Into the heart of Tian-Shan: 15-day trekking tour

Arrival at Manas Airport in Bishkek where our team will pick up you and drive you to the hotel situated in the capital. You can have a rest in cozy and comfortable rooms after the flight. Standard check-in at hotel after 14:00.

After breakfast in the hotel, we start our city tour. We will visit the heart of the city, Ala-Too Square where the State Historical Museum is located. 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 making the city a great place to live.

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 the market, you plunge into the real oriental atmosphere: an interminable stream of people, a big variety of goods and colors.

In the evening, we 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* (My Hotel) 

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.

After breakfast in Bishkek, we go towards Burana Tower located about 80 km from the capital. Burana Tower is an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the north part of Kyrgyzstan. It is close to the city of Tokmok. The tower with funerary monuments, earthworks, remains of the castle and three mausoleums – it’s all that last out of the ancient Balasagyn town that was founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.

Lunch on the way.

After we keep our way towards Chon Kemin valley. It is a unique place thanks to its unbelievable beauty and its rich diversity of fauna and flora. You will have the opportunity to walk in the gorge and enjoy the beautiful alpine views.

Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Guesthouse (Kemin Guesthouse or similar) 

After breakfast, transfer to the starting point of trek near the Chon Kemin River. From here we start our trek of 4 days.

The slopes of the mountains are covered with fir forests. We have a picnic on the road.

Then we continue to cross the forest to the pastures of Toru Aigyr. Here we set up the camp.

Dinner and overnight in a tent.

Trekking: 10 km, +750 m, 4 h

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Tent

After breakfast, we start hiking towards Kol Kogur Lake at 2 550 meters. This mountainous lake has a unique trapezoidal shape.

On the shore of the lake, we set up the camp and enjoy the wonderful sceneries around us.

Dinner and overnight stay in a tent.

Trekking: 11 km, +300 m, -320 m, 5 h

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Tent 

After breakfast, we leave the lake and climb to the 3400 meters pass.

We take a picnic on the way.

Afternoon we descend to the pasture of Kyzyl Aska. We set up tents near the river. Dinner and rest in the tents.

Trekking: 14 km, + 880m, -800m, 5-6h.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Tent

Today is the last day of the trek. We go towards Issyk Kul Lake, the pearl of Kyrgyzstan.

Our driver picks us up and drives us to the north shore of Issyk Kul Lake, the pearl of the Kyrgyz land. Issyk Kul is the second largest alpine lake in the world after Titicaca. Its name means “hot lake” in Kyrgyz language.

When you arrive to hotel, you take a shower and have a rest. If you want, you can swim in the lake and have a little rest on the beach.

Dinner at the restaurant.

Trekking: 11 km, -500 m, 3-4h.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel 4* (Kapriz Resort Hotel) 

After breakfast, we go towards Grigoriev and Semienov gorge.

They are located on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, 60 kilometers from Cholpon Ata.

These places are considered as the most famous attractions of the Issyk Kul region. We drive to the first lake at Grigoriev Gorge and we will have a picnic on the shore (if the weather is nice).

You can have a walk, enjoy the wild nature around you and have a pleasant pastime in this beautiful place.

When we get Karakol, we will visit its famous sights as the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Dungan mosque.  At the restaurant, you can taste the typical dish of this region “ashlan fu”, Dungan traditional cuisine.

Meals included: breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel or similar)

Optionally: boat trip, dinner with Dungan or Uighur Family

Today you start your 3-day trekking tour.
After breakfast, we drive you to the gorge of Karakol, where you start your trek with the local guide. The drive to the trail head will take about 1,5 hours.

We take our lunch bags and walk close to the foot of Karakol peak. It is 7 km one way. Usually it takes 3-3,5 hours and 2h back. Lunch.

We spend around one hour and descend back to the alpine camp. Campfire. Overnight and dinner in yurt.

Trekking: 14 km, 5-6h, +600 m, -600 m

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Yurt

Early breakfast. Our camp and starting point at 2500 m. We cross the bridge and ascend to the lake Ala-Kul lake located at the altitude of 3532 m.

After about 2-2.5 hours of hiking up the valley, we will stop for rest at a small hut. We will continue trekking to the lake. Lunch on the route.

The distance is around 10 km but 1100 m altitude difference. Walking till the end of the lake or taking a boat or kayak to the other side of the lake (it depends on the ice melting situation).

Trekking: 12 km, 6-7h, +1100 m, -100 m

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Tent

Today is the last day of our trek.

After breakfast, we continue going up again toward the pass (3860 m), from which you can see all of the nearby peaks of the Terskey Ala-Too ringing the lake and rising up to over 5000 m above sea level.

We descend the gorge to the hot springs of Altyn Arashan (2500 m). The descent takes 3-3,5 hours depending on the pace. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs. Transfer to Karakol by UAZ. You can take a shower and rest at the hotel.

Trekking: 15 km, 6-7h, +350 m, -1400 m

Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel)

After breakfast, we keep our road to Jety Oguz valley. Its name means “Seven Bulls”. The name is symbolic because there are seven huge red-brown rocks resembling ranked furious bulls standing together. The especially romantic look has the rock “Broken Heart” located at the entrance to the gorge. There we take a walk to the waterfall.

After we visit the Barskoon Gorge with impressive nature. At the end of the road, you can see the waterfall called Tears of Snow Leopard.

In the evening, you will try a real Russian bath “banya” in Tamga.

Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Meals included: breakfast 

Accommodation: Guesthouse (U Pavla Guesthouse) 

Breakfast in the guesthouse.

In the morning, we go towards Kochkor village by the south shore of the lake.

On the road, we visit Skazka canyons, which signify Fairytale. Here you can find objects of surprising shapes and sizes. A real skyscraper or an animal may appear in front of you.

In Bokonbaevo, we will meet the real eagle hunters who demonstrate the talent of their birds of prey (option).

We get 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 (option).

Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Guesthouse (Mira Guesthouse) 

Optionally: felt show, eagle hunting, yurt show

Today we keep our road to Son Kul Lake, so we should overcome a mountain pass called Kalmak Ashuu. From the pass Son Kul Lake seems very small, but as we go down and approach the lake, it appears as a big and gorgeous lake.

When we arrive in the yurt camp, you get to know the hospitality of the nomads, their lifestyle and their customs.

We will have dinner and sleep in the yurts.

Meals included: breakfast

Note: yurt capacity 6 people. But during the low season, you can be accommodated 2 pax per yurt according to availability. 

Accommodation: Yurt camp 

The road to Bishkek passes through Boom gorge.

You can take pictures of these beautiful and breathtaking sceneries.

After lunch in a local restaurant, we will have time to visit the local markets and buy some presents. You will not leave the bazar unsatisfied; you will surely find something that you were looking for reminding you about Kyrgyzstan and your unforgettable trip here.

Dinner in the restaurant in Bishkek.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel or similar)

Transfer to the airport. Departure.

Meals included: breakfast