.
After breakfast in the yurt, we continue our trip.
The goal is to reach the caravanserai Tash Rabat, so we overcome a mountain pass called Moldo Ashu at 3400 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, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Note: yurt capacity 4-5 people. But during the low season, you can be accommodated 2pax per yurt according to the availability. Toilets and sauna are outside.
Breakfast in the yurt. Departure towards Kochkor village.
We pass by Naryn city and overcome Dolon pass (3000 m).
Upon arrival in Kochkor, you can take a shower and relax at the guesthouse. Optionally, we propose you meet the Kyrgyz women who show you the production of felt used in traditional carpets (option).
You can take a shower and have a rest in the guesthouse.
Dinner and overnight are in the guesthouse.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Optional activities: folk show (130 USD per group), felt show (70 USD per group). Must be booked in advance.
After breakfast, we go towards the biggest lake in the country Issyk Kul, the pearl of Kyrgyzstan. We go by the south shore of the lake.
Along the way, in Bokonbaevo, we meet an eagle hunter with his bird of prey (option). Eagle hunting is one of the ancient traditions of nomads.
Later, we visit Skazka canyons, which translates from Russian as Fairytale. There you can find rocks of surprising shapes and sizes. A real skyscraper or an animal may appear in front of you. You can do short hiking in the canyons.
When we get to Tamga, you will try a Russian sauna.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Optional activities: yurt show (80 USD per group), eagle hunting (80 USD per group). Must be booked in advance.
After breakfast, we go towards Jety Oguz gorge.
The name of the gorge is symbolic and means “seven bulls” in Kyrgyz because there are seven giant red-brown rocks resembling furious bulls standing together. You can take a walk here and enjoy the beautiful landscapes.
When we get to Karakol, we will visit its famous sights, such as the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Dungan mosque.
For dinner, you can order the typical dish of this region ¨ashlan fu¨, Dungan traditional cuisine.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
After breakfast, we go towards Grigoriev and Semenov gorge.
They are located on the northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake, 60 kilometers from Cholpon Ata. These places are considered the most famous attractions in the Issyk Kul region. We can drive to the first lake at Grigoriev Gorge to have a picnic on the shore (if the weather is nice). You can take a walk and enjoy the wild nature around you.
As we arrive in Cholpon Ata, we will visit the petroglyphs museum. The 42 hectares of the museum are lined with stones, tombs, balbals and various petroglyphs dated from the 2nd millennium BC until the 4th century AD.
Dinner at the local restaurant.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 4*
Optional activities: boat trip (from 100 USD/hour per group). Must be booked in advance.
The road to Bishkek passes through the Boom gorge.
Along the way, we visit Burana, located about 80 km from the capital. The tower with funerary monuments, earthworks, remains of the castle, and three mausoleums – that’s all that last out of the ancient Balasagyn town founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.
After lunch, we will have time to visit the local market and buy some souvenirs.
In the evening, we will have dinner at a traditional Kyrgyz restaurant.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Transfer to airport.
Show map
Check-in at hotels after 14:00, check-out before 12:00
Extra night in Bishkek:
